Ben Leventhal on Bridging Old School Hospitality with New School Technology Artwork

The meez Podcast

Josh Sharkey (Entrepreneur, professional chef, and founder/CEO of meez, the culinaryOS for food professionals) interviews world class entrepreneurs in the food space that are shifting the paradigm of how we innovate and operate in our industry.

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The meez Podcast

Ben Leventhal on Bridging Old School Hospitality with New School Technology

April 08, 2025 • Josh Sharkey • Episode 93

#93.
In this episode, we explore how hospitality is evolving at the intersection of tradition and technology—through the lens of one of the industry’s most influential entrepreneurs.

Ben Leventhal, Co-Founder of Eater and Resy and now Founder of Blackbird Labs, shares his journey from media to tech and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He reflects on the importance of brand identity, the power of storytelling, and the real challenges restaurants face in marketing, management, and scaling.

Ben also examines why traditional loyalty programs often fall short and how platforms like Blackbird are reimagining loyalty to strengthen guest relationships and return personalized hospitality to the spotlight. He discusses how feedback can be used to reinforce a brand and build lasting connections, positioning loyalty as a vital part of a restaurant’s identity.

A central theme is the inclusion of restaurant staff in the loyalty ecosystem—creating a more connected, empowered team and elevating the guest experience across the board.