For the first time, Dinova LLC, which connects restaurants and corporations to drive business-related dining occasions, released three Top 10 lists detailing which of its nationwide network restaurant partners are earning the most business from Dinova’s growing roster of corporate clients.
Dinova helps guide dining traffic from companies to its 12,000 network restaurant locations, which include independent and chain restaurants encompassing all price levels and cuisines. Dinova’s corporate clients, which include one-third of the country’s 100 highest-travel-spending firms, spend more than $2 billion on dining or catering annually. The lists are based on sales recorded in the second quarter of 2014.
Top Restaurants – Nationwide Chains (presented in alphabetical order):
- Au Bon Pain
- Boston Market
- Buca di Peppo
- California Pizza Kitchen
- Il Fornaio
- Jamba Juice
- On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina
- Pizza Hut
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop
- Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Top Independent Restaurants (presented in alphabetical order):
- Cafe Centro, New York
- Cuba Libre, Orlando, Florida
- Cut, Las Vegas
- Island Prime, San Diego
- Jaspers Gourmet Backyard Cuisine, Austin, Texas
- Spago, Las Vegas
- Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar, New York
- Upstream Brewing Company, Omaha
- Vinny’s on Windward, Alpharetta, Georgia
- The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, Tustin, California
Top Restaurant Groups – Includes Regional & National Units (presented in alphabetical order):
- The Blue Fish
- Chaya Restaurant Group
- Cohn Restaurant Group
- Fifth Group Restaurants
- Hakkasan Group
- Patina Restaurant Group
- Paul Martin’s American Grill
- Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food
- Village Tavern
- Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group
Restaurants join the Dinova network to increase their volume of higher-yielding checks from business travelers and catering engagements from corporate event planners, the company says.
“We’ve seen more guests from Dinova’s corporate clients, typically spending 50 percent or more than our transient guests, with increasing sales each quarter,” says Leah Smith, vice president of marketing for the Patina Restaurant Group, which joined Dinova in July 2013. More than 20 Patina restaurants, primarily in southern California and the New York metropolitan area, are in Dinova’s network.
“Our participation in the Dinova network helps drive incremental à la carte business for mid-week dining,” Smith says. “Second quarter sales via Dinova, including catering and in-restaurant dining, increased more than 30 percent over first-quarter numbers.”
The Patina Group is recognized for its artistic approach to dining, both in the style of their cuisine and locations in cultural centers.
Dinova’s corporate clients gain by steering their employees to preferred Dinova network restaurants. Dinova clients spent 13 percent more at network restaurants in the second quarter of 2014 than in 2013.
Increased dining spend by corporations falls in line with other growth metrics from the business travel industry; in July the Global Business Travel Association projected that U.S.-generated business travel spending will increase nearly 7 percent in 2014.
“Our network restaurants are registering increased volume from our corporate clients, with significantly higher average checks,” says Dinova founder and CEO Vic Macchio. “With corporations absorbing higher air and hotel costs, Dinova’s unique program provides an incentive to educate travelers and event planners and guide them to dine at preferred restaurants.”
