SAN DIEGO, Nov. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Consumer behavior in hospitality has evolved: dining is no longer just about the meal — it has become an interactive, personalized experience that feels like VIP treatment. This shift is driving the rise of the “fun economy,” where immersive social, culinary, and entertainment experiences fuel growth across industries.
The global restaurant industry alone is expected to surpass US $4.03 trillion by 2025, while the broader fun economy — spanning leisure, entertainment, hospitality, and retail — is valued at over US $13 trillion and growing at 6–7% annually.
“We are in the business of fun,” said Andrew Cardno, CTO of QCI. “The fun economy is ultimately about time well spent — a fusion of data, emotion, and service that elevates everyday interactions into meaningful memories. Operators who embrace this evolution are redefining engagement, creating environments where data, personalization, and emotional connection transform dining into a lifestyle experience. As the fun economy expands, QCI’s mission is to turn every restaurant visit into a VIP experience — where guests feel recognized, valued, and rewarded,” Cardno said.
When asked about QCI’s approach to fine dining, Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, said, “We bring unified enterprise intelligence to the dining experience by providing operators with a single, real-time view across all channels — from online reservations and loyalty apps to on-site interactions.” He continued, “What sets QCI apart is our ability to unify every operational, marketing, and customer signal into a single intelligent fabric. When a guest walks into a restaurant, the system already knows their preferences, visit history, and what delights them most. Marketing and operational investments are no longer guesswork — with QCI they’re tied directly to measurable, results-based outcomes. Perhaps most transformative is the ability to turn retail and hospitality insights into strategic growth engines that generate new revenue, foster deeper engagement, and deliver long-term competitive advantage.”
“Our work with leading hospitality resort-based dining programs is already delivering exciting results,” said Lee Weyers, VP of QCI Retail. “We’re seeing significant growth in guest engagement, with increased visit frequency combined with higher per trip spending. One major integrated entertainment, dining and retail destination even turned once-a-year visit into a regular quarterly and even monthly cadence, all powered by smart, data-driven engagement strategies.”
With a strong track record in fine dining, leisure, and hospitality, QCI is now empowering dining and retail-lifestyle operators to reimagine how they understand and engage their guests. The QCI platform delivers real-time intelligence that transforms data into exceptional experiences — and experiences into lasting loyalty.
To learn how QCI can transform your venues into interactive, high-value guest destinations, visit https://quickcustomintelligence.com/ or contact the QCI Retail team to schedule a private demonstration.
ABOUT QCI
About Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI)
Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is redefining how the Fun Economy connects data, people, and profit. As the creator of the revolutionary QCI AGI Platform, we deliver enterprise-grade artificial intelligence that seamlessly integrates customer development, marketing, and operational intelligence across the global experience industries — including Retail, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Gaming & Hospitality, and Mixed-Use & Experiential Retail Environments.
From iconic destinations like Hard Rock and the Fort Worth Stockyards to hundreds of leading Gaming and Leisure operators, QCI powers the intelligence behind the world’s most dynamic consumer experiences. Our platform manages tens of billions of dollars in annual gross revenue across 300+ operators in North America, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and The Bahamas, enabling them to transform raw data into strategic action.
Deployed on-premises, hybrid, or in the cloud, the QCI AGI Platform unifies marketing, operations, and guest engagement — empowering executives to make faster, smarter, data-driven decisions that increase visitation, elevate spend, and extend lifetime value. In a rapidly evolving global Fun Economy, QCI delivers the clarity, agility, and intelligence leaders need to turn information into revenue and experiences into loyalty.
Founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Andrew Cardno, QCI is headquartered in San Diego with offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Denver, Seattle, and Phoenix.
Industry Contact:
Lee Weyers, VP of QCI Retail
Email: LWeyers@QuickCustomIntelligence.com
Phone: +1 (702) 588-1131
ABOUT Andrew Cardno
Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring 14 influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.
ABOUT Dr. Ralph Thomas
Dr. Ralph Thomas, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Quick Custom Intelligence, is a visionary leader in applied analytics and the founder of two companies delivering innovative solutions in casino gaming, education, and adult learning. A veteran of the gaming industry, he has extensive experience implementing analytics across single and multi-property casino operations, driving measurable gains to the bottom line. Dr. Thomas has developed business intelligence tools for multi-billion-dollar casinos, transforming raw data into actionable insights. As the co-author of 14 books and over 80 published articles on applied analytics and data science in gaming, as well as an inventor on dozens of patents, Dr. Thomas brings a unique 360-degree perspective of the industry—from data architecture to day-to-day casino operations. His deep expertise and visionary approach have helped shape the future of data-driven decision-making in gaming worldwide.
ABOUT Lee Weyers
Lee Weyers is an award-winning executive with a distinguished track record for growing Software, Services and SaaS companies within the Retail, Financial Services, Gaming, Utility SLED and numerous other technology sectors. With a foundation in finance and deep expertise in sales, marketing, and commercial leadership, he has consistently driven revenue, profit, and enterprise value for both private and public companies. Lee has successfully helped three organizations exit through trade sales, raised significant capital rounds, and built high-performing teams known for execution and results. A skilled strategist and communicator, Lee has worked for Gartner, Oracle, SAP, Rosetta Stone, and TransAct Technologies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and technology, from the University of Pretoria and has undergone various specialized training programs since the start of his career.
Currently he is also a member of NV InfraGard and tasked with growing membership in this FBI backed program. He is also a decorated infantry officer and a national martial arts champion. His personal interests include competitive sports such as golf and as an active Sporting Clays competitor, he has earned top rankings at international, national and state levels. An avid outdoorsman Lee lives with his wife in the USA and in Italy.
