Podcasts about indigo road

In this episode of Hospitality Hot Topics, hosts Steve Carran and David Millili are joined by Gabriel Perez from Indigo Road to unpack April's biggest shifts in hospitality.They dive into why boutique hotels are leading in RevPAR despite growing consumer caution, the booming popularity of camping and outdoor experiences, and how sports tourism is becoming a massive economic driver—from the NFL Draft to the upcoming World Cup.They also discuss the evolving tourism dynamics between the US and Canada, the rise of mobile bookings, and how hotels can adapt to trends such as glamping and experiential travel. Gabriel also shares exciting growth updates from Indigo Road, including historic revitalization projects and thoughtfully curated restaurant expansions in Florida. In this episode, you'll learn:Boutique hotels led RevPAR in 2024, uncertainty in 2025The Great Outdoor RevivalCanadians avoiding US travelSports TourismMobile Phones are primary booking toolLatest things happening at Indigo RoadWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rUq7MCV_tZM  This episode is sponsored by Indigo Road: https://www.theindigoroad.com/Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More MediaLinks:Indigo Road: https://www.theindigoroad.com/Gabriel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehotelier/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/154Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

This week on Brown Ambition, we’re joined by none other than HGTV’s powerhouse duo, Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson, stars of “Married to Real Estate” and hosts of the Marriage & Money podcast. Together, we dive into what it really looks like to build a business, raise a family, and keep a marriage strong—all while staying true to themselves. From juggling show tapings to managing their growing empire (hello, new furniture line Indigo Road!), Egypt and Mike don’t hold back. We talk about: - The honest truth about therapy, teamwork, and choosing love on the hard days - How they navigate marriage without competition just collaboration - The power of understanding your partner’s strengths in life and in business - Their journey raising daughters while modeling a healthy, ambitious partnership - What it takes to build a financial dream team and break the mold on outdated gender roles We also get personal about the importance of communication, leaning on trust, and setting boundaries that protect your peace—drawing inspiration from Michelle Obama, Tabitha Brown, and the many women redefining relationship goals on their own terms. This one’s for anyone balancing love, legacy, and leveling up

On today's show: 1. Oak Steakhouse's website - https://www.oaksteakhouserestaurant.com/location/oak-steakhouse-charleston/ 2. Steve Palmer's bio - https://www.theindigoroad.com/team-palmer/ 3. Indigo Road's website - https://www.theindigoroad.com/ 4. Say Grace Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/say-grace/id1793458967 5. Ben's Friends - https://www.bensfriendshope.com/ 6. "Say Grace" book - https://amzn.to/3QxFgQ5 This episode's music is by Tyler Boone (tylerboonemusic.com). The episode was produced by LMC Soundsystem.

Join us on this episode of the Restaurant RockStars podcast as we dive deep into the culinary journey of Mark, a key player in the Indigo Road Hospitality Group. From his humble beginnings as a dishwasher to becoming the Culinary Director of an esteemed hospitality group, Mark shares invaluable insights on kitchen management, culinary education, and leadership. He discusses the influence of his mentors, the importance of family meals, and the core values that drive Indigo Road's success. Mark also provides a peek into the process of opening new restaurants and maintaining high standards across multiple locations. This episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice. We discuss: • Mentorship and Career Growth • Leadership Philosophy • Hiring Philosophy: Experience vs. Attitude • Building a Positive Company Culture • The Importance of Family Meal • Recognizing and Rewarding Excellence • Financial Management in the Restaurant Industry • Opening New Restaurant Concepts Learn the Top 3 Restaurant Profit Killers and how to fix them FREE DOWNLOAD: https://restaurantrockstars.com/profits/ The Restaurant Academy Training System We will train you and your entire team to up level your business, maximize sales and optimize profits - Join the Restaurant Academy: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Thank you to our sponsors: TerraSlate menus are waterproof, rip-proof, antimicrobial and easy to clean. They ship to every state and over a hundred countries with a fast 1 day turnaround and Free overnight shipping. Get your menus from TerraSlate at https://terraslate.com UberDirect: With Uber Direct, you take orders on your website, app or by phone. Then, drivers from Uber's courier network pick them up from your place and deliver them to your customer's doorstep. Delivery just got better with Uber Direct. Learn more at https://www.uberdirect.com Sculpture Hospitality are your restaurant's Food & Beverage Inventory experts. Don't leave thousands of dollars in Profit to chance when there is a simple Inventory system! Sculpture Hospitality don't just manage your inventory, they give you a clear picture of your restaurant's profitability. Get a no obligation FREE Inventory Consult at https://SculptureHospitality.com/rockstar Restaurant Technologies: takes care of your fry oil challenges. They handle everything end-to-end from delivering, filtering monitoring, collecting, and recycling your waste cooking oil. Restaurant Technologies customers save 10-15% on their insurance premiums and even get bonuses for any new customer referrals. https://www.rti-inc.com or call 866-399-3639 to get started today.

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Steve Palmer, founder of the Indigo Road Hospitality Group. Palmer shares his journey from washing dishes at 13 to becoming a successful entrepreneur and author. He discusses his passion for hospitality, the importance of culture in business, and his personal battle with addiction. Palmer also highlights the creation and impact of Ben's Friends, a support group for hospitality professionals struggling with addiction. This inspiring episode offers valuable insights into pursuing your dreams and building a purposeful career in the hospitality industry.00:00 Introduction to the Hospitality Mentor Podcast00:36 Meet Steve Palmer: Founder of Indigo Road Hospitality Group01:01 Early Beginnings: From Dishwasher to Restaurant Enthusiast03:56 Discovering a Passion for Service and Wine06:38 Mentorship and Professional Growth10:15 Transitioning to Leadership and Management16:05 The Birth of Indigo Road Hospitality Group29:22 The Grit of Entrepreneurship30:09 Leadership as an Act of Service33:19 Creating a Culture of Hospitality39:52 Expanding into Boutique Hotels46:29 The Birth of Ben's Friends56:13 Reflections and Final Thoughts

On this episode, Kate and Rachel sit down with Steve Palmer, the Founder of Indigo Road Hospitality Group, which has a portfolio of over 30 restaurants and independent hotels, and the co-founder of Ben's Friends, a non-profit organization offering support to hospitality industry workers struggling with substance abuse. Throughout the conversation, we discuss Steve's career in the industry that coincides with his sobriety journey, building an employee-first culture at Indigo Road Hospitality Group, advocating for mental health in the industry, tips for restaurant management to improve their own cultures, and more. Learn more about Indigo Road Hospitality Group and Ben's Friends below: https://www.theindigoroad.com/ https://www.bensfriendshope.com/  

This episode is brought to you by Schedulefly.Super Simple Restaurant Employee Scheduling Software + Legendary Customer Service. Since 2007 we've served over 20,000 restaurants and hospitality businesses.Head on over to https://www.schedulefly.com for your 30-day free trial, or feel free to call co-owner Wil Brawley on his cell phone to learn more: 704-906-2031. 

Jennifer Krapp is the head of restaurant operations at The Indigo Road Hospitality Group. You can hear her career journey here and thoughts on mentorship here if you missed them. In this episode, she shares her insights on what makes great hospitality and why it's so important.Listeners will learn:What doesn't make great hospitality (00:48)Why hospitality is attention (01:10)Why hospitality is so important (02:06)A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together. If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

This week, we're learning from Jennifer Krapp, head of restaurant operations at The Indigo Road Hospitality Group. You can hear her career journey here and thoughts on mentorship here if you missed them. In this episode, she shares what she's learned it takes to lead and succeed in hospitality.Listeners will learn:The importance of holding people accountable while still making them feel respected and motivated to learn (00:46)How to communicate effectively when holding others to a standard without hurting their feelings (01:49)The necessity of taking immediate action and following through on tasks to avoid being overwhelmed (02:19)How being reliable and getting things done for your team builds trust and integrity (03:00)The value of being part of a team where everyone is pushing themselves to be better and working towards the same goals (03:42)How being surrounded by motivated and inspiring people can drive you to improve and step up your own game (04:26)New to Hospitality Daily? Start here. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

This week, we're learning from Jennifer Krapp, head of restaurant operations at The Indigo Road Hospitality Group. You can hear her career journey here and thoughts on mentorship here if you missed them. In this episode, she shares her insights on the importance of showing hospitality to your teams.Listeners will learn:The impact of showing genuine care for staff during challenging times (01:05)How creating special moments for team members can boost morale and loyalty (02:15)"Hospitality U" and its role in employee development (03:42)The importance of personalized attention and mentorship in hospitality training (06:15)How their "Lasting Impressions" program fosters a culture of surprise and delight (07:45)New to Hospitality Daily? Start here. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

This week, we're learning from Jennifer Krapp, head of restaurant operations at The Indigo Road Hospitality Group. You can hear her career journey here if you missed it. In this episode, she shares her insights on mentorship and the best way to learn hospitality.Listeners will learn:How Steve Palmer, the company's founder and chief vision officer, makes people feel seen and heard (00:51)The importance of in-person learning and mentorship (02:40)The value of face-to-face conversations and taking the time to meet with people in person (03:57)New to Hospitality Daily? Start here. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Jennifer Krapp, head of restaurant operations at The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares her journey in hospitality and the importance of self-care in avoiding burnout.Listeners will learn:How Jennifer's love for hospitality and acts of service started at a young age (01:43)The inflection point in her career that put her on the path to where she is today (04:28)How Jennifer kept going and led her team through a major setback (06:27)The importance of mindset and resilience in handling challenges (07:08)Jennifer's role at The Indigo Road Hospitality Group and her experience opening 14 restaurants in three and a half years (09:26)Her personal experience with burnout and the steps she took to recover (10:09)The daily practices Jennifer has implemented to avoid burnout, such as morning exercise and setting boundaries between work and home life (11:49)The importance of making time for self-care (14:57)If you enjoyed this, check out my other episodes with leaders from The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, including:How "Transformational Hospitality" Changed My Life (And Can Change Your Business) - Steve PalmerCulture As A Business Model: How We Turn Employee Satisfaction into Profits - Steve PalmerHospitality Starts In Your Office - Katharine AmesLet's Create A World of Abundance Through Hospitality - Steve PalmerNew to Hospitality Daily? Start here. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Teague sits down with Steve Palmer, Founder & Chief Vision Officer of Indigo Road Hospitality Group, at the newly opened Rivet House in Athens, GA. Known for his remarkable success in the restaurant business, Steve talks about his transition into hotel management and the journey that led him there. Behind the scenes of his incredible career, Steve opens up about his personal battle with addiction and how he's now giving back to others in the industry who have faced similar challenges.

In this episode, Katharine Ames, Chief Marketing Officer at the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares stories of hospitality that she's experienced from her teams and how it has impacted her personally and professionally.Listeners will learn:How the Indigo Road Hospitality Group takes its "Surprise and Delight" initiative seriously, going the extra mile to make guests feel special (01:14)Katharine's personal experience celebrating a milestone birthday at Oku Atlanta, where her team went all out with personalized menus, decor, and cocktails (02:05)How Katharine's colleagues at the Indigo Road's home office in Charleston welcomed her children with thoughtful gift bags and activities during a work trip (03:40)The significant impact that experiencing hospitality from colleagues can have on people's experiences (05:22)How the culture of hospitality is ingrained in the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, with colleagues sharing their "Surprise and Delight" experiences on a company-wide private Instagram feed (06:05)This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. Download our latest research report here: Unlocking Revenue - How Hoteliers Build Profitable Guest RelationshipsNew to Hospitality Daily? Start here. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Katharine Ames, Chief Marketing Officer at the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares her journey from studying communications and hospitality in college to becoming a CMO in the hospitality industry.Listeners will learn:How Katharine's passion for hospitality was inspired by her father and their family dinners (06:02)The importance of paying attention to details, as demonstrated by Katharine's internship interview (09:54)The differences between working on the agency side versus in-house in the hospitality industry (11:38)Katharine's thoughts on the importance of personal connection in marketing, even with the rise of AI and tools like ChatGPT (13:11)How Katharine finds inspiration for new ideas by stepping away from her desk, meeting with other creatives and entrepreneurs, and spending time at the hotels and restaurants (14:56)This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. Download our latest research report here: Unlocking Revenue - How Hoteliers Build Profitable Guest RelationshipsNew to Hospitality Daily? Start here. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Katharine Ames, Chief Marketing Officer at the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares her insights on the opportunities for post-stay engagement in the hospitality industry.Listeners will learn:Why post-stay engagement is the most untapped opportunity in the hospitality industry (01:15)How the retail industry has excelled at following up with customers after a transaction (01:25)The importance of reaching out to guests to encourage them to return and share their experiences (02:07)How real loyalty is about creating an affinity for a hotel, company, or restaurant, rather than just offering rewards programs (02:45)Examples of how Indigo Road Hospitality Group engages with guests post-stay, including personalized phone calls and social media interactions (03:55) New to Hospitality Daily? Start here. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares his insights on the importance of creating a positive work environment in the hospitality industry and the impact it can have on both employees and the industry as a whole. Listen now to hear his thoughts on:The mission to improve the hospitality industryCreating a world of abundanceCombating toxic work cultures The enduring appeal of the hospitality industryThe irreplaceable value of human connectionIf you enjoyed this, listen to the rest of our mini-series with Steve:Say Grace: How Sobriety Saved My Life (And How I'm Helping Others)How "Transformational Hospitality" Changed My Life (And Can Change Your Business)Culture As A Business Model: How We Turn Employee Satisfaction into ProfitsHow We Build a Culture of Mentorship Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares his insights on the importance of mentorship in building a powerful organizational culture.Listen now to learn about:Steve Palmer's Approach to Mentorship (01:00) - his views on the responsibility and privilege of mentoring, and how mentorship can turn a job into a lifelong, satisfying career in hospitality.Creating Roadmaps for Growth (01:47) - the benefits of a growing company and the opportunities it creates for employees, and examples of career progression within the Indigo Road Hospitality Group.Mentorship Programs at Indigo Road (02:10) - details on the mentorship program for new leaders,and the importance of keeping employees inspired and aligned with core values.Promoting from Within (02:58) - the strategy of promoting from within to sustain and nurture company culture, and the advantages of moving experienced employees to new locations for better success rates.Real-life Examples of Promotion and Growth (03:46) - specific examples of employees being promoted and relocated to new cities, and the excitement and growth opportunities for young, ambitious employees. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares insights on building and maintaining a great organizational culture that drives business success.Understanding Culture as a Business Model (01:21) - Steve explains how culture can be a dynamic and profitable business model, moving beyond superficial perks to create a meaningful work environment.Evaluating Organizational Culture (04:04) - Learn about the methods Indigo Road Hospitality Group uses to assess their culture, including anonymous employee satisfaction surveys and real-time observations.Internal Hospitality and Employee Engagement (06:57) - Discover the concept of internal hospitality and how creating a positive work environment can lead to better customer experiences.Practical Initiatives for a Positive Culture (08:04) - Steve discusses various initiatives like family meals, home loan programs, and free mental health support that contribute to a supportive and engaging workplace.Leadership and Vulnerability (11:09) - Understand the importance of authentic leadership, admitting mistakes, and fostering a culture where employees feel safe and valued.This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. I teamed up with Sojern to study how hoteliers use data to drive revenue and build stronger guest relationships. You can see what we found in this research report: How Hotel Brands Are Using First-Party Data to Drive Revenue & Build Stronger Relationships. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares how hospitality transformed his life and the principles that guide his company today.Listen now to learn about:Steve's Early Experience with Hospitality (01:43) - the profound advice from his mentor, Chris Goss, that shaped his view on hospitality.The True Meaning of Hospitality (00:02:52) - Steve's light bulb moment about the true meaning of hospitality and how it differs from mere service.The Power of Belonging (03:33) - how being part of a family-like team in the hospitality industry gave Steve a sense of belonging and confidence.A Recent Example of Exceptional Hospitality (05:07) - hear the heartwarming story of personalized hospitality Steve experienced at the Montage Los Cabos.The Philosophy of "To Serve is to Love" (08:38) - the inspiration behind Indigo Road's motto and how it reflects its approach to guest service and employee culture.The Timelessness of Hospitality (11:00) - why Steve believes the human experience of being served will always be valued, despite technological advancements.Vision for Indigo Road Hospitality Group (12:47) - the organic growth strategy of Indigo Road and the importance of maintaining a consistent level of hospitality across diverse concepts.Learn more about Steve's book, Say Grace: How the Restaurant Industry Saved My Life.This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. I teamed up with Sojern to study how hoteliers use data to drive revenue and build stronger guest relationships. You can see what we found in this research report: How Hotel Brands Are Using First-Party Data to Drive Revenue & Build Stronger Relationships. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares his inspiring journey to sobriety and how it has influenced his approach to developing a supportive culture within his company. What You'll Learn:Steve Palmer's Personal Journey to Sobriety (01:17) - his early struggles with addiction and the pivotal moment that led him to choose rehab over losing his job.Challenges of Sobriety in the Hospitality Industry (02:10) - the difficulties of maintaining sobriety in an industry where alcohol and drug use are prevalent and how he overcame these challenges.Impact of Sobriety on Career and Company Culture (03:24) - how Steve's sobriety journey led to the creation and success of the Indigo Road Hospitality Group and how it has shaped the company's culture.The Founding of Ben's Friends (05:00) - the story behind Ben's Friends, a support group for hospitality professionals struggling with addiction, and its growth into a nationwide initiative.The Importance of Mental Health Awareness (06:17) - the need for mental health awareness in the hospitality industry and shares how his company supports its employees' well-being.Learn more about Steve's book, Say Grace: How the Restaurant Industry Saved My Life.Thoughts, questions, suggestions? Send me a text messageThis episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. I teamed up with Sojern to study how hoteliers use data to drive revenue and build stronger guest relationships. You can see what we found in this research report: How Hotel Brands Are Using First-Party Data to Drive Revenue & Build Stronger Relationships. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Gabriel Perez, COO of Lodging for the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares his extensive journey in the hospitality industry, beginning as a pool bar attendant in Venezuela. With experiences ranging from managing operations at the Intercontinental Hotel to navigating the challenges of condominium hotels and the impacts of the 2008 financial crisis, Gabriel provides valuable insights into the rewards and complexities of a career in hospitality. He emphasizes the importance of culture, giving back, and creating memorable guest experiences, even amid tribulations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Gabriel also discusses his current role with the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, detailing their focus on creating hospitable cultures and expanding their boutique hotel portfolio. Don't forget to check out Good Morning Hospitality - Steve and Sarah's live show every Wednesday morning! Connect with Steve on LinkedIn RealTime Reservation Offer This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory. The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more. To learn more check them out here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

****You can watch this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsRDDzikEosoUrV-3_HxWNwThis episode sponsored by Popmenu. Popmenu specializes in transformative online and on-premise technologies that help restaurants increase brand visibility, guest engagement, revenue and profitability. We currently work with over 10,000 independent restaurants and hospitality groups and are helping them get the most out of their most powerful marketing tool: their menu.It's also sponsored by Kickfin. Thousands of restaurants, bars and breweries use Kickfin to tip out their employees instantly — no cash required. With Kickfin, tips go directly to your employees' bank of choice, the second their shift ends. It's a really simple solution to a really big problem — because if you're still paying out credit card tips in cash, it's costing you. Time-consuming bank runs and cash counting take managers away from work that matters. Cash is hard to track, which leads to accounting headaches — and it creates the perfect opportunity for theft, human error, and compliance issues. Bottom line: there's never been an instant, secure way to pay out tips — until Kickfin. It's an easy-to-use software that sends real-time, cashless tip payouts straight to your employees' bank accounts, 24/7/365. Kickfin gives managers hours back in their day, makes reporting a breeze and protects your business from risk. Most importantly: employees love it. Restaurants can have Kickfin up and running overnight. Employees can enroll in seconds. No hardware, no contracts, no setup fees. Visit kickfin.com for a personalized demo and see how restaurants across the country digitizing tips with Kickfin. Giving Kitchen is a James Beard Award-Winning nonprofit that provides emergency assistance to food service workers nationally. GK has served over thirteen thousand food service workers and awarded over nine million dollars to food service workers in crisis. Giving Kitchen helps food service workers that get hurt or sick, lose a family member or suffer a housing disaster like a flood or fire by offering financial assistance to cover rent and utilities. If you know someone that works in a bar or restaurant that is in crisis, tell them: Ask for help from Giving Kitchen by clicking here.Want to get involved and support Giving Kitchen? Join Dining With Gratitude in October, Giving Kitchen's month-long campaign, where the food service community pledges to raise critical funds and spread the word about their mission. Learn more by clicking here.

What if marketing is more than just advertising - and it's a chance to learn, try new things, and ultimately succeed as a hospitality provider?Today, we're learning from Sam Trotter, head of digital marketing at The Indigo Road Hospitality Group about the big opportunity with marketing that applies even if you don't work in this area!Follow Sam on LinkedInFollow Sam on InstagramFollow Sam on FacebookWhat did you think about this episode? Join the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedIn and share your thoughts. If you care about hospitality, check out the Masters of Moments podcast where Jake Wurzak interviews top leaders in hospitality. His conversations with Bashar Wali and Matt Marquis are a great place to start, but also check out his solo episodes such as how he underwrites investment deals and a deep dive into GP fees you know about. Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Jon Murray (Owner/ Founder) and Wilson Brannock (Managing Partner) of Noko drop by the studio to talk about their Wildy successful wood fired Asian Restaurant. Drawing on their experience with Indigo Road, both Jon and Wilson are veterans in this business, so they created a restaurant where as much love is given to their staff as is the guest. With insurance, vacation pay, and even a vacation stipend, they are serious about mental health, and with free gym memberships, they are serious about physical health too! Jon talks about how his experience dropping the bottle, had led him to a much fuller, and thoughtful experience Operating a restaurant. Wilson is such a down to earth guy, he talks about how much gratitude he has for the industry, his guests, and his team. Overall, they guys are kind and generous, and it was an honor to have them in studio today. Listen in, and go check out Noko! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brandon-styll/message

This episode is sponsored by Popmenu. Popmenu specializes in transformative online and on-premise technologies that help restaurants increase brand visibility, guest engagement, revenue and profitability. We currently work with over 10,000 independent restaurants and hospitality groups and are helping them get the most out of their most powerful marketing tool: their menu.It's also sponsored by Kickfin. Thousands of restaurants, bars and breweries use Kickfin to tip out their employees instantly — no cash required. With Kickfin, tips go directly to your employees' bank of choice, the second their shift ends. It's a really simple solution to a really big problem — because if you're still paying out credit card tips in cash, it's costing you. Time-consuming bank runs and cash counting take managers away from work that matters. Cash is hard to track, which leads to accounting headaches — and it creates the perfect opportunity for theft, human error, and compliance issues. Bottom line: there's never been an instant, secure way to pay out tips — until Kickfin. It's an easy-to-use software that sends real-time, cashless tip payouts straight to your employees' bank accounts, 24/7/365. Kickfin gives managers hours back in their day, makes reporting a breeze and protects your business from risk. Most importantly: employees love it. Restaurants can have Kickfin up and running overnight. Employees can enroll in seconds. No hardware, no contracts, no setup fees. Visit kickfin.com for a personalized demo and see how restaurants across the country digitizing tips with Kickfin. Giving Kitchen is a James Beard Award-Winning nonprofit that provides emergency assistance to food service workers nationally. GK has served over thirteen thousand food service workers and awarded over nine million dollars to food service workers in crisis. Giving Kitchen helps food service workers that get hurt or sick, lose a family member or suffer a housing disaster like a flood or fire by offering financial assistance to cover rent and utilities. If you know someone that works in a bar or restaurant that is in crisis, tell them: Ask for help from Giving Kitchen by clicking here.Want to get involved and support Giving Kitchen? Join Dining With Gratitude in October, Giving Kitchen's month-long campaign, where the food service community pledges to raise critical funds and spread the word about their mission. Learn more by clicking here.

This episode is sponsored by Popmenu. Popmenu specializes in transformative online and on-premise technologies that help restaurants increase brand visibility, guest engagement, revenue and profitability. We currently work with over 10,000 independent restaurants and hospitality groups and are helping them get the most out of their most powerful marketing tool: their menu.It's also sponsored by Kickfin. Thousands of restaurants, bars and breweries use Kickfin to tip out their employees instantly — no cash required. With Kickfin, tips go directly to your employees' bank of choice, the second their shift ends. It's a really simple solution to a really big problem — because if you're still paying out credit card tips in cash, it's costing you. Time-consuming bank runs and cash counting take managers away from work that matters. Cash is hard to track, which leads to accounting headaches — and it creates the perfect opportunity for theft, human error, and compliance issues. Bottom line: there's never been an instant, secure way to pay out tips — until Kickfin. It's an easy-to-use software that sends real-time, cashless tip payouts straight to your employees' bank accounts, 24/7/365. Kickfin gives managers hours back in their day, makes reporting a breeze and protects your business from risk. Most importantly: employees love it. Restaurants can have Kickfin up and running overnight. Employees can enroll in seconds. No hardware, no contracts, no setup fees. Visit kickfin.com for a personalized demo and see how restaurants across the country digitizing tips with Kickfin. Find Chris and the team at The Indigo Road here.

The underbelly of working in restaurants kitchens was addressed in the late author and chef Anthony Bourdain's seminal book: “Kitchen Confidential.” Steve Palmer, co-founder of the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, knows it all too well. In this episode, Palmer discusses the pervasiveness of alcoholism and substance abuse within F&B, its root causes and what can be to do to address it.

Today on PaintTalks, I chat with Lindsey Shevkun of Indigo Road Studio. Lindsey is a maker at heart, who loves art in many forms and mediums–including painting, weaving, cooking, and gardening. She is most recently working on wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery that is carved, brush glazed, and high fired with the goal of creating unique timeless beauty, engaging visual designs, and high-quality ceramic pieces. Lindsey is incredibly detail-oriented with her art but doesn't like details that are number-related and/or paperwork which is why she is married tp a math teacher.  Join us for our chat!

In the conclusion of Cicely's conversation with Steve Palmer, the founder of The Indigo Road, Steve talks about the culture he's built and why he was inspired to build a community of hospitality workers committed to helping others battling addiction.

Steve Palmer, a James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurateur Award nominee and semifinalist for three consecutive years ('18,'19, & '20), is the managing partner of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, a hospitality and consulting company based in Charleston, SC. In 2016, Steve and fellow restaurateur Mickey Bakst founded Ben's Friends, a support group for members of the food and beverage industry battling substance abuse and addiction. Steve discusses the many ways to define and offer support to folks in the restaurant industry, from a growing array of Ben's Friends support networks to programs through Indigo Road that offer free mental health care and pathways to home ownership.HRN On Tour is powered by Simplecast.

Steve Palmer's journey through sobriety quickly became the foundation for a new, revolutionary movement within the food and beverage industry. This episode, Steve, founder of The Indigo Road restaurant group, shares how he turned his greatest struggle into an opportunity — the opportunity to serve, lead, and ignite change through his foundation, Ben's Friends.

There is a lot of talk in professional kitchens these days about the power of mentorship, but for many of you outside those spaces, the stereotype of the angry, belittling chef still seems to stick. So today I remedy that, bringing you inside the kitchen to meet Tim Morton, a chef mentored by chefs who is now focusing on mentorship in his own career while still putting out seriously satisfying food at Frannie & the Fox located inside Hotel Emeline in Charleston, SC. He originally moved to the city to open Mercantile and Mash for Indigo Road years ago, but before that he was the executive sous chef at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, NC under the leadership of Steven Greene and previously Scott Crawford. He also spent time as chef tournant of Chicago's famed Alinea, so he knows his way around a fine dining kitchen, and now at Frannie & the Fox, a flaming hot wood-fired oven.

Episode 391 The Murdering done it is time to kick back and rest, level up and go shopping! Levelling up took longer than we expected so we have a shorter episode. Download the File Please let us know what you think either here, at thecultofteaanddice@gmail.com, or @Cultteaanddice if you want to give us any Feedback, […]

Episode 389 Its time to murder Bleyan in a cellar with the aid of some mages. Yeah it’s going to go exactly that easy isn’t it. There is not going to be any sort of complication or problem dealing with this part of the plan right? Download the File Please let us know what you […]

Episode 387 Still stuck in a party that they are exceedingly ill equipped to navigate the Strange Acquaintances have to scramble to get their obligations to the various people who gave them invitations resolved before the main event, Bleyan’s betrayal and murder. This requires them to do things like successfully communicate with people however… so […]

Episode 386 They dealt with the people following them, but now they have to talk to them which is even more terrifying. However… there’s also an evening of hobnobbing with the Nobles which for the Strange Acquaintances is a fate worse than death Download the File Please let us know what you think either here, […]

Episode 385 It’s nearly time for the ball, just a few last things to sort out, such as the routes that our heroes will take, and buying something called Gutripper. What could go wrong… Download the File Please let us know what you think either here, at thecultofteaanddice@gmail.com, or @Cultteaanddice if you want to give […]

Episode 382 With their previous plan utterly scuppered the Strange Acquaintances now have to scramble to keep up. Do they help Bleyan in the hopes of getting him alone later. Or do they just ensure whatever he is up to goes really REALLY badly. Plus they need invites to the ball! Download the File Please […]

Episode 381 The Strange Aquaintances get closer to hunting down Bleyan with the decision to actually go to the brandy parlour with some hastily constructed cover identities. With people so cunning and stealthy, surely something won’t go amiss right? Right!? Right… Download the File Please let us know what you think either here, at thecultofteaanddice@gmail.com, […]

Episode 378 The Strange Acquaintances are still trying to find out about Bleyan and manage to work out where best to “deal” with him. However this is being made very difficult by the game the nobles play in Val Royeaux. Everyone knows everyone else but somehow does not seem to be able to help with […]

Episode 375 We had a few sound issues with this one but I have done my best. Having rescued a dwarf the strange acquaintances headed over to his caravan to see how his brothers were getting on. It turns out… Not Well. Download the File Please let us know what you think either here, at […]

Episode 372 A New Game with a new GM as Bubbles steps up to run Dragon Age By Green Ronin for us! When a band of disparate tavern patrons hears a ruckus outside they obviously go to investigate, but will the motley connection end up being equal to the task? Download the File Please let […]

Restaurants are immersive experiences, and while some grow organically, most are planned with intention, and it's often the architect who is bringing that intention to life, setting the stage for the nightly dance of server, food, guest, and environment. Architect David Thompson has been involved in the building or renovation of many of the restaurants that have been featured on this show. His firm was founded in 2010 in Charleston, SC, and he's brought the vision of The Ordinary, The Grocery, and multiple projects by Steve Palmer's Indigo Road to life, so his is a unique insider's view into the makings of a culinary culture. The questions he asks when designing a space can better help us to understand not only restaurant life for those who work in them, but how our experience as diners is shaped by the space in which we are dining.

For this special episode, we teamed up with Discover South Carolina and Charleston Wine and Food to celebrate the state’s incredible restaurant and agriculture scene. Who better to hear from than the state’s chef ambassadors?Each year, a group of chefs is tapped to elevate visitor awareness about the state’s restaurants, farms, food producers, and tourism locales. We got to speak to this year’s group on two special episodes of HRN Happy Hour. Both are out now, and we’ll link to them in our show notes! In this week’s Meat and Three, we’re bringing you highlights from those conversations. And in the second half of the show, we have some of our favorite moments from Charleston Wine and Food 2020 - one of the last in-person events HRN attended before the pandemic. Further Listening:HRN Happy Hour #131, South Carolina Chef Ambassadors Raffaele Dall’Erta and Jason TuftsHRN Happy Hour #132, South Carolina Chef Ambassadors Kevin Mitchell and Jamie DaskalisHRN On Tour #351, Steve Palmer and Shari BayerHRN On Tour #356, Chef Binta with Harry RosenblumHRN On Tour #334, Champagne RoundtableKeep Meat and Three on the air: become an HRN Member today! Go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate. Meat and Three is powered by Simplecast.

Aakash Patel, Chief Development Officer of The Witness Group, and Larry Spelts, Partner and President of the Lodging & Lifestyle Adventures Division of The Indigo Road, join LODGING Editor Kate Hughes to discuss how hotels’ approach to renovation and construction has changed in light of COVID-19. Subscribe for more LODGING On Demand on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts (iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify).

is a beacon lighting the way for how restaurants should be run. Steve creates an environment that is employee centered. Indigo Road Hospitality has 24 restaurants across the south that have all become integral parts of their community. On top of running restaurants, Steve created Ben's Friends a restaurant industry support system for those struggling with addiction. Oh, and by the way he's also a two time nominee for outstanding restaurateur! This is more than worth the listen!   If you want to buy a gift card to help Indigo Road employees, 100% of the purchase goes to the employees while Indigo Road bears the actual cost of the meal: If you are struggling with addiction and you are in the food and beverage industry: Get Steve Palmer's book 'Say Grace: How the Restaurant Business Saved My Life'   ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Follow the show and hosts at & Support our Sponsors: ! https://www.folksfoundation.org Our newest sponsor ! Join up with their services and receive a free 60 day grace period and only 1.9% of sales after that! https://proofalcoholicecream.com Triangle Wine Company Use promo code 'NCFB' at checkout! The NC F&B Podcast is Produced and Engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media For booking or questions about the show, contact: max@ncfbpodcast.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hospitality industry veterans, Max Trujillo and Matthew Weiss, get behind the scenes of North Carolina's burgeoning food and beverage culture. Hear from local chefs, sommelier's, distillers, farmers, brewers and the whole lot of them in the NC F&Bpodcast. Max is a front-of-house veteran/sommelier that moved from Los Angeles to North Carolina in 2013. Since moving to North Carolina, he's run restaurants, designed wine programs and builds craft cocktail menus and now produces multiple podcasts. Matthew is a certified sommelier from New York. His experience ranges from restaurant/bar to importing some of the finest wines in the world. He moved his family to North Carolina four years ago and works as a wine distributor. For questions, comments and booking, contact us at Eat & Drink Merrily!

To kick off a day of programming that focused on building a sustainable lifestyle and finding balance in the hospitality industry, HRN’s Kat Johnson and Hannah Fordin led a conversation with Steve Palmer and our very own Shari Bayer who hosts All In The Industry. In addition to being the driving force behind Indigo Road Hospitality and leading a restaurant empire across the Southeast, Steve Palmer is also the co-founder of Ben’s Friends. Ben’s Friends is the food and beverage industry support group offering hope, fellowship, and a path forward to professionals who struggle with substance abuse and addiction. On this episode, we explore how every facet of the hospitality industry can work together to better support folks struggling with addiction and other mental health challenges, making the industry stronger and healthier for all involved.HRN On Tour is powered by Simplecast.

The hospitality industry is historically and notoriously been known for late nights and hard partying. The drug and booze filled nights were famously chronicled by Anthony Bourdain in Kitchen Confidential. But over the past several years there seems to be a cultural shift happening in the industry and many chefs and restaurateurs are speaking out about and championing their sobriety. In fact some food festivals and consumer events are even embracing the alcohol free events.Our guest today knows a thing or two about sobriety and restaurant culture. Steve Palmer is the managing partner of Indigo Road with 20+ restaurants and over 900 employees across the American South. Steve has been sober for over 17 years, started a non-profit called Ben’s Friends and has a new book out called Say Grace. Super excited to have Steve here to chat about how we can support sobriety and wellness in restaurant culture.Opening Soon is powered by Simplecast.

Steve Palmer began his group of 20 restaurants in the Southeast ten years ago, and after his fifth successful opening he started worrying about how to ensure growth in a high-failure industry. “I wanted my management team to drill down on how to better identify people,” he says. The company now looks for new hires with drive, a work ethic, curiosity and a collaborative spirit. He finds it crucial that he disrupt the traditional work-hard-party-hard restaurant culture, so in 2017 he helped launch Ben’s Friends, which hosts addiction support groups for restaurant workers: “We spend every night taking care of customers,” he says. “We are just now figuring out how to take care of each other.” The Indigo Road on Forbes Small Giants List 2019 - https://www.forbes.com/companies/the-indigo-road/?list=best-small-companies#5a72baae540b Ben's Friends - https://www.bensfriendshope.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/digin/support

On this episode Caity and Hannah, along with special guest host, HRN’s Lead Engineer Matt Patterson, sit down with HRN Hall of Fame honoree Steve Palmer. They spoke about Steve’s newly released Memoir, Say Grace: How the Restaurant Business Saved My Life, as well as his work to make the hospitality industry a healthier more sustainable career path. Steve Palmer is the Managing Partner of Indigo Road, a restaurant group with twenty locations in the Southeast. He is also the founder of Ben’s Friends, a food and beverage industry support group offering hope, fellowship, and a path forward to professionals who struggle with substance abuse and addiction.The holiday season is all about food and community. There’s no better time to show your support for food radio by becoming a member! Lend your voice and help HRN continue to spreading the message of equitable, sustainable, and delicious food – together, we can change minds and build a better food system. Go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate today to become a crucial part of the HRN community.HRN Happy Hour is powered by Simplecast.  

The family of Indigo Road and Chef Jeb Aldrich have been on the show this season the next stop on my list had to be Claudia Martinez. If you've been to the Hotel Clermont or Tiny Lou's, you've more than likely seen her desserts — and you've also more than likely been blown away by the presentation and flavors.Her story started here in Georgia where's she's been working her way through many prominent kitchens. We caught up in the longe of the Hotel Clermont so I could hear her story.

Restaurateur Steve Palmer has long been part of Charleston, SC’s food scene, but when Oak Steakhouses and O-Ku Restaurants started popping up in other cities in the South, this dynamic leader of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group landed on a bigger stage. It’s something he’s embraced, seizing the opportunity to bring to life his ideas of hospitality and his role to define and shift industry culture, including as a mentor to many through Ben’s Friends, a food and beverage industry support group for those who struggle with substance abuse. Still, the nuts and bolts of all of this has to be good restaurants, and Steve knows how to build them. It’s a mix of brain and heart, and he has an abundance of both.

Steve has spent his life in the restaurant industry. First, steeping his career in Charleston and then expanding to Atlanta. Then picking up the reigns with The Indigo Road, they expanded at an accelerated pace. Restaurants you're more than likely familiar with — O-Ku, Donetto, Tiny Lou's, anyone?There's another aspect of Steve's story that you have to hear. Much of his career was met alongside of addiction. He found himself at a moment of intervention that would lead to the creation of Ben's Friends — a non-profit organization offering hope to restaurant workers fighting substance abuse and addiction. I won't jump to how Steve started everything, because you need to hear Steve's story.If you know anyone who may be battling addiction, may be depressed, or needs help and support, please don't hesitate to reach out. We'd be happy to put you in touch with people from Ben's Friends. Also, Giving Kitchen recently announced FREE QPR Training and a National Stability Network. If you need help, or know someone who needs help, don't wait. Please reach out.

We’re feeling ever-so-slightly French on our last show of Charleston Wine + Food 2019, as we welcome two of the men behind Tiny Lou’s, a fabulous new bistro in Atlanta’s Hotel Clermont: Steve Palmer (owner, Indigo Road) and Jeb Aldrich (chef, Tiny Lou’s). We also welcome Gillian Zettler, the incomparable Executive Director of Charleston Wine + Food to discuss festival highlights, the importance of diversity in the food space, and Steve’s project Ben’s Friends that hosted a festival after-party to create a safe space for those working in the hospitality industry who struggle with substance abuse. HRN Happy Hour is powered by Simplecast.

Kat Johnson catches up with Steve Palmer, the founder and managing partner of The Indigo Road, about the group's expansion plans and the growth of Ben's Friends. Then, after the break, Kat and Steve are joined by Jacob Huder, who was recently named Executive Chef of The Macintosh. Heritage Radio Network On Tour is powered by Simplecast.

Steve Palmer formed the Charleston-based hospitality and consulting group The Indigo Road in 2009 when he began working with the celebrated restaurant Oak Steakhouse on historic Broad Street. He went on to open O-Ku, Cocktail Club, The Macintosh, among several other concepts across the Southeast. Palmer maintains the philosophy that great service starts with well cared for employees. He believes in promoting from within, creating new opportunities for his staff, and developing a strong company culture. Steve sits down with Kat Johnson to talk about Ben's Friends, a support group he started along with Charleston Grill’s Mickey Bakst that aims to help food and beverage workers who may be struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. Both Palmer and Bakst are very open about their past addictions while working in the industry. After Palmer lost close friend and chef Ben Murray following a struggle with addiction, he felt a strong need to start support group Ben’s Friends. It is similar to AA, but not affiliated with the organization. It is completely anonymous and there's no pressure to stand up and talk. The group is simply a space to meet others who are working on or have overcome their addiction.

Steve Palmer of Indigo Road talks about alcoholism in the F&B industry, as well as challenges of starting restaurants and rising costs.

This week, an ancient instrument serves as the muse for new music.