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Jeremy Fairley

Macaroni Grill rolls out interactive mentoring system | Nation's Restaurant News - 1 views

  • The initiative involves automated analysis of point-of-sale-system data to determine, among other things, where servers perform below their same-restaurant peers in different sales metrics, such as number of appetizers or desserts sold nightly, the companies said.
  • The mentoring system also represents “an opportunity to enhance guest service,” according to Brandon Coleman III, Mac Acquisition LLC chief marketing officer.
  • Coleman said the mentoring program’s comparative analysis of wait-staff members on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis, as opposed to using chainwide norms for such comparisons, improves the accuracy of its findings and staff buy in. That’s the case, he indicated, because chainwide performance norms might not reflect the very real impact on sales and menu mix at specific restaurants of such factors as location, climate and regional consumer dining preferences.
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    Romano's Macaroni Grill is rolling out to all 181 company restaurants a system that helps servers boost sales and guest satisfaction by combining data analysis with personalized coaching. Read more: http://nrn.com/article/macaroni-grill%E2%80%99s-interactive-mentoring-system-helps-boost-sales?ad=news#ixzz1lGb0JfiS
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    Great article on how the Macaroni Grill Chain implemented an interactive mentoring system to boost performance and sales of wait staff based on automated analysis of information from the point of sale system. This data was used in small part to determine the areas in which server performance showed room for improvement. This data was measured against other restaraunt peers in various sales metrics as a point of comparison. The program also involved follow-up where staff trainers communicate with restaurant managers to report program results. Think this is a great way to show hard data in the system to further improve levels of service, as well as a great on-going sales training tool. The article did not say which point of sale system the chain uses.
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    I really like this system cause it makes the management so effective. By using this system, manager will recieve information about the areas in which each server has room for improvement weekly which may help managers to figure out the potential problems in their management.
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    It is a so smart system that makes it easy to analyze and control the operation of restaurant. I think it helps manager save a lot of time and costs due to automated analysis of point-of-sale-system data and comparison with others! What a wonderful system!
anonymous

Blasting the 'gastro ceiling' with financial literacy - 0 views

  • former World Bank executive
  • trustee of the James Beard Foundation and co-founded the JBF Women’s Leadership and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Leadership programs
  • The culinary “gastro ceiling” is especially appalling with less than 7% leading women executive chefs
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  • scholarships and more education will not make a dent in parity. It’s not a lack of entrepreneurial spirit either — according to the National Restaurant Association, 40% of restaurants are women-owned businesses, or WOB, and startups by women are growing much faster than the industry overall.
  • grim reality that 96% of WOB do not cross $1 million in revenue. Fewer than 8% seek external financing,
    • anonymous
       
      Despite leading the way in education and opportunities, women are not accessing enough financial backing to support larger businesses
  • less than 4% of Small Business Administration loan dollars, and less than 2% of venture capital dollars.
  • o raise external financing and be successful entrepreneurs, however, women have to vanquish three areas.
  • women increasingly develop discomfort with math
  • by women learning to pitch themselves
    • anonymous
       
      Step One: Build confidence by learning how to pitch, not apologizing, not phrasing comments as questions, and not letting others take credit for their work.
  • investing in public speaking and negotiations coaching.
    • anonymous
       
      One way to accomplish this
  • 67% of executive women are in support roles (HR, Marketing, IT, et al) as opposed to running their own line businesses
  • ulinary world, women abound in the softer side (pastry, baking, freelance, cold stations, personal chefs
  • own best advocate
  • Policy should also incentivize commercial lenders and venture capital/private equity to do the same with their loan dollars
  • bottom-up solution of livable minimum wages and parental-leave benefits
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    Despite women leading the way in scholarship and culinary education, they are suspiciously vacant at the top of the leadership ladder. According to Bloomberg, only about 7% of executive chefs are woman, and "67% of executive women are in support roles...as opposed to running their own line of business." This doesn't appear to be because of a lack of entrepreneurial spirt, as "405 of restaurants are women-owned businesses or WOB, and startups by women are growing much faster than the industry overall." This made me reflect on my own city, as I do see women in executive positions, such as Stephanie Izard, Sarah Grunenberg, and Mindy Segal, they all got to their positions in very different ways. Probably the most successful, with currently 7-8 restaurants, is Izard, she got her start by winning a reality tv show and then joining forces with two male business owners (BOKA). Grunenberg also started visa vi the reality TV route, and now eventually owns and runs a very successful restaurant downtown. Mindy Segal is the only woman executive in this group that has built her business, her cookbooks, her brand, and now her cannibis retail, mostly by herself. It is interesting to relate these women to this article because while they are all three incredibly successful, only one was able to pull herself there through the three points mentioned in this article. In order for women to break the glass ceiling in restaurants and culinary, they will need to accomplish three main goals: 1. Gain confidence, 2. Increase their aspirations, and 3. Learn and Maintain Financial literacy. The "grim reality (is) that 96% of WOB do not cross the $1 million in revenue...(and) fewer than 8% seek external financing. Women "receive less than 4% of Small Business Administration loan dollars and less than 2% of venture capital dollars. For confidence, this article recommends to women to learn how to advocate for yourself. Use coaches, practices public speaking, and learn how to pitch your business
lvela051

Shaping the Events Industry - THISDAYLIVE - 1 views

  • An industry that contributes conservatively over N100billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria annually and potentially has about N1trillion in turnover clearly needs to regulate itself.
  • This prompted the convener of Events Market Nigeria (EMN), Temitope Amodu, to bring all the players together such as wedding vendors, stakeholders, entrepreneurs, make-up artistes, DJs and event market enthusiasts among others who gathered for a day of networking, mentoring and discussions on pertinent issues about Nigeria’s ever growing event industry.
  • The 10th edition of the Event Market Nigeria Meet and Greet was the largest free gathering of participants in the event industry in recent times,
    • lvela051
       
      Have a free gathering of over 700 attendees.
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  • He noted that since people love events and have fun, they look for any excuse to throw a party (it is the only thing that can make people sane in a recession or in a volatile emerging market). Thus, it is a no-brainer to set up a business or be involved in any trade or activity that cashes in on this idiosyncrasy.
  • to share industry related insights and emphasised the importance of collaboration as the new completion within the event cycle.
    • lvela051
       
      Collaboration is needed to create a successful event.
  • said a country that has a population for almost 200 million people and a reputation for an ostentatious culture, it is a no-brainer that the events industry is a rough diamond
    • lvela051
       
      None seem interested in such a profitable industry with potential.
  • The recent growth in the events industry has contributed to the spontaneous growth in many business verticals e.g. event planning, venue, photography, food and many more services along this massive value chain.
    • lvela051
       
      All contributors in the success.
  • the hospitality industry has been a source of optimal returns for investors.
    • lvela051
       
      event management being a part of that industry.
  • The events industry has grown at an average pace of 6.2 per cent each year globally since 2003.
  • The goal is to create an ecosystem that allows growth and development to take place, one that identifies, creates and drives excellence within the youths and veterans of the event industry.
    • lvela051
       
      Main goal within the event industry.
  • Nigerian company or middle-class family spends over 15,000 dollars per event.
  • 7 million dollars was spent on parties in Lagos over a five months period in 2013.
  • It involves studying the brand, identifying the target audience, devising the event concept, planning the logistics and coordinating the technical aspects before actually launching the event.
    • lvela051
       
      Event Management:
  • Basically, there are two types of events, namely; corporate and social events.
    • lvela051
       
      Its important to determine which events are mostly going to be catered too.
  • It is not a very organised industry; particularly because there is no specific legislation regulating this sector of the economy.
  • A common complaint from customers/clients of the industry is the issue of liability.
  • when disputes arise between a professional in the events industry and a client, there are no regulations on the applicable dispute resolution mechanisms
  • the industry is too fragmented.
  • Protect your business via written contracts, create a proper corporate structure for your business, adhere to the simple principles of corporate governance (e.g. have a board of directors or advisors etc), retain a good audit and tax firm to examine your books annually and make your business tax efficient, retain a legal partner to mitigate your legal risks. Run a business and not a hobby!”
    • lvela051
       
      Important to Protect the business legally.
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    The focus of the article is to highlight how the event industry is becoming more popular among the hospitality industry in Nigeria. It mentions the Events Market Nigeria (EMN) group aims to provide a places that allows for growth and development within the event industry with the newcomers and experienced event planners. The event that was hosted by the EMN, provides free gathering that offer different speakers to offer advice and their experience to those attendees willing to listen. Throughout the article, it states that the country of Nigeria has a population of "almost $200 million people and a reputation for an ostentatious culture", which makes it a perfect place to invest in the event industry. Especially due to the fact that the industry is a source of a more favorable return on investment even though other sources in Nigeria are considered more attractive. What makes the event industry profitable, is the ability to venture with other businesses such as venues, catering, event planning and more. But with all the good, the article does point out the issues such as liability and the lack of rules that are set for the industry. I think that it's an important topic to consider because hotels are implementing a source of revenue with renting out meeting spaces and catering services to outside companies. With more and more events being planned, I think it's a great business to venture in. The ability to have an events department within a hotel or even a restaurant gives the establishment to produce more revenue within other departments. Such as a hotel, the planning of a meeting not only brings in the revenue of the space being rented but also to Food and Beverage with the catering aspect and the front desk with the rooms being occupied by the clients and attendees.
jordanskj

A GDS Primer: What is the GDS and Which Travel Agents Need It? - 0 views

  • The advantage to travel agents is that the GDS not only can show you many fares from multiple airlines, but it also offers a great depth of information about each flight in one place. The carrier, the times, the costs, the class of the seat, aircraft type and so much more. It’s a smorgasbord of options. So if you’re booking a high volume of tickets, it’s great to have access to every minutiae of information from multiple carriers in one go.
  • In today’s world, the GDSs have a bit of a split personality. There is the old school, traditional GDS commonly called “the green screen.” Then there’s the hip side of the GDSs, which people will call “point and click” or “GUI” (Graphical User Interface). Essentially, it’s a more intuitive and prettier looking version of the GDS.
  • To learn the GDS green screen takes intense training, and to become proficient takes tons of practice and constant use. That means daily use with a mentor (for at least 6 months to a year), not just booking a ticket for a client every few weeks.
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  • While new agents can partially navigate the GDS with the GUI interface, the code that comes back still has important information like fare types and rules that the agents really needs to understand. So many agents, in the end, need to learn the green screen (and find it faster) regardless.
  • One of the reasons that most leisure agents don’t need the GDS is because the air will be included in a vacation package by the tour operator, or you can book it with the cruise line and you don’t need to use the GDS.
  • Global Distribution System (GDS) is a travel agent’s motherboard for booking airline tickets and other sorts of travel goodies (like hotel and car)
  • It can be easy to confuse the GDS with a Central Reservation System or Computerized Reservation System (CRS). CRSs are automated inventory-tracking systems that were (originally) owned and run by individual vendors (like airlines, car companies and hotels).
  • GDSs function as an umbrella for many many CRS systems. It’s like a CRS motherboard. (In fact, many vendors outsource their CRS systems to a GDS.)
  • an show you many fares from multiple airlines, but it also offers a great depth of information about each flight in one place. The carrier, the times, the costs, the class of the seat, aircraft type and so much more. It’s a smorgasbord of options. So if you’re bookin
  • If you are a leisure travel agent, there’s a huge whopping huge chance that you don’t need to use a GDS
  • American Airlines created the first CRS system in 1946. And while this helped automate inventory for vendors, travel agents did not have direct access to that inventory. Travel agents would need to call the airline’s booking center, who would then contact one of their CRS operators, then relay the results to the travel agent over the phone (literally, like playing telephone). It took a lot of people power to book a single airline ticket. Travelers booking their own ticket? Forget about it! 
  • There are many GDS options, and each GDS system will has access to their own pool of carriers. The four largest GDSs are: Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport (which is the parent company of Apollo/Galileo and Worldspan).
  • Let me be blunt: unless you’re some kind of prodigy, the GDS green screens are not user friendly. Be afraid, be very afraid.
  • he GUI is the point-and-click version of the GDS. You may have heard of options such as Sabre Red Workspace and TravelPort Smartpoint. So why doesn’t everyone use it? Here’s the problem: At its current stage of development, even GUI users need to understand the language of the green screen.
  • Essentially, the GUI interface isn’t quite there yet . . . and developing this technology is reeeeeally expensive and comes with a lot of growing pain
  • To book in the GDS, you must have an IATA/IATAN accreditation number, in addition to an ARC accreditation number if you’re located in the United States.
  • As a new agent, you can’t get these accreditation numbers because they require a lot of experience. So you come into the industry under a host agency (more on what a host agency is) and use their accreditation number instead.
  • Corporate travel agents book a whole lot of air, so the GDS is pretty much a must for them.
  • If your specialty is around the world tickets or you have a steady stream of clients with multi-stop itineraries, the GDS will be a necessity. 
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    This article looks at GDS and GUI systems and gives a holistic viewpoint of performance, positives and negatives, and what type of agencies can utilize each system. I felt that the more complicated system and its requirements for agency users to have and understanding of coding, made the GUI system more likely to have a higher utilization in the future.
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    The article delves into the importance of GDSs and travel agents along with the controversy surrounding their evolution as airlines are trying to encourage more direct bookings to make more profits and avoid paying commission to travel agents.
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    This article goes into detail about GDS's, the history of GDS's, and if travel agents actually need to use them. The article first explains what a GDS system is, a brief description stating "Global Distribution System (GDS) is a travel agent's motherboard for booking airline tickets and other sorts of travel goodies (like hotel and car)". The article then quickly goes into a brief history of the GDS. GDS was created by America Airlines in 1946, making it easier to check inventory for vendors, though it would still take some time for this technology to reach the travel agents. "Travel agents would need to call the airline's booking center, who would then contact one of their CRS operators, then relay the results to the travel agent over the phone (literally, like playing telephone). It took a lot of people power to book a single airline ticket". We then take a turn, and learn about the usability of a GDS, and that it's quite low. GDS's are not user-friendly, but sadly sometimes a necessity for certain types of travel agents. These types mostly being the ones who book lots of corporate travel arrangements. Lastly, the article discusses if a GDS is right for your business, and if you decide it's not, how to go about booking things without it.
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