Ben Leventhal on Bridging Old School Hospitality with New School Technology

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.

Links and resources 📌

Visit meez: https://www.getmeez.com

Follow meez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getmeez

Follow Josh on instagram: @joshlsharkey

Follow Ben on Instagram: @benleventhal

Discover Blackbird: https://www.blackbird.xyz

‍

00:00 The Magic of Hospitality

01:20 Innovating in the Restaurant Industry

03:30 The Birth of Eater

05:46 Passion for Restaurants

09:52 The Challenge of Handing Off Control

10:00 Scaling Resy

12:26 Finding the Right Problem to Solve

17:22 The Key to Startup Success

21:28 Learning from Past Experiences

23:31 Understanding Brand and Strategy

25:30 The Essence of Brand in Restaurants

28:37 Challenges of Loyalty Programs

30:54 Introducing Blackbird: A New Loyalty Approach

34:37 Blackbird Club: Enhancing Customer Experience

44:18 Blackbird Club Pro: Empowering Restaurant Workers