Revenue Management

🍴 Shawn Gawle opened Camaraderie in Houston Heights on March 26, presenting a "fine-casual" dining experience with a market-driven menu. The restaurant, designed by Schaum Architects, was a former shed retaining its original wood and metal elements, now featuring skylights and custom seating. The dining room offers a $75 prix-fixe menu for 32 guests, the bar and lounge offers an à la carte menu for 24 guests, and a 22-seat patio serves from a window counter. Gawle, with 18 years in savory and pastry roles including at Michelin-starred March and respected Quince and Saison, is supported by wine director Gillian Malone and bar manager Kristine Nguyen. Camaraderie features playful dishes, a balanced wine list, and cocktails like the $8 mini Martini.

💵 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have risen nationwide, targeting multiple restaurants. On Feb. 24, four employees from Mi Jalisco in Peterborough, N.H., were detained. Owners of Jersey Kebab in Haddon Township, N.J., were arrested on Feb. 25; the wife, Emine Emanet, held for two weeks before release. Jersey Kebab reopened on March 24. Kamiya 86 Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar owner in Florida is facing up to 10 years in prison after a guilty plea on Feb. 28. Owner of Ya Ya Noodles in Newark, N.J., was convicted on March 24 of acting as a foreign agent. Approximately one million undocumented immigrants work in the U.S. restaurant industry, with numbers potentially increasing due to federal crackdowns.

🌶 Aleppo pepper, originating from Syria, is gaining popularity in U.S. restaurants. Known by 34% of Americans, 17% have tried it, with higher awareness among vegetarians and vegans. It offers a mild, fruity heat with smoky notes, suitable for savory and sweet dishes. Now more accessible in specialty stores and online, it's increasingly used by home cooks. Its popularity reflects a trend towards bold, regional flavors.

🍢 KFire, a fast-casual Korean barbecue concept, gains recognition from Wonder-owned delivery service. No specific dates or locations mentioned. Article lacks numbers, statistical data, reasons for recognition, or detailed operational information on KFire or Wonder's service. Summary: KFire's Korean barbecue concept earns accolades from Wonder's delivery platform, with no further details on the nature of the recognition or its implications.

📢 Tock, under American Express for a year, shifts marketing for the "Reservation Wars". Their "Tock 10" campaign promotes unique restaurants and experiences. Offering tools like variable pricing, Tock distinguishes itself with experience-driven bookings and white-glove support, attracting top-tier venues and diners. Partnerships with Michelin-starred restaurants and integration with Resy, aim to offer unified hospitality solutions. Facing industry challenges like rising costs and labor shortages, Tock provides revenue-driving technology. Anticipate enhanced features, a combined 70 million user network, and 27,000 worldwide businesses accessible in one place.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation's Restaurant News since 1999, also joined Restaurant Hospitality in 2016. He hosted "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn," and wrote for The New York Sun from 2005 to 2008. Before, Thorn lived in Thailand (circa 1994-1999), where he was a sub editor for Asia Times, senior editor for Manager magazine, and contributed business and food articles. A Tufts University magna cum laude graduate with a BA in History, Thorn studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and spent time at both Nanjing and Beijing Universities in 1988-1989. He won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, joined the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014, and has published works in the Oxford Encyclopedia and the Oxford Companion. Thorn, a Colorado native, resides in Brooklyn, NY.

📝 Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, currently the content manager for Informa’s Restaurant and Food Group since February 2020, manages special reports and digital content. She previously served as a digital content manager (April 2018-Feb. 2020) and digital content producer (June 2016-April 2018) for the same group. Zinsmeister held positions at Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016) and Gannett's Phoenix Design studio (Jan. 2012-March 2014). With a journalism degree from Arizona State University, she resides in New York City but has ties to Phoenix, Dallas, and Cleveland. Contact her at [email protected]

🍳 The National Restaurant Association expects a 4% growth in the industry, with sales exceeding $1.1 trillion. International brands, including the U.K.'s PizzaExpress, Canada's Cluck Clucks and CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market, Sweden's Eggs Inc., and Japan’s Bread, Espresso & are entering or expanding in the U.S. Filipino chain Jollibee surpassed 100 locations in 2024. Eggs Inc. opened its first U.S. location in Denver, while Bread, Espresso & opened in Redondo Beach, California. WingsUp! is targeting Texas and Florida for expansion, citing Texas as the world's eighth largest economy. CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market plans to open in Dallas in early 2026. The International Franchising Association forecasts a 2.5% increase in franchise locations, with quick-service franchises expected to grow 5.4%, generating $322 billion this year. Cluck Clucks opened in Sugar Land, Texas, and plans to expand from Georgia to the Midwest.

📊 Qu's 2025 State of Digital Report, based on data from 170 brands and 85,000 locations, shows fast casual and QSR operators focusing on first-party ordering, which 40% of brands view as their biggest revenue growth potential. Key trends include consolidating tech systems (64% of brands), data-driven personalization despite 85% of guests being unreachable through traditional loyalty programs, and kiosks being adopted by 62% of brands (80% in QSRs) to ease labor strain. Digital sales have plateaued, increasing only 4% in three years, prompting a shift from volume to profitability, and unified data is identified as the foundation for future success.

💸 Revenue Managers in hospitality face complexity from data overload, rapid market shifts, and a quest for precision, which can lead to overcomplicated strategies and missed revenue opportunities. They manage multiple data sources, such as PMS and CRS, and experience pressure to deliver quick results while seeking perfect forecasts, causing analysis paralysis. Solutions lie in simplifying strategies, improving data accuracy and accessibility, integrating data, leveraging modern RMS or BI platforms effectively, and fostering cross-departmental collaboration. Demand Calendar aids by automating data collection, offering intuitive data presentation, and enhancing collaboration, enabling Revenue Managers to focus on strategic decisions and actionable insights, thus reducing complexity in revenue management.