DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ An Ivy League sophomore says he found a $105,000 side hustle: selling coveted restaurant reservations
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Brown sophomore Alex Eisler has a lucrative side hustle selling restaurant reservations. He vends them on nascent platform Appointment Trader. AdvertisementEisler told Business Insider the most expensive reservation he's ever sold was $1,358 at an omakase restaurant in Boston. Appointment Trader is just one platform helping to turn reservation-selling into a cottage industry of sorts. "It's bad for business," Eric Ripert, chef and co-owner of famed French seafood restaurant Le Bernardin, told The New Yorker.

Persons: Brown, Alex Eisler, Eisler, —, Eisler —, he's, Prime, Carbone, Insider's Linette Lopez, Tock —, Eric Ripert, Bernardin Organizations: Service, Brown University, American Express, Business, Yorker, Bloomberg, New Locations: Boston, New York City

☆ Forget Recession, New York City Is Entering a Wild New Gilded Age
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

In a country roiled by recession worries, those at the top of New York City — for better or worse — couldn't give a single gilded shit. For New York City, a brush with death called for a time of decadence. "New York City's restaurants and bars are experiencing an uneven pandemic recovery nearly four years after COVID-19 struck our city," Andrew Rigie, the executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, said. AdvertisementIf a pandemic can't defeat New York City, a little inflation certainly isn't going to do it. And what that looks like is the affluent in New York City eating caviar, and poorer Americans eating cereal.

Persons: Steve Jobs, it's, Jennifer Saesue, Saesue, Fish Cheeks, Z, bistros, James Murphy, us Carbone, Casas — Cruz, Cipriani, Jean, Georges Vongerichten, Bongo, Andrew Rigie, Corey Mintz, we're, WK Kellogg, Gary Pilnick, Gary Pilnick's Organizations: Grand Prospect Hall, New, New York City, Apple, Mastercard, Chefs, Casas, Soho House, Bangkok Supper, Village, IBA, Hospitality Alliance, Nationwide, National Restaurant Association, Nasdaq, The University of Michigan Consumer, UBS, New York Locations: New York City, New York, Rome, Xinjiang, New, Manhattan, Coqodaq, Las Vegas, York, Bangkok, Hell, TouchBistro, Brooklyn, The Bronx

☆ I tried the AI robot massage table coming to Equinox. It's impressive, but I still prefer a human.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Equinox is getting an AI massage table this summer and it's the first of its kind to launch in the US. So naturally, I had to test out the new Aescape AI massage that Equinox is adding to its New York City locations in June. It's the first fully automated, customizable massage experience available commercially in the US, with two long robotic arms that massage you in tandem. The table is located in a dimly lit room with a large dresser, mirror, and robotic massage table in the center. Beider also said Aescape's massage table isn't an option for everyone.

Persons: —, I've, It's, Eric Litman, Rachel Beider, Aescape, Ana Altchek, Litman, Molly O'Connor, Frank Sinatra, Beider, didn't, We've, you'll Organizations: Service, Massage, PRESS Locations: Paris, New York City, Colombia, COVID

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Annual fees increase between 18% to 52% on six consumer and business Delta SkyMiles credit cards. American Express and Delta Air Lines increased annual fees across their co-branded airline credit cards today for consumer and business credit cards alike. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders will receive $2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) every qualifying year, beginning February 1, which will give them a jumpstart toward earning Delta status each year. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders can now spend above their credit limit, albeit within a certain undisclosed extent.

Persons: Resy, Katherine Fan, I've, Guy, NerdWallet, I'm, you'll, Read Organizations: Delta, American Express, Delta Air Lines, Delta SkyMiles, Delta SkyMiles ®, Express, Finance, Business, Forbes, USA, Austin American, Statesman, Associated Press, Google, MSN, University of Texas Locations: Hawaii , Alaska, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, delta.com, Delta, Austin, Southwest, Texas, Taiwan, New York City

NEW YORK (AP) — American Express rolled out several updates to its Delta SkyMiles credit cards Thursday that will give additional benefits to users, part of efforts to soothe sore Delta Air Lines customers who have considered abandoning the airline after last year’s SkyMiles loyalty fiasco. AmEx customers get access to Delta's airport lounges and are able to transfer their Membership Rewards points to Delta, among other benefits. To give a sense of scale, Delta CEO Ed Bastion told investors in June that roughly 1% of the entire U.S. economy is spend on Delta's credit cards. So, when Delta made alterations to its SkyMiles loyalty program last year, it was largely seen by Delta customers as a watering down of its program, and it caused turbulence between the two companies. Part of those changes required Delta customers to spend large sums of money on airfare or on the Delta credit card to be given elite status on the airline.

Persons: AmEx, Delta, it's, Ed Bastion, Bastion, “, Howard Grosfield Organizations: Delta, Air Lines, New, Delta Air Lines, American Express, U.S . Consumer Services Locations: New York, Delta, Hawaii , Alaska, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Atlanta, AmEx

How to Win the Restaurant Reservation Game Scoring a table in New York can seem impossible, but may be easier than you think. Meanwhile, with just three weeks to go, we’re still on the waiting list, which has grown to nearly 60 names. 3 DAYS OUT The Realist Andrew Harroz, 39, a lawyer in Oklahoma City, and his fiancée get a notification that a 5 p.m. reservation table is open. Let patience pay off Even if a restaurant is fully booked, ask to put your name on a waiting list. It’s not a great night for romance: A couple whose reservation for two included the note “Considering proposing” leave the restaurant.

Persons: Semma, seatings, Resy, Gracie de Souza, “, ”, Jatin Mallakunta, they’ll, Ash Hashmi, Santo Pesantez, we’re, Andrew Harroz, He’s, Pesantez, Roni Mazumdar, Vijay Kumar, Pandya, who’ve, Mindy Kaling, it’s, Nathan G, Christine, Nathan, he’s, ” Christine, Gillian Garcia, Hugo Rodriguez, Rodriguez, they’re, let’s, Trinity, Garcia, Arjun Kallapur, ’, Rouven Chopra, Jana Frauns, ” Mr, Chopra Organizations: Washington , D.C, American Express, YouTube Locations: New York, Semma, Indian, New York City, Greenwich Village, Resy, New Orleans, Washington ,, Manhattan, Santo, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Los Angeles, United States, Frankfurt, Germany

Amex Member Week 2023 will offer eligible cardholders presale ticket access, special experiences, and more. To find the right Amex card for you, read more about our picks for the best American Express cards. American Express Member Week 2023 detailsTo take full advantage of Amex Member Week, you need to have an Amex card, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card, or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Amex Member Week exclusives span a number of categories, from entertainment and live events to retail offers. They can receive up to $165 in total value when making select purchases from the following merchants:DocuSignHertzInstacart BusinessLowe'sSquarespaceProducts in this post: The Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express® Gold Card, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Persons: —, you'll, Amex, Olivia Rodrigo, Resy, Fermin Nunex, Matt Conroy, Isabel Coss, cardmembers, James Jarvis, DocuSign Organizations: Service, American Express, American, YouTube, Amex, Delta, Delta.com, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Bose Dell, DocuSign Hertz Locations: Delta, York City, Las Vegas, Miami, Austin , Texas, Washington ,

American Express just announced plans to open its fourteenth Centurion Lounge location in the US, at Newark Airport. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. While the Centurion Lounge at Newark Airport won't open until 2026, American Express has shared some initial details on what to expect. Finally, the Newark Centurion Lounge will also feature a 1,400-square-foot indoor terrace with views of the airport and Manhattan. American ExpressHow to access the Newark Centurion loungeYou can access the upcoming Newark Centurion Lounge (and any other Centurion Lounge that's already open) if you have the The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, or the invite-only Centurion Card.

Persons: Uber, Wiley, Julie Mehretu, Peacock, Uber Cash, Amex Organizations: Express, Newark Airport, American Express, Service, Vegas McCarran, Newark Liberty International Airport, Hilton, Marriott, Saks, Entertainment, Disney, ESPN, The New York Times, Street, Walmart, TSA, Global, Saks Fifth, Shipping, New, Newark, Newark Centurion Locations: Manhattan, Wall, Silicon, Hulu, Newark, New York, JFK, LaGuardia, York

☆ These Are the Best French Fries in New York City
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Pete Wells | More About Pete Wells | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

There are many good things to eat at Libertine, a new French bistro in the West Village that I reviewed this week. “We’re not serving fries,” Cody Pruitt, one of the owners, told Pamela Vachon of Resy. “You can get fries anywhere.”Maybe that’s true. We want fries that, once you’ve eaten the first one, dominate your consciousness until they are gone. Fewer than 20 restaurants in New York put out fries like that.

Persons: “ We’re, ” Cody Pruitt, Pamela Vachon, Resy, Fries Locations: New York

So I'll admit I got The Platinum Card® from American Express for the clout. Getting an Amex didn't change my finances or my life, and I knew it wouldn'tI held my Amex Platinum card as I did with my driver's license when I was 16. Financial therapist Aja Evans says my Amex credit card is one way of coping with self-esteem issues, but it's a bandage. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Products in this post: The Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express® Gold Card

Persons: Achilles, I've, wouldn't, I'm, Aja Evans, Evans, it's, Uber, Wiley, Julie Mehretu, Peacock, Uber Cash Organizations: Service, American Express, Yorker, Express, Hilton, Marriott, Saks, Entertainment, Disney, ESPN, The New York Times, Street, Walmart, TSA, Global, Saks Fifth, Shipping, American, Products Locations: Wall, Silicon, Hulu

☆ Restaurants are charging nonrefundable reservation deposits to combat no-shows, after nearly 30% of diners say they've ghosted
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Gabriel Rivera | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The next time you book a restaurant reservation, you also may have to pay a deposit. In 2021, online reservation service OpenTable found 28% of Americans said they'd ghosted a restaurant reservation in the last year. JC Myska, general manager at Kintsugi Omakase in Manhattan, said his luxury restaurant's $35-per-person reservation deposit is vital for the eatery, which has only 10 seats. "We have very few seats, and we plan and staff significantly around reservations," Page said. For other restaurants, no-shows can be killer.

Persons: they've, OpenTable, they'd, JC Myska, Kintsugi, Craig Page, Page, it's, Tom Kerridge Organizations: Morning, Michelin, New, Monkey Locations: Manhattan, Brooklyn , New York, Philadelphia, New York City

☆ The Amex Platinum gets you automatic elite status at Marriott and Hilton — here's what that unlocks at thousands of hotels around the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( David E. Slotnick | Sarah Silbert | Senior Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Amex Platinum; InsiderIf you have The Platinum Card® from American Express , you can get complimentary Gold elite status with both Hilton and Marriott**. Without the Amex Platinum Card, you'd generally need to spend at least 25 nights in Marriott hotels to earn Gold status in the Bonvoy program, or a whopping 40 nights in Hilton hotels to earn Hilton Honors Gold status. Here's how Marriott and Hilton Gold elite status with the Amex Platinum card works. Marriott Gold Elite Status BenefitsHere's what you can get with Marriott Bonvoy Gold status from your Amex Platinum Card. Hilton Gold status comes with a handful of extremely valuable perks, of which I'm definitely a fan.

Persons: Hilton, We're, Uber, Peacock, Uber Cash, you'll, You'll, I'm, — Hilton Organizations: Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton, American Express, Marriott, Service, American, Express, Saks, Entertainment, Disney, ESPN, The New York Times, Street, Walmart, Credit, TSA, Global, Saks Fifth, Reading Chevron, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Honors American, Hilton Honors, Card, Hilton loyalists Locations: Wall, Silicon, Marriott, Hilton, Hulu

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, Chase Freedom®. I used this strategy to downgrade from the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card with a $95 annual fee to the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card with no annual fee. with a $95 annual fee to the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card with no annual fee. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. AdvertisementFor example, my Amex EveryDay® Credit Card used to be an Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card with a $95 annual fee.

Persons: —, Uber, Wiley, Julie Mehretu, Peacock, Uber Cash, We're, you've Organizations: Business, American Express, Service, Chase, Express, Hilton, Marriott, Saks, Entertainment, Disney, ESPN, The New York Times, Street, Walmart, TSA, Global, Saks Fifth, Shipping, American, Chase Sapphire Reserve Locations: Hulu

☆ Restaurant Review: Wylie Dufresne’s Pizzeria Has a Really Good Salad
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Pete Wells | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When pizza geeks are talking, no step in the process of mixing and rising and baking of pizza is too technical, no detail is too granular. They speak to one another about the hydration of their dough, the effect of long fermentation times, the digestibility of the crust. Which ought to mean that the time is right for a Wylie Dufresne pizzeria, such as Stretch Pizza, which he recently opened on Park Avenue South. No other chef did as much as Mr. Dufresne to make kitchen geekery cool. His restaurant wd-50 was the city’s foremost laboratory for pure and applied food science.

Persons: Dufresne

Your credit score is only one of several factors that determine whether your credit card application will be approved. Credit Card for Excellent Credit Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the best credit card for excellent credit? Can I qualify for a credit card without excellent credit? You can absolutely qualify for a credit card without having excellent credit. Compare the Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardChase Sapphire Preferred® CardBank of America® Premium Rewards® credit cardDiscover it® Miles Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Persons: Read, We're, Uber, Peacock, Uber Cash, Merrill, Miles you've, Miles, There's, gofree Wyndham, you'll, You'll, It's, Chase, Cardholders, cardholders, you've, Wyndham Organizations: Excellent Credit, Capital, One, Chevron, American Express, American, Express, Hilton, Marriott, Saks, Entertainment, Disney, ESPN, The New York Times, Street, Walmart, Credit, TSA, Global, Saks Fifth, Reading Chevron, Target, Chase, Bank of America, Bank of America's, of America, Bank of America Travel Center, Wyndham, Business, Venture, Resorts, Saks Fifth Avenue, The Bank of America, Rewards, Barclays, Wyndham Rewards, Diamond, Vacasa Locations: Hulu, Wells, Wyndham

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). I opened a new credit card for a single hotel stay largely because I knew it was the best card for my spending. Read Insider's guide to the best travel rewards credit cards. Let's look at how much value I gained simply by opening and using a Hilton credit card — and my earning potential had I not opened a Hilton credit card. What I would have earned without a Hilton credit cardHad I not opened a Hilton credit card, I'd have put my bill on one of my other credit cards.

☆ I fly dozens of times a year, and save hundreds of dollars on airfare with a simple trick airlines don't want you to know about
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Jasmin Baron | Credit Cards Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +25 min

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Read Insider's guide to the best travel rewards credit cards. There are even a handful of no-annual-fee travel credit cards that waive foreign transaction fees, such as the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card. Even if you travel just once or twice per year, you should have at least one travel rewards credit card. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

We'll compare the Amex Green Card, Amex Gold Card, and the Amex Platinum Card, highlighting similarities and differences to help you decide which is best for your lifestyle. Amex Green vs Gold vs Platinum: Which American Express Card Is Worth It for You? The Platinum Card, Amex Gold Card, and Amex Green Card are all good choices if you want to earn Amex points. Insider's valuations peg Amex Membership Rewards points as worth 1.8 cents each, on average, in travel. You can read our Amex Green card review for a full breakdown of the card, and our comparison of the Amex Gold and Amex Green for a closer look at the differences.

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). The Good Brigade/Getty ImagesThe Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to $240 in annual digital entertainment credits. More Information Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. Amex Platinum Entertainment Credit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Which streaming services can I use with the Amex Platinum digital entertainment credits?

☆ Restaurants are prioritizing tables for big spenders and return customers through premium programs with SevenRooms and Resy Global Access
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Certain credit cardholders and frequent bookers are now the top of lists when it comes to booking restaurant reservations. SevenRooms says it shares data with restaurant clients to identify big spenders and offer premium reservations. Members of Resy's Global Access Dining program have access to exclusive reservations at popular restaurants around the world. Through partnerships with both SevenRooms and Resy's Global Dining Access program, Amex holders have special tables set aside for them. Whether that fish is a walk-in or from the Global Dining Access program," he said.

☆ Restaurants embrace premium reservations to target big spenders
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

When cities and states rolled back lockdown rules, many implemented new orders for restaurants to help with contact tracing, such as requiring customers to book tables in advance. As a result of those pandemic-fueled changes, restaurants and the companies that help them book their tables are targeting big spenders with premium reservation options to drive higher sales. About two-thirds of SevenRooms' restaurant clients use its software to promote special experiences or sell upgrades when customers book reservations. Page said the move toward premium restaurant reservations can partially explain why it feels like it's so much more competitive to book a table in advance these days. "I kind of don't like the whole 'Disney FastPass line' of restaurant reservations," he said.

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Whether you're flying or driving, the right credit card can cover you if your trip doesn't go as planned. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. But you can save that $10 to $30 per day if you pay for your rental using a credit card with car rental insurance. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

Persons: —, you'd, you'll, you've, Read, Chase, I've, El Al, Uber, Wiley, Julie Mehretu, Peacock, Uber Cash, Eric Rosenberg Organizations: Service, Chase, Target, Walmart, Sapphire, FDIC, Chase Sapphire, TSA, United, United Club, ℠, American Airlines, AAA, Express, American Express, Hilton, Marriott, Saks, Entertainment, Disney, ESPN, The New York Times, Street, Global, Saks Fifth, Shipping, Mastercard Locations: Israel, New York, Miami, Hulu, Ventura , California

☆ It’s Not Just You: Businesses Are Making Their Phone Numbers Hard to Find
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Rachel Wolfe | Allison Pohle | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

No matter how many times you yell “representative” into the phone, you won’t reach an employee at Frontier Airlines . The budget carrier dropped its phone service option last month, leaving customers to use chat functions or social media to resolve issues. The airline joins a growing group of companies—from Breeze Airways to Resy to Facebook —that eliminate or make phone numbers extra hard for customers to find. Instead, they rely on automated or text-based customer service. Others still have operators, but are pushing more customers to use online services rather than the phone.

☆ Restaurant Reservations Are Tougher to Land. Here’s How to Snag One.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Alina Dizik | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/restaurant-reservations-opentable-resy-waiting-list-11665680890

☆ Restaurant Reservations Are So Hot, Some Places Have a 1,000-Person Waiting List
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Alina Dizik | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Search resuls for: "Resy"

25 mentions found