DeSaye and Williams bring new expertise to the
distinguished board including Dan
Simons, Ellen Yin,
Kevin Boehm and Will Guidara
SAN
FRANCISCO, April 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/
-- OpenTable, a leader in restaurant technology, today
announces the appointment of Chris
DeSaye, chief technology officer of José Andrés Group, and
Chef Erick Williams, chef & owner of Chicago-based Virtue Hospitality Group, to its
Advisory Board. As members, DeSaye and Williams will work closely
with OpenTable's leadership team to provide strategic guidance in
support of OpenTable's mission – helping restaurants thrive.
DeSaye and Williams bring new experiences and perspectives to
the board, consisting of industry leaders Dan Simons, founder and co-owner of Farmers
Restaurant Group in Washington
D.C.; Ellen Yin, James Beard Award-winning restaurateur and
co-owner of High Street Hospitality Group; Kevin Boehm, co-CEO and co-founder of Boka
Restaurant Group in Chicago; and
Will Guidara, founder of thank you
and co-founder of The Welcome Conference in New York City. For more details, visit
OpenTable's Advisory Board website.
"Chris has a passion for restaurant innovation and is steeped in
the needs of restaurant groups and Erick is a voice for chef
operators and independents and proof of the impact they can have,"
said Susan Lee, Chief Strategy
Officer for OpenTable. "Their perspectives will be invaluable as we
focus on this next chapter for OpenTable – with the same commitment
to restaurants and laser-focused approach to delivering products
and services that will help them succeed."
DeSaye is a seasoned technology executive with a proven track
record of driving growth and innovation among restaurant groups. He
currently serves as the CTO for the José Andrés Group, where
he spearheads the technology strategy, innovation engine and
support for the rapidly expanding global hospitality enterprise. He
previously spent more than two decades with Hillstone Restaurant
Group, where he rose to chief information officer. Committed to
sharing his wealth of knowledge, DeSaye is an advisory board member
to Oracle and 5-Out and is a founding partner to Enghos Engineered
Hospitality, supporting restaurants, bars and groups with their
technology needs.
"Since its inception, OpenTable carved out a significant niche
in the restaurant industry, earning a longstanding first-mover
advantage," said DeSaye. "With the new leadership at the helm, the
company is focused on evolving. Originally known for spotlighting
restaurants, building customer loyalty, and handling bookings,
OpenTable is now broadening its focus. My aim is to provide
essential feedback as they develop a business toolkit to help
restaurants thrive, ensuring growth at scale without losing the
essence of personal connections with patrons."
Williams is a James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef and the
founder of Virtue Hospitality Group, which includes Virtue
Restaurant & Bar, Mustard Seed Kitchen, Daisy's Po-Boy and
Tavern and Top This Mac and Cheese. Dedicated to uplifting the
industry by way of supporting hospitality workers, Williams created
Virtue Leadership Development, a not-for-profit incubator to equip
local young adults of color with the necessary skills to learn
value-driven entrepreneurship through training at his restaurants.
Entrenched in the local Chicago
community, Williams recently shared his favorite restaurants via
OpenTable's blog, read more here.
"With a strong investment in the art of hospitality, I'm honored
to join OpenTable's Advisory Board," said Williams. "The company's
dedication to fostering positive change within the industry
resonates profoundly with my own mission. Together, we have the
opportunity to shape the future of dining, ensuring inclusivity,
sustainability, and unforgettable experiences for all. I'm looking
forward to pioneering a new era of hospitality together."
To learn more about the advisory board and members' favorite
local restaurants, visit OpenTable's blog.
About OpenTable
OpenTable, a global leader in
restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings,
Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), helps 55,000 restaurants, bars, wineries
and other venues worldwide fill 1.6 billion seats a year. OpenTable
powers reservations, experiences, payments, guest insights and
operations, enabling restaurants to focus on doing what they do
best: providing great hospitality.
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SOURCE OpenTable, Inc.