The Hospitality Hangout | Restaurant Industry Trends & Hospitality Leaders

Dirty soda is no longer just a viral drink trend. Custom beverages, cold foam, popping boba, layered flavors, and social-ready drink experiences are becoming a bigger part of how restaurants drive traffic, premium pricing, and repeat visits. Scott Finlow, Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo Away from Home, and Alison Dempsey Senior Director of Innovation at PepsiCo join Hospitality Hangout to break d...

Donatos Pizza President and CEO Kevin King joins Hospitality Hangout to share the growth playbook behind a legacy pizza brand built on culture, consistency, and a people-first approach to hospitality. From starting as a dishwasher at 14 to leading one of America’s most recognizable pizza brands, Kevin explains how Donatos has stayed relevant while staying true to its values. He breaks down the com...

Chris Noffze, Director of Direct Franchising and Operations at Gong cha Americas, takes us inside Gong cha’s franchise growth strategy, simplified operations, and Gong cha 2.0 including Super Wu, the beverage automation system designed to build highly customized drinks faster and more consistently while allowing team members to spend more time with guests. From self-order kiosks and QR-driven drin...

Live from the Restaurant Leadership Conference, Hospitality Hangout sits down with M.J. Worsham, Vice President of Technology at Five Guys, to discuss AI in restaurants, automation, loyalty programs, restaurant operations, POS systems, labor optimization, guest experience, and the technology trends shaping the future of hospitality. M.J. shares how Five Guys evaluates emerging restaurant technolog...

On this episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Jimmy Frischling and Michael Schatzberg sit down with Cathy Chavenet to discuss the remarkable growth of Paris Baguette. Kathy shares her journey from classically trained pastry chef and bakery owner to leading marketing, culinary innovation, and brand strategy for one of the fastest-growing bakery café concepts in North America. Cathy shares her journ...

Rock & Brews CEO Adam Goldberg joins Hospitality Hangout live from the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a conversation about the future of restaurants, experiential dining, restaurant traffic, and why food alone is no longer enough to win guests. In this Hospitality Hangout Short, Adam Goldberg talks with Michael “Schatzy” Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling about how Rock...

Breakfast is no longer just breakfast. Live from the Restaurant Leadership Conference, Josh Kern joins the Hospitality Hangout Podcast to break down why brunch culture, protein trends, social media, and hospitality are reshaping the restaurant business. From protein pancakes and breakfast burritos to brunch cocktails, loyalty, restaurant marketing, influencer culture, and why younger diners are ch...

Live from the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, the Hospitality Hangout team sits down with Scott Drake to talk about how Chuck E. Cheese has evolved with a new generation of families, kids, and consumers. Scott shares how the brand modernized the Chuck E. Cheese experience through digital interactive environments, active play concepts, memberships, media content, loyalty programs, a...

In this episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael “Schatzy” Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling sit down with Neel Patel, CEO of Quiznos and Rego Restaurant Group, to discuss one of the most fascinating comeback stories in the restaurant industry. Once a 5,000-unit sandwich giant, Quiznos has spent the last decade rebuilding after bankruptcy and massive contraction. Neel shares how the brand is fi...

Sterling Douglas returns to Hospitality Hangout to break down how AI is rapidly reshaping the restaurant industry and why operators are adopting technology faster than ever before. As the CEO of Chowly, Sterling shares how the platform has evolved from third-party marketplace integrations into a full-suite solution powering everything outside the four walls of the restaurant, including marketing,...

Every year, the National Restaurant Association Show takes over Chicago — and for anyone in hospitality, it’s more than just a convention. It’s where the industry shows up, shows off, and looks ahead. In this episode of Hospitality Hangout, Schatzy sits down with David Henkes and Lisa Malikow from Technomic to break down everything you need to know about the NRA Show. They get into how long “The S...

Former Greg Creed joins Hospitality Hangout for a masterclass in leadership, branding, and restaurant growth. Greg shares how he helped transform Taco Bell into one of the most recognizable brands in the world, from responding to a headline-making lawsuit to launching Doritos Locos Tacos and building Mountain Dew Baja Blast into a billion-dollar success story. The conversation also dives into comp...

Tory Bartlett joins the conversation to break down the rise of PopUp Bagels and what it takes to turn a simple product into a cultural phenomenon. From washing dishes at Hooters to leading one of the fastest-growing brands in hospitality, he shares the journey behind building a business rooted in energy, simplicity, and experience. The discussion explores how PopUp Bagels disrupted a legacy catego...

Eric Skae joins the conversation to break down what it really takes to build and scale a food brand, drawing from his experience growing Rao’s and now leading Carbone Fine Foods into a new era of rapid expansion. From identifying untapped potential to driving exponential growth, he unpacks the fundamentals behind turning strong products into nationally recognized brands. The discussion explores th...

Bagel Bosses of NYC come together to break down what really makes a great bagel, and why New York continues to set the standard. From the role of water and technique to the importance of process, they unpack the fundamentals behind a product that sits at the intersection of food, culture, and hospitality. The conversation explores how bagel shops are balancing tradition with innovation, from evolv...

In this episode of The Hospitality Hangout, we dive deep into the incredible story of Pinky Cole, Founder and CEO of Slutty Vegan, and her journey in the hospitality industry. Learn how Pinky, a dynamic restaurant CEO, built a $100M hospitality business, experienced a major setback, and then successfully rebuilt smarter with Slutty Vegan 2.0. Pinky shares critical hospitality insider insights on w...

In this episode of The Hospitality Hangout, Jon Skogmo, Founder and CEO of LOST iN, shares his visionary approach to redefining travel media and hospitality content. Dive into how LOST iN is revolutionizing hospitality media by targeting younger, experience-driven audiences who crave authentic, local city exploration beyond traditional tourist guides. Explore the shifting travel behaviors in the p...

Andrew Katz, Chief Marketing Officer at Athletic Brewing Company, joins The Hospitality Hangout to share his expertise on the booming non-alcoholic beer market and its impact on the hospitality industry. Discover how Athletic Brewing has grown into a leading brand by reshaping drinking culture and innovating within the beverage segment. Katz dives into brand growth strategies, evolving consumer pr...

In this episode of The Hospitality Hangout, we welcome Aris Yeager, better known as the European Kid, to discuss his viral food comedy journey and insights into the hospitality industry. Aris shares how a college joke transformed into a viral persona captivating millions across social media, blending humor with commentary on American dining etiquette and culture. Dive into the hospitality business...

In this episode of The Hospitality Hangout, Noah Chaimberg, Hot Sauce Expert and Founder of Heatonist, shares his unique insights on transforming hot sauce from a niche condiment into a dynamic cultural phenomenon within the hospitality business. Noah discusses how his approach to hospitality brand building blends retail and media, emphasizing the power of storytelling to drive restaurant growth s...

Mike Kurtz, Founder of Mike’s Hot Honey, shares invaluable hospitality insider insights on building a successful hospitality business from the ground up. Discover how strategic restaurant partnerships and collaborations fueled the rapid growth of Mike’s Hot Honey, making it one of the fastest-growing food brands nationwide. Mike dives deep into hospitality trends shaping brand expansion from resta...

Danielle Parra, Chief Brand Officer of McAlister’s Deli, joins the Hospitality Hangout to share her expert insights on building and scaling a renowned hospitality brand. With over 500 locations and a billion-dollar presence in the hospitality industry, McAlister’s continues to lead with innovative strategies in fast casual dining. From pioneering data-driven loyalty programs to creative menu innov...

In this episode of Hospitality Hangout, hospitality industry leaders Jason Morgan (CEO of The Original ChopShop), Kelly Gray (SVP of Hot Head Burritos), Lawrence Brown (Chief Development Officer of Rita’s Italian Ice), and Yann de Rochefort (CEO of Boqueria) come together to share their expertise on building iconic food brands. Dive into essential hospitality trends, restaurant growth strategies,...

Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of Zingerman’s Delicatessen, shares invaluable hospitality insider insights and leadership lessons from building one of the most respected brands in the hospitality business. As a pioneering restaurant CEO, Ari discusses how vision and community-building in the hospitality industry have driven their long-lasting success, all while staying true to core values rather than c...

Join Richard Schneider, COO and Chief Development Officer of Areas USA, on Hospitality Hangout as he shares insider insights into scaling one of the largest airport and travel plaza hospitality operators in the country. From his early start in restaurants at six years old to leading innovation in airport dining, Richard discusses why hospitality will always trump technology and how emerging brands...