The meez Podcast Ben Leventhal on Bridging Old School Hospitality with New School Technology
Apr 8, 2025
Ben Leventhal, serial restaurateur and co-founder of Eater and Resy, shares his insights on blending traditional hospitality with modern technology. He emphasizes the crucial role of brand identity and storytelling in restaurants. Ben critiques conventional loyalty programs and introduces Blackbird, a platform redesigning guest engagement and loyalty. He discusses empowering restaurant staff and creating seamless guest experiences as essential components of successful dining. With a focus on personalized connections, he envisions a future where restaurants regain control over their relationships with customers.
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Old-School Hospitality Meets New Tech
- Restaurants should feel like magic, combining old-school hospitality with modern tech.
- Ben argues genuine handshake-and-eye-contact hospitality is fundamental to great dining.
Eater Born From Timing And Storytelling
- Ben launched Eater because restaurants were dynamic and undercovered like sports play-by-play.
- He saw restaurants becoming cultural forces and seized the timing to tell those daily stories.
Choose Problems Aligned With Your Superpowers
- Test ideas against your unique superpowers before committing to execution.
- Ask: can I execute this better than anyone else on the planet?