Top Restaurant Claims of 2025 + AI & Industry Trends for 2026 - Year End Wrap Up | EP 191

Step into Episode 191 of On the Delo as David DeLorenzo jumps on the mic solo to close out the year with real talk on hospitality risk, restaurant trends, and how technology is reshaping the business. From foreign objects in food to seven-figure kitchen fires, Delo pulls back the curtain on what really happens after the incident is over and the lawyers get involved.He also shares where the industry is headed next: AI ordering, predictive inventory, labor shortages, non-alcoholic drink trends, and why community and culture inside your four walls matter more than ever. Along the way you’ll hear about the Built Different Community he runs with Jeremy Scott, a Vegas trip to see Def Leopard at Caesars, and why his Spotify Wrapped was Creed… and only Creed.Chapter Guide (Timestamps): (0:15) Solo Year-End Check-In & Episode 191 Overview (1:04) Built Different Community, Circle App & Why It Exists for Entrepreneurs (2:35) Community, Coaching Calls & 50 Years of Combined Business Experience (3:23) What Guests Don’t See: Behind-the-Scenes Reality of Hospitality (4:56) Top Claims from 2025: Foreign Objects in Food & Customer Injury Letters (7:11) Kitchen Injuries, Wet Floors, Clutter & Workers Comp Fallout (9:43) “Small” Kitchen Fires that Turn into Million-Dollar Losses (12:00) Walk-In Coolers, Spoilage & How Cause of Loss Really Works (13:35) Parking Lots, Slip-and-Falls & The Power of Video Cameras (17:44) Liquor Liability, Obviously Intoxicated Laws & Fatal DUI Claims (20:56) AI, Automation & Predictive Analytics in Restaurant Operations (23:04) Non-Alcoholic Options, Late-Night Food & Shifting Guest Habits (25:36) New Openings, Moves to Downtown Phoenix & Arizona’s Top 100 Recognition (27:33) Heritage, Protein House, Feta Cowboy & the Growth of Local Concepts (28:12) How to Truly Support Your Favorite Restaurants & Close of 2025👉 Delo ends this episode with a simple message: hospitality is hard work, but it’s filled with people who lead with heart. If something in today’s discussion connected with you, share it with someone who might need encouragement, perspective, or just a reminder that they’re part of a bigger community. Thanks for listening and being part of the journey.