Smarter Scheduling, Happier Teams: How Sage Uses Actabl to Transform F&B Operations

At Sage Hospitality Group, food & beverage is an integral part of the guest experience. Through Sage Restaurant Concepts, the group operates celebrated dining destinations that are known for creativity, culture, and high-touch hospitality. Whether it’s an award-winning steakhouse or a rooftop bar buzzing with locals, these aren’t just hotel restaurants. They’re places people go to, not through.

Delivering that level of excellence across 60+ properties takes more than good taste. It takes precision, especially in how labor is planned, scheduled, and managed. That’s why Sage turned to Actabl’s Hotel Effectiveness platform to modernize how they manage F&B staffing. The result? A more empowered team, more intelligent scheduling, and measurable business results.

The Labor Challenge in Hotel Restaurants

Food and beverage operations are notoriously challenging to staff and manage. From unpredictable cover counts to labor-intensive banquet events, restaurants inside hotels face mounting complexity and increasing cost pressure.

“Labor costs are not going down. And yet we need to deploy our amazing associates in the most effective way possible,” says Mary Dobreff, VP of Operations Finance at Sage​.

Legacy methods — Excel spreadsheets and manual tracking — are no match for the current pace and demands of F&B. Sage recognized the need for a modern, integrated labor solution that would support better decisions and free up leaders to focus on hospitality.

Why Sage Chose Hotel Effectiveness

Already long-time users of ProfitSword for business intelligence, the Sage team was familiar with Actabl’s approach to performance-driven hotel operations. When they identified a portfolio-wide need for more advanced labor tools, Actabl’s Hotel Effectiveness product was a natural next step.

“We got really amazing pitches from other labor management companies,” Mary explains, “But what really resonated with us was the feedback from our property teams. They liked Actabl. The integrations were there. And we realized the value could scale if we rolled it out across the portfolio.”

Transforming Restaurant Scheduling with Confidence

One of the biggest early wins? Smarter, more predictable scheduling in Sage’s restaurants.

“We found immediately more intelligent scheduling. Associates were cut from shifts less. Managers could plan further out. And it helped support compliance with scheduling laws,” says Mary​.

The result is not just a more efficient operation. It’s a more reliable, supportive environment for F&B associates. When restaurant staff know their schedules won’t be pulled at the last minute, it builds trust and helps reduce turnover in a competitive labor market.

Precision Labor Planning for Banquets and Events

Banquet operations are another area where Hotel Effectiveness is paying dividends. In the past, Sage could only track labor costs by meal period. But a plated dinner and a buffet require very different staffing, and those nuances matter.

“Now we can distinguish labor by event type. It’s no longer just red or green on a screen. We can identify whether we deployed our teams in the right way and where we have opportunities to improve,” Mary explains​.

This level of detail helps Sage match staffing with guest expectations and maintain the elevated service that defines their restaurant concepts.

Real Results: In Both Money and Time Savings

The impact has been tangible, even in an environment with significant wage inflation.

“We saw a 3% labor savings year over year in Q1 2025, even with rising wages,” says Mary. “Hotel Effectiveness is paying for itself.”

Beyond the numbers, the team is gaining time back. Finance leaders are spending less time wrangling spreadsheets and more time having strategic conversations. Managers can lead by walking around — not just sitting behind a screen.

A Better Experience for Staff and Guests

Perhaps the biggest insight? Optimizing labor isn’t just about cost. It’s about culture.

“We’re giving associates schedules they can count on,” Mary says. “That helps them plan their lives, feel valued, and stay longer. It’s a people and culture win, not just a finance win”​.

That kind of consistency shows up in service quality. When teams are confident, guests can feel it, and that’s what transforms a hotel restaurant from convenient to memorable.

A Smarter, More Human Approach to F&B Scheduling

Sage Restaurant Concepts is leading the way in showing how labor technology can fuel not just margins, but mission. With Actabl’s Hotel Effectiveness, Sage is building a future where restaurants are profitably run with both precision and humanity.

Because when you support your people, you elevate your brand. And that’s a recipe every hotel F&B team should be paying attention to.

Want to see how Hotel Effectiveness can help you? Let’s talk.