Consumers spent $28 billion on retail gift cards during the 2007 holiday season, according to BIGresearch, with 28.5% of these purchasers buying restaurant gift cards. How some stimulate sales: …more

At a time when competition for customers is intensifying and complaints about noise in restaurants are rising to a crescendo, “Everyone is talking more about acoustics,” says Lani Duckworth, design manager, P. F. Chang’s China …more

There’s a tremendous amount of building going on around us, both residences and offices. To make sure newcomers get to know us, twice a year we invite association/building managers to lunch and we host a cocktail …more

Noise has become the second most common complaint (after poor service) of U.S. restaurant goers, according to Zagat Survey’s America’s Top Restaurants 2008. Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema says it’s the most …more

Of all marketing activities, email is considered the most easily measurable. Most variables can be tested relatively quickly and at low cost. “It’s a marketer’s dream,” says Gail Goodman, ceo, Constant Contact. “No other marketing …more

According to the National Restaurant Association, recommendations from family and friends is still the top way consumers choose new restaurants, but the Internet is gaining power as an information source. Roughly 40% of …more