Tunify and El Bocado: ‘Music reinforces your brand and allows you to chat undisturbed.’

How one hospitality business became six

When Jeffrey Tackoen opened the tapas restaurant El Bocado in 2006, little did he know that the concept would grow into a franchise. ‘At that time, tapas weren’t really common here. I decided to sample the dishes in their native environment: Spain. I introduced them here, and the idea caught on.’ Together with his associate Jens Raskin, Jeffrey opened a second location. Now, lovers of southern snacks can frequent one of El Bocado's four tapas restaurants. There are two in Hasselt, one in Bilzen and one in Sint-Truiden. Besides the tapas franchise, Jens and Jeffrey are also the driving force and owners of a brasserie and a pub. In other words, there are plenty of reasons to call in a professional music partner. And they found the perfect match in Tunify.

Music helps define your brand

What is the role of music in a hospitality business, according to Jeffrey? ‘First and foremost, it is a curtain of anonymity,’ he says. ‘Music allows you to chat undisturbed without everyone being able to follow your conversation. Besides, eating in dead silence is not cosy. Music also adds to the experience. It helps define your brand. That’s why we play typical Spanish songs in El Bocado restaurants and a healthy mix of popular styles in our pub and brasserie.’

Manage the atmosphere in six locations from one account

Jeffrey thinks the biggest advantage of Tunify is that he doesn't have to do anything. ‘A push of a button? Even that’s not necessary! We linked Tunify to our Sonos sound system and set an alarm. The playlist switches on at 8.30 AM and stops at 2 AM.’ A big time saver for a busy entrepreneur. ‘If needed, I can always control Tunify from the Sonos app.’ This makes it easy for Jeffrey to change the music or put on a specific song.

‘Moreover, with the MyTunify portal, I retain full control over which music is played in which business. That keeps things manageable. Our staff members do not have to worry about it and can focus on the guests instead. So, it’s also convenient for them.’

Do you also run a hospitality business?

Tunify can be a legal and time-saving solution for you, too! It can automatically play the right music in your business. Request a free trial subscription here and try it for 7 days. And if you’re still looking for an atmospheric venue for your next dinner party, check out El Bocado in Hasselt, Bilzen or Sint-Truiden.