As the calendar speeds past the midway point of December, many restaurateurs are seeing midweek reservations spike with bookings from business travelers and local event planners. All signs indicate that the corporate expense account crowd will be out in force this year; the Global Business Travel Association projects that overall business travel spending will increase 6.8 percent this year to nearly $300 billion. Other economic factors, highlighted by a burst in corporate hiring and lower gas prices, point towards a rewarding holiday season for restaurant owners and operators.
JBF partner Dinova, which helps steer its corporate clients to 12,000+ Dinova-network restaurants, is particularly optimistic about corporate dining in December. “Sales trends bode well for a superb holiday season,” said Dinova CEO Vic Macchio in a recent press release. “Corporations are likely to be more willing to spend on employee outings and/or year-end celebrations at a restaurant with a client or prospect. If current trends hold, we could see corporate dining spend in December increase by more than 10 percent over last year.”
Last December, Dinova’s corporate client spending increased nearly nine percent over 2012 levels, with a 4.5 percent increase in transaction volume.
Dinova encourages all restaurant owners and operators to take special care of their corporate guests during the holidays. A dining experience that combines great ambiance, superior food and stellar service will be remembered by both corporate executives and the event planners that put together these lucrative outings.
Here at JBF, we recommend that corporations explore ways to do business at the James Beard House. A Corporate–level membership entitles six employees to Beard House dinner discounts, while the Foundation's private boardroom is a unique and memorable venue for entertaining.
