Media Contact:
Meghan Risch
(312) 567-8540
CHICAGO’S INAUGURAL RESTAURANT WEEK PROVES TO BE A HUGE SUCCESS
MARCH 20, 2008 – CHICAGO -- The Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau’s (CCTB) inaugural Restaurant Week offered February 22-29 did more than raise awareness of the city’s varied dining options – it also tantalized the taste buds of Chicago’s dining critics.
The three-course prix-fixe lunches for $21.95 and three-course prix-fixe dinners for $31.95 left even the sometimes staunchest critics taking credit for the promotion. Phil Vettel, Chicago Tribune’s dining critic immodestly noted in an article that he “whined last May that Chicago needed a Restaurant Week,” but thanked the city and the CCTB for making it happen. And NBC 5’s Bob Sirott stated he would “take credit for this great program” once it becomes a huge success.
Chicago Restaurant Week…eat it up! was produced by the CCTB in partnership with American Express, the official card of Chicago Restaurant Week; Chicago Tribune; OpenTable.com and 101.9fm THE MIX. Plans are underway for the 2009 promotion scheduled for February 20 – 27.
Forty-two member restaurants participated in the 2008 promotion. According to data collected from OpenTable.com, more than 3,700 reservations were made representing service to more than 10,000 diners at these restaurants.
More than half of the participating restaurants responded to an online survey issued by the CCTB following the promotion and overall, the feedback was positive. The respondents reported up to a 40 percent increase in covers and an average 20 percent increase in sales, and all are eager to participate in the next Chicago Restaurant Week.
“We had so much fun this year and would love to participate in the event next year. It definitely brought in a whole new type of consumer and got the Pump Room name out there again,” said Leslie Tovar of The Pump Room. Echoed Lisa Adelman of Café des Architectes, “Our restaurant was much busier than usual. We are very grateful for Restaurant Week since it drove new guests to our establishment.”
Participating restaurants included, 17/west at the Berghoff, Aigre Doux, Alhambra Palace Restaurant, Aria, Atwood Café, Bluewater Grill, Bistro 110, Brazzaz, Bucca di Beppo, Café des Architectes (Sofitel Chicago Water Tower), Carnivale, China Grill (Hard Rock Hotel), David Burke’s Primehouse (The James Chicago Hotel), Devon Seafood Grill, Dine Restaurant, The Drawing Room at Le Passage, Fogo de Chao, Fulton’s on the River, Kiki’s Bistro, Landmark Grill & Lounge, The Lobby (The Peninsula Chicago), Melting Pot, NAHA, Nick’s Fishmarket Grill, one sixtyblue, Park Grill, Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush, Prosecco, Pump Room (Ambassador East Hotel), Riva (Navy Pier), Republic Pan-Asian Restaurant & Lounge, Roy’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Seasons Café & Lounge (Four Seasons Hotel), Seasons Restaurant (Four Seasons Hotel), Shor (Hyatt Regency McCormick Place), Shula’s Steak House (Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers), Smith & Wollensky, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, SushiSamba rio, Viand (Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown), Zest Restaurant (InterContinental Hotel Chicago).
# # #
About the CCTB
The Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau is the premier sales and marketing organization that promotes Chicago’s world-class assets to global leisure travel and convention business to ensure the economic vitality of the City and its member business community.