NTN Buzztime, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NTN), North America’s leader in bar and restaurant entertainment, has announced the appointment of Barry Chandler as its new Chief Marketing Officer. In his new role, Chandler will drive Buzztime’s marketing services and platform for the benefit of its clients, which include national restaurant chains like Buffalo Wild Wings, Boston Pizza, Black Angus, and Beef O’ Brady’s. Chandler will lead all the company’s marketing efforts with special focus around content marketing and social media. Buzztime also acquired Chandler’s social media agency, Chandler Interactive, including its media properties, www.thebarblogger.com and www.manageyourbar.com.
Social media and online engagement have had a tremendous impact on the bar and restaurant industry in the last decade, while attracting new customers and extending their stay at a given location has become increasingly challenging. With Chandler’s hire, Buzztime clients will now be able to maximize their online presence while using advanced social media, email and content marketing to more effectively market about Buzztime games, events, and other promotions and drive Buzztime’s value proposition as a great tool for smarter bars.
“We are extremely pleased that Barry will be joining Buzztime as our new CMO –Barry has a rare blend of sophistication around social media and content marketing coupled with real world experience and expertise in the bar and restaurant industry. Based on that and the consulting work he has done with us over the past five months, we are confident that his expertise will accelerate our transformation from Buzztime Classic to our NextGen products and services,” said Jeff Berg , Buzztime’s Chairman and Interim CEO.
Chandler joins Buzztime with 19 years of experience in hospitality services under his belt. In 2004, he founded Ireland’s first and only online business-to-business consulting website for the hospitality industry. In more recent years, Chandler founded Chandler Interactive to help restaurants and bars attract more customers through the latest advances in marketing technology.
“With the acquisition, Buzztime is adding a digital marketing layer that cannot only be utilized in its own marketing, but in the provision of agency services to Buzztime customers,” Chandler stated. “Digital marketing for bars and restaurants is no longer a ‘nice to have’ strategy – instead, it forms the cornerstone of a successful marketing effort.”
Prior to Chandler Interactive, Chandler spent four years with Cunard Line and the Yachts of Seabourn as the youngest food and beverage controller in the history of the cruise line industry. Afterwards, Chandler pursued an advanced diploma in International Food & Beverage Management in Salzburg, Austria.
NTN Buzztime, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NTN) is a leading bar and restaurant social entertainment and integrated marketing platform. Trusted by approximately 3,700 bars and restaurants in North America since 1985, Buzztime integrates trivia, card and sports games with in- and out-of-venue messaging and communication tools. With over three million registrations on the Buzztime platform and more than 52 million games played each year, Buzztime players spread the word and invite friends and family to their favorite Buzztime location to enjoy an evening of fun and competition. With Buzztime entertainment and marketing solutions, bars and restaurants attract new customers, turn casual visitors into regulars, and give guests a reason to stay longer. For the most up-to-date information on NTN Buzztime, please visit www.buzztime.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
