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, and experiential entertainment while still keeping the nostalgia and emotional connection generations grew up with. The conversation dives into the future of family entertainment, restaurant memberships, employee culture, experiential dining, Peter Piper Pizza, Adventure World, modern hospitality trends, and how Chuck E. Cheese continues adapting to changing consumer behavior in 2026.

Episode Credits:

• Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
• Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
• Producer: Julie Zucker
• Creative Director: Adam Levine
• Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
• Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

www.thehospitalityhangout.com

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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 finding new momentum through franchise innovation, modular restaurant development, menu strategy, loyalty-driven growth, and a renewed focus on what made Quiznos iconic in the first place.

The conversation dives into:
• The emotional connection consumers still have with Quiznos
• The new “Qube” modular restaurant concept
• Why legacy restaurant brands are making a comeback
• Restaurant workforce challenges and DailyPay partnerships
• AI, automation, and operational strategy in QSR
• Menu innovation, protein trends, snacking, and value
• Franchising, restaurant ownership, and scaling modern brands

From toasted subs to modern restaurant tech, this episode explores how a nostalgic brand is adapting to today’s hospitality landscape while staying true to its roots.

If you care about restaurant growth, franchise development, hospitality innovation, or the future of fast casual dining, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Episode Credits:

• Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
• Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
• Producer: Julie Zucker
• Creative Director: Adam Levine
• Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
• Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

www.thehospitalityhangout.com

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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, websites, and digital guest interactions.

The conversation dives into how AI is quietly becoming embedded in restaurant operations, the shift from SEO to generative search, and why independent operators may now have a real advantage over large enterprise brands. Sterling also discusses the launch of his podcast focused on AI in restaurants, the changing tech stack, and what the next wave of innovation looks like for operators trying to grow in a digital-first world.

Episode Credits:

• Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
• Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
• Producer: Julie Zucker
• Creative Director: Adam Levine
• Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
• Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

www.thehospitalityhangout.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.