As you can see from the breadth of subjects focusing on club dining and food and beverage within this issue of Club Trends, a lot goes into putting together a great food program. Purchasing, menu planning, preparation and cooking, facility design and scheduling are just
The success of an a la carte dining experience in a club is predicated on delivering on many fronts. Food quality is important, but service can be equally important to members. However, in this article we want to discuss the menu, its importance and how
One of the most challenging aspects of club management today is achieving a successful dining program. When asking members what their expectations are for club dining, 70 to 80 percent will say, “just make it one of my favorite places to dine.” But when asking
A memorable dining experience has always centered around the meal, but increasingly the country’s tastes for a great dining experience has expanded to how the meal is produced, prepared, served and displayed, the ambiance and even entertainment for patrons to enjoy. In this article we
The private club industry has undergone an extended period of consolidation. In an environment such as this, it is tempting to shift the focus away from visions of growth to more practical concerns for survival. But to do so might be a costly error. Many
Affluent consumers frequently demand customization and personalization—sometimes identified as the new luxury experience—with products and services tailored to their individual needs. From Millennials and Boomers to fitness fanatics and those who simply want to relax, clubs have always catered to their members’ needs. Today, marketing
The Challenge: The club’s membership plateaued and then inched downward, precipitating an adjustment of the club’s offerings and its value proposition. Skaneateles Country Club is located on a peninsula that extends into Skaneateles Lake, which is one of central New York’s Finger Lakes. Surrounded by
The Challenge: Amarillo’s bill for deferred maintenance came due in 2012. A steep assessment led to the exit of about 150 families—substantially more than they had anticipated. The Great Recession delayed much-needed maintenance and improvement projects for clubs. When Amarillo Country Club finally counted the
How satisfied is your club’s membership? In analyzing survey results from more than 1,000 private clubs, the answer to this question is by far the best indicator of club success. From this one finding we know if a club is delivering its promise. And if
Every private club must recruit and retain a dues-paying base sufficient to cover its fixed costs, a process that includes replacing the roughly five percent of members who resign each year. In the previous article, Bill McMahon, Sr. focused on how to deal with controllable