Digital Hospitality

Maria Zhang, co-founder and CEO of Palona AI, is on a mission to humanize technology for restaurants. With experience from leading roles at Tinder, Instagram, and Meta, Zhang now focuses on hospitality. Palona AI’s voice technology answers calls, takes orders, and even replicates the owner’s voice, ensuring every guest interaction feels personal. At Cali BBQ, this means customers hear a warm, fami...

In this session of  Rising Tides Live , hosted by  Shawn Walchef ,  the community gathered to explore the art of summer travel storytelling—how to capture the sights, sounds, and experiences that make a journey unforgettable. From London orchestral raves to Tokyo food tours, the conversation illuminated the creative ways hospitality pros and business leaders are documenting their trips. Speakers s...

Cory Yates knows what it takes to keep restaurants running—fast response, clear communication, and service that builds trust. As Managing Partner of Alpha & Omega Restaurant Equipment & Repair , he leads a 24/7 team serving over 300 restaurants across Phoenix. Backed by sharp processes and a partnership with 86 Repairs , Yates has built a business known for reliability in high-stress momen...

In this session of  Rising Tides Live , hosted by  Shawn Walchef , the community gathered to unpack what’s next in restaurant technology following the 2025 National Restaurant Show. From AI-powered phone systems to precision ramen robots, the conversation explored how operators can embrace innovation without losing the human touch. Guests Dan Dickerson of F3 and Maria Zhang of Palona AI shared sto...

Traditional PR is no longer the key to getting your story heard. Press releases, media gatekeepers, and curated coverage have been replaced by something more powerful: your own voice. In this new media era, business owners don’t have to wait for permission—they can publish directly to the platforms people already use. This article follows the transformation of Cali BBQ from PR hopefuls to content...

In this session of  Rising Tides Live , hosted by  Shawn Walchef , the community reunited to reflect on the stories, lessons, and breakthroughs from the 2025 National Restaurant Show. Attendees shared tips on balancing content creation with human connection, leaning into both high-tech tools and handwritten takeaways. Whether filming with drones or just showing up with a phone, the message was cle...

Duce Raymond is a barbecue master, a catering powerhouse, and now a content creator with more than 750,000 followers across social media. In this episode of Digital Hospitality, Duce joins host Shawn Walchef at Catersource to share how he went from posting shaky iPhone videos to becoming a trusted voice in food and entrepreneurship. His advice is simple. Start creating. Stay consistent. Tell your...

Shawn Walchef , owner of Cali BBQ, learned a hard lesson early in his restaurant career: one fight night can nearly take down your entire business. In this cautionary tale, he shares how illegally streaming a pay-per-view UFC event led to three lawsuits and almost bankrupted his restaurant. From that near-disaster came a shift—toward doing things the right way, paying for commercial licenses, and...

In this session of  Rising Tides Live , hosted by  Shawn Walchef , the community gathered to reflect on the power of hospitality through the lens of Mother’s Day. From honoring the women who raised us to reimagining family-friendly experiences in restaurants, the conversation highlighted how thoughtful details—like personalized kids’ menus, surprise gifts for working moms, or simply easing the bur...

Jim Taylor helps restaurants do more than stay afloat. Jim breaks down complex business concepts using a simple lemonade stand metaphor that even a 5-year-old can follow. From understanding labor costs to increasing profitability, Jim’s approach is rooted in clarity, connection, and creativity. Jim Taylor is the owner of Benchmark Sixty, based in Vancouver. He’s built a career out of helping resta...

In this session of  Rising Tides Live , hosted by  Shawn Walchef , the community gathered ahead of the 2025 National Restaurant Show to share insights, connections, and strategies for making the most of the industry’s biggest event. From first-timers to seasoned veterans, voices across the hospitality space offered practical tips—like walking the floor with intention, leading with curiosity, and a...

In this episode of the Cali BBQ Media podcast, Shawn Walchef breaks down his restaurant’s real-world experiment with dynamic pricing. Shawn shares how language, perception, and industry double standards fuel misunderstanding, and why embracing technology is key to long-term restaurant sustainability. Interview Takeaways: Dynamic Pricing Is Already Here – Restaurants have long used strategies like...

In this session of Rising Tides Live , with Richard Liverman and Mike Bisceglia filling in for host Shawn Walchef , the community came together to explore the powerful parallels between sports, showbiz, and business leadership. From football clubs rebuilding their culture to athletes transitioning into entrepreneurship, the discussion highlighted how teams thrive through trust, coaching, and share...

J Goldin is the Systems Director at Riot Hospitality Group , a company known for high-volume, high-energy nightlife experiences. But behind the scenes, he is focused on precision, not chaos. In this episode, Goldin explains how technology, particularly Kickfin , has transformed Riot’s tip payout process. The result is saved time, fewer errors, and more managers on the floor where they belong. From...

In this session of  Rising Tides Live , hosted by  Shawn Walchef , the community gathered to explore how businesses can give back through authentic community service, even with limited time or resources. From hosting BBQ festivals to mentoring neurodivergent entrepreneurs or partnering with local schools, participants showed that impact starts with individual action. The conversation highlighted w...

At the National Restaurant Association Show , Digital Hospitality Shawn Walchef and his mentor David Meltzer are applying Stage Theory to help restaurant owners and entrepreneurs turn events into engines for business growth. Through live interviews, curated VIP experiences, and post-production content, they aim to amplify stories of resilience, innovation, and service. Interview Takeaways: Stage T...

In this episode of Rising Tides Live , the conversation focuses on how restaurant operators can better manage their teams and labor costs in today’s challenging environment. Guest Jordan Boesch , CEO of 7shifts , joins host Shawn Walchef and the Rising Tides community to explore key lessons from The Restaurant Labor Playbook , a new guide created to help restaurants improve team productivity, rete...

Sergio Pérez , Chief Marketing Officer of Emmy Squared Pizza , believes in staying true to your brand and community. With a digital philosophy rooted in authenticity, Pérez helps Emmy Squared grow without losing its local charm. Each restaurant feels unique, yet consistent—thanks to one central Instagram account and neighborhood-focused influencer strategies. Pérez’s experience at Bojangles taught...

In this session of  Rising Tides Live , hosted by  Shawn Walchef , the group explores the ongoing tension between data and gut instinct—and how modern business leaders are learning to blend both. Whether you’re managing a single restaurant or scaling a multi-unit operation, the pressure to make smart, fast decisions is real. But how do you know when to trust the numbers, and when to follow your in...

Shawn Walchef thought he understood social media—until he discovered the deeper power of storytelling. His Orange Tree Theory was born from a real tree planted by his immigrant grandfather outside the family restaurant. Overlooked for decades, that tree became a symbol of legacy, values, and identity once its story was shared. Now a cornerstone of Cali BBQ’s brand, it inspires Walchef’s message to...

In this session of  Rising Tides Live , hosted by  Shawn Walchef , the group dives into how to maximize the experience of attending the 2 025 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicag o. Whether it’s your first time walking the floor, your tenth time exhibiting, or your chance to finally meet longtime digital connections in real life, this event is packed with opportunities. More than just a...

Zenon McHugh did not just open a bar, he built a vision. By prioritizing real estate ownership over short-term gains, Zenon turned Twisted Shamrock Pub into a true community anchor near Chicago’s Midway Airport. His background in accounting and tax strategy gave him an edge, helping him secure key licenses, manage costs, and survive the brutal early months. Weekly financial reviews, brand integrit...

In this session of  Rising Tides Live , hosted by  Shawn Walchef ,  the group dives into the meaning behind business milestones—and why most people don’t celebrate them enough. Whether it’s opening your first restaurant, hitting a round-number anniversary, or simply surviving another month in business, these moments deserve recognition. More than just feel-good celebrations, milestones can drive c...

Running a successful restaurant today means becoming more than a chef or operator—you have to be a storyteller. Shawn Walchef , founder of Cali BBQ Media , believes digital content is now just as essential as great food. From swapping out legacy tech for cloud-based systems to sharing behind-the-scenes moments on YouTube and LinkedIn, Shawn champions “digital hospitality.” He urges restaurateurs t...

In this session, we explore the power of nostalgia marketing and why tapping into the past can be a strategic advantage for entrepreneurs, restaurant operators, and hospitality professionals.  In this episode of  Rising Tides Live , hosted by  Shawn Walchef , the group unpacks how memory, tradition, and emotion fuel brand loyalty and customer engagement. The conversation features real-world exampl...