Last week, we hosted a fantastic, high-value session all about integrating technology into your catering marketing strategy. It was packed to the brim with deep and actionable insights. Thank you so much to everyone involved!
If you didn’t catch it live, please make sure to check it out now. I promise it’s a great watch!
🌟 Thank You to Our Panelists!
Ashley Wright
Ashley has been turning ordinary gatherings into extraordinary experiences since 2000 when she started planning weddings, corporate, and destination events. She later joined the opening management team at Wynn Las Vegas and has since spent over a decade in Arizona, building catering departments from the ground up, designing crave-worthy menus, and growing businesses. With a flair for design and a passion for bringing people together, Ashley knows how to turn any event into a memory worth savoring.
Claudie Newman
Claudie is a hospitality leader with over 20 years of experience in food and beverage, event sales, private dining, and catering. Her career has spanned South Africa, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, where she has driven growth and innovation for top restaurant brands. Today, she leads catering sales for Founders Table (Chopt Creative Salad Co. and Dos Toros Taqueria), focusing on delivering a best-in-class catering program that scales with company growth.
Danielle Guzzetta
Danielle brings over 30 years of marketing experience in healthcare, fashion, and hospitality, and the last decade has been dedicated to restaurant catering and off-premise growth. She has served as CMO of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, SVP of Growth Hacking at Smokey Bones, and Head of Marketing at TooJay’s Deli & Bakery. Danielle is a master strategist known for building brands from the ground up and driving transformative results.
Chris OConnor
Chris spent 18 years building a production and post company before transitioning into digital marketing and sales. He has worked with brands like Hawaiian Bros, Nation’s Burgers, and 4 Star Restaurant Group, becoming an expert in marketing automation, CRM design, and loyalty programs. With a hands-on, entrepreneurial approach, Chris has closed millions in sales for his companies and clients and continues to help brands grow with practical, scalable strategies.
Some references from the session:
References: “CRM applications can help increase sales by up to 29%, sales productivity by up to 34%, and sales forecast accuracy by 42%. (source: Salesforce).” https://www.nutshell.com/blog/crm-stats?utm_source=chatgpt.com
In 2024, according to Lunchbox, 75% of catering orders are placed online (via mobile or desktop), while phone calls still account for approximately 30% of catering orders. This indicates that phone calls still play a substantial role in order acquisition, but not necessarily that 25% of revenue specifically comes from them. https://www.olo.com/blog/60-of-restaurant-sales-are-from-repeat-guests-heres-how-to-keep-them-coming-back?utm_source=chatgpt.com
“According to a 2025 report by Lunchbox, only 20 % of catering customers are repeat guests—meaning they place more than one order. That implies 80 % of catering customers do not order again, absent a targeted retention strategy. https://www.olo.com/blog/60-of-restaurant-sales-are-from-repeat-guests-heres-how-to-keep-them-coming-back?utm_source=chatgpt.com
