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Seize the opportunity…. Last night was my daughter’s 8th-grade graduation. Upon learning of the graduation date, one of the school’s parents, a savvy businesswoman and restaurant owner, wasted no time in extending an invitation for families to gather at her restaurant after the ceremony to “toast and celebrate.” When families arrived, they were greeted with a thoughtfully curated prix-fixe menu. As a result of this invitation, the restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night, which I imagine would have typically been a slower evening. Here’s why this move was brilliant: - By orchestrating this post-graduation gathering, the restaurant owner effectively induced FOMO (fear of missing out) among the families and graduates. - This served as an invaluable opportunity for the restaurant owner to showcase her brand to a captive audience. - It provided a great way to acquire new customers. - And to win repeat business once customers experienced the excellent food, service, and ambiance. Whether celebrating a graduation, a birthday, a little league win, or another occasion, is there an event your business can leverage to create memorable experiences and drive growth? Share in the comments below. #MarketingWin #RestaurantMarketing #PublicRelations #BusinessStrategy

60% of restaurants in the United States fail within the first year. Today marks the 22nd year one of my bars, Green Rock, has been open. What has it done differently than some others to have this kind of success? Here are some of the traits I’ve noticed that has helped Green Rock have this kind of longevity. 1. Lose on some items to create customer satisfaction. Green Rock has always been a more comp friendly place. Could we make more money if we didn’t do this? Possibly. But the view at GR is I’d rather the customer come back every Friday and Saturday and comp them some food or a drink, then they go somewhere else. 2. Atmosphere is king. The main focus of the place is creating a fun, exciting atmosphere for everyone. We will spend more money than we probably should in order to create a unique atmosphere that promotes everybody having a great time. 3. Friendly staff. As managers we try to ensure that everyone enjoys interacting with our staff and never feel put off. This arguably keeps people coming back more than anything else. You put all three of these things together and you got a good chance at making it past that first year. Cheers to 22 years and to 22 more! If you think this could be helpful to someone, share it. Follow along for more. #restaurant #restaurantowner #hospitalityindustry

If you thought incorporating social impact into your business strategy was only important to certain industries, look no further than Mecha Noodle Bar and founder/CEOs TONY M PHAM and Richard Reyes for evidence to the contrary. They have built a beautifully simple and effective business model and movement with Eat Justice, and their recent recognition by the Connecticut Restaurant Association as CT's 2023 Restauranteurs of the Year is so well deserved! Amazingly, this month Mecha Noodle Bar is donating almost $60,000 to a nonprofit nominated by an employee- and they make this kind of significant donation EVERY month through the Eat Justice model. Most players in the restaurant industry are not particularly known for corporate social responsibility, and especially for the small- to mid-sized restaurant businesses out there, slim margins are a frequent and legitimate concern when talking corporate citizenship. Many businesses in this and many other industries shy away from regular investment in social impact, but doing all they can when they can. This is valuable, and I hope still as appreciated as it was during the height of COVID 19. But what if a few fairly simple tweaks to your business model changed that? This is what Rich and Tony are achieving through Eat Justice- and it's paying off. Their business thriving, opening new locations in three more states in 2024. Their employee dedication and satisfaction is far above average. They are gaining a fantastic reputation with patrons beyond their seriously yummy chow, with a loyal base returning regularly because they know they're making an impact by eating there. And it's no small impact. Eat Justice is a movement- and their model is no secret. Seriously, ask Rich. Ask Tony. Ask any location manager. Ask me! It's not difficult to implement, is scalable, and is just as applicable for brand new companies as multi-generational companies. It's adaptable across industries. The goal is to truly build a community where lifting each other up is a given, woven into the fabric of the economy. Social impact investment is one facet of corporate citizenship. Businesses of the future will need to pay attention to all of the facets, but this is certainly an easy place to start.

On Tuesday, a day before my premier grad school communications presentation, the first Zippy’s opened up outside of Hawaii. 🏝️ I presented an informative story on the relationship between Hawaii and the Las Vegas community. 🌋 … I’m sure this dining outlet had the data to back its decision in this development and why it was launched in Hawaii’s Ninth Island, Las Vegas. 🎰 It reminded me of why I am pursuing a masters business degree in hospitality. How can we make feasible decisions based on present or forecasted data? How can this be applied to hospitality and it’s services? What can we do post-opening to maintain and/or add value to the location?

New Article: Creating Career Pathways in Culinary and Hospitality Discover how structured frameworks are not only attracting top talent but also nurturing and developing existing employees. Dive into real-world success stories, like Maria's journey from dishwasher to executive chef, and Alex's rise through a Sous Chef Development Program. Learn about mentorship, continuing education, and hands-on experience strategies that facilitate growth, benefiting both employees and organizations. Don't miss this insightful article on cultivating culinary talent and elevating dining experiences in the senior living industry. Read more now https://lnkd.in/eQFNijc7 #SeniorLiving #CareerPathways #ProfessionalDevelopment

🍴Here's what I love about the restaurant industry: 1. It's different every day. 2. It's about giving more than receiving. 3. It's the hardest and most rewarding industry there is. 4. It deserves a lot more credit than it gets. Many of us have chosen this industry because it's about serving others. What do you love about working in the hospitality industry? Share below. 👇

Restaurant Grant Opportunity: Backing Historic Small Restaurant Grant Program! Deadline: March 25, 2024 A program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation with support from American Express, Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program helps restaurants address critical needs amid ongoing economic challenges. Apply today! Share your story about small or independently owned restaurants located in a historic or older building or neighborhood that:   •Contributes to the history and/or identity of its surrounding community or neighborhood. •Tells an inclusive story about cuisine and community in America (such as historic or ethnic food ways or culinary heritage). •Has a compelling and inspiring historical narrative or cultural significance. •Has been disproportionately impacted by economic challenges, disasters, or other hardships.   Timeline for Grant Program   March 11: Application Launch March 25: Applications Due Mid-May: Applicants Notified June 12: Recipients Announced Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e-HdNKtZ Nominate restaurants here: https://lnkd.in/eU39jBdE

A great evening with some very clear considerations about economic activity, the role of entrepreneurship and innovation to support complex challenges. Two points of reflection which I have thanks to the great conversations at the table 1 Contradictions between policies and actions are cemented in old habitual patterns of thinking about what success and advancement looks like. With that we are in a spiral 🌀 very difficult to get out of with certain challenges. Structures and culture are reinforcing so what agency and different action will start to move us beyond ? We need to reframe value as a starter. 2. Environmental challenges all need us devot agency and action towards but when it comes to personal adjustments on privilege and our way of living, governing and contributing (tax), how many will make adjustments to support the broader societal impacts? We need to reframe values as a starter. Thanks Learnovate Centre, Trinity College Dublin for the experience.

Creativity is an indispensable skill that holds significance across all aspects of life. It empowers you to break free from conventional thinking, enhance your communication, make a lasting impression, adapt to change, and establish valuable relationships and connections. As you'll see in the video below, the term "creative" immediately springs to mind. The Sodexo marketing team at Liberty University consistently goes the extra mile, constantly innovating and pushing boundaries. Instead of opting for the typical marketing table setup to encourage students to complete their dining survey, they opted for a TikTok-inspired approach. They stationed themselves outside with a sign that bore the intriguing message: "The first person to show us they've completed our dining survey, find a person with the name you draw from the box, and have them pour this bucket of water on your head, wins $75 dining dollars." This approach not only showcased their creativity in engaging students but also fostered unity and heightened participation. https://lnkd.in/eJRJF9zn #sodexoproud #marketing #belonging #liberty #campus #dining Sodexo USA Heather Muhlenberg Amanda Haussmann Brett Grove Duke Davis Abraham Zahabi Shelby Burton Sarah Falls, CEC, CCA Julia Pfeifer Nicole Partee Keith Wilson Nicholas Segretario Wendi Gretz

Based on recent experience, I can strongly recommend 👌