CHICAGO — When Tony Bosco saw mostly negative reviews about the restaurant Wow Bao, he Tweeted: "Going to 'business' dinner (at)Wow Bao. Can any1 tell me if it's going to suck as much reviews suggest."
And almost immediately he got a response from an unexpected source — BaoMouth, the official Twitter feed of Wow Bao, an upscale fast food place in Chicago. The restaurant offered him a coupon to find out for himself, on the house.
Wow Bao sent Bosco two $15 gift cards via an iPhone app, and Bosco went the next night, posting pictures of the food on Twitter.
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Friday, September 24, 2010
Restaurants Rap State on Tipping Rules .
New York restaurants say new state guidelines on workers' tips and pay are long overdue and could help clarify a Byzantine system they believe has led to an increasing number of lawsuits alleging unfair wage practices.
Former New York State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith, who now works for the U.S. Labor Department, issued a set of recommended changes for the state in November. Nearly a year later, Albany has yet to act on the recommendations, leading to mounting frustration in the industry.
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Former New York State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith, who now works for the U.S. Labor Department, issued a set of recommended changes for the state in November. Nearly a year later, Albany has yet to act on the recommendations, leading to mounting frustration in the industry.
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DineEquity’s 3Q Same-Store Sales Up
DineEquity Inc. (DIN - Snapshot Report), operating under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP brands, announced a preview of its same-store sales results for third quarter 2010. The company indicated that comparable sales in the chain of restaurants under both the brands are on a rising trend.
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Thursday, September 23, 2010
Ruby Tuesday to open up to 200 Mexican eateries
Ruby Tuesday has inked a deal that will allow it to open and operate up to 200 fast-casual Mexican restaurants.
The Maryville-based restaurant operator signed a licensing agreement last week with LFMG International LLC for the development rights to South Florida-based Lime Fresh Mexican Grill.
The move into fast casual gives Ruby Tuesday, a casual dining chain with more than 850 company and franchise-owned locations, entry into a segment that has been the fastest growing in the restaurant industry.
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The Maryville-based restaurant operator signed a licensing agreement last week with LFMG International LLC for the development rights to South Florida-based Lime Fresh Mexican Grill.
The move into fast casual gives Ruby Tuesday, a casual dining chain with more than 850 company and franchise-owned locations, entry into a segment that has been the fastest growing in the restaurant industry.
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Hard Rock brand sues, cites Rehab behavior at Las Vegas hotel
The owner of the international Hard Rock brand no longer wants its name associated with the Las Vegas Hard Rock hotel-casino and is suing to cancel their licensing agreement, citing negative publicity from the Rehab pool parties and reality TV series.
Orlando-based Hard Rock Cafe International (USA) Inc. (HRCI) sued the owners of the Las Vegas hotel as well as Rehab's producer and broadcaster Tuesday in federal court in New York
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Orlando-based Hard Rock Cafe International (USA) Inc. (HRCI) sued the owners of the Las Vegas hotel as well as Rehab's producer and broadcaster Tuesday in federal court in New York
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New York Helmsley hotel up for sale
Separately, another piece of the once-vast Helmsley real estate empire is on the sales block.
The New York Helmsley hotel, at 212 E. 42nd St., has just been listed and could fetch over $300 million, The Post has learned.
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The New York Helmsley hotel, at 212 E. 42nd St., has just been listed and could fetch over $300 million, The Post has learned.
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Detroit Omni to close
The Omni Detroit Hotel will cease operations Oct. 12 as the hotel’s owner wants to “focus on other properties.”
The 108-room hotel has been up for sale since the beginning of the year, with a plan to close unless a sale is under contract, said Caryn Kboudi, vice president of corporate communications for Irving, Texas-based Omni Hotels & Resorts, which operates 45 hotels in North America.
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The 108-room hotel has been up for sale since the beginning of the year, with a plan to close unless a sale is under contract, said Caryn Kboudi, vice president of corporate communications for Irving, Texas-based Omni Hotels & Resorts, which operates 45 hotels in North America.
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Iron Chef Bobby Flay on Being the Boss
There are a few things American chef Bobby Flay knows how to do better than most people. They include a cornmeal-crusted chile relleno, anything that requires a grill, and running a restaurant. The master of Southwestern cuisine has more than seven restaurant openings under his belt. Among the most critically acclaimed eateries is New York City’s Mesa Grill, which has been around for 20 years. Flay, whose latest food show, Brunch @ Bobby’s, will air starting next month on the Cooking Channel, spoke to NEWSWEEK’s Jessica Ramirez about what new owners should avoid if they want to succeed in the restaurant business.
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Helmsley Hotel Up for Sale
HOSPITALITY BUSINESS NEWS— The New York Helmsley hotel near Grand Central Terminal has been put on the market for sale, according to the New York Post.
The 788-room hotel could sell for more than $300 million, the paper reported.
The same team that sold the Carlton Hotel on the Upper East Side as a condo redevelopment for the Helmsley Estate last year will be working on the listing to sell the Midtown East hotel, the Post said.
The team includes CB Richard Ellis investment brokers Darcy Stacom and Bill Shanahan, as well as their colleague Brad Brunnell.
The real estate empire built by Harry and Leona Helmsley been sold off piece by piece since her death. Only two of the Helmsley's hotels remain in the group New York, the Park Lane and the New York Helmsley, and another Helmsley hotel remains in Sarasota, FL.
The 788-room hotel could sell for more than $300 million, the paper reported.
The same team that sold the Carlton Hotel on the Upper East Side as a condo redevelopment for the Helmsley Estate last year will be working on the listing to sell the Midtown East hotel, the Post said.
The team includes CB Richard Ellis investment brokers Darcy Stacom and Bill Shanahan, as well as their colleague Brad Brunnell.
The real estate empire built by Harry and Leona Helmsley been sold off piece by piece since her death. Only two of the Helmsley's hotels remain in the group New York, the Park Lane and the New York Helmsley, and another Helmsley hotel remains in Sarasota, FL.
More Westin rooms to shut as receivership fight continues
The Westin Hotel is "making the best of a bad situation" as a dispute between the owners and receivers of the hotel's management company rumbles on during one of its busiest booking weeks of the year.
The Westin is doing a fraction of its normal trade and has had to turn away several NZ Fashion Week guests after half of the hotel was made off limits earlier this month. Owners are seeking to cancel the leases of a further 19 rooms at the five star hotel in the next two weeks.
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The Westin is doing a fraction of its normal trade and has had to turn away several NZ Fashion Week guests after half of the hotel was made off limits earlier this month. Owners are seeking to cancel the leases of a further 19 rooms at the five star hotel in the next two weeks.
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TripAdvisor steers well clear of bizarre Blackpool hotel saga
User review site TripAdvisor is perhaps wisely attempting to remove itself from the strange story of a couple asked to leave a UK hotel because of a negative review.
News of the saga has spread quickly after the alleged reviewer went to the press with the tale.
According to Adrian Healey, a 33 year old retail manager, he was asked to leave a hotel before the end of the booking after being accused of posting a negative review about the property on TripAdvisor.
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News of the saga has spread quickly after the alleged reviewer went to the press with the tale.
According to Adrian Healey, a 33 year old retail manager, he was asked to leave a hotel before the end of the booking after being accused of posting a negative review about the property on TripAdvisor.
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Omni Detroit to close
The Omni Detroit Hotel will cease operations Oct. 12 as the hotel’s owner wants to “focus on other properties.”
The 108-room hotel has been up for sale since the beginning of the year, with a plan to close unless a sale is under contract, said Caryn Kboudi, vice president of corporate communications for Irving, Texas-based Omni Hotels & Resorts, which operates 45 hotels in North America.
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The 108-room hotel has been up for sale since the beginning of the year, with a plan to close unless a sale is under contract, said Caryn Kboudi, vice president of corporate communications for Irving, Texas-based Omni Hotels & Resorts, which operates 45 hotels in North America.
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Virgin Is Getting into the Hotel Business
PHOENIX-Virgin Group is getting into hotels. The multinational company is diving into the hotel market, planning to put out 25 branded hotels over the next seven years. Virgin Hotels will be a “four-star lifestyle hotel brand,” according to the company, and will launch first into gateway markets with the first property opening within the next 12 to 18 months.
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Ahmadinejad's food stinks up Hilton
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad doesn't need nuclear weapons -- his food stinks so bad, he's practically cleared out the Hilton Manhattan East. The finicky fascist brought his own personal chef to prepare his meals while he's in town for the UN General Assembly, a source told The Post's Helen Freund. Unfortunately, his meals "make the whole hotel stink like hell," said the source. The Hilton did not return a call for comment.
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Dallas-Fort Worth hotel foreclosure filings more than triple
Business and tourist travel is picking up, but the number of Dallas-Fort Worth hotels facing foreclosure this year has more than tripled.
So far in 2010, 94 North Texas hotel foreclosure filings have been recorded. There were 30 filings for the same period in 2009, according to Foreclosure Listing Service Inc.
"Among D-FW hotels, the threat of foreclosure has skyrocketed over the past two years," said George Roddy, president of the Addison-based foreclosure-tracking firm. "For the upcoming foreclosure auctions on Oct. 5, eight postings have been filed, threatening hotel projects within the area."
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So far in 2010, 94 North Texas hotel foreclosure filings have been recorded. There were 30 filings for the same period in 2009, according to Foreclosure Listing Service Inc.
"Among D-FW hotels, the threat of foreclosure has skyrocketed over the past two years," said George Roddy, president of the Addison-based foreclosure-tracking firm. "For the upcoming foreclosure auctions on Oct. 5, eight postings have been filed, threatening hotel projects within the area."
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