Hoteliers are working in a new reality. The theme for 2004 is not about recovery; it is about managing fundamental changes in the travel market. When or even whether economies recover will not erase what the traveling public has learned since September 11, 2001: everything is negotiable; they can book at the last minute; and hoteliers still need their business badly enough to over-compete with value-added services and personalized attention. Put simply, the challenges of the last three years are not going away.
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BW Online | February 9, 2004 | Wireless Finds a Welcome in Hospitality
It’s not quite Star Trek, where food can be made to materialize just by talking into a machine. But restaurant guests at a new Holiday Inn in Duluth, Ga., can now place their meal orders electronically. The so-called Emenu — really a tablet PC connected wirelessly to a computer in the hotel — provides photos and nutritional info on menu items. Customers can tally the calories, carbs, and price of their meals before they order, then zap the request to the kitchen. The Emenu also translates that data into Spanish and into euros. [Read more…] about BW Online | February 9, 2004 | Wireless Finds a Welcome in Hospitality
Great Combos
Restaurants have introduced many a great combo. Sweet and sour. Coke and fries. But roast turkey and cheeseburgers? Pizza and fried chicken?
Fuddruckers became the latest to combine two concepts, popping up in Koo Koo Roo in the past month. Late last year the burger specialist bought the chicken purveyor, which operates 18 fast-casual spots throughout Southern California, and now at least six of the stores sell both burgers and chicken. The move reflects a growing movement in the restaurant business as chains strive to fill out menus and grab more dollars. Those that successfully combine concepts bring in new customers and add sales, leading restaurant experts to expect the trend to continue. [Read more…] about Great Combos
Customer satisfaction online
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-sbwebstay08feb08,0,3531199.story
Once upon a time, a good or bad hotel experience might be passed along to a small group of friends. Now it gets posted via the World Wide Web on sites such as tripadvisor.com or fodors.com. For consumers, the sites are a back channel way to check up on the advertising and marketing claims put out by hotel chains.
For hotels, the benefits are more mixed. Comments like “God awful” and “Run away as fast as you can” can sour travelers and may not be objective, even as “Terrific” and “Great view and beach” could lead to bookings.
But hotel executives say they do monitor the sites, in part to uncover problems glossed over on guest comment cards.
What backlash? Diners say oui to French cuisine
“Anti-French feelings may be high,” says Ron Paul, president of Technomic, a restaurant consulting firm. “But the palate doesn’t play politics. French dining is doing very, very well.”
Sure, the nation’s politics swung anti-French last year when France loudly protested the Iraq war. Sales of French wine hit the skids.
So did business at some French restaurants. But a surprising number of them, particularly on the West Coast, have entered 2004 standing taller than the Eiffel Tower.
Behind this: diners’ growing desire for variety, particularly international fare. In a nation seemingly overrun with Italian and Southwestern outlets, there’s actually a dearth of French fare, Paul says. [Read more…] about What backlash? Diners say oui to French cuisine
A preference for dark meat
A preference for dark meat is not merely personal, but a matter of tradition for David Fortuna, chef/owner of Wholly Ravioli, Sacramento, Calif. Ever since his family’s first restaurant was opened in 1945, its members have preached the virtues of chicken thighs. “In Italy you use all parts of the chicken,he says. “Dark meat has a more ‘chickeny’ flavor, and it absorbs marinades and holds sauces better than breast meat.
Search Engine Marketing – A challenge with huge returns
The major search engines are The undisputed gateway for consumers and researchers looking for information online and The primary path for leading them to their ultimate destinations. We’re all aware of their importance when it comes to generating revenue online so let’s get right down to the options you have when promoting your company and/or its products. In a nutshell you have two; Pay-Per-Click (PPC) and Natural Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – both of them designed to position your web site in front of your potential customers. Business to business, or business to consumer it makes no difference, its imperative that you’re visible. Mind you, there is no free ride so make your decisions wisely. [Read more…] about Search Engine Marketing – A challenge with huge returns
The Seattle Times: Health: Tea's potential health benefits have made it the new hot drink of choice
https://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2001854944_tea11.html
Tea’s potential health benefits have made it the new hot drink of choice
From left: Green, red, white and black teas have all been shown to have potential disease-fighting effects.
