Hospitality Strategy Lab with Jason Littrell

Ashley explores the difference between outsourcing your judgment to AI and using it to pressure-test your thinking, with a practical framework for hospitality operators.

Ashley breaks down why the best people in hospitality leave without warning, and what operators can do to stop losing the people they need most. https://hospitalitystrategylab.com

Jason Littrell sits down with David Helbraun , a hospitality law expert, to break down the legal challenges that restaurant owners face in NYC and beyond. From HR and employee handbooks to leases, ADA compliance, and AI-driven operations , this episode gives practical advice to help restaurants grow while staying compliant and efficient. Key Topics: Common legal issues in the restaurant and hospit...

Ever wonder why you buy what you buy? Jason sits down with behavioral scientist Dr. Kai-Markus Mueller to explore the fascinating intersection of consumer psychology , neuroscience , and pricing strategy . From the subtle influence of choice architecture to the surprising power of free offers, this episode uncovers the hidden forces shaping decisions in hospitality and beyond. Key Topics: How cons...

Jason sits down with Tom Selementi, CEO of Spread Bagelry, to discuss how a strong morning strategy can set the tone for team performance and customer experience. They dive into operational habits, team dynamics, and leadership approaches that make breakfast service more efficient and memorable. Key Topics: Building a “Win the Morning” mindset for teams Ensuring bagel quality and consistency under...

Jason sits down with behavioral scientist Matt Wallaert to unpack why most hospitality technology fails, not because of features, but because operators were never part of the design process. They discuss demand-side thinking, the gap between tech builders and operators, and why the best technology reduces friction instead of adding steps. Key Topics: Why hospitality tech fails at the operator leve...

Welcome back to the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast , hosted by Jason Littrell . In this episode, Jason sits down with Franck Desplechin , founder of Incrementum Hospitality , to explore the systems, leadership mindset, and operational discipline required to deliver world-class guest experiences. Drawing on his career in Michelin-starred kitchens and luxury hospitality consulting, Franck shares h...

Welcome back to the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast , hosted by Jason Littrell . In this episode, Jason sits down with Rob Ontell , founder of Ontell & Associates , to break down the legal realities of opening and operating a restaurant in New York City . Rob shares practical insights from years of advising hospitality operators on everything from lease negotiations and compliance requirement...

Welcome back to the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast, hosted by Jason Littrell . In this episode, Jason sits down with Joe Mikulich to explore the realities of building and operating successful restaurants in Las Vegas—one of the most competitive dining markets in the world. Joe shares his journey as a young hospitality entrepreneur, offering an inside look at what it takes to open restaurants, tr...

🎙️ MISTAKES WERE MADE — Special Series on Hospitality Strategy Lab The heaviest episode of the series. Shawn Soole has opened bars twice in Victoria, BC. Both times, his partners burned him. The first time: investors, a shared lawyer (huge mistake), and a bar that collapsed after 16 months. The second time: a partner who changed the locks, stole his equipment, drained the company bank account, and...

🎙️ MISTAKES WERE MADE — Special Series on Hospitality Strategy Lab Two stories about what happens when passion blinds you to business reality. Eamon Rockey poured every dollar he had — and a lot he didn't — into launching Rockey's Liqueur across four states on the same day. California, New York, Florida, New Jersey. One person. Zero brand recognition. Everyone told him to start small. He didn't li...

🎙️ MISTAKES WERE MADE — Special Series on Hospitality Strategy Lab Three hospitality veterans walk into a podcast and share the moments that humbled them. Alex Strange, bar manager at Holiday Cocktail Lounge, takes us back to 2004 when he was a green bar back who accidentally started bartending on a rooftop — and nearly got fired for it. Ben Potts spent a million dollars building Boombox in Miami,...

Welcome back to the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast . In this episode, host Jason Littrell sits down with John Russ and Elise Russ , the husband-and-wife team behind Clementine , a James Beard–nominated restaurant redefining the modern dining experience in San Antonio. John and Elise share the story behind Clementine’s creation—from a simple dream to build a meaningful restaurant, to navigating t...

Welcome to another episode of the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast , hosted by Jason Littrell . In this episode, Jason sits down with Kevin Pedeaux , the driving force behind St. Roch Market , a historic multi-vendor food hall located in New Orleans . Kevin shares his journey from coffee roasting to becoming a steward of a hospitality concept built on community, storytelling, and sustainable vendo...

Welcome to another episode of the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast, hosted by Jason Littrell. In this episode, Jason sits down with AI expert Jim Marsh of JMC Intel to explore how artificial intelligence, chatbots, and automation are transforming customer experience in hospitality. From scaling personalization to improving data hygiene, this conversation breaks down what operators and hospitality...

Welcome to the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast! In this episode, host Jason Littrell sits down with Andrew Watts and Vinnie Cimino, the powerhouse duo behind Cordelia in Cleveland—named the “Best Place to Work” just two months after opening their doors. Together, they share a candid look into building a restaurant culture defined by radical hospitality, staff empowerment, and community-first valu...

Welcome back to the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast ! In this episode, host Jason Littrell sits down with Kyle and Rachel Ford and takes you behind the scenes of the Ford Media Lab , a trailblazing visual intelligence agency that's redefining content creation for the spirits and hospitality industry. he conversation dives into the fast-evolving world of AI-generated visuals, exploring how brands—...

Welcome to the Hospitality Strategy La b podcast, where science meets service and big ideas meet practical strategy. In this episode, hosts Jason Littrell and Shampaigne Graves dive into the intricacies of communicating with women in the hospitality industry. Shampaigne Graves , a women’s marketing expert, shares her innovative WCR4 framework for understanding women’s consumer behavior, highlighti...

Ready to grow your bar or restaurant? Head to https://jlittrell.com to start a free trial! https://hospitalitystrategylab.com/post/behavioral-psycology-in-hospitality-with-matt-wallaert *** Welcome to the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast! In this episode, host Jason Littrell sits down with behavioral science expert and author of "Start at the End," Matt Wallert , to explore how the principles of b...

Welcome to another episode of the Hospitality Strategy Lab Podcast, where science meets service! Today, host Jason Littrell sits down with Felicia Shakiba , founder of CPO Playbook , a consultancy specializing in leadership development and human capital for emerging brands. Together, they unpack the challenges and triumphs of scaling restaurant businesses—diving into real-world examples like Porti...

Get 20+ reviews a week on autopilot with our Accelerator installed in 30 minutes or less. Head to Jlittrell.com for free trial. *** In this conversation, Jason Littrell speaks with Geoffrey Toffetti from the Frontline Performance Group, discussing the importance of optimizing employee performance in the hospitality industry. They explore the challenges of employee turnover, the significance of tra...

-Join the free 14 day restaurant automation challenge https://www.jlittrell.com/free -Free training and strategies for independent restaurant owners: https://workshop.jlittrell.com -Free community of hospitality pros at https://lab.jlittrell.com *** Welcome to another episode of Hospitality Strategy Lab ! Today, host Jason Littrell sits down with Barbara Castiglia , managing editor of modernrestau...

Try our restaurant automation software free for 14 days: https://www.jlittrell.com/free Free training and strategies for independent restaurant owners: https://workshop.jlittrell Free community of motivated hospitality pros at https://lab.jlittrell.com *** In this conversation, Jason Littrell speaks with Leif Huckman about his innovative app, CheckMyChecks.com , designed to help hospitality worker...

Subscribe on YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts! https://pod.co/hospitalitystrategylab *** In this conversation, Jason Littrell and Daniel Burstein explore the evolving landscape of consumer psychology in the hospitality industry. They discuss the importance of understanding value propositions, identifying ideal customer tribes, and creating a third place for patrons. The conversation em...