We’re loving the rise of the craft cocktail. What we’re not so fond of is the often times, unseen, unbeknownst to most: the under the counter, very sub-par well spirits! While we admit we are spirit “purists,” there is a trend that hasn’t quite evolved along with the perception of better bar programs: the well offerings. […]
Don’t let your restaurant show the signs of failure – lead and act!
We see it every day, some restaurant, some city, the tell-tale signs of possible demise. Often times owner egos reject professional offers of assistance, thinking, perhaps, it’s better to let the bills pile up and the losses continue until closure, rather than rationally seek operational or marketing assistance. The usual scenario when sales start to […]
Go ahead, blow the roof off!
First, make great impressions. Second, make such great impressions that guests go out of their way to promote your brand. As someone who loves to travel, I am often moved by those extra special restaurant and hotel experiences – so moved that I feel I should let others know about great hospitality moments (or, in […]
Front line managers can make all the difference
On a recent business trip to Chicago I had the experience of encountering two very different managers – both responsible for front desk operations, at different properties, within the same hotel company. It amazed me how opposite their responses were given that they probably went through similar training programs. The first manager could not have […]
Take a Cue from Iconic Brands – Do Something Unique
Many restaurants have a hard enough time just keeping up, let alone spending quality time thinking about the “little things” that we have, over the years, highlighted as a key driver of repeat business. On a recent flight on Virgin America http://www.virgin.com, the little things were everywhere: mood lighting; great music; entertaining safety videos; specialty food […]
Capturing your portion of the 47% of the nation’s food dollar: your brand promise
Recent research from the National Restaurant Association found that 47% of American’s food budget is spent at Restaurant Consultingrestaurants as reported by MSN Money.
This is great news for restaurant operators and anyone looking to jump into the industry. While supermarkets and specialty food retailers like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s continue to gobble up the retail food spend, restaurants are well positioned to show value to a growing market segment.
Is your restaurant brand only worth 50%?
It is truly unsettling to see so many restaurant operators in thriving demographic markets resort to heavy discounting and coupons, all the while, knowingly or unknowingly, doing severe damage to their hard work and investments building a brand – let alone the signal it sends to the community and to hard working employees. With so […]
Authenticity Is Key to Long‐Term Success
We hear story after story about organizations trying to reinvent themselves or wondering why they have lost market share or stakeholder support. Often times they are so close to the root challenge that they overlook it and try to advertise or promote their way out of slumping sales. A better approach: look deep to examine […]
A Holistic Approach to Improve the Bottom Line
The word “restaurant” comes from the Latin word for “restore”, and indeed a restaurant provides a restorative experience, a chance to enjoy good food and wine and company, to relax and forget about the outside world, to refresh, indulge, and rejuvenate whether the restaurant is a small counter service deli or a fine dining place […]
Our Approach to Industry Relations
Year after year many suppliers to specific industries spend thousands of dollars and even hundreds of thousands of dollars paying for traditional advertising, exhibiting their products and services as well as bringing their sales forces to trade shows for weeks at a time. Could they have done a better job? You bet! While there are […]
Where has the hospitality gone?
Have you ever gone out to dinner and had the server from Hell! I mean, you go to a relatively nice place to eat, maybe with your spouse or on a date. You know you’re going to drop at least $200 or more for dinner. (While that may not seem like a lot of money […]
AccessPoint Group to Recruit Top Talent for Restaurants Nationwide
Hospitality industry pros AccessPoint Group uniquely qualified to help major restaurants recruit chefs and executives AccessPoint Group assists restaurants with the challenging task of finding the best talent to fill open positions. With the hospitality industry continuing to grow, AccessPoint Group responds to restaurants’ increasing need to find ambitious culinary talent. The challenge is not […]
“Fresh-Casual”: AccessPoint Group Has Finger on Pulse of Next Hot Foodie Trend
AccessPoint Group talent scoured America to scope out the next hot foodie trend – “fresh-casual” – working with a team of buzz-worthy of rising star top chefs. “Fresh-casual” delivers on the hottest foodie trends in America – quick, trendy, healthy and of course, delicious. The Group is using their special definition to put the finishing […]
Getting through the Challenge of Tough Economic Times
ALLIANCES. It is the one simple word that successful operators have realized truly matters in both good and challenging times. As your business navigates the leaner times ahead, consider the following recommendations: Build community partnerships: reach out and sustain win‐win affiliations with professional and recreational groups that cater to your primary customer segments – baseball […]
Tom Kelley comments on crisis communications on CNN’s Situation Room
Tom Kelley comments on media accusations made against Presidential candidate Herman Cain – and the need for a crisis communications plan — during feature interview with Brian Todd and Wolf Blitzer on CNN’s Situation Room.
