Episode 02:
How an AI Hostess Can Transform Your Restaurant: A Game-Changer for Independent Restaurant Owners.

Sam Young (Intro):
Welcome back to Big Ideas For Restaurants! I’m Sam Young, your host and fellow advocate for restaurant success. If you’re a restaurant or bar owner, you’ve just found the podcast that’s here to deliver big ideas in bite-sized portions. My mission? To help you grow your business with quick, actionable tips you can digest in just 5 to 10 minutes—perfect for your commute, workout, or that quick coffee break between lunch and dinner rushes.You can find this show by going to BigIdeasForRestaurants.com and selecting the “podcast” link

Every episode contains listener only offers, specials and discounts and I’ll provide DISCOUNT CODES within each episode. While the show notes and offers are open to all,  you have to listen to the episode to get the deals.

Today we’re diving into one of the most game-changing technologies for restaurant owners—AI-powered hostesses.

Imagine never missing another reservation call, streamlining waitlist management, and freeing up your staff to focus on service instead of juggling phone calls. That’s exactly what today’s guest has been helping restaurant owners do for nearly 20 years.

Joining me is Eric Herman, the founder of Big Ideas AI, a company that started as a POS and payment solutions provider for restaurants back in 2005 and has since evolved into a leader in AI voice and workflow automation.

We’ll explore how an AI Hostess can help you boost efficiency, increase revenue, and enhance the guest experience. And of course, we’ll touch on how this ties into the backbone of this podcast: “The Delectable Dozen for Restaurant Success”. The 12 essential areas where restaurants win—or lose, because AI doesn’t just impact your front-of-house; it’s transforming everything from staffing to customer retention.

So, let’s dive in! Eric, welcome to the show!

Eric Herman
Thanks for having me, Sam! Yeah, Big Ideas AI started in 2005, originally helping restaurants streamline point-of-sale and payment processing. Over time, we saw a bigger need—restaurant owners were dealing with staff shortages, rising costs, and inefficiencies.

That’s when we pivoted into AI-powered voice agents—AI Hostesses, Owner Assistants, and Executive Chef Assistants—to handle reservations, customer inquiries, waitlist management, and workflow automation. Today, we’re helping restaurants increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the customer experience without relying on extra staffing.

Sam Young
Let’s talk specifically about the AI Hostess. What are some of the biggest pain points she solves for restaurant owners?

Eric Herman
Great question! An AI Hostess can revolutionize restaurant operations by handling:
✅ Reservations & Waitlist Management – No more missed calls or lost reservations.
✅ Call Handling & FAQs – AI can answer menu questions, hours, directions, and even take special requests.
✅ Text Confirmations & Reminders – Reduce no-shows with automated text follow-ups.
✅ Table Turnover Optimization – AI can estimate wait times and manage guest expectations.
✅ Customer Segmentation – Collects guest data for marketing, loyalty programs, and special offers.

With AI handling the busywork, staff can focus on guests in the dining room, leading to faster service, better customer experiences, and increased sales.

Sam Young:
Eric, if a restaurant owner listening right now wants to implement an AI Hostess, what’s the first step?

Eric Herman:
The best way to get started is with a free demo instant demo, with Jessica, and not a salesperson. Visit Big Ideas For Restaurants dot com and click the demo button to register for a free live interactive demo with Jessica and to listen to recordings of the most common calls an AI Host typically receives.

Sam Young:
Eric, let’s dive a bit deeper into the AI Hostess. Restaurant owners know that finding and keeping great employees is a constant challenge. So tell me—why is an AI Hostess the perfect employee?”

Eric Herman:
Sam, think about how much time, effort, and money restaurant owners pour into training the perfect hostess, only to have them quit at the worst possible moment. It’s frustrating, right? Well, that problem is finally a thing of the past!

Sam Young:
Eric, let’s break it down—what exactly can an AI Hostess do?

Eric Herman:
She makes a stellar first impression—every single time.In the restaurant business, first impressions are everything. Customers judge your restaurant before they even step through the door—often based on how they’re treated when they call. That’s why your hostess is one of the most important roles in your business.

Now, imagine a hostess who’s always in a great mood, never misses a detail, and treats every single customer like they’re the most important guest of the night. No stress. No distractions. Just flawless, professional service every time.

This AI Hostess brings unshakable calm, razor-sharp precision, and unmatched consistency to your front-of-house. She never forgets a request, never miscommunicates an order, and never lets a bad day affect her tone. She’s your restaurant’s ultimate front-line ambassador, setting the stage for outstanding service before a guest even arrives.

And here’s the real kicker: She’s not just a solution—she’s a competitive advantage. With her handling your calls, you’re already winning customers over before they’ve even taken a bite.

Sam Young:
Eric, let’s talk about one of the biggest frustrations for restaurant owners—handling phone calls. How does the AI Hostess make a difference?

Eric Herman
First of all, she eliminates calls on hold. Let’s be real—putting customers on hold is like rolling out the red carpet for your competitors. Enter the AI Hostess, your secret weapon against lost calls and frustrated customers. Unlike a human hostess who can only handle one call at a time, she can juggle as many calls as you need, flawlessly.

No hold music. No frustrated hang-ups. Every caller instantly greeted and taken care of. It’s like giving your restaurant a superpower—your phone lines become an asset, not a headache. Watch as customer satisfaction soars and your competitors struggle to keep up.

And let’s not forget the biggest reason this matters: Missed calls mean missed money—plain and simple. With the AI Hostess, missed calls are a thing of the past. She’s always on, twenty four seven, answering every inquiry, booking reservations, and keeping your restaurant connected to your customers. She never takes a break, never calls in sick, and never forgets a request. Whether it’s lunchtime or midnight, she’s ready to assist. Reservations? Check. Questions? Handled. Orders? Done.

So while you sleep easy, she’s working—keeping your restaurant open and available, even when you’re off the clock. That’s the kind of reliability that drives more revenue, creates happier customers, and builds a stronger reputation.

Sam Young:
Eric, this all sounds incredible, but I have to be honest—this sounds like it would be really expensive and time-consuming to set up. Can independent restaurant owners really implement an AI Hostess without breaking the bank?

Eric Herman
I totally get it, Sam. At first glance, something this advanced does seem like it would come with a massive price tag. Honestly, we’ve been working on AI automation for restaurants for years, but here’s the thing—the latest breakthroughs in AI infrastructure have completely changed the game.

What used to be a luxury only big restaurant chains could afford is now accessible to independent restaurant owners at a fraction of the cost. And here’s the best part—it literally pays for itself in the very first week. Think about it: No more missed calls. More revenue. The AI Hostess boosts your efficiency, eliminates bottlenecks, and drives real growth.

Sam Young:
No way. Come on, Eric, that sounds too good to be true!

Eric Herman
I get it, Sam. It’s one of those things you have to hear for yourself to believe. That’s why your listeners can actually listen to real recordings and even call Jessica—the AI Hostess—directly to experience how good she is.

Just head over to BigIdeasForRestaurants.com and click AI Hostess section. Try it for yourself, hear how she interacts, and then tell me if it doesn’t sound like she belongs in your restaurant.

Sam Young:
Eric, you’re familiar with the show’s Delectable Dozen for Restaurant Success, right?

Eric Herman
I am!

Sam Young:
Great! So let’s do something fun—can you touch on how AI, specifically an AI Hostess, impacts all twelve of these most important areas for a restaurant’s success?

Eric Herman
Absolutely, let’s go for it!”