967: Travis Talbot Principal + Lead Strategist at Hospitality Arts Group

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Travis Talbot is the Principal + Lead Strategist at Hospitality Arts Group. Travis got started in the industry at the age of 9 working for his mother on a farm in Canada. Travis has worked in so many areas of the industry, from night clubs to restaurants, from concert venues to food trucks. He experienced ownership for the first time when he opened Crush Champagne Lounge in Vancouver in 2003, and again with Snatch Rock n' Roll Lounge in Calgary. Today he serves as Principal + Lead Strategist at Hospitality Arts Group and will soon be operating Apex Fox Coaching.

Check out episode 966 with Sam Caucci as recommended in today's episode!

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Favor success quote/mantra:

• "What's your plan?"

In this episode with Travis Talbot we will discuss:

• The difference between a plan and intention
• Behavioral economics
• The difference between management and leadership
• Working with Live Nation and putting on shows
• Menu engineering
• Post-COVID menu design
• Ownership

Today's sponsor:

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which “it factor” habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Diligence
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Passion
3. What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
   • Understanding, do we understand them and do they understand us?
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Marketing, getting the word out
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Kindness, just be nice
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • The follow-up, after the check is dropped
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service by The Disney Institute
   • GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM
8. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
   • Slack
9. What is one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or often enough?
   • They don't have a plan
10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • Have fun
    • Be kind
    • Adventure

Contact:

Website: Apex Fox Coaching

Website: Hospitality Arts Group

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Travis Talbot for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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