Darien Schaefer President & CEO

Transcription

1 Dear Restaurant Owner/Manager, On behalf of the Lake Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau it is my pleasure to invite you to participate in the 1st Annual Lake Geneva Restaurant Week which will be held Friday, May 29 through Sunday, June 7, Restaurant Week will shine a spotlight on the diverse and dynamic restaurant offerings available in the Lake Geneva area. Restaurant Weeks are held throughout the United States and have successfully introduced new customers to restaurants and new visitors to communities for over two decades. The dates chosen for Restaurant Week were designed to increase visitor traffic for the period right after Memorial Weekend and before the Chicago school year ends. Special Restaurant Week prices for lunch and dinner offer an incentive for diners to visit their favorite restaurants and sample new ones they ve been meaning to try. Special events and opportunities will be offered during Restaurant Week to encourage overnight stays. We will also be introducing the Charity Check which is where diners can vote for one of five local charities to receive a $5,000 check. Above all, Restaurant Week serves to focus attention on Lake Geneva s dynamic culinary community. The Lake Geneva Chamber & CVB received a Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism in the amount of $39,100 to develop a marketing and advertising campaign of over $80,000 to promote Restaurant Week and create a business boom for participating restaurants. The target audience for this promotion includes visitors from Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison as well as residents and visitors from Walworth and surrounding counties. The 10- day event and its participants and sponsors will be promoted through local media outlets, magazines, food related websites, Pandora internet radio, newspapers, e- newsletters, social media and our very own website We look forward to working with you to make the 1 st Annual Lake Geneva Restaurant Week a success! Darien Schaefer President & CEO

2 Restaurant Registration Details What is Lake Geneva Restaurant Week? Lake Geneva Restaurant Week is a 10 day event that celebrates the local culinary scene and gives local food aficionados and visitors an opportunity to enjoy special events and 3- course, prix fixe lunch and/or dinner menus at participating restaurants throughout the Lake Geneva area. The price for lunch is either $10 or $15 and the price for dinner is either $25 or $35. When is Lake Geneva Restaurant Week? This is the first year for this new event and will be held over 10 days from Friday, May 29 through Sunday, June 7, Why Should My Restaurant Participate? Lake Geneva Restaurant Week is designed to showcase the locally sourced foods, stellar chefs and outstanding restaurants that make up the Lake Geneva culinary scene. This event is supported by a $39,100 Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and a comprehensive marketing budget of over $80,000 driven by the Lake Geneva Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Through your involvement, we can leverage these dollars to generate awareness and enhance the credibility of the Lake Geneva area as a foodie destination thereby increasing the number of guests dining at your establishment throughout the year. How Does Someone Take Part in Lake Geneva Restaurant Week? While some of the events held during Restaurant Week may require an additional fee, there are no tickets to buy or coupons to download in order to take advantage of the prix fixe menus. Diners can simply visit any of the participating restaurants throughout the 10 day period to enjoy the special pricing. However, it is strongly recommended that diners make reservations in advance by contacting the participating restaurants directly. How Does a Restaurant Participate in Lake Geneva Restaurant Week? Restaurants interested in participating should review the guidelines/expectations, complete the attached registration form and return it along with the registration fee and a proposed menu. Once accepted, our staff will work with each restaurant to be added to the website and review how to take advantage of the other promotional opportunities. Is Restaurant Week a New Concept? Restaurant Week is not a new concept. It has been a popular event for over 20 years and held in communities both large and small throughout the United States. Be sure to read the section on what makes for a successful restaurant week.

3 Restaurant Registration Details How Will My Restaurant Be Promoted Via Lake Geneva Restaurant Week s Efforts? 1. Listed on the Lake Geneva Restaurant Week website, along with your logo, phone number (for reservations), physical address, your downloadable Lake Geneva Restaurant Week menu and direct click- thru to your website. 2. Listed on the Lake Geneva Restaurant Week Check Presenter to be distributed to locals and visitors during the weeks leading up to Restaurant Week at participating restaurants, lodging properties, visitor centers, and niche venues, i.e. farmer s markets and foodie events. 3. Inclusion in appropriate additional marketing efforts that will promote the overall event, such as advertising placement in local and regional media outlets (which includes print and online opportunities), and e- mail blasts to the Lake Geneva Chamber and CVB consumer and business databases. 4. Included in event social media efforts, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 5. Included in event public relations outreach efforts, such as news releases, human- interest stories and pitches to targeted media. How Do I Maximize My Participation in Lake Geneva Restaurant Week? 1. Familiarize your staff with Lake Geneva Restaurant Week to ensure they know about the event and can answer question guests may have. 2. Track Lake Geneva Restaurant Week through your POS System as we will be asking you to give us a reporting of the actual numbers of Restaurant Week meals sold at the end of the program to evaluate its success. 3. Utilize the Lake Geneva Restaurant Week logo and campaign copy for your own website communication, e- reservation confirmations and correspondence with your guest database. For more information about Lake Geneva Restaurant Week, contact: Darien Schaefer President & CEO Lake Geneva Chamber and CVB [email protected] Karen Arthur Marketing & Communications Manager Lake Geneva Chamber and CVB [email protected]

4 Restaurant Week Registration Lake Geneva Restaurant Week will be held Friday, May 29 through Sunday, June 7, $250 for Dinner or Dinner/Lunch Participation in LGRW ($25.00 a day for 10 days) $200 for Lunch Participation in LGRW ($20.00 a day for 10 days) Ø Price is per restaurant as each restaurant receives the same benefits. Ø Members of the Lake Geneva Chamber/CVB receive a $50 discount. Ø Up to $100 of the registration fee can be paid in gift card/certificates. Registration fee should be made payable to: Lake Geneva Area CVB and mailed with gift cards/certificates c/o Lake Geneva Restaurant Week, 527 Center Street, Lake Geneva, WI Your registration fee must be received by April 20, 2015 in order to participate. Registration will not be considered complete until receipt of a completed registration form, registration fee, logo and promotional photos (optional) on or before April 20, Please see checklist on registration form to make sure your registration is complete. Participating restaurants are expected to display Restaurant Week marketing materials as soon as their registration is approved and the materials are made available. Participants must send at least one representative from their establishment to a required restaurant meeting, which will start in late April. We will offer several meetings times to best serve your schedule. Restaurants must print their own prix fixe Restaurant Week menus highlighting Appetizers, Entrees and Desserts. The LGRW Logo will be provided for your use. All participants are expected to communicate Restaurant Week details to their servers and staff. All questions and concerns will be addressed at the required restaurant meeting. Participating restaurants are encouraged to work with Restaurant Week beverage sponsors to offer a drink special. For example, offering a signature drink using the spirit sponsor or pairing the entrees with select beers provided by the official beer sponsor.

5 LAKE GENEVA RESTAURANT WEEK REGISTRATION FORM I have read and understand the expectations of my establishment for Restaurant Week Restaurant: Name/Title: Signature: Date: Please submit your registration form, logo and optional promotional photos to [email protected] by April 20, Your Prix Fixe Menu, lunch/dinner and/or drink specials are due no later than May 1, Earlier submission is encouraged to participate earlier in promotional activities. RESTAURANT INFORMATION Physical Address: Phone: Website: Twitter: Facebook URL: Instagram: Hours of Operation: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

6 LAKE GENEVA RESTAURANT WEEK REGISTRATION FORM PRIMARY RESTAURANT CONTACT PERSON FOR MEDIA AND MEETINGS Name & Title: Cell Phone: Preferred contact method and time: CHECK THE FOLLOWING THAT APPLIES Dinner Price Point: (includes appetizer, entrée & desert) (excluding tax, tip & beverage) $25 per person for prix- fixe 3 course menu $35 per person for prix- fixe 3 course menu Lunch Price Point: (includes appetizer, entrée & desert) (excluding tax, tip & beverage) $10 per person for prix- fixe 3 course menu $15 per person for prix- fixe 3 course menu How do you schedule reservations? Phone and/or Online? Phone Number: Online (Explain how i.e Open Table): Food Category: (American, French, Italian, Mexican, Pizza, Pub/Grill, Seafood, Sandwiches/Small Plates/Steak) Yes No Will you offer one free meal (LGRW menu) to a blogger, travel writer, or member of the media during Restaurant Week? *Working with the media will likely result in increased exposure for your establishment.