The products and services mentioned in this article may not be available in your region. Please reach out to customer support or your account manager if you have questions.
Alliance Hospitality Group: powering growth through partnership
When it comes to problem-solving, two heads are often better than one. That idea is at the core of the relationship between Amber Jamal Eckerlund, Director of Marketing at AHG (Alliance Hospitality Group), and Amanda Hayes, Senior Account Manager at Uber Eats.
Since 2019, they’ve worked closely together to grow AHG’s brands on Uber Eats—from creating standout digital storefronts to shaping campaigns that make every dollar go further. Along the way, they’ve also built a partnership based on collaboration, curiosity, and a shared passion for hospitality.
Delivering across a brand ecosystem
AHG operates on a large scale across Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Scottsdale, Arizona, with 12 restaurant concepts under its umbrella. Several of those brands offer delivery through Uber Eats, including some that are available exclusively on the platform.
That mix of concepts—from fast-casual cafés to upscale dining—means AHG relies on delivery as a key channel to reach a broad and diverse customer base.
Amber has been with AHG for over a decade. When she joined, the company had just one fast-casual concept, Coral Tree Café, which became one of the first restaurants to trial delivery with Uber Eats in 2013.
Since then, she’s helped shape and grow AHG’s expanding portfolio, including Baltaire, Comoncy, Encanto, Flint by Baltaire, Mora Italiano, Sexy Roman, Kauboi, and F/Sixteen.
Amanda joined the partnership in 2019 after taking on restaurant accounts in the Uber Eats Los Angeles area. AHG was already performing strongly on the platform, and she saw even more opportunity in working closely with a marketer who really understands each brand.
'Looking at the numbers alone, it was clear that the AHG brands were thriving on the platform. By working with Amber, I knew we could grow them even further. It was really exciting to start working with her personally and bring that to fruition.'
Amanda Hayes, Senior Account Manager, Uber Eats
Turning data into direction
Amanda and Amber’s first phone call set the tone for a partnership that’s only grown stronger over time. They quickly realised they share a similar mindset: focused on people, problem-solving, and building community through food.
For Amanda, the partnership goes beyond traditional account management. She acts as a strategic partner to Amber and the AHG team, helping connect performance data with broader business decisions.
That means looking at AHG’s entire digital ecosystem—not just Uber Eats, but websites, social channels, online ordering experiences, and other third-party platforms—to make sure everything works together to support the brand.
Amanda also helps turn Uber Eats performance data into clear priorities for AHG. Before each check-in with Amber, she reviews sales, customer behaviour, and operational trends across AHG’s portfolio. She also looks across the platform at other high-performing restaurants to identify what’s working well and what AHG can apply to its own brands
'On the restaurant side, we’re very divided between different sales channels and funnels. It’s really helpful to work with someone like Amanda on the account management side who knows the Uber platform so well.'
Amber Jamal Eckerlund, Director of Marketing, AHG
The path to better performance
For a multi-brand portfolio like AHG, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for growth. Amanda and Amber take a flexible approach, focusing on a mix of free and paid opportunities.
Free opportunities
Free opportunities focus on the overall storefront experience and the details customers see when browsing the Uber Eats app. To boost performance, Amanda and Amber typically prioritise the following areas:
→ Discoverability. Use clear, searchable menu tags that reflect how customers browse and search in the app.
→ Photography. Keep hero images up to date and make sure every menu item has an appetising photo.
→ Menu design. Look for thoughtful ways to encourage larger orders, like adding proteins to salads or offering shareable family-style dishes for groups.
“Part of being a good partner is figuring out what levers we can pull without the brand having to fork out any cash. It’s important to show up with a few different options.”
Amanda Hayes
Senior Account Manager, Uber Eats
Paid opportunities
When there’s budget for paid marketing on Uber Eats, Amanda and Amber make every dollar count by focusing on:
→ Timing. Campaign performance often depends on timing. Slower periods can be a great opportunity to boost visibility on Uber Eats, while running promotions during already busy peak times might have less of an extra impact.
→ Seasonality. Look for seasonal moments that fit with your brand and menu. For example, Mora Italiano might run a Lent seafood special, while Encanto might get involved in a Cinco de Mayo campaign.
→ National campaigns. Uber Eats promotes national campaigns across the app and via email, driving spikes in demand. Restaurants can take advantage of that momentum by joining in with a great offer.
“Think about your restaurant on Uber Eats as if it’s another restaurant location. Put the same effort into the experience as you would for a customer walking into your shop.”
Amber Jamal Eckerlund
Director of Marketing, AHG
3 ways to grow with Uber Eats
For operators keen to strengthen their third-party delivery strategy, Amber shares 3 simple tips:
1. Understand the platform
Spend some time getting familiar with your dashboards, analytics, and menu tools so you can get the most out of Uber Eats.
2. Communicate
Your account manager is there to help you grow. Set up regular check-ins and share what’s working, what’s not, and where you’d like to improve.
3. Add a personal touch
Don’t miss small chances to bring your brand to life through the delivery experience. Respond to customer reviews on Uber Eats, and look for ways to go above and beyond. AHG brands, for example, often pop an uplifting handwritten note in the delivery bag.
Most importantly, Amber suggests keeping an open mind. When the day-to-day gets busy, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture—but that’s often when opportunities slip by. Every chat with Amanda brings up new ideas and opens up new ways to grow.
“If you keep asking, ‘How can Uber help me?’ you’ll always find that the team will have something to offer. There’s always something you can do to improve your menu, boost your sales, and reach new customers.”
Amber Jamal Eckerlund
Director of Marketing, AHG
Keen to drive your own success with Uber Eats?
Whether you operate a single venue or manage a multi-brand portfolio, Uber Eats gives you the tools to understand your customers, improve your storefront, and boost demand where it counts most.
Get started today and turn insights into real results.
Info and inspo to grow your business
Discover best practices to help your business market effectively, operate efficiently and deliver seamlessly.
Explore articles, guides, product updates and other resources to help your business grow.
Learn how businesses leverage the Uber platform every day to expand their reach and strengthen their brand.
Testimonials reflect individual results. Individual results are not a guarantee of outcome for any given merchant, and merchant experience will vary.
Solutions
Business types
Business types
Resources
Resources