Digital Hospitality

Jason E. Brooks steps in this week for Shawn Walchef as he leads a deep conversation about one of the most overlooked challenges in hospitality tech: the last mile. A keynote speaker, longtime operator, and industry veteran, Jason breaks down why tools that look perfect in a demo often struggle once they hit the chaos of real operations. He explores the gap between idea and execution, the friction...

On the roof of Amazon’s Santa Barbara campus ahead of the Palm Tree Music Festival , eero Executive Vice President Mark Sieglock highlights why reliable connectivity is now core to modern hospitality. Sieglock has been with eero for ten years, joining before its first product launch in 2016. Since then, eero has expanded to tens of millions of homes and businesses in 28 countries while staying foc...

In this episode of Pitch The Tide, Brenda Saunders shares how Trakr is making inventory simpler for every restaurant that’s still stuck with clipboards and spreadsheets. As the founder and CEO, Brenda built Trakr to solve a universal operational headache: inconsistent, time-consuming, error-prone counts that throw off ordering and create waste. Trakr gives teams a mobile app that lets them count b...

Shawn Walchef explains some core concepts that will allow you to 10X Your Media Output Right Now! Shawn Walchef is the owner of Cali BBQ Media and a leading voice in the restaurant and hospitality industry. He’s built a successful BBQ brand by embracing “Digital Hospitality”—helping restaurant owners think like media companies to stay relevant in the modern age. As the host of the Restaurant Influ...

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by  Shawn Walchef , , the conversation focused on stepping out of your comfort zone and why growth only happens when you do. From live reports at RFDC in Las Vegas to community members sharing their own real-world stories, the group explored how discomfort fuels learning, leadership, and momentum. Operators talked about walking hallways to shake hands w...

Ty Wilson and James Tice grew up in restaurants long before they entered banking and technology, giving them a shared understanding of the financial pressure operators face. That experience led them to build Tab Commerce , a finance platform designed specifically for the realities of hospitality. From higher limits to flexible payment terms and real-time visibility, Tab gives operators clarity and...

In this episode of Pitch The Tide, Beth Hussey , founder of Shifty , steps up to share how her platform is transforming restaurant training and retention. A lifelong operator turned tech founder, Beth built Shifty to solve one of hospitality’s biggest pain points: high turnover and inconsistent onboarding. Her solution replaces clunky binders and outdated manuals with a mobile app that makes train...

In this latest Coaching Call with entrepreneur, podcast host, and mentor David Meltzer , host Shawn Walchef  explores how motivation, inspiration, and consistency shape lasting success. From Meltzer’s “Stage Theory” and his advice to “be the show, not the commercial,” to lessons on discipline, accessibility, and the power of storytelling, this episode blends wisdom with real-world examples. Meltze...

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by Shawn Walchef and Elizabeth Doss , the conversation focused on treating content like experiments rather than finished products. The group explored how play, creativity, and imperfection lead to growth both personally and professionally. By removing the pressure to be perfect, creators and operators can rediscover the fun in storytelling, build consis...

Pathway is redefining how restaurants operate through smart technology built by people who understand both data and hospitality. Founded by Luis Martinez-Moure and Adarsh Nagesh , Pathway created Patty, an intelligent restaurant system that connects sales, recipes, and invoices to automate procurement and uncover insights no human could track. Luis and Adarsh take a hands-on approach, visiting kit...

In this session, Luis Martinez-Moure presented Pathway , the company behind Patty, an AI-powered assistant built to help restaurant owners run smarter, faster, and more profitably. Patty connects to the systems operators already use, learns every corner of the business, and then takes action by spotting waste, optimizing pricing, forecasting sales, and even communicating with vendors. Instead of j...

Shawn Walchef , founder of Cali BBQ Media, is redefining how businesses grow through storytelling with a model he calls Media as a Service (MaaS). Inspired by SaaS, MaaS helps creators and companies build recurring revenue through long-term content partnerships instead of one-off deals. Walchef’s approach centers on human-to-human storytelling, consistent media systems, and the courage to start be...

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by  Shawn Walchef ,  the conversation centered on closing the year strong, not circling back. The group discussed how operators, creators, and partners can stay proactive during the final stretch of the year by showing up, sharing stories, and planning ahead for 2026. Themes of accountability, consistency, and generosity guided the discussion as partici...

RA Ventures runs a growing family of restaurant brands that includes 110 Grill , Evviva Trattoria , and Oar & Iron , with 55 locations powered by smart systems and even smarter people. In this Digital Hospitality episode, Shawn Walchef spotlights how a team of behind-the-scenes leaders brought major change to daily operations through Kickfin, the digital tipping platform that replaced hours of...

In this session, James Tice , Head of Growth at Tab Commerce , shares how the Tab Card helps restaurants take control of their finances. Designed specifically for operators, the Tab Card offers higher credit limits, extended terms, and smarter automation to match how restaurants actually operate. Built from real conversations with operators, it replaces messy back-office chaos with clean, actionab...

Cali BBQ has grown over seventeen years through experience, experimentation, and plenty of hard lessons. Along the way, the team has tried promotional challenges, nightlife concepts, discount-driven events, large-scale festivals, and vending opportunities that seemed promising at the time. Some of these ideas brought attention, but not the right kind of growth. Others stretched operations beyond w...

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by  Shawn Walchef , the conversation centered on distribution, what it is, why it matters, and how operators and creators can use it to grow. The group defined distribution as the art and system of getting what you make seen, shared, and monetized across owned, earned, paid, and partner channels. Examples ranged from marketplace integrations that drive...

Shawn Walchef built Cali BBQ into a national brand by doing something most restaurant owners ignore: posting on LinkedIn. What started as simple videos about technology and teamwork turned into multi-million-dollar partnerships with Toast, Amazon, and Google. In this Digital Hospitality episode, Walchef breaks down how storytelling on LinkedIn drives real business growth. From building a professio...

In this session, Hildee Isaacs presented Gotta Sing Events, a group sing-along experience designed for restaurants, venues, and communities that want joy, connection, and full dining rooms on off nights. A lifelong theater lover and creative producer, Hildee is building a turnkey format for guests who love to sing but hate karaoke. Think dinner first, then a 90-minute hosted sing-along with a DJ-M...

Shawn Walchef , founder of Cali BBQ and Cali BBQ Media , breaks down the art and science of menu engineering. From high-margin “golden items” to digital modifiers that drive ticket growth, he explains how smart design can turn any menu into a profit map. Walchef shares how Cali BBQ uses platforms like Toast, RestaurantOwner.com, and US Foods to simplify decisions, increase perceived value, and imp...

Chris Tripoli , Speaker, Author, Educator, and Hospitality Specialist, fills in this week for Shawn Walchef to explore the art of long-term brand management and how restaurants can avoid becoming the next Cracker Barrel. Drawing from decades of restaurant experience, Chris breaks down the difference between a rebrand and a refresh, why guest perception is the true definition of brand reality, and...

Demetri Tsolakis grew up in his family’s restaurant, where he learned English from guests and discovered his love for hospitality. After a brief career in finance, he returned to the dining room and opened Greco , a fast-casual Greek street food concept in Boston built on warmth and authenticity. Through Xenia Greek Hospitality , he now leads a family of restaurants rooted in philoxenia, the belie...

In this session, Chris Munz presented Qubriux , a customer engagement platform redefining restaurant loyalty through emotion, not just points. A 20-year restaurant technology veteran and Chief Revenue Officer at Qubriux, Chris has helped major brands connect data with meaningful guest experiences. Frustrated by fragmented systems and one-size-fits-all rewards, he joined a team of seasoned restaura...

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by Shawn Walchef , the conversation focused on the power and value of partnerships, exploring what makes collaboration work, why so many fail, and how to build relationships that last. The group agreed that true partnerships thrive when both sides take time to build trust, communicate clearly, and define expectations early on. Strong relationships devel...

Dennis Postema believes the biggest mistake creators make is staying invisible. As founder of the Motivation and Success TV Network , Postema helps podcasters and entrepreneurs turn shows into global television programs and attention into opportunity. In this episode of Digital Hospitality, he joins Shawn Walchef to talk about the power of distribution, the importance of personal branding, and how...