Most hospitality operators think about packaging as something functional.

Max Shipman thinks about it differently.

In this episode of Captive Conversations, Adam sits down with Max Shipman from Brand Your to explore how packaging has evolved from a simple operational necessity into a powerful part of the guest experience.

Max shares his journey through hospitality technology, delivery, Just Eat and McDonald’s before discussing how Brand Your is helping hospitality businesses rethink packaging, branding and customer engagement.

The conversation explores customer ownership, loyalty, direct ordering, founder-led content and why hospitality brands should view bags, cups and boxes as more than just packaging. Adam and Max discuss how memorable unboxing experiences, thoughtful design and simple branding can turn everyday touchpoints into marketing opportunities that guests remember and share.

Along the way, they explore the future of hospitality technology, AI, delivery, guest relationships and why the most successful brands focus on creating experiences rather than transactions.

If you’re interested in guest experience, hospitality marketing, customer loyalty and building stronger customer relationships, learn more about Captive WiFi and how guest WiFi can become a powerful marketing, data and loyalty engine.

#Hospitality #GuestExperience #RestaurantMarketing #HospitalityTech #CustomerLoyalty #Branding #PackagingDesign #CustomerData #BrandYour #CaptiveConversations

The 15-Second Moment

Mention loyalty in hospitality and many operators immediately think discounts, points cards, and race-to-the-bottom promotions. But what if we’ve been thinking about loyalty all wrong? In this solo episode, Georgina explores why loyalty has a branding problem, why true loyalty has nothing to do with vouchers, and what actually makes guests want to come back.

The conversation centres around what Captive WiFi calls the “15-second moment” — the short window when a guest first connects to WiFi, before they’ve even looked at the menu. Georgina explains why this is one of the most overlooked opportunities in hospitality and how venues can begin building meaningful guest relationships from the very start of the visit.

Along the way, she shares the story of Regency Club, explores the difference between loyalty and belonging, and explains why the venues guests return to most often are the ones where they feel seen, remembered and known.

#Hospitality #GuestExperience #CustomerLoyalty #RestaurantMarketing #HospitalityTech #CaptiveWiFi #CaptiveConversations

Building a restaurant is one thing.

Building a restaurant while learning hospitality, marketing, technology and guest engagement at the same time is something else entirely.

In this episode of Captive Conversations, Adam sits down with Charlie Wood-Jones, owner of Cawsburger and Sales Consultant at Popmenu, for a conversation that bridges both sides of the hospitality world.

Charlie shares the journey of launching Cawsburger during lockdown, growing a loyal customer base through social media, and eventually realising that likes, followers and algorithms are not the same as owning a relationship with your guests.

The conversation explores how Popmenu helped shift that thinking, turning a website from a simple digital brochure into a powerful marketing and guest engagement tool. Charlie discusses building a database of thousands of guests, the role of email and SMS marketing, automated campaigns, guest data, direct ordering, Google visibility and why restaurants need to think beyond social media if they want sustainable growth.

Along the way, Adam and Charlie dive into hospitality technology, operational challenges, AI search, customer loyalty, and the importance of creating memorable guest experiences that keep people coming back.

If you're interested in how restaurants can better capture guest data, personalise communications and build stronger customer relationships, learn more about Captive WiFi and how guest WiFi can become a powerful marketing, data and loyalty engine.

A practical and honest conversation about restaurant growth, guest data, hospitality marketing and what operators can learn when they see the industry from both sides.

Captive WiFi

#Hospitality #RestaurantMarketing #GuestExperience #HospitalityTech #CRM #RestaurantOwner #RestaurantGrowth #CustomerData #Popmenu #CaptiveConversations