Digital Hospitality

Digital Hospitality is an interview podcast series that explores the ways successful people have harnessed the power of the Internet and social media. The show is hosted by Cali BBQ Media Founder Shawn P. Walchef.

Digital Hospitality is a business podcast hosted by Shawn P. Walchef, with 622 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Shawn P. Walchef hosts Digital Hospitality, a business show with 622 episodes published.

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  Digital Hospitality

  How Stage Theory Turns Content Into Community w/ David Meltzer

  Sep 30, 202619 min

  Waiting for more time or better content could be costing your business valuable connections. David Meltzer joins Shawn Walchef on Digital Hospitality to explain how entrepreneurs can turn everyday conversations into content and build relationships through storytelling. They discuss why quantity, speed and consistency improve quality, how one viewer can change your business, and why a small, engaged audience can matter more than thousands of social media followers who never take the next step. Make time by using what you already do - Meetings, coaching calls and everyday conversations can become podcasts, videos and social clips. Creating content starts with capturing the work and conversations already happening in your business. Quality comes through consistency - Waiting until your content is perfect delays the practice needed to improve. Producing more, moving faster and showing up consistently helps you become more comfortable and create better content over time. One meaningful connection can change your business - Shawn became David’s coaching client after watching a video with only a few hundred views. Reaching someone who takes action can be more valuable than attracting thousands of followers who scroll past. Episode Links David Meltzer Online: https://dmeltzer.com/ David Meltzer Podcast: https://dmeltzer.com/#podcast David Meltzer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmeltzer/?hl=en Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our Website Follow Restaurant Technology Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Learn About our Media Services

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  Digital Hospitality

  People First, Tech Second—How Michel Falcon Is Scaling Brasa Peruvian Kitchen Without Losing Its Soul

  Sep 29, 202626 min

  How can a restaurant operator scale a multi-location brand without sacrificing authentic human connection in a digital world? Michel Falcon , CEO of Brasa Peruvian Kitchen , joins Shawn Walchef on Digital Hospitality to share his playbook for building a people-first culture in the restaurant industry. Falcon explains how he modernizes onboarding for tech-savvy employees to keep turnover low, uses tools like Incentivio and Toast to build customer loyalty, and carves out time every Friday to personally email his most frequent guests. He also argues against automating food assembly, showing why technology should streamline back-of-house operations—such as sales tax and inventory—so employees can focus on real face-to-face hospitality as the brand expands across North America. Use Technology to Support Humans, Not Replace Them – Falcon advocates using automation strictly behind the scenes to eliminate repetitive administrative tasks—like sales tax processing and inventory counting—freeing up managers and staff to deliver genuine face-to-face hospitality. Nurture Employee Loyalty Through Modernized Systems – To maintain near-zero turnover in an industry known for churn, Brasa Peruvian Kitchen designs digital-first onboarding and mobile learning experiences tailored to younger, tech-savvy team members. Build Direct, Personal Relationships with Top Customers – Instead of relying solely on automated marketing sequences, Falcon blocks out time every Friday to personally email his most frequent guests from his own inbox to thank them, creating lasting brand loyalty and meaningful personal connections. Episode Links Michel Falcon Website: https://michelfalcon.com/ Falcon Leadership Academy: https://michel-s-site-7878.thinkific.com/courses/teamsbymichelfalcon Michel Falcon Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelfalcon/?originalSubdomain=ca Michael Falcon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelfalcon/?hl=en Michel Falcon Blog and Podcast: https://michelfalcon.com/blog/ Brasa Peruvian Kitchen: https://brasaperuvian.com/ Brasa Peruvian Kitchen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brasaperuvian/?hl=en Brasa Peruvian Kitchen TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brasaperuvian Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our Website Follow Restaurant Technology Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Learn About our Media Services

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  Digital Hospitality

  From Morning Coffee to Happy Hour: How Colada Shop Sets the Mood With Music

  Sep 28, 202625 min

  Daniella Senior built Colada Shop to be a place people could visit throughout the day, from morning coffee to lunch and happy hour. On Digital Hospitality , she talks with Shawn Walchef about the café’s unexpected start, its expansion into an airport and the details that make guests feel welcome. Music is one of them. Across seven locations, Colada Shop uses Soundtrack to create playlists that fit each shop and change with the time of day. Chefs, baristas and café associates all contribute songs, making the music part of the team’s culture as well as the guest experience. Build for the whole day - Senior designed Colada Shop so guests could come in for coffee, return for lunch and stay for cocktails. That approach also suits the airport location, where travelers need different things throughout the day and the café can serve them without changing its concept. Let each shop shape the music - Colada Shop uses Soundtrack to adjust playlists for each location and time of day. Chefs, baristas and café associates suggest songs and speak up when something no longer fits. Their input helps the music reflect both the people working there and the guests who spend time there. Protect the experience as you grow - Senior was hesitant to open an airport location until she found a partner that would give the brand enough attention. Colada Shop remains involved in decisions about vendors, menu items and the way the space operates because an airport guest’s experience still shapes how they see the brand. Episode Links Colada Shop: https://www.coladashop.com/ Colada Shop Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ColadaShop Daniella Senior Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellasenior/?hl=en Soundtrack: https://soundtrack.io/ Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our Website Follow Restaurant Technology Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Learn About our Media Services

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  Digital Hospitality

  Grow Slow, Stay Local—How Ggiata Is Building the Modern Neighborhood Deli

  Sep 23, 202615 min

  What does it take to grow a restaurant brand without losing the neighborhood hospitality that made it special? Jack Biebel of Ggiata Delicatessen joins Shawn Walchef at the CREATE conference after Ggiata received the Emerging Brand Award. Bible explains how three childhood friends from New Jersey built a modern Los Angeles deli despite having no restaurant experience, why Ggiata uses technology behind the scenes instead of replacing personal interaction and how the company prioritizes gradual growth over rapid expansion. He also discusses developing leaders, learning from each neighborhood and telling an authentic story that keeps every Ggiata location connected to its community. Use Technology to Strengthen Hospitality – Ggiata uses technology behind the scenes to reduce administrative work, improve restaurant systems and give managers more time to support employees and connect with customers. Let Leadership Determine the Pace of Growth – The company is pursuing gradual acceleration instead of rapid expansion. Biebel believes restaurants must develop capable teams and understand each market before adding more locations. Become Part of the Neighborhood – Ggiata studies every community by walking the surrounding blocks, meeting local businesses and asking residents where they eat. Those relationships help each location feel like a neighborhood deli rather than another unit in a chain. Episode Links Ggiata: https://www.ggiata.com/ Ggiata Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ggiata/?hl=en Ggiata TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ggiata?lang=en Jack Biebel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackbyebull/ Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our Website Follow Restaurant Technology Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Learn About our Media Services

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  Digital Hospitality

  Roulette and Tom Brady—The Unlikely Story Behind F3 Technologies

  Sep 22, 202619 min

  What does it take to keep a restaurant’s technology running while building a company through dark times? Dan Diaz of F3 Technologies joins Shawn Walchef at the CREATE conference to explain how F3 supports restaurants by managing their networks, POS systems, loyalty platforms and Wi-Fi. Diaz shares why operators often underestimate the importance of their network until it fails, how F3 grew from a business where he handled every installation to a team of approximately 180 employees, and why entrepreneurs must keep building when momentum arrives. He also reveals how a Tom Brady memorabilia collection and $36,000 in roulette winnings helped fund F3’s first payroll and insurance payments. Protect the Technology That Runs Your Restaurant – Dan Diaz says restaurant operators often underestimate their networks until something fails. F3 Technologies manages POS systems, Wi-Fi, loyalty platforms and other essential technology that can cost restaurants thousands of dollars when it goes down. Keep Building Through the Dark Times – Diaz believes entrepreneurs must continue moving forward when challenges become overwhelming. Sharing those difficult experiences can also remind business owners how much they have survived and help others facing similar struggles. Build on Your Momentum – F3 grew from Diaz handling installations and operations himself to a team of approximately 180 employees. He says business owners should keep pushing when opportunities begin opening while still taking time to recognize and appreciate their progress. Episode Links Dan Diaz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-d-diaz/ F3 Online: https://f3tech.com/ F3 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@F3fixes/videos F3 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f3inc F3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/f3inc/ Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our Website Follow Restaurant Technology Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Learn About our Media Services

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