Discover the surprising brain science behind emojis and how restaurants can use them to boost guest engagement, emotional connection, and brand loyalty. Perfect for World Emoji Day or any day you want to serve smarter.

Discover the neuroscience behind acknowledgment and why being ignored triggers stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. This blog explores how simple human cues—like eye contact and a friendly greeting—can boost trust, connection, and customer experience across every industry. Whether you're in leadership, customer service, or team management, acknowledgment is the underrated superpower your brain (and your people) need.

Eating is one of the most multisensory parts of our day. But, did you know that the brain tastes the food long before it passes the lips?

The concept of "Now or Never" is a powerful motivator in the realm of consumer behavior. When something is limited, rare, or exclusive, our brains light up with desire. Behavioral scientists call it reactance theory: we don’t just want the thing—we want it more when we think it might disappear.

Vision is the strongest of our senses. Your brain processes visual information in milliseconds—long before you consciously decide what to order or how to rate the service. And color is the first flavor your brain tastes.

Whether it’s a hotel, restaurant, or resort, the collective energy of the staff shapes the overall guest perception. Positive emotions are infectious, but so are negative ones. Emotional contagion—the psychological phenomenon where people unconsciously "catch" the emotions of others—plays a profound role in hospitality.

The human brain is wired for story. When you wrap your message in a compelling story—whether you’re serving dinner, teaching students, or giving a Monday morning sales pitch—it sticks. Stories spark sensory regions, emotional networks, even mirror neurons that make us feel as if we’re in the story.

Scarcity is one of the most powerful motivators in consumer behavior. When something is limited, rare, or exclusive, our brains light up with desire. Behavioral scientists call it reactance theory : we don’t just want the thing—we want it more when we think it might disappear.

From lobby lighting to your team’s tone, learn what your guests are really judging—and how to win them over before they even sit down.

Restaurants that celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and life’s big milestones don’t just serve meals—they create unforgettable memories.

Tipping. It's the little social contract that lives at the end of every restaurant meal. But studies show, it's not just about the service. There are hidden psychological levers that subconsciously influence tipping behavior. Here are six science-backed insights that can help turn good service into generous gratuity.

Psychological anchors are powerful influences over our decisions and perceptions. They are everywhere and we rarely even notice them.

Hospitality is typically about perfection. But there is a way to break the rules in the right way. Benign violation theory is a quirky, science-backed concept from humor psychology that shows how a dash of the unexpected can turn ordinary moments into unforgettable experiences.

At Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) restaurants, hospitality is not just a service—it’s a psychological experience.

Fonts are silent storytellers. They set the tone, evoke emotions, and communicate the restaurant’s personality before you even read a word.

Negative restaurant reviews— a manager's nightmare, right? Not always. Savvy restaurateurs use psychology to create marketing opportunities.

No restaurateur enjoys negative reviews. But one restaurant discovered the power of a thoughtful response.

Does what we hear change how we taste? Science says YES! Flavor perception is multi-sensory. Sound can enhance or diminish what we taste.

The decoy effect is one of the best known biases violating rational thought. And it has a powerful impact on the decisions we make.

Do you think retailers have the power to prime your brain? More likely than not, it happened the last time you went to the grocery store.