News Briefs

Chris Kung has joined Zaxby's as its new Chief Digital Officer. He will lead the transformation and acceleration of the company's Loyalty and e-Commerce initiatives.  

"Zaxbys rapid expansion requires the investment of world-class leaders and resources," said Bernard Acoca, Zaxbys CEO. "Chris's expertise in e-Commerce and loyalty programs will help drive incremental growth and enhance the Zaxbys experience as digital touchpoints continue to proliferate throughout the customer journey. His arrival will help us build stronger relationships with our guests by deepening our understanding of their needs and rewarding their patronage with personalized experiences." 

Growing Loyalty

Kung brings over 20 years of innovation and strategy experience to Zaxbys and most recently served as Chief Digital Officer at Dollar General, where he led initiatives that transformed the company into a digital innovator. Kung played a central role in creating the myDG loyalty program. Under his leadership, the company's e-Commerce sales grew 40x in three years, app usage surged from 1.8 million to 7 million monthly active users, and the DG App earned the distinction of the #1 couponing app in America.

Prior to Dollar General, Kung held key leadership positions at Macy's Inc., where he drove omnichannel technology and innovation.

Zaxbys is establishing a new Loyalty & e-Commerce Team, which will report to Kung. This new team will spearhead efforts to make Loyalty and e-Commerce significant contributors to its growth. The creation of the Chief Digital Officer role will open capacity and drive focus for Mike Nettles, Chief Technology Officer, and Patrick Schwing, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, who both previously oversaw a portion of this role.  

PopID and Steak n Shake announced today that all Steak n Shake locations in the United States now accept PopID Check In (to review favorite orders and loyalty points) and PopPay for checkout. With more than 300 locations, Steak n Shake is the first national restaurant brand in the United States to adopt biometric check-in and checkout nationwide. PopID’s biometric check-in feature makes kiosk ordering faster, easier, and more personalized.

The implementation of PopID in every Steak n Shake location was accomplished rapidly and at low cost through a partnership between PopID and ACRELEC, a leading supplier of kiosk-ordering hardware and drive-through products. Cameras were shipped to every restaurant for attachment to the existing ACRELEC kiosks. “As explained in our recent publication, ACRELEC believes that our integrated biometric solution provides various benefits to restaurant operators related to throughput, ticket size, and loyalty engagement,” says Bruno Lo-Re, President of ACRELEC America.

“We are thrilled about our partnership with PopID and to be on the edge of biometric technology for the benefit of our customers. Our guests now have the option to use biometrics for a faster and more seamless experience,” says Sardar Biglari, Chairman of Biglari Holdings, the parent company of Steak n Shake.

Now that biometrics are enabled for all ordering and payment inside Steak n Shake restaurants, PopID and Steak n Shake will begin implementing biometric check-in and checkout at the restaurant’s drive-through units. “Similar to the kiosks, biometric check in can increase loyalty participation and revenue at the drive thru while also reducing payment processing costs,” says John Miller, CEO of PopID and Chairman of Cali Group. “Additionally, biometric payment at the order confirmation screen enables staff members to work on tasks other than taking payments by card and phone at the order pick-up window.”

Group business is top of mind for hoteliers in 2024, with new research finding that hoteliers are prioritizing ways to strengthen customer relationships, to improve outreach with new and repeat business, and to plan and execute events more effectively.

Recognizing this, Amadeus has harnessed over three decades of expertise to develop an enhanced Delphi solution. Designed to support teams from sales lead to execution, Delphi has been updated to better meet the needs of any hotel, no matter the size. Whether a small property with limited resources, a full-service hotel orchestrating large gatherings, or a hotel management company tracking portfolio performance, Delphi can be tailored and scalable to meet a wide range of needs.

At the core of the elevated offering is a modern user interface built on the Einstein 1 Platform*, enabling Delphi customers to get the combined benefit of Amadeus and Salesforce feature releases. Other highlights include:

• Widened accessibility and expanded integrations for limited-service properties
• Tailored training options from self-onboarding to expert-led masterclasses
• Centralized and unified database to grow relationships and repeat business
• Comprehensive performance reports to identify trends and enable accurate forecasting

In addition, Amadeus is also expanding its sales and catering suite of solutions with the debut of Delphi Direct. The online booking platform enables hoteliers to transform how they capture group business by allowing meeting spaces to be booked directly on a hotel’s website. This simplifies the entire sales process and unlocks more revenue while allowing teams to focus on capturing larger deals.

“At Amadeus, we’re proud of our investment in this enhanced Delphi with new capabilities and a totally new look,” says Iain Saxton, Senior Vice President of On-Property Solutions, Hospitality, Amadeus. "Delphi has always been a trusted name in the industry, and this latest innovation now extends our full-service sales and catering solution to all types of hotels. Our customers will enjoy improved sales, meeting and event planning, with the ability to sell online. The upgrades allow for true digital transformation.”

Along with Delphi, Amadeus offers a powerful sales and catering software ecosystem, including the new Delphi Direct, Delphi Diagramming, and MeetingBroker, as well as partner integrations designed to usher in a new era of streamlined business growth and management.  

*Salesforce, Einstein and others are among the trademarks of Salesforce, inc.

Pita Pit, a Mediterranean fast-casual brand specializing in made-to-order pita sandwiches, promoted Meghan Haugen to the position of Chief Operating Officer. In her new role, Meghan will be responsible for overseeing the Operations, Marketing, and Franchising departments, and helping to drive the strategic direction and growth of the company.

With nearly two decades of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Meghan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role. She has been an integral part of Pita Pit's success, demonstrating exceptional leadership and a relentless commitment to operational excellence.

"I am honored and excited to take on this new role as Chief Operating Officer," said Meghan Haugen. "I look forward to working with our talented team to continue building on our success, driving innovation, and delivering more value to our customers and franchisees."

Since joining Pita Pit, Meghan has held various leadership roles, where she has consistently delivered impressive results. Her deep understanding of the brand, coupled with her ability to foster strong relationships with franchisees, vendors, and partners, has positioned her as a key leader within the organization.

"Meghan's promotion is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and outstanding contributions to Pita Pit," said Peter Riggs, CEO of Pita Pit. "Her strategic vision and operational expertise will be instrumental in pushing our growth and ensuring that we continue to deliver a better experience to our customers and franchisees."

In her new role, Meghan will focus on enhancing operational efficiencies, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and supporting the growth and success of Pita Pit's franchise network. She will work closely with the executive team to develop and execute the company's strategic plan, ensuring alignment with the company's vision and goals. 

Pictured:  Meghan Haugen, Chief Operating Officer of Pita Pit USA

Denny’s Inc. announced the appointment of two new executive leaders: Monigo G. Saygbay-Hallie, Ph.D. joins as executive vice president, chief people officer for Denny’s Corp. effective August 5, and Patty Trevino joins as Denny’s senior vice president, chief brand officer, effective August 12.  

Celebrated human resources, talent manager and culture leader Monigo G. Saygbay-Hallie will serve as executive vice president, chief people officer for Denny’s at the enterprise level, leading people initiatives across Denny’s and Keke’s Breakfast Café. Saygbay-Hallie brings more than 20 years of restaurant and retail experience in leading teams and developing talent. She joins Denny’s, having most recently served as chief people officer at Checkers & Rally’s Drive-In restaurants. Before Checkers, she served in HR leadership roles at Sysco Corporation, and YUM! Brands. 

“It is a tremendous opportunity to join a legacy brand like Denny’s and Keke’s as a growing brand. I’m most looking forward to helping to expand and elevate the culture and benefit the brand’s people,” said Saygbay-Hallie.  

New Brand Leader

The company also welcomes accomplished marketing and brand leader Patty Trevino as Denny’s senior vice president, chief brand officer. Trevino brings two decades of experience in the restaurant industry and most recently served as executive vice president, chief marketing officer at Red Lobster. She has also held marketing leadership roles at Carl’s, Jr., Bloomin’ Brands and Burger King. Trevino’s position focuses on Denny’s restaurants, overseeing all facets of branding including strategy, public relations, social and digital marketing, consumer experience and product innovation.  

“Denny’s is THE iconic American restaurant brand. They are America’s diner. Being part of this stellar team, strengthening our guests' value proposition, delivering craveable food, and enhancing brand love and affinity will be a true honor,” said Trevino.  

Both roles will report to Kelli Valade, Denny’s Inc. president and CEO. “Monigo and Patty are proven leaders who will contribute immediately to our company and brand strategies,” said Valade. “They both have invaluable experience that will provide a positive impact on our teams, franchisees and guests. We are giving them a warm welcome to the Denny’s family.”  

Commonwealth Hotels, a Covington, Kentucky-based hotel management company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Gustin as vice president of operations. In his new role, Jon will oversee the operational excellence and strategic growth initiatives of Commonwealth Hotels, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the hospitality industry.

Jon Gustin joins Commonwealth Hotels with a distinguished career spanning over 15 years in various senior leadership positions. Most recently, Jon served as the senior director of operations for Placemakr, where he was instrumental in driving operational efficiencies and growing the company from a start-up. Prior to that, he held key roles including director of hotel division for Blue Water Development, regional director for Dimension Development, and area general manager for TPG Hotels and Resorts. Jon has also held various leadership positions with White Lodging, contributing significantly to their operational success.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jon Gustin to the Commonwealth Hotels family," said Jennifer Porter, president of Commonwealth Hotels. "His extensive background in hotel operations, coupled with his strategic vision and leadership skills, make him an ideal fit for this pivotal role. We are confident that Jon will play a key role in driving our continued growth and delivering exceptional experiences for our guests."

Jon Gustin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Business from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University. His unique blend of hospitality expertise and legal acumen will further strengthen Commonwealth Hotels' commitment to operation excellence and guest satisfaction.

"I'm excited to join Commonwealth Hotels and work alongside such a talented team," said Jon Gustin. "I look forward to leveraging my experience to drive operations efficiencies, enhance guest experiences, and contribute to the overall success and growth of the organization."