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Taco Bell Doritos Locos Taco and sauce packet
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Taco Bell Celebrates Taco Tuesday Win

Taco Bell Celebrates Taco Tuesday Win

by David Klemt

Taco Bell Doritos Locos Taco and sauce packet

Taco Bell, fresh off their victory in petitioning for the cancellation of the “Taco Tuesday” mark, will open a $5 million taco tab on September 12.

There’s no arguing that over at least the past few years Taco Bell has become the master of LTOs and attention-grabbing, loyalty-strengthening, and headline-generating promotions.

This campaign further solidifies the brand’s status as king of the fast-food campaigns.

“Taco T**sday” to “Taco Tuesday”

It’s highly unlikely that consumers and operators alike are unaware of the company’s “Taco T**sday” ads. The campaign, while playful, put a spotlight on the fact that, until recently, “Taco Tuesday” was a registered trademark.

Rather than spend millions of dollars to fight Taco Bell, Taco John’s, who previously had the rights to the mark, opted to relinquish the rights to the mark. Taco Bell’s argument was that nobody should be permitted to mark a common phrase.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on being the home of Taco Tuesday, but paying millions of dollars to lawyers to defend our mark just doesn’t feel like the right thing to do,” said Jim Creel, Taco John’s CEO. “As we’ve said before, we’re lovers, not fighters, at Taco John’s. So in that spirit, we have decided to begin sharing Taco Tuesday with a pledge to contribute $100 per location in our system to restaurant employees with children who are battling a health crisis, death or natural disaster. And we’re challenging our litigious competitors and other taco-loving brands to join us in supporting the people who serve our favorite food to guests across the nation.”

In fact, Creel fired a shot across the bow at Taco Bell at other rivals. After announcing their pledge to CORE, the CEO challenged other brands that want to use “Taco Tuesday” to do the same. The result would be quite the donation, considering that Taco John’s operates 400 restaurants in 21 states and Taco Bell alone operates more than 7,200 in the US. Look overseas and that number jumps up by about 1,000 locations in 30 countries.

Taco John’s has reportedly made good on their pledge, donating $40,000 to CORE, Children of Restaurant Employees.

What’s in a Mark?

Fast-food chain Taco John’s trademarked the phrase back in 1989. However, back in 1984, a California-based restaurant, Tortilla Flats, registered the trademark. According to some sources, the mark lapsed and Taco John’s snapped it up. That said, Tortilla Flats has sued other California restaurants for using the phrase throughout the years.

Interestingly, Taco John’s only had rights to the mark in 49 states. The exception is New Jersey, where Gregory’s owns the trademark. In fact, anyone who visits their site (as of the publication of this article) will see the phrase “Home of the Original Taco Tuesday!” right at the top.

However, it may surprise some to learn that a celebrity who appeared in Taco Bell’s “Taco T**sday” ads attempted to trademark the phrase in 2019. That celebrity? None other than Lebron James.

Clearly, this seemingly simple two-word phrase is a valuable trademark. It’s also likely that plenty of restaurants across the US have been surreptitiously using the phrase to drive traffic to their venues on Tuesdays for years.

The fact that Lebron James showed interest in the trademark and Taco Bell likely spent millions of dollars in ad revenue to have Taco John’s mark canceled shows the value. Time will tell how many millions of dollars the phrase will be worth to Taco Bell and other restaurant brands across the US.

Taco Tab

Some will see Taco Bell’s campaign as a massive brand bullying a smaller rival. Others will agree that it’s unfair for anyone to own the rights to such a common phrase.

In terms of exposure, I think this battle will help Taco John’s experience further growth. Last year was a banner year for growth for the franchise, and the brand was seeing growth back in 2021 as well.

After doing some digging, I learned that seven Taco John’s locations are owned by corporate; the plan for 2023 is to go from 375 stores to 400; and another 20 to 25 locations are planned for 2024. Per the Taco John’s website, initial layout for a franchise is between $942,000 and $1.4 for a single unit. A single franchise location generates annual revenue of around $1.2 million, on average.

Regarding Taco Bell, the brand is celebrating their victory—framed as a victory for all restaurants—with another of their famous and effective LTOs. On August 15, August 22, August 29, and September 5, Taco Bell guests can score a free Doritos Locos Taco. But the big celebration comes on September 12.

For that upcoming Taco Tuesday, Taco Bell will open a $5 million tab with DoorDash across the United States, with the exception of New Jersey. Again, Gregory’s owns the rights to the “Taco Tuesday” mark in the Garden State.

On September 12, Taco Bell will cover a portion of orders placed through the third-party delivery app to participating restaurants that offer Mexican cuisine. This does help the fast-food titan make the case that they fought this battle not just for themselves but all foodservice brands that wish to use the phrase “Taco Tuesday” without fear of legal action.

For further information, read the official Taco Bell press release below.

Taco Bell's "Liberate Taco T**sday" court petition

TACO BELL WILL HELP PAY FOR YOUR TACO TUESDAY CELEBRATION — EVEN IF IT’S NOT AT TACO BELL

Irvine, Calif. (August 8, 2023) – To celebrate the liberation of the Taco Tuesday trademark registration in 49 states, and to support and spotlight restaurants who now have the right to freely use Taco Tuesday, Taco Bell has announced that on Tuesday, September 12, Taco Tuesday fans (nearly) everywhere* can celebrate Taco Tuesday (nearly) anywhere – and Taco Bell will help pay for it.

On Taco Tuesday, September 12, Taco Bell, in partnership with DoorDash, is opening a $5 million taco tab to cover a portion of taco fans’ orders from any participating vendor selling Mexican cuisine. Because now that Taco Tuesday is free* – your tacos should be, too.

Leading up to the September 12 celebration, all Taco Bell locations will be offering a free Doritos® Locos Taco every Tuesday, no purchase necessary, on 8/15, 8/22, 8/29 and 9/5**.

“Taco Tuesday belongs to all who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos, and this Free-For-All will not only thank taco fans who supported the cause, but will also spotlight local restaurants and vendors who can now embrace Taco Tuesdays without fear of legal action,” said Taco Bell U.S. Chief Marketing Officer, Taylor Montgomery. “When tacos win, we all win. We all win when Taco John’s decides to release its trademark registration, we all win when taco vendors everywhere are free to join the movement, and we all win when taco fans can freely celebrate and support Taco Tuesdays at Taco Bell or anywhere else.”

The Road to Freeing Taco Tuesday

In May 2023, Taco Bell took a bold step on behalf of taco lovers nationwide by filing legal petitions to cancel the two Taco Tuesday trademark registrations. The aim was simple: to free the phrase for restaurants nationwide. The message was clear: Taco Tuesday belongs to everyone, from Taco Bell to Taco John’s to your favorite local taco spot.

In late July, Taco John’s courageously decided to abandon its Taco Tuesday trademark registration. Not only did Taco John’s act benefit thousands of businesses across 49 states by making the term Taco Tuesday more freely available, Taco John’s also made a meaningful donation to Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE) for $40,000, which the Taco Bell Foundation has matched.

Supporting The Taco Community

Taco Bell has also committed to donating $1 million in partnership with the Taco Bell Foundation to support young people who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos. Donations made by Rounding Up at checkout on Tuesdays will be matched up to $1 million. These donations will continue to fund the Taco Bell Foundation’s Community Grants and the Live Más Scholarship for fans and team members.

*The Taco Tuesday trademark registration has been canceled in all states except New Jersey. Therefore, the DoorDash offer will be limited to the 49 states where Taco Tuesday has been freed.

**NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Offer valid on Tuesdays 8/15, 8/22, 8/29, and 9/5 only during local store operating hours while supplies last. Limit one (1) regular Free Seasoned Beef Nacho Cheese Doritos®

Locos Tacos per person, per offer day, available at participating U.S. Taco Bell® locations only. Not available with delivery orders unless placed directly on the Taco Bell app (delivery fees, taxes and tip apply). App and web orders require inputting offer code and customer must add a DLT to their cart. Not valid with any other offer. No substitutions. No cash value. Void where prohibited. Terms: ta.co/terms.

About Taco Bell Corp.

For more information about Taco Bell, visit our website at www.TacoBell.com, our Newsroom at www.TacoBell.com/news or www.TacoBell.com/popular-links. You can also stay up to date on all things Taco Bell by following us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and subscribing to our YouTube channel.

Images: Taco Bell

Flight of beers offering different styles
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Cheers to the 2023 World Beer Cup Winners

Cheers to the 2023 World Beer Cup Winners

by David Klemt

Flight of beers offering different styles

Raise a glass or hoist a stein in celebration of the 2023 World Beer Cup winners, a collection of some of the most incredible brews on the planet.

Since 1996, the World Beer Cup has established itself as “the Olympics of Beer” and is hosted by the Brewers Association. This year, 272 judges from 26 countries ranked submissions from 2,376 brewers across 103 categories. A staggering 10,213 beers were entered in the 2023 World Beer Cup.

On average, 99 beers are submitted for each category. Of note, no category is guaranteed to have three medalists. In theory, the judges assessing a given category may award only a silver or bronze medal, determining that there is no outstanding entrant deserving of gold.

While the average per category is 99 entrants, some styles have hundreds. The first five categories below boasted the most entrants in 2023.

For our coverage of the 2022 World Beer Cup winners, click here.

American-style India Pale Ale

412 entrants

  • Gold: Head Hunter (Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon; North Olmsted, Ohio, USA)
  • Silver: Applied Science (Sunriver Brewing Co.; Sunriver, Oregon, USA)
  • Bronze: Old West (Craft Coast Beer & Tacos; Oceanside, California, USA)

Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale

374 entrants

  • Gold: Wherever You Go (Green Cheek Beer Co.; Costa Mesa, California, USA)
  • Silver: Nectaronus Prime (Moksa Brewing Co.; Rocklin, California, USA)
  • Bronze: Nelson Hazy IPA (Prison Pals Brewing Co.; Doral, Florida, USA)

German-style Pilsener

233 entrants

  • Gold: Pils (Von Ebert Brewing, Pearl District; Portland, Oregon, USA)
  • Silver: Dollar Pils Y’all (Holler Brewing Co.; Houston, Texas, USA)
  • Bronze: Bibo (Creature Comforts Brewing Co., Southern Mills; Athens, Georgia, USA)

International Light Lager

220 entrants

  • Gold: Anne Bonny (Le Corsaire – Microbrasserie Pirate; Lévis, Québec, Canada)
  • Silver: 3Speed (Amsterdam Brewing Co.; Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Bronze: Ultra Secret Enigma (Liability Brewing Co.; Greenville, South Carolina, USA)

Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Stout

202 entrants

  • Gold: Big Mistake (11 Below Brewing Co.; Houston, Texas, USA)
  • Silver: BA Sexual Chocolate (Foothills Brewing; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA)
  • Bronze: Vladislav (Diebolt Brewing Co., Denver, Colorado, USA)

I selected another dozen categories, which you’ll find below. These include American Wheat Beer, Non-alcohol Beer, and Pumpkin Beer.

For the full list of 2023 World Beer Cup winners, please click here. Cheers!

Session India Pale Ale

  • Gold: Wild Gravity (Bend Brewing Co.; Bend, Oregon, USA)
  • Silver: Trump Hands (Cannonball Creek Brewing Co.; Golden, Colorado, USA)
  • Bronze: Summatime (603 Brewery; Londonberry, New Hampshire, USA)

American Wheat Beer

  • Gold: Taildragger 5G (Saddle Mountain Brewing Co.; Goodyear, Arizona, USA)
  • Silver: Meister (Eppig Brewing; Vista, California, USA)
  • Bronze: Miner’s Gold (Lewis & Clark Brewing Co.; Helena, Montana, USA)

Belgian Fruit Beer

  • Gold: Central City Brewing Framboise (Central City Brewers and Distillers; Surrey, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Silver: Vieux Bois Lambic Inspired Ale w/ Cranberry & Raspberry (Bozeman Brewing Co.; Bozeman, Montana, USA)
  • Bronze: Turtle Kriek (Peticolas Brewing Co.; Dallas, Texas, USA)

Belgian-style Sour Ale

  • Gold: Vintage 2022 (New Glarus Brewing Co.; New Glarus, Wisconsin, USA)
  • Silver: Chance, Luck and Magic 2020 (Garage Project; Wellington, New Zealand)
  • Bronze: Borealis (Lamplighter Brewing Co.; Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA)

English-style Brown Ale

  • Gold: Shhhhhh…This Is Ryan’s Award Winning Brown Ale (Green Cheek Beer Co., Costa Mesa; Costa Mesa, California, USA)
  • Silver: Black Cats (Streetside Brewery; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA)
  • Bronze: Brown Ale (Grid City Beer Works; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)

South German-style Hefeweizen

  • Gold: Altstadt Hefe (Altstadt Brewery; Fredericksburg, Texas, USA)
  • Silver: Flying W Hefeweizen (Little Dry Creek Brewery; Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA)
  • Bronze: Fujizakura Kogen Beer Weizen (Fujizakura Heights Beer; Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan)

Classic Saison

  • Gold: Saaz Dryhopped Saison (33 Brewing Experiment; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Silver: Juilletistes (Bruery Terreux; Placentia, California, USA)
  • Bronze: Valor (Tooth and Nail Brewing Co.; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

Pumpkin Beer

  • Gold: Pumpkin Ale (Backpocket Brewing; Coralville, Iowa, USA)
  • Silver: Pumpkinator (Saint Arnold Brewing Co.; Houston, Texas, USA)
  • Bronze: Jack O’Lantern Ale (Bond’s Brewing Co.; Laramie, Wyoming, USA)

Chili Beer

  • Gold: Yellow Fever (Comrade Brewing Co.; Denver, Colorado, USA)
  • Silver: Kimchi Sour (Dokkaebier; Oakland, California, USA)
  • Bronze: Oaxaca Choca Mexican Chocolate Stout (New Realm Brewing Co., Charleston; Charleston, South Carolina, USA)

Smoke Beer

  • Gold: Unearthing the Orb (Resolute Brewing Co.; Centennial, Colorado, USA)
  • Silver: Smokehaus Bock (Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows; Roseland, Virginia, USA)
  • Bronze: Colossal 2 (Port City Brewing Co.; Alexandria, Virginia, USA)

Gluten-free Wheat Beer

  • Gold: Ghostfish 8th Anniversary Beer (Ghostfish Brewing Co.; Seattle, Washington, USA)
  • Silver: Seven Spice Anniversary Saison (Holidaily Brewing Co.; Golden, Colorado, USA)
  • Bronze: Ripped Jeans and Wolf Shirts (ALT Brew; Madison, Wisconsin, USA)

Non-alcohol Beer

  • Gold: Superb-Owl (Uiltje Brewing Co.; Haarlem, North Holland, Netherlands)
  • Silver: Just the Haze (Boston Beer Co., Samuel Adams Brewing Co.; Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
  • Bronze: Galactic Extra Dark (Big Drop Brewing Co.; Wilmington, Delaware, USA)

Image: Daniel Lee on Unsplash

KRG Hospitality Bar 101 Techniques

Bartender pouring Negroni into glass
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Celebrate the Negroni, Support Slow Food

Celebrate the Negroni and Support Slow Food

by David Klemt

Bartender pouring Negroni into glass

This month, operators will have the opportunity to sign their bars up to take part in the tenth-anniversary celebration of Negroni Week.

For 2023, Negroni Week hosts Imbibe Magazine and Campari are raising funds for Slow Food. Sponsors also include Cinzano, Bulldog Gin, Bols Genever, and Coopers’ Craft Bourbon.

 

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A post shared by Campari USA (@campariusa)

Negroni Week will take place from September 18 through September 24. Registration is now live and operators can sign up their bars via this link.

So, we’re helping spread the word early and giving operators and their teams plenty of time to prepare to participate this year.

Negroni Week 2023

After first launching in 2013, Negroni Week is celebrating their decennial year.

Over the course of ten years, Imbibe and Campari have seen tremendous growth and results. In its inaugural year (or perhaps inaugural week is more accurate), a little over 100 venues participated. In its second year, 1,300 venues registered for Negroni Week.

Now, thousands of venues sign up every year, helping to raise money for worthy causes. To date, Negroni Week boasts more than $4 million in funds for charitable organizations.

Participation really couldn’t be any simpler: register, make a donation of at least $25, serve Negronis and/or variations of Negronis, and donate proceeds from your Negroni Week LTO menu.

After completing registration and making at least the minimum donation, an operator’s venue will gain placement on the Negroni Week website. The listings are searchable by state and city. Venues that donate $250 or more will carry a Premium Donor designation.

Those looking for inspiration for their charity LTO menus can click here to sift through Negroni Week’s recipe database.

Slow Food

Simply put, Slow Food’s mission is to help everyone access food that’s good for them, good the people who grow it, and good the planet as a whole.

An even more succinct description comes from the Slow Food website: access to food that’s “good, clean, and fair for all.”

Further, Slow Food seeks to prevent the loss local food cultures, along with food traditions. The organization was founded in 1989 and is now active in more than 160 countries.

In the US, Slow Food operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been active in Canada for several years. The charitable organization has had a strong presence in the provinces of British Columbia, Calgary, Montréal, and Ontario.

Get Ready

With just three ingredients in a 1:1:1 ratio, any bar team should be able to handle putting delicious Negronis across the bar.

So, operators should ensure their team can craft a traditional Negroni while encouraging them to work on some creative variations.

We’ll see in a little over a month to celebrate Negroni Week!

Image: Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

KRG Hospitality Complete Bar Menu Audit

Beer pouring into glass from tap
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

iPourIt Releases Their 2023 Pour Report

iPourIt Releases Their 2023 Pour Report

by David Klemt

Beer pouring into glass from tap

Interactive self-serve beer experience platform iPourIt‘s latest report, the 2023 Pour Report, is now available for download and review.

iPourIt is a pioneer in the self-serve beverage space. While it may seem counter-intuitive to some, many guests have shown time and again that they enjoy using self-serve walls. For these guests, a not in any way insignificant number, iPourIt installations enhance the guest experience, increase loyalty, and boost revenue.

And while many people associate iPourIt and self-serve programs with beer, these systems can also pour wine, cocktails on tap, spirits, non-alcohol beverages, and soft drinks.

 

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A post shared by Matt Plapp (@mattplapp)

Another benefit from iPourIt? Transparency and sharing of data. The company doesn’t limit providing valuable guest behavior insight to their clients. Rather, they make the data they collect available to anyone. Simply head to their website, fill out a few fields, and gain important beverage insights.

Anyone curious can choose between a standard report and a “pro” version. Both are free to download and peruse. People can also read our article that dives into their fourth-annual report via this link.

Below you’ll find key takeaways from their 2023 report. I strongly urge operators to download and review either report.

The Who

We agree that demographics are a metric that people and businesses often misuse. Valuegraphics can be far more effective for businesses looking to build loyalty and boost revenue.

Still, demographics can provide beneficial insights.

First, let’s look at how men and women used iPourIt systems in 2022. Men poured 20,477,288 ounces last year, whereas women poured 10,848,435 ounces. The average per pour for men was 6.4 ounces in comparison to 5.3 ounces per pour from women. On average, men spent $14.72 per visit to an iPourIt-equipped location; women spent $12.24.

Next, the generational breakdown. IPA was the number-one style poured for Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. For legal-drinking-age Generation Z drinkers, IPA came in second; their top pour style was cider. Likewise, Lager claimed second place for Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials. Second was IPA for Gen Z, and Lager was third. Wheat beer was third place for Boomers, fourth for Gen X and Millennials, and fifth for Gen Z. Sour came in fifth for Gen X and Millennials fourth for Gen Z; for Boomers, the style didn’t rank among the top five. Stout clinched the fifth spot for Boomers.

Finally, in terms of traffic, men of every age group poured more ounces than their female counterparts.

The What

Below, the top 10 styles of beer poured by men:

  1. Fruit beer
  2. Pale Ale
  3. Blonde
  4. Pilsner
  5. Stout
  6. Sour
  7. Wheat beer
  8. Cider
  9. Lager
  10. IPA

In descending order, the top five (download the report for the top ten) products poured by men were Michelob Ultra, Bud Light, Golden Road Brewing Mango Cart, Coors Light, and Modelo Especial.

And now the top styles of beer or category of beverage poured by women:

  1. Stout
  2. Fruit beer
  3. Blonde
  4. White wine
  5. Hard seltzer
  6. Wheat beer
  7. Sour
  8. Lager
  9. IPA
  10. Cider

Also in descending order, the top products poured by women were Michelob Ultra, Mango Cart by Golden Road Brewing, Bud Light, Ace Pineapple Cider, and Coors Light.

The Where

The 2023 Pour Report by iPourIt breaks the US down into five regions: West, Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast.

Because our American head office is in Las Vegas and our hotel consultant is in Pennsylvania, we’ll look at the West and Northeast.

The top-five pours for the West in 2022 were:

  1. Bud Light
  2. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. 805
  3. Golden Road Brewing Mango Cart
  4. Coors Light
  5. Modelo Especial

While the top-five pours in the Northeast were:

  1. Blue Moon Brewing Co. Belgian White
  2. Allagash Brewing Co. White
  3. Lord Hobo Brewing Co. Boom Sauce
  4. Sloop Brewing Co. Juice Bomb
  5. Stella Artois

For the curious, Bud Light and Coors Light are categorized as American-style Light Lagers, 805 is a Blonde Ale, Mango Cart is a Wheat Ale, and Modelo Especial is a Mexican-style Pilsner. Blue Moon and Allagash White are both Belgian-style wheat beers (or Witbiers), Boom Sauce is a Double IPA, Juice Bomb is a Northeastern IPA, and Stella Artois is a Lager.

For further insights, please download this year’s iPourIt report here.

Image: cottonbro studio on Pexels

KRG Hospitality Beverage Programming

Bartender presenting cocktail
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Cheers to the Spirited Awards Winners!

Cheers to the 2023 Spirited Awards Winners!

by David Klemt

Bartender presenting cocktail

A toast to the nominees and winners!

Cheers to each of the winning bars, teams, and individuals taking home awards from the 17th annual Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail 2023 in New Orleans!

Spirits educator, advocate, and bartender’s bartender Tiffanie Barriere earned the well-deserved Tales Visionary Award. Master Distiller Desmond Payne, MBE, took home the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award.

Compellingly, a number of so-called secondary and tertiary markets are taking awards back to their home cities. These include Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Portland. Nothing against primary markets like New York City and Los Angeles, but it’s wonderful to see other cities grab the spotlight and shine, make their marks, and let everyone know, “We’ve arrived—don’t sleep on us!”

Unfortunately, Canada didn’t take home any international awards from Tales this year, nor did Las Vegas. Next year, hopefully.

Barcelona, however, can boast that it’s the home of the Spirited Award winner for the World’s Best Bar.

As far as our little experiment with artificial intelligence attempting to predict Spirited Awards winners, the chatbot we selected didn’t do very well. That said, it did accurately guess six out of the 24 awards we presented to the bot for a 25-percent success rate: Best US Brand Ambassador; International Bartender of the Year; Best International Bar Mentor; Best International Restaurant Bar; Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series; and Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing.

Raise a glass and toast this year’s Spirited Awards winners. Cheers!

US Categories

US Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard USA

Christine Wiseman, Marygold’s Brasserie / Broken Shaker (Miami, Florida)

Best US Bar Mentor presented BarSmarts

Chris Patino

Best US Brand Ambassador presented Libbey

Vance Henderson (Hendrick’s Gin)*

Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka

Century Grand (Phoenix, Arizona)

Best US Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose

Hey Love at The Jupiter (Portland, Oregon)

Best US Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo

Café La Trova (Miami, Florida)

Best New US Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Martiny’s (New York, New York)

Timeless US Award

Tiki-Ti (Los Angeles, California)

International Categories

International Bartender of the Year presented by The Busker

Giorgio Bargiani, Connaught Bar (London, England, United Kingdom)*

Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Agostino Perrone*

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Nicola Riske (The Macallan)

Best International Bar Team presented by Angostura Caribbean Rum

ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patr​​ón Tequila

SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Analogue Initiative (Singapore)*

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Line Athens (Athens, Greece)

Timeless International Award

Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel (Singapore)

Global Categories

Tales Visionary Award

Tiffanie Barriere

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award

Desmond Payne, MBE

World’s Best Bar

SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

Martini & Rossi Floreale Non Alcoholic Aperitivo

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Double Chicken Please (New York, New York)

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Raised by Wolves (San Diego, California)

Writing & Media Categories

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Punch

Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

The Speakeasy Podcast*

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

“The Great Mezcal Heist” by Emma Janzen, for Eater*

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

The Bartender’s Manifesto by Toby Maloney with Emma Janzen

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region’s Essential Spirit by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith

Congratulations to each of the venues, teams, and individual winners! Cheers!

Bar Hacks Guests

The following Spirited Awards presenters, winners, and TOTC team have appeared on the Bar Hacks podcast. Give these episodes a listen to learn more about these amazing people!

Vance Henderson (episode 20)

Episode 48, Episode 65, and the Hurricane Ida Emergency Episode with Eileen Wayner

Lynn House (episode 52)

Kellie Thorn and Lola Thomas (episode 72)

Roberta Mariani (episode 84)

* Denotes an accurate prediction by DeepAI‘s AI Chat chatbot.

Image: Christian Fridell on Pexels

KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

Redesigned and reformulated Novo Fogo ready-to-drink canned cocktails
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Novo Fogo Reformulates Brazilian RTDs

Novo Fogo Reformulates and Redesigns Brazilian RTDs

by David Klemt

Redesigned and reformulated Novo Fogo ready-to-drink canned cocktails

Just before Tales of the Cocktail kicks off, Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça announces the reformulation of their award-winning ready-to-drink cocktail line.

As founder and CEO Dragos Axinte reveals on episode 97 of the Bar Hacks podcast, the RTD series now features key changes.

For example, the RTDs now come in 12-ounce slim cans rather than their original eight-ounce cans. As you can see, the design is also much more colorful and eye-catching.

Of course, the changes aren’t simply cosmetic. Inside the can, each expression represents a new recipe. The last iteration of Novo Fogo RTDs was delicious and showcased their Silver Cachaça brilliantly. However, the new formulation offers even more robust flavor and drops the sweetness a bit.

 

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A post shared by Dragoș Axinte (@treerestrial)

Most importantly, the new RTDs are truly a pioneering beverage. Novo Fogo’s new canned cocktails are the first RTDs made with Brazilian cachaça ever to achieve USDA Organic certification.

This means that Novo Fogo’s entire lineup, from core expressions to special releases, is USDA-certified 100-percent organic. That’s a huge win for the company, for operators who feature their products, and for operators’ guests.

Operators will be able to introduce these new 12-ounce, nine-percent ABV RTDs to their guests shortly. They’re perfect as a refreshing summer cocktail, served on ice in buckets with limes for garnish.

NOVO FOGO ANNOUNCES NEW BRAZILIAN ORGANIC COCKTAIL

RTD Line Sets Industry Standard as the First-Ever USDA-Certified Organic Canned Cocktail Made with Brazilian Cachaça

SEATTLE, WA—Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça today announces that they have completely redesigned and reformulated their popular line of award-winning Brazilian canned cocktails, offering consumers a fresh way to experience their carbonated twist on Brazil’s national cocktail, the Caipirinha. Novo Fogo Brazilian Organic Cocktails come in three tropical flavors and are USDA-certified organic.

The award-winning, sustainability-oriented cachaça producer makes handcrafted cachaça from estate-grown sugarcane in Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest and is a pioneer in spirit-based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages. For over six years, Novo Fogo’s canned cocktails have introduced North American drinkers to Brazilian cachaça in an approachable, convenient, and delicious format. The current product evolution represents a giant leap forward in organic ingredient certification, packaging design, and flavor.

Novo Fogo’s Brazilian Organic Cocktails highlight three traditional Brazilian flavors—Lime, Passion Fruit, and Mango—that complement the base spirit of Novo Fogo Silver Cachaça, beloved by bartenders across the globe. The 100% natural ingredients have been reformulated to create a cocktail that is now certified organic by the USDA, a first for any cachaça-based RTD and a big win for Mother Earth. This breakthrough now makes Novo Fogo’s entire product line USDA-certified organic.

The colorful design of the 12 oz sleek cans evokes Novo Fogo’s origins in the Brazilian rainforest and emerged in collaboration with multi-Grammy-nominated dance music duo, SOFI TUKKER, who became co-owners and global ambassadors of Novo Fogo in October 2022. SOFI TUKKER’s vibrant, inclusive, and global perspective on electronic music has attracted legions of adoring fans worldwide, and Novo Fogo’s Brazilian Organic Cocktails are poised to accompany SOFI TUKKER’s music as the perfect concert cocktail.

Novo Fogo Brazilian Organic Cocktails feature new recipes that are full-flavored and not too sweet, each at 9% ABV with 150 calories and 12 grams of carbohydrates per serving. The aluminum cans have grown to 12 oz in volume, with 1.8 proper cocktail servings per can. Although they are new in every way, these updated cocktails continue to combine freshness, deliciousness, and shelf stability by virtue of their organic-certified ingredients that harmonize as balanced, carbonated drinks. Drink ‘em how you like ‘em, as long as they’re cold: straight from the chilled can, over ice in a glass, and with or without an extra squeeze of lime.

Novo Fogo is an award-winning Brazilian cachaça producer that handcrafts their spirits at their zero-waste distillery at the edge of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil’s southern state of Paraná. The purest representation of USDA-certified 100% organic sugarcane, Novo Fogo’s Silver Cachaça is the result of single pot distillation in small batches to maximize the flavors of local terroir in the finished spirit. Silver Cachaça is the base spirit for all three Brazilian Organic Cocktails.

“We have always been committed to genuinely reflect Brazilian culture in our brand persona, while also observing and respecting North American consumer trends. These new organic cocktails are a natural evolution of our understanding of the world and incorporate the positive, colorful, and vivid inspiration that SOFI TUKKER brought to the brand. As with everything we do these days, our new Brazilian Organic Cocktails represent the intersection of integrity and joy,” says Novo Fogo’s founder and CEO, Dragos Axinte.

Novo Fogo Brazilian canned cocktails are sold to distributors nationwide by 375 Park Avenue Spirits and online with a suggested retail price of $3.75 per can and $14.99 for a four-pack. To learn more about Novo Fogo products, please visit www.novofogo.com.

About Novo Fogo

A passionate advocate for sustainable practices in the spirits industry, Novo Fogo is a carbon-negative company that produces USDA-certified 100% organic cachaças at its zero-waste distillery in the heart of Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest. Its production methods prioritize human and environmental sustainability; the company is proud of its all-female distiller team and its legacy reforestation project, The Un-Endangered Forest™, which seeks to restore 44 species of threatened native trees. Extending this ethos to its cocktail audience, Novo Fogo has been a trailblazer for sponsoring health and wellness initiatives for spirit industry members. The company’s product line intersects traditional Brazilian culture with modern cocktail trends of healthier drinking, such as low carbs, low ABV, and low calories. Seeking to build a business that can last 100 years, Novo Fogo has partnered with multi-Grammy-nominated global dance music duo SOFI TUKKER to foster increased awareness towards its brand of conscientious capitalism. Find Your Own Brazilian Zen™ by visiting https://www.novofogo.com.

About 375 Park Avenue Spirits

375 Park Avenue Spirits specializes in the premium- to luxury-spirit categories and their portfolio includes numerous expressions from leading international producers.  Founded as Luctor International, LLC in 1981, 375 Park Avenue Spirits joined the Sazerac Company in early 2015 to act as an independent, yet fully integrated sales and marketing affiliate. The company is known today for creating an environment of growth for supplier partners in the domestic market for renown brands like Van Gogh Vodka from Holland, Sobieski Vodka from Poland, Cutty Sark Blended Scotch, J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky, Paul John Single Malt Whisky from India, Scapegrace Gin from New Zealand, Novo Fogo Cachaça and many others. For more information on 375 Park Avenue Spirits, please visit www.375park.com.

Images courtesy of Novo Fogo Organic Cachaça

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Bartender presenting cocktail in upscale setting
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

The 50 Best Bars in Asia in 2023

The 50 Best Bars in Asia in 2023

by David Klemt

Bartender presenting cocktail in upscale setting

2023 Asia’s 50 Best Bars Bartenders’ Feast.

Join us in congratulating each of the bars and their teams earning placements on the 2023 Asia’s 50 Best Bars list by the World’s 50 Best Bars.

As is often the case, Hong Kong and Singapore claim an exceptional number of bars. I fully expect to see a handful of the bars on the list below on the World’s 50 Best Bars list this year.

Speaking of which, that ceremony, the 15th edition of the list, will take place on October 17 in Singapore. Again, I expect the host city to claim multiple spots.

Cheers to Asia’s 50 Best Bars for 2023!

To review the 2023 Asia’s 50 Best Bars, 51 to 100 list, please click here.

By the Numbers

While Singapore doesn’t claim the number one spot this year, the island country does boast 11 entrants. Further, three of Singapore’s bars hold spots in the top ten.

Hong Kong is home to eight bars on this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. Like Singapore, three bars in Hong Kong are among the top ten.

There are seven bars in Japan (five in Tokyo), one earning a top-ten slot. Six of the bars on the 2023 list are in Seoul, South Korea.

Thailand and India both have four bars on the list. The former boasts two bars in the top ten.

There are three bars in Taiwan among the fifty.

Malaysia and Indonesia each have two bars among Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2023. Both of Malaysia’s bars in Kuala Lumpur, and both of Indonesia’s are in Jakarta.

Mainland China, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka each have a bar on this year’s list.

100 Incredible Bars

When we take the back half of this list into account, Singapore continues its domination, with 19 bars earning placement.

Hong Kong boosts its number of bars to 13, and Japan adds seven bars to bump its total to an even dozen. Seoul, South Korea, claims eight bars total.

Thailand, counting both lists, has eight amazing bars, as does Taiwan. In total, there are nine bars in India. Six bars in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and there are a total of four bars in China.

The Philippines have one bar on the one to 50 list, and one on the 51 to 100 list, for a total of two bars among Asia’s 100 best.

The Best Bar In:

Hong Kong: Coa

India: Sidecar

Japan: Bar Benfiddich

Korea: Zest

Mainland China: Hope & Sesame

Malaysia: Bar Trigona

Philippines: The Curator

Singapore: Jigger & Pony

Sri Lanka: Smoke & Bitters

Taiwan: Indulge Experimental Bistro

Thailand: BKK Social Club

See the list below for the Best Bar in Asia.

Asia’s 50 Best Bars: 50 to 1

  1. Penrose (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)*
  2. The Bellwood (Tokyo, Japan)*
  3. The Living Room (Mumbai, India)*
  4. The Old Man (Hong Kong)**
  5. Soko (Seoul, South Korea)*
  6. High Five (Tokyo, Japan)**
  7. Bee’s Knees (Kyoto, Japan)
  8. The Public House (Taipei, Taiwan)*
  9. Native (Singapore)**
  10. Vender (Taichung, Taiwan)*
  11. Smoke & Bitters (Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka)(The Best Bar in Sri Lanka)
  12. Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou, China)(The Best Bar in Mainland China)
  13. Copitas (Bengaluru, India)
  14. Southside Parlor (Seoul, South Korea)*
  15. Bar Trigona (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)(The Best Bar in Malaysia)
  16. The Bombay Canteen (Mumbai, India)*
  17. The Curator (Manila, Philippines)(The Best Bar in the Philippines)**
  18. Mostly Harmless (Hong Kong)*
  19. Stay Gold Flamingo (Singapore)*
  20. Quinary (Hong Kong)
  21. Employees Only (Singapore)**
  22. Pantja (Jakarta, Indonesia)*
  23. Alice (Seoul, South Korea)
  24. Atlas (Singapore)
  25. Penicillin (Hong Kong)
  26. Le Chamber (Seoul, South Korea)
  27. 28 HongKong Street (Singapore)
  28. Lamp Bar (Nara, Japan)
  29. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar (Bangkok, Thailand)(London Essence Best New Opening)*
  30. Manhattan (Singapore)
  31. Virtù (Tokyo, Japan)(Disaronno Highest New Entry)
  32. The Cocktail Club (Jakarta, Indonesia)(Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu, the Best Bar in Indonesia)
  33. Sidecar (New Delhi, India)(The Best Bar in India)
  34. The Aubrey (Hong Kong)
  35. Republic (Singapore)
  36. Analogue Initiative (Singapore)(Ketel One Sustainable Bar)
  37. The SG Club (Tokyo, Japan)
  38. Cham Bar (Seoul, South Korea)
  39. Vesper (Bangkok, Thailand)
  40. Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taipei, Taiwan)(The Best Bar in Taiwan)
  41. Sago House (Singapore)(Michter’s Art of Hospitality)
  42. Darkside (Hong Kong)
  43. Argo (Hong Kong)
  44. Nutmeg & Clove (Singapore)
  45. Tropic City (Bangkok, Thailand)
  46. Zest (Seoul, South Korea)(Nikka Highest Climber, the Best Bar in Korea)
  47. Bar Benfiddich (Tokyo, Japan)(The Best Bar in Japan)
  48. BKK Social Club (Bangkok, Thailand)(The Best Bar in Thailand)
  49. Jigger & Pony (Singapore)(Rémy Martin Legend of the List, the Best Bar in Singapore)
  50. Coa (Hong Kong)(The Best Bar in Asia, the Best Bar in Hong Kong)

Congratulations to each of the operators and bar teams above! Cheers!

* Denotes new entry, ** denotes re-entry.

Image: The World’s 50 Best Bars

KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

OpenAI logo on smartphone screen, resting on laptop keyboard
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

SEO Tips from AI: Hotels & Camps

SEO Tips from AI: Hotels, Camps & Lodges

by David Klemt

OpenAI logo on smartphone screen, resting on laptop keyboard

After asking ChatGPT to suggest SEO improvements for restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, we’ve done the same for the hotel space.

This is part two of our AI-generated SEO tips series. In part one, we focus on restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and eatertainment venues.

For this part, we ask ChatGPT about improving SEO for boutique hotels, independently owned hotels, boutique and luxury campgrounds, and boutique and luxury lodges.

The boutique and luxury outdoor experiential market is heating up. So, I was curious about what keywords and advice ChatGPT would recommend to help operators in this space stand out and improve their odds for discover.

Personally, I found some of the keyword suggestions helpful. However, these are terms we at KRG Hospitality already know to include in our brand identity and marketing plans.

Simply put, I don’t think AI rivals what humans can create when it comes to brand identity and marketing. But, you should read the following and decide for yourself.

What specific terms are the best for boutique or independently owned hotels to use for SEO ranking?

For boutique or independently owned hotels, it’s important to focus on specific terms that highlight the unique aspects of your property and appeal to your target audience. Here are some specific terms that can be beneficial for SEO ranking:

  1. Hotel Name: Ensure that your hotel’s name is prominently featured in your website’s content, meta tags, and URLs to associate your website with your hotel’s name.
  2. Location-Based Keywords: Include location-specific keywords throughout your website to target customers searching for hotels in your area. For example, use terms like “boutique hotels in [location],” “[location] luxury accommodations,” or “independent hotels near [landmark].”
  3. Unique Selling Points: Highlight the unique features and qualities of your boutique hotel. Optimize your website with keywords that reflect these selling points, such as “boutique hotel with rooftop pool,” “intimate luxury accommodations,” or “designer boutique hotel in [location].”
  4. Style and Theme: If your boutique hotel has a specific style or theme, incorporate relevant keywords. For example, use terms like “vintage-inspired boutique hotel,” “modern boutique accommodations,” or “bohemian chic hotel in [location].”
  5. Amenities and Services: Emphasize the distinctive amenities and services your boutique hotel offers. Optimize your website with keywords related to these offerings, such as “boutique hotel with spa,” “gourmet dining experiences,” or “personalized concierge services.”
  6. Local Attractions and Experiences: If your boutique hotel is close to popular local attractions or offers unique experiences, mention them on your website. Optimize with keywords related to these attractions and experiences to attract visitors searching for accommodations near specific landmarks or seeking specific activities.
  7. Sustainable or Eco-Friendly: If your boutique hotel has a focus on sustainability or eco-friendliness, incorporate related keywords. Use terms like “eco-friendly accommodations,” “green boutique hotel,” or “sustainable practices in [location].”
  8. Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage guests to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or TripAdvisor. Positive reviews can boost your hotel’s visibility in search results and attract more bookings.
  9. Local SEO: Implement local SEO strategies by optimizing your website for local search results. This includes creating and optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across directories, and getting listed in local online directories.
  10. Social Media Integration: Integrate social media into your SEO strategy by linking your website to your hotel’s social media profiles. Engage with your audience, share updates about your hotel, and encourage user-generated content through social media channels.

Remember to conduct keyword research specific to your boutique hotel’s offerings, style, and target audience. Regularly monitor your website’s performance, track keyword rankings, and adapt your SEO strategy as needed to improve your hotel’s online visibility and attract more guests.

What specific terms are the best for boutique and luxury campgrounds and lodges to use for SEO ranking?

For boutique and luxury campgrounds and lodges, it’s important to use specific terms that highlight the unique features, amenities, and experiences your property offers. Here are some specific terms that can be beneficial for SEO ranking:

  1. Campground or Lodge Name: Ensure that your property’s name is prominently featured in your website’s content, meta tags, and URLs to associate your website with your campground or lodge’s name.
  2. Location-Based Keywords: Include location-specific keywords throughout your website to target customers searching for campgrounds or lodges in your area. For example, use terms like “luxury campground in [location],” “[location] glamping site,” or “boutique lodge near [landmark].”
  3. Nature and Outdoor Keywords: Emphasize the natural beauty and outdoor experiences available at your campground or lodge. Optimize your website with keywords related to activities like hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, or stargazing. Use terms like “nature retreat,” “wilderness campground,” or “outdoor adventure in [location].”
  4. Unique Accommodations: If your campground or lodge offers unique accommodations like glamping tents, treehouses, or luxury cabins, highlight them on your website. Optimize with keywords like “glamping experience,” “luxury safari tents,” or “secluded treehouse retreat.”
  5. Amenities and Services: Showcase the luxurious amenities and services your campground or lodge provides. Optimize your website with keywords related to these offerings, such as “heated swimming pool,” “private chef services,” “spa and wellness facilities,” or “concierge services.”
  6. Sustainable or Eco-Friendly: If your campground or lodge follows sustainable practices or has an eco-friendly focus, incorporate related keywords. Use terms like “eco-conscious accommodations,” “sustainable camping,” or “green lodge in [location].”
  7. Nearby Attractions and Activities: Highlight popular nearby attractions, landmarks, or outdoor activities that guests can enjoy during their stay. Optimize with keywords related to these attractions and activities to attract visitors searching for accommodations near specific points of interest.
  8. Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage guests to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or TripAdvisor. Positive reviews can boost your campground or lodge’s visibility in search results and attract more bookings.
  9. Local SEO: Implement local SEO strategies by optimizing your website for local search results. This includes creating and optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across directories, and getting listed in local online directories.
  10. Social Media Integration: Integrate social media into your SEO strategy by linking your website to your campground or lodge’s social media profiles. Engage with your audience, share updates about your property, and encourage user-generated content through social media channels.

Remember to conduct keyword research specific to your campground or lodge’s offerings, location, and target audience. Regularly monitor your website’s performance, track keyword rankings, and adapt your SEO strategy as needed to improve your property’s online visibility and attract more guests.

Takeaway

Just like AI-generated tips for SEO and discovery for restaurants and bars, there needs to be a human element for hotels, campgrounds, and lodges.

Relying on AI to improve search engine ranking isn’t, at this point, the best strategy. Perhaps one day that will change, but today isn’t that day.

The answers to my questions do provide some good tips regarding specific keywords and SEO practices. However, I wouldn’t suggest that operators trust AI to write their listings or the pages on their websites.

As it stands, in my opinion, AI just can’t match what people can do when it comes to marketing, branding, and discovery.

Image: Levart_Photographer on Unsplash

KRG Hospitality marketing support. Restaurant. Bar. Cafe. Lounge. Hotel. Resort.

OpenAI ChatGPT logo against matching background
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

SEO Tips from AI: Restaurants & Bars

SEO Tips from AI: Restaurants, Bars & Nightclubs

by David Klemt

OpenAI ChatGPT logo against matching background

We aren’t fans of artificial intelligence “creating” marketing plans but can chatbots help improve SEO by offering keywords and making other suggestions?

Since AI tools such as ChatGPT can instantly crawl the depths of the Internet, we want to know if they can provide “insider” tips. Perhaps they have a leg up when it comes to parsing what helps and what hurts SEO ranking.

Restaurant, bar, and nightclub websites still matter. Consider the latest SevenRooms data in regards to how people discover new places to dine, drink, and socialize. Two-thirds of consumers rely on word-of-mouth recommendations from family and friends. A third use Google.

So, that should show how important it is to ensure your restaurant, bar, or nightclub is showing up right away when people are using search engines.

For the first part of our AI SEO series, I ask ChatGPT for suggestions for restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and eatertainment venues. In the follow-up article, I ask for assistance for hotels, campgrounds, and lodges.

Note: ChatGPT’s answers are provided below unedited. There’s some repetition, which is to be expected.

What specific terms are the best for restaurants to use for SEO ranking?

When it comes to specific terms for SEO ranking for restaurants, it’s important to consider keywords that are relevant to your restaurant’s niche, location, and target audience. Here are some specific terms that can be beneficial:

  1. Cuisine Keywords: Incorporate specific cuisine-related keywords that reflect the type of food your restaurant serves. For example, if you have an Italian restaurant, use terms like “Italian cuisine,” “authentic Italian dishes,” or “Italian restaurant [location].”
  2. Location-Based Keywords: Include location-specific keywords throughout your website to target customers searching for restaurants in your area. For instance, use terms like “best restaurants in [location],” “[location] dining,” or “[location] food scene.”
  3. Menu Items: Optimize your website for specific menu items that are popular or unique to your restaurant. Include descriptive keywords for these dishes, such as “signature seafood pasta,” “gourmet burger with truffle aioli,” or “vegan-friendly options.”
  4. Dining Experience Keywords: Highlight specific aspects of your restaurant’s dining experience. For example, if you have a rooftop terrace, mention it with keywords like “rooftop dining [location]” or “alfresco dining with city views.”
  5. Special Occasions: If your restaurant caters to special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or private events, optimize with related keywords. Use terms like “private event venue,” “birthday dinner reservations,” or “romantic anniversary restaurant.”
  6. Farm-to-Table or Sustainable Keywords: If your restaurant emphasizes locally sourced or sustainable ingredients, incorporate related keywords. Use terms like “farm-to-table dining,” “organic ingredients,” or “sustainable seafood.”
  7. Brunch or Breakfast Keywords: If your restaurant serves brunch or breakfast, optimize your website for keywords related to these meals. Use terms like “weekend brunch spot,” “best breakfast in [location],” or “bottomless mimosa brunch.”
  8. Online Ordering and Delivery: If your restaurant offers online ordering or food delivery services, optimize your website with related keywords. Use terms like “online food ordering,” “food delivery [location],” or “order food online.”
  9. Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or TripAdvisor. Positive reviews can boost your restaurant’s visibility in search results and attract more customers.
  10. Local SEO: Implement local SEO strategies by optimizing your website for local search results. This includes creating and optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across directories, and getting listed in local online directories.

Remember, it’s crucial to conduct keyword research specific to your restaurant’s offerings and target audience. Regularly monitor your website’s performance, track keyword rankings, and adapt your SEO strategy as needed to improve your restaurant’s online visibility and attract more diners.

What specific terms are the best for bars to use for SEO ranking?

When it comes to specific terms for SEO ranking for bars, it’s important to consider keywords that are relevant to your bar’s theme, location, and target audience. Here are some specific terms that can be beneficial:

  1. Bar Name: Ensure that your bar’s name is prominently featured in your website’s content, meta tags, and URLs to associate your website with your bar’s name.
  2. Location-Based Keywords: Include location-specific keywords throughout your website to target customers searching for bars in your area. For example, use terms like “best bars in [location],” “[location] nightlife,” or “bars near [landmark].”
  3. Bar Type or Theme: Incorporate specific keywords related to your bar’s type or theme. For instance, if you have a sports bar, use terms like “sports bar,” “sports pub,” or “sports viewing in [location].” If your bar has a specific theme like a speakeasy, mention keywords like “speakeasy bar,” “1920s-inspired bar,” or “craft cocktails in a hidden bar.”
  4. Drink Specialties: Highlight popular drinks or signature cocktails on your website and optimize the descriptions with relevant keywords. For example, use terms like “craft cocktails,” “mixology bar,” or “unique drink creations.”
  5. Happy Hour and Specials: If your bar offers happy hour specials or unique promotions, optimize your website with keywords related to these offerings. Use terms like “happy hour deals,” “drink specials,” or “late-night promotions.”
  6. Entertainment and Events: If your bar hosts live music, DJs, trivia nights, or other events, optimize your website with keywords related to these offerings. For instance, use terms like “live music bar,” “DJ nights,” or “weekly trivia at [bar name].”
  7. Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or TripAdvisor. Positive reviews can boost your bar’s visibility in search results and attract more customers.
  8. Local SEO: Implement local SEO strategies by optimizing your website for local search results. This includes creating and optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across directories, and getting listed in local online directories.
  9. Social Media Integration: Integrate social media into your SEO strategy by linking your website to your bar’s social media profiles. Engage with your audience, share updates about your bar, and encourage user-generated content through social media channels.
  10. Events Calendar: If your bar has a calendar of upcoming events, optimize it with keywords related to the types of events you host. For example, use terms like “live music schedule,” “karaoke nights,” or “themed parties at [bar name].”

Remember, it’s important to conduct keyword research specific to your bar’s offerings and target audience. Regularly monitor your website’s performance, track keyword rankings, and adapt your SEO strategy as needed to improve your bar’s online visibility and attract more customers.

What specific terms are the best for eatertainment venues similar to Topgolf or Punch Bowl Social to use for SEO ranking?

For eatertainment venues similar to Topgolf or Punch Bowl Social, it’s important to use specific terms that highlight the unique features, activities, and experiences your venue offers. Here are some specific terms that can be beneficial for SEO ranking:

  1. Venue Name: Ensure that your venue’s name is prominently featured in your website’s content, meta tags, and URLs to associate your website with your venue’s name.
  2. Location-Based Keywords: Include location-specific keywords throughout your website to target customers searching for similar venues in your area. For example, use terms like “Topgolf-style venue in [location],” “entertainment center in [location],” or “[location] eatertainment complex.”
  3. Interactive Games and Activities: Highlight the various interactive games and activities available at your venue. Optimize your website with keywords related to these offerings, such as “interactive golf games,” “arcade entertainment,” “bowling alley,” “virtual reality experiences,” or “multiplayer experiences.”
  4. Social Atmosphere: Emphasize the social and vibrant atmosphere of your venue. Use keywords that convey a fun and engaging experience, such as “socializing with friends,” “lively entertainment environment,” or “party and event destination.”
  5. Food and Drink: Highlight the dining and beverage options available at your eatertainment venue. Optimize your website with keywords related to your menu, such as “gourmet food and craft cocktails,” “full-service restaurant with a bar,” or “delicious bites and refreshing drinks.”
  6. Entertainment Variety: Showcase the variety of entertainment options available at your venue. Use keywords related to live performances, music, comedy shows, or special events. For example, “live music venue,” “comedy club,” or “special event space.”
  7. Private Events and Group Activities: If your venue caters to private events or offers group activities, optimize your website with keywords related to these offerings. Use terms like “private event venue,” “corporate team-building activities,” or “party room reservations.”
  8. Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage guests to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or TripAdvisor. Positive reviews can improve your venue’s visibility in search results and attract more visitors.
  9. Local SEO: Implement local SEO strategies by optimizing your website for local search results. This includes creating and optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across directories, and getting listed in local online directories.
  10. Social Media Integration: Integrate social media into your SEO strategy by linking your website to your venue’s social media profiles. Engage with your audience, share updates about upcoming events or promotions, and encourage user-generated content through social media channels.

Remember to conduct keyword research specific to your eatertainment venue’s offerings, target audience, and location. Regularly monitor your website’s performance, track keyword rankings, and adapt your SEO strategy as needed to improve your venue’s online visibility and attract more visitors.

What specific terms are the best for nightclubs to use for SEO ranking?

When it comes to specific terms for SEO ranking for nightclubs, it’s crucial to consider keywords that are relevant to your nightclub’s niche, location, and target audience. Here are some specific terms that can be beneficial:

  1. Nightclub Name: Ensure that your nightclub’s name is prominently featured in your website’s content, meta tags, and URLs to associate your website with your nightclub’s name.
  2. Location-Based Keywords: Include location-specific keywords throughout your website to target customers searching for nightclubs in your area. For example, use terms like “nightclubs in [location],” “[location] nightlife,” or “dance clubs near [location].”
  3. Music Genre: Incorporate specific music genre-related keywords that reflect the type of music your nightclub specializes in. For instance, if you focus on electronic dance music, use terms like “EDM nightclub,” “electronic dance club,” or “techno parties in [location].” If you cater to hip-hop enthusiasts, include keywords like “hip-hop club,” “urban nightlife,” or “R&B parties in [location].”
  4. DJ Names: If your nightclub regularly hosts renowned DJs or has resident DJs, mention their names on your website. People often search for specific DJs, so including their names can increase your nightclub’s visibility.
  5. Event Themes: Highlight specific event themes or special nights that your nightclub offers. Optimize your website with keywords related to these offerings. For example, use terms like “themed parties,” “ladies’ night,” “Latin night,” or “80s retro dance party.”
  6. VIP Experience: If your nightclub offers VIP experiences, bottle service, or VIP table reservations, optimize your website with keywords related to these offerings. Use terms like “VIP nightclub experience,” “bottle service in [location],” or “VIP table bookings.”
  7. Dress Code: If your nightclub has a specific dress code policy, mention it on your website and optimize with relevant keywords like “nightclub dress code,” “dress to impress,” or “formal attire.”
  8. Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or TripAdvisor. Positive reviews can improve your nightclub’s visibility in search results and attract more customers.
  9. Local SEO: Implement local SEO strategies by optimizing your website for local search results. This includes creating and optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across directories, and getting listed in local online directories.
  10. Social Media Integration: Integrate social media into your SEO strategy by linking your website to your nightclub’s social media profiles. Engage with your audience, share updates about upcoming events, and encourage user-generated content through social media channels.

Remember to conduct keyword research specific to your nightclub’s offerings and target audience. Regularly monitor your website’s performance, track keyword rankings, and adapt your SEO strategy as needed to improve your nightclub’s online visibility and attract more attendees.

Takeaway

Operators need to pay attention to SEO ranking and discovery. They need to own their listings and make sure the information is accurate.

While AI can help with keywords and search terms, it doesn’t appear to be at the point where it can manage your SEO or marketing strategy. There are platforms like Toast, Restaurant365 and SevenRooms that can make marketing simpler. However, people still do the best job.

At KRG Hospitality, for instance, we create brand strategy plans. We also partner with restaurant marketing experts like Matt Plapp and America’s Best Restaurants.

Can AI streamline tasks? Yes, it can simplify and, in some cases, take over some tasks. Can it create effective, engaging marketing strategies that perform better than those created and executed by humans? In our experience and opinion, no.

I think the answers to my SEO questions above are helpful in terms of making suggestions that operators can use today to improve their odds of being discovered by guests. And I still don’t think operators can offload marketing responsibilities to AI.

Image: Mariia Shalabaieva on Unsplash

KRG Hospitality tech stack plan. Restaurant. Bar. Cafe. Lounge. Nightclub. Hotel. Resort.

The Pontiac bar in Hong Kong
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 Revealed: 51-100

Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 Revealed: 51 to 100

by David Klemt

The Pontiac bar in Hong Kong

The Pontiac bar in Hong Kong, an inclusive, welcoming venue with an all-woman team.

One week from the ceremony revealing bars one through 50 of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, the World’s 50 Best Bars announces venues 51 to 100.

Sponsored by Perrier, the World’s 50 Best Bars will announce the top 50 bars in Asia on Tuesday, July 18. This year’s ceremony will take place in Hong Kong at 20:25 local time.

However, we now know which bars have earned placement on the back half of this year’s list. As Mark Sansom, director of content for the World’s 50 Best points out on episode 82 of Bar Hacks, an expansion for their lists is necessary. There are simply too many outstanding operators and teams to not honor an additional 50 venues.

To that end, the list below represents the third edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, 51 to 100. In my opinion, and I think the World’s 50 Best and bar professionals across the world agree, this list is every bit as prestigious as one through 50. Let’s not downplay the fact that these are 50 of the best bars in all of Asia. It’s no small feat to earn a spot on this list.

If you’re interested in finding more amazing venues throughout Asia (and around the world), click here to learn about the World’s 50 Best Discovery tool.

By the Numbers

As you’ll see below, Singapore dominates this year’s 51 to 100 list with eight bars. I expect Singapore pick up even more spots next week.

Japan boasts seven bars on the list, with Osaka, Okinawa, and Kumamoto making debuts. Hong Kong, Taiwan, and India each have claim five slots. Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are also well represented with four bars each.

Vietnam and China each have three bars among this year’s 51 to 100. Two bars in Seoul, South Korea, earned placement as well.

However, it’s Kathmandu, Nepal, with two bars that stands out the most to me. Numbers 100 and 70 belong to Kathmandu, and are both new to the list.

To review the list on the World’s 50 Best website, please click here.

Asia’s 50 Best Bars: 100 to 51

  1. Barc (Kathmandu, Nepal)
  2. Loft (Bangkok, Thailand)
  3. Honky Tonks Tavern (Hong Kong)
  4. Tell Camellia (Hong Kong)
  5. Enigma (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
  6. Origin Grill & Bar (Singapore)
  7. PCO (New Delhi, India)
  8. Bar Mood (Taipei, Taiwan)
  9. Bar Trench (Tokyo, Japan)
  10. Aha Saloon (Taipei, Taiwan)
  11. Union Trading Company (Shanghai, China)
  12. The Wise King (Hong Kong)
  13. The Sailing Bar (Nara, Japan)
  14. The Odd Couple (Shanghai, China)
  15. Mizunara: The Library (Hong Kong)
  16. The Haflington (Hanoi, Vietnam)
  17. Yakoboku (Kumamoto, Japan)
  18. D.Bespoke (Singapore)
  19. Bar Rocking Chair (Kyoto, Japan)
  20. El Lequio (Okinawa, Japan)
  21. Offtrack (Singapore)
  22. #FindTheLockerRoom (Bangkok, Thailand)
  23. Three X Co (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
  24. Wishbone Bar (Semarang, Indonesia)
  25. The Back Room (Manila, Philippines)
  26. No Sleep Club (Singapore)
  27. Nighthawk (Singapore)
  28. Pine & Co (Seoul, South Korea)
  29. Moonrock (Tainan, Taiwan)
  30. Epic (Shanghai, China)
  31. Bitters & Co. (Kathmandu, Nepal)
  32. Asia Today (Bangkok, Thailand)
  33. Coley (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
  34. Hideaway (Goa, India)
  35. Reka (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
  36. The Elephant Room (Singapore)
  37. Tippling Club (Singapore)
  38. Craftroom (Osaka, Japan)
  39. Last Word (Singapore)
  40. Hoots’ (New Delhi, India)
  41. Opium (Bangkok, Thailand)
  42. Home (New Delhi, India)
  43. Americano (Mumbai, India)
  44. Gold Bar (Tokyo, Japan)
  45. Junglebird (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
  46. Room by Le Kief (Taipei, Taiwan)
  47. The Pontiac (Hong Kong)
  48. To Infinity and Beyond (Taipei, Taiwan)
  49. Charles H (Seoul, South Korea)

Be sure to log into the live stream to watch the one through 50 announcement live.

Congratulations to each of the operators and bar teams above! Cheers!

Image courtesy of the World’s 50 Best Bars

KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

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