Past Editions

Harmony: The Hidden Multiplier in Life and Leadership

Life Lessons Learned from Accidentally Setting the Kitchen on Fire

The Psychology of First Impressions in Hospitality

From lobby lighting to your team’s tone, learn what your guests are really judging—and how to win them over before they even sit down.

Biggest Takeaways: Digital Transformation in Fast Casual & QSR Summit

The Million Dollar Question... Should Your Restaurant Use AI for Marketing and Branding in the Second Half of 2025?

The Crossover

The Power of Reciprocity

There’s a reason guests feel compelled to tip a little extra when a server goes above and beyond—or why that free amuse-bouche makes your whole evening feel more elevated. It’s not just good hospitality.

Restaurant Marketing – Turns Out We’re Doing it Wrong!

Unlocking the Power of Restaurant AI: Transforming Guest Acquisition in the Digital Age

Elevate Your Thinking to Solve Bigger Problems

20 Psychology-Driven Tactics to Engineer Restaurant Menus That Actually Work

Canada's Restaurant Guy, Jay Ashton

Unplugged Hospitality

Emotional Mastery Starts with One Question

Holiday Road 2.0: When Clark Griswold Let ChatGPT Plan the Family Vacation

Funny, Unexpected, and Just a Little Bit Wrong: What Benign Violation Theory Teaches Us About Bold Hospitality

The Future of AI in Restaurants: Embracing Innovation and Staying Ahead

All of My Notes: The Restaurant Marketing Workshop 2025 Takeaways

Eating Their Own

Can Color Make Your Food Taste Better? Science Says Yes!

AI and Customer Feedback: Turning Reviews into Actionable Insights

Pursue Your Potential with Truth & Intention

Biggest Takeaways: National Restaurant Association Show 2025 - Real Insights from 12 Restaurant Decision-Makers

I Know It When I See It

Let's Swap Some Swag

Facing Fear with Purpose: Stop, Drop, and Roll

AI and Menu Engineering: Creating the Perfect Culinary Experience

New Google Feature Every Restaurant Marketer Should Use (Plus Where to Find Me in Chicago This Week)

The Goodbye Kiss: How Restaurateurs Can Leave a Lasting Impression (Without Lipstick Smudges)

And the Award Goes to...

Article 7: AI and Labor: Optimizing Staffing and Enhancing Employee Experience

You are Always Compensated in Direct Proportion to the Value You Bring to Others

The Power of Collective Bargaining: Why Restaurants Need to Unite Against Delivery Giants

A Simple Contest Strategy for More Reach, Followers & Orders

A New Era in Restaurant Tech

Hospitality Headline, May 3rd 2025

The Access Hospitality Section Takes a Back Seat to No Section!

Nobody Puts the Shout Out Section in a Corner!

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose

An Ode to the Start-Up

The Scarcity Effect: Why “Only a Few Left!” is the Secret Ingredient to a Craveable Guest Experience

AI and Marketing: Reaching the Right Customers, at the Right Time

Success Is Not a Destination That You Stumble Upon—It's a Structure You Intentionally Build

Making Your Restaurant Website Work for Everyone: A Simple Guide to WCAG

Why Every Serious Restaurant Operator and Executive Is Going to Chicago in May

The White Lotus

Tipping Points: What Drives Diners to be More Generous

The Secret to Closing More Deals: Give More Than You Get

The AI-Powered Kitchen: Automation and Innovation

Why Your LinkedIn Metrics Never Seem to Match Up (And Why That's OK)

BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS: The Restaurant Leadership Conference (RLC) 2025

How to Be Strategic, Not another Statistic

My Bologna Has a First Name

The Science of Seduction: How Menu Descriptions Can Boost Sales

BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS - THE STATE OF DIGITAL ORDERING REPORT

Why Ad Testing Isn't Optional: The Science Behind Multivariate Testing

“Smile, You’re Being Spatially Analyzed”: A Romp Through the Tech That Sees Everything and Gives You Back Your Time

Navigating Tariff Turbulence and Optimizing with AI: A New Era for Restaurant Supply Chains

The Extra Mile Is the Emptiest—and That’s Why It’s Yours to Own

FINAL FOUR vs BIG-3

Dog Treats, Patents, and the Space-Time Continuum

The Future is Just Yesterday’s Crazy Idea That Didn’t Get Laughed Out of the Room

Increasing ROAS - Return on Ad Spend Effectiveness, A Primer

Many execs hate digital advertising because outcomes don't align with business goals.

The Power of Restaurant Rituals Why We Crave the Comfort of Familiarity

The Data Goldmine: How AI Turns Your Restaurant's Information into Profit

Becoming Who You Aspire to Be Is a Journey You’ll Be Repeatedly Tempted to Abandon—Don’t.

MISS THIS, AND YOUR RESTAURANT MARKETING MIGHT GO DOWN IN FLAMES!

Why Are Foodie Holidays So Important? According to the TikTok for Restaurants team, sharing content on these trending days gives you an automatic boost in the algorithm.

People Will Come

From Fine Dining to Fast Casual: 15 Ways to Make Memorable Moments

Restaurant AI

Big Companies Don't Like Risk: Navigating B2B Go-to-Market for Innovative Products

Whales like innovation but don't like risk.

BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS: NY Restaurant Show, Bar & Restaurant Expo, and International Pizza Expo

MECHANICS BEFORE MAGIC Yup. One. Big. Takeaway. This should set the tone for all your success.

TikTok Ate My Lunch: How Short-Form Videos Became the Secret Sauce of Restaurant Marketing

How Short-Form Videos Became the Secret Sauce of Restaurant Marketing

The Cola Wars

Swiping Right on Your Tech Stack / The New Dating Game

Coming up meet "Next Genny from the Block-Chain" will our contestants find the perfect match, or will they swipe left on this week's exciting episode of the Tech Dating Game?

Restaurant Growth Season - How to Plant Your Seeds This Week!

It's time to come out from behind the bar, get out the kitchen, lock up the office and get in the know! Trade show season has officially begun in the restaurant business

Danny Meyer’s Recipe for Success: The Science of Hospitality

At Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) restaurants, hospitality is not just a service—it’s a psychological experience. The goal: make every guest feel like a VIP.

Strategy First: The Business Algorithm You Need for Real Progress

Any effort of importance starts with strategy.

I'll Have What She's Having

Turning Special Occasions into Magical Memories

By turning special occasions into meaningful experiences, they forge deeper emotional connections with their guests. These small gestures make guests feel truly seen and valued, transforming an ordinary night out into an unforgettable celebration.

Tech Takes the Scenic Route to Hospitality: The Long, Winding Road from CES to Your POS

BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS: Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit 2025

The Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit just concluded in Myrtle Beach, SC. The show attracts growth mindset, proactive brands who are interested in learning, sharing and improving. Its a GREAT show! Here are my KEY TAKEAWAYS

Breaking Free from Ideological Blind Spots: A Leader's Guide to Innovation

Love at First Bite

The Superpowers of Loading Data into Gemini NotebookLM

I guarantee NotebookLM will save you dozens of hours every month. 30 minutes is all it takes to get started.

The Perfect Instagram Optimization Plan, According to Meta

I get asked every single day for tactics on how to create content and maximize efforts on social media. I personally create a lot of content and advise a lot of restaurants and hospitality tech companies on their marketing, so I do have a lot of experience with this.

The Psychology of Emotional Contagion

Tick Tock: The Legend of Christopher Sebes—A Trailblazer in Technicolor

A well deserved congratulations to our friend, Christopher Sebes, a bona fide industry legend.

Tariff Whiplash: How Can Your Business Prepare?

To Conference or Not To Conference

Creating a Culture of Positive Emotional Contagion in Hospitality

A Delightfully Dysfunctional Journey into Tech, Hospitality, and the Absurd

Unleashing Team Power: The Secret to Business Optimization

The Totally Free and Easy Way to Get More New and Repeat Guests for Your Restaurant

12 Monkeys

Restaurant Lighting

When it comes to dining out, food and service aren’t the only factors shaping a restaurant’s success. Lighting plays a crucial, yet often underestimated, role in influencing how diners perceive their experience. From setting the mood to impacting food choices and even the amount of time spent at a table, lighting is a powerful tool that can directly affect customer satisfaction and your bottom line.

BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS: P3 Mastermind Restaurant Marketing Summit 2025

The P3 Mastermind Restaurant Marketing Summit just concluded in Salt Lake City, UT and I am beside myself with gratitude. This event, in its 2nd year, was created by Chip Klose, MBA, an incredible restaurant coach. He and I co-hosted it along with a number of incredible thought leaders.

Helping People Help You: Harness the Power of Simple Referral Programs

Discover how to turbocharge your business growth with a streamlined, effective referral program that bridges the gap between minimal effort and professional networking tools.

Love is in the Air

Hurry Up and Wait

SOUND BITES: How we hear the flavor of food

Let's Talk About Those Terrible Cold Emails Please