Dinova Lists Top Network Restaurants for Corporate Dining

For the first time, Dinova LLC 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 and/or catering annually. Dinova’s network includes 26 chains, more than 600 independent restaurants, and 27 groups that manage multiple restaurants with different names/brands. Locally in the LA/OC market there are (46) Restaurant Chains in the network with (500) total locations. Dinova connects restaurants and corporations in a nationwide network, driving valuable business dining to restaurants and enabling corporations to reduce travel and entertainment expenses. The process is seamless to both diner and restaurateur, with no loyalty cards or key entries required. 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 Beppo
California Pizza Kitchen
Il FornaioJamba 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
Cut, Las Vegas
Island Prime, San Diego
Jaspers Gourmet Backyard Cuisine, Austin

Spago, Las Vegas
Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar, New York
Upstream Brewing Company, Omaha
Vinny’s on Windward, Alpharetta, GA
The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, Tustin, CA

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. “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,” said 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. 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,” said 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.”

Posted by Rachel Allan

11/03/14