In an increasingly competitive hospitality industry, numerous establishments are exploring new and captivating family-friendly restaurants and sports bar offerings to entice and maintain their customer base. Hotel proprietors, in particular, are eager to form alliances with well-established franchises to enhance their overall financial performance.
Jeff Krivoshen, the Managing Director of Four Points by Sheraton in Yuma, AZ, has witnessed first-hand the impact of taking a chance on a unique concept when opening his first dual-branded restaurant and hotel travel destination—a Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar franchise inside his company’s new Marriott-franchised property.
As with all new things, implementing this innovative concept came with a learning curve. So, why did he decide to do it, and how did it turn out for him?
The Decision to Open a Sports Bar Franchise in His Hotel
Jeff began his career in hospitality about 20 years ago as a general manager of a hotel that his extended family still owns and operates. Since then, they have grown their portfolio to 12 franchised hotels and have branched into full-service offerings, including restaurants, conference spaces, and spas.
When it came time to open this new hotel, Jeff had been exploring his options to offer his guests a full-service restaurant. He knew the hotel and restaurant would be interdependent, so he wanted to invest in a strong brand that would complement the hotel and stand on its merits.
As an established hotelier, he was excited to try this dual-branded concept with a brand he grew up with back in Canada: Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar.
The Benefits of Brand Recognition
Jeff was already familiar with Boston’s brand, so he believed his new hotel would be the perfect space to open one.
“I recognized that nothing had the ‘pizza twist on a sports bar’ in Yuma. Boston’s is a hallmark brand in Canada, so I already knew they had the very high-quality food and the extensive menu I was looking for,” Jeff stated.
To combat the misconception that hotel restaurants are only for hotel guests, Jeff made sure to have exterior signage and a separate entrance for the restaurant. “It is set up in a way that welcomes those driving down the street. They don’t even have to come in through the lobby to visit the restaurant,” he explained.
Jeff attributes this to the success he has already seen since opening in mid-May.
“The prominent Boston’s name differentiates us,” he added. “When people see that it is a franchise brand, it assures them that it is more than a ‘typical hotel restaurant,’ and they are likelier to try it over an unknown brand with a smaller footprint.”
The response from the community has surpassed all expectations, and he is confident that his new hotel and restaurant will only continue to grow. Jeff’s Boston location sees more new faces every day and welcomes back the “regulars.”
“It was hard to predict what the response would be like, and it has far exceeded anything we could have imagined,” Jeff stated. “We realized right away that we had to add to our team to keep up with how busy we were, and that’s a good thing!”
Adding Convenience and a Fun, Bustling Atmosphere for Guests
Sometimes, guests want to relax at the hotel without being cooped up in their rooms, especially after many have been social distancing for so long. The restaurant and sports bar provide laid-back entertainment without them even having to step foot out of the hotel’s doors.
“Whether you want to come downstairs to a fun and relaxing atmosphere after a long day or order room service, there are so many options, and guests will know that it’s all of great quality,” Jeff explained.
He described how impressed guests are with their wide selection that goes far beyond the delicious signature pizza.
“Some of our most popular menu items are also our appetizers — our wings and artichoke dip and our pasta options,” he said. “Everything from the kitchen has been well-received, and so many people are walking out with boxes because of the large portions and tremendous value we offer.”
Boston’s caters to all sorts of guests (and taste buds), offering cocktails, wraps, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, steak, ribs, chicken, and desserts, as well as gluten-free and vegetarian options.
The Possibilities Are Endless
Boston’s has many options for families, adventurous individuals, and business professionals. Guests can order room service from the Boston’s menu, and the restaurant has an outdoor patio. Additionally, it is adjoined with a Vegas-style outdoor pool with cabanas for poolside service. It offers 6,500 square feet of meeting space and conference rooms, where Boston’s offers guests an extensive catering menu.
Since opening just over a month ago, Jeff’s location has already seen significant success- nearly doubling all the initial projections! Jeff credits his team and Boston’s corporate team for helping make his opening process so smooth, especially when opening during the pandemic.
“Boston’s has huge potential to continue to make inroads in the U.S., and I would not hesitate to recommend them to hoteliers looking to go into a full-service offering,” said Jeff.
