Live from RLC’s Influencer Alley, this episode of the Hospitality Hangout features Anthony Valletta, CEO and President of bartaco, the elevated street food concept redefining fun dining and guest connection. Anthony shares sharp hospitality insights and bold strategies behind bartaco’s rise — from creating a seamless guest experience through a…
In this kickoff episode of Hospitality Hustlers—powered by Toast—we sit down with Bob Wright, the CEO of Potbelly, to dig into what it takes to transform a beloved sandwich chain into a tech-forward, trend-setting brand. Bob shares expert insights on the intersection of food service, emerging brands, and breakthrough technology,…
Hosted by The Restaurant Guy and The Finance Guy, Hospitality Hangout delivers hospitality stories, loud ideas, and insider strategies from top hospitality insiders driving change. In this episode, we’re chopping it up with Kelly Roddy, CEO of WOWorks, the brand group behind better-for-you concepts like Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, and more.…
Hosted by The Restaurant Guy and The Finance Guy, Hospitality Hangout delivers hospitality stories, loud ideas, and insider strategies from the most influential hospitality insiders in the game. In this episode, we sit down with Alison Quinn, CEO of Dinova, to talk restaurant transformation, the power of connecting players in…
In this can't-miss episode of Hospitality Hangout, we sit down with Michael Beacham, President of California Pizza Kitchen, for an entertaining and insightful conversation packed with hospitality stories, expert insights, and insider knowledge. Beacham shares how CPK is embracing restaurant transformation, navigating today’s biggest hospitality trends, and staying ahead in…
What do you get when you mix a legendary sandwich shop, a Hollywood icon, and an $8 billion handshake? One hell of a Hospitality Hangout episode. Mike Manzo, COO of Jersey Mike’s, joins the show to dish on how the brand became a cult favorite—with over 3,000 locations, a relentless…
What happens when cutting-edge tech meets old-school hospitality? In this episode, we sit down with Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu, to unpack the evolution of restaurant management in a rapidly changing world. From emerging brands to enterprise breakthroughs, Amir shares candid insights on the tech reshaping food service, the trends…
In this episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg, "The Restaurant Guy," and Jimmy Frischling, "The Finance Guy," sit down with Michael Ungaro, CEO and third-generation owner of the iconic San Pedro Fish Market, featured in Amazon Prime’s hit show "Kings of Fi$h." Ungaro shares his remarkable journey transforming a…
🌯 Moe’s Rewards, brand power, and bold hospitality strategies—Mike Smith, Chief Brand Officer at Moe’s Southwest Grill, spills it all! In this episode of Hospitality Hangout, we dive into: 🔥 How Moe’s Rewards is driving guest loyalty 🔥 The power of restaurant branding in fast casual 🔥 Bold moves that…
Big Chicken Joins Craveworthy Brands – Here’s What No One Else Is Telling You! On this episode of Hospitality Hangout, we explore the latest hospitality trends, strategies, and brand experiences with industry leaders Gregg Majewski and Josh Halpern. They take us behind the scenes of Big Chicken’s exciting move to…
Join Hospitality Hangout as Mike Fiato shares his powerful philosophy of hospitality, rooted in care, purpose, and emotional insight. Discover how a transformative trip to Disney shifted Mike's journey from restaurant owner to hospitality leader, sparking a passion for impactful guest experiences. Mike Fiato emphasizes empowering teams through meaningful training…
Will Brawley and ScheduleFly have proven success isn’t about size, it’s about authenticity, simplicity, and putting customers first. For over 15 years, ScheduleFly has empowered independent restaurants with easy to use scheduling software backed by unbeatable customer care. Will’s passion for hospitality goes beyond technology. He built ScheduleFly to support…
With a career spanning finance, operations, and brand leadership, Liz Williams knows a thing or two about shaking up the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. She discusses the art of brand reinvention, sharing how El Pollo Loco is modernizing its look, embracing technology, and staying true to its bold, citrus-marinated flavors.…
In the latest episode of the Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Micha Magid, the co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Mighty Quinn's, to explore virtual restaurants, nationwide delivery, and making the transition to digital. Mighty Quinn’s is a restaurant…
In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Chris Campbell, CEO at Review Trackers to explore the importance of restaurant reviews. Campbell founded Review Trackers over ten years ago and helps over fifty thousand restaurants in thirty-five…
In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” take the show to the first in-person trade show, FSTEC 2021 where restaurants and technology connect. Schatzberg and Frischling chat with Wade Allen, senior vice president, head of innovation at…
In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Brita Rosenheim, Partner at Culterra Capital and Venture Partner at Better Food Ventures to explore restaurant technology. Rosenheim got started with an interest in the food world and…
In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Clayton Wood, Chief Executive Officer at Picnic, to explore solutions for solving labor shortages and automation in food preparation. Wood says when asked to share about himself, “So my…
In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Carissa De Santis, chief information officer at Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants to explore hospitality technology and what’s in the pipeline for Dickey’s Barbecue. De Santis talks about building Dickey’s…
In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Geoff Alexander, President and chief executive officer, to explore using dark kitchens to generate revenue. . Alexander talks about how he started back in 1993 with the privately…
In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “ The Finance Guy” chat with Atul Sood, Chief Business Officer at Kitchen United to explore the multi-restaurant ordering experience. Sood shares his background that included leading global food delivery partnerships for McDonalds during…
In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout podcast, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with Kevin Tan, co-founder and chief executive officer at Snackpass to explore a social ordering platform for restaurants and the customer experience. Snackpass is the company Tan co-founded with Jamie…
In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Nabeel Alamgir, chief executive officer and co-founder of Lunchbox about the current state of delivery and what the future will look like for restaurants. Alamgir who is on the 2021…
In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy'' and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy'' chat with Lindsey Hoell, founder and chief executive officer of Dispatch Goods about how restaurants can help reduce waste with reusable packaging. Hoell had a career in cardiac surgery first on the…