Monday, June 16, 2008

Top of Their Game !


We decided to look at five big elements of the on-premise experience and ask patrons just how important each ranks, to determine the three most important aspects. The elements we chose to include as choices were drink selection; sports, music and entertainment (which we lumped together); prices; service; and food. Twenty-eight percent of guests participating in the survey ranked service as the most important aspect of a bar to them in choosing where to spend their money. Drink selection and sports/music/entertainment tied, chosen by 22 percent of respondents respectively as the most important aspect. Twenty percent said prices were the most important factor,and a mere 8 percent chose food. Asked what they’d pick as the second most important aspect of a bar, the highest percentage chose prices. Service came in just behind that at 24 percent. As the third most important bar element, 25 percent chose prices. So, it’s safe to say that service and entertainment are the most important elements to guests, and prices are pretty close behind in most minds. We’ve touched on this again and again in our Buzztime Report findings, but it bears repeating: Service is king. Price is important, but if people wanted to save money they’d stay at home. They don’t want to get fleeced either, so price is important, but not the top concern. Make absolutely sure your staff is executing the kind of stellar service that makes patrons feel special and pampered. If that’s not already your standard, consider making it the standard. Service sells !

Drink Up


WELLINGTON - A restaurant in New Zealand's tourist hub of Queenstown was convicted Monday for accidentally serving dishwashing liquid as mulled wine.
A customer and a barmaid were hospitalised after drinking the liquid in July last year.
The barmaid may suffer health problems after the inside of her throat was scarred by the liquid containing sodium hydroxide, the court was told.
The court ordered the restaurant pay 1,000 dollars (750 US) to both women for emotional harm caused by the poisoning.
The customer had asked the barmaid for a sample of mulled wine, but spat it out immediately after feeling her lips and mouth burn.
Then the barmaid tried some, suffering scarring to her throat after swallowing some of the detergent.
A worker at the restaurant had filled an empty mulled wine container with detergent -- which was the same colour -- leading to the accident, the court was told.