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☆ I've been on over 110 cruises. There's one onboard option I hate and avoid at all costs.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Robert L. Willett | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Above all, I can't get behind flexible dining, which also goes by names like "my time dining," "freestyle dining," and "anytime dining." NicolasMcComber/Getty ImagesNorweigan Cruise Line is credited with creating this category of onboard eating, which it calls freestyle dining. I wished we could've just had our desired mealtime locked in, but NCL doesn't do traditional dining. Puzzled, we explained that we didn't need one because we were doing flexible dining. I missed sharing tables with strangers, the standard with traditional dining (unless you have a large group).

Persons: —, They're, PixelsEffect, it's Organizations: Service, Business, NCL, Cruises Locations: Norwegian, Caribbean

☆ A Cracker Barrel hostess reveals how the restaurant tries to sell you more food
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAt a Cracker Barrel in the Midwest, busloads of diners pull in from the interstate most Saturday nights and swarm the entrance. Cracker Barrel is upselling customers with packaged foodThe hostess said her Cracker Barrel location is increasingly trying to get customers to buy more food and drinks through various upselling strategies. "As a company, Cracker Barrel communicates menu updates and innovations to guests in a variety of ways including in-store through our servers and hosts and through signage throughout the restaurant and digitally though email, social media and through the Cracker Barrel app and Cracker Barrel Rewards," the spokesperson said. Cracker Barrel said in May that quarterly revenue declined 1.9% to $817.1 million year-over-year. AdvertisementDo you work at Cracker Barrel or another major restaurant and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, Craig Pommells Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Pennsylvania

☆ Uber and Lyft riders explain why they do and don't tip their drivers — who only get tips a quarter of the time
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Ron, a 76-year-old based in California, always leaves his ride-hailing driver a 20% tip unless they are a "complete jerk," he told BI. AdvertisementShould Uber and Lyft drivers always get tips? Rob Schlegel, a journalist turned real-estate agent in Las Vegas, tries to always tip his Uber or Lyft driver the highest suggested amount for each ride. The reasons people do or don't tip their Uber and Lyft drivers can be complicated. According to Gridwise data, roughly 30% of US Uber drivers drove at least 25 hours a week in the first quarter of 2024.

Persons: —, Valerie, haven't, Rob Schlegel, he's, Uber, Kellie Smith, Smith, it's, Carla Bevins, Bevins, DoorDash, Lillian, Lyft, Caroline, she's, Dee Dee, Carrie, It's, Bryan Organizations: Service, Business, Carnegie Mellon University, Uber, BI, Gridwise Locations: California, Las Vegas, Washington, US, Hampton Roads , Virginia

☆ A man born in Japan — where tipping is rude — is part of a growing number of Americans rejecting tipping in the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Jane Ridley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Still, back in the US, he recognized the argument that low-paid workers in the service industry have traditionally relied on tips to earn a living wage. Ozeki never ordered food for deliveryBut he said that recent increases in the minimum wage have changed the landscape — at least in certain states. AdvertisementIn California, for example, the minimum wage for fast-food workers rose by law this year from $16 to $20 an hour. "The current minimum wage at a fast food place is higher than my starting salary 15 years ago," Ozeki said. Have you seen your tips dip recently as a service industry worker?

Persons: —, Ken, Ted Rossman, Rossman, jridley@businessinsider.com Organizations: Service, Business, Franciscan Locations: Japan, California

☆ How a global seafood giant broke Red Lobster
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Former Red Lobster employees say that while the pandemic, inflation and rent costs impacted Red Lobster, Thai Union’s ineptitude was the pivotal factor in Red Lobster’s decline. Kenny criticized Red Lobster employees at meetings and made derogatory comments about them, according to former Red Lobster leaders who worked closely with Kenny. Red Lobster’s annual customer count has dropped by 30% since 2019, Red Lobster said in its bankruptcy filing. Red Lobster employees say they were pressured by Thai Union representatives to buy more seafood from Thai Union. Thai Union representatives also began sitting in on meetings between Red Lobster and seafood suppliers, said one of the former Red Lobster employees who witnessed these conversations.

Persons: “, Ludovic Garnier, Jorge Silva, Red Lobster’s, ”, Les Foreman, Red, Thiraphong Chansiri, Angel, Feng shui, Chansiri, Amanda Mustard, Paul Kenny, Kenny, ’, Kenny’s, Bill Darden, General Mills, Darden, Kelli Valade, Valade, Trin, Tapanya, Kevin Lamarque, Barry Fulghum, Lobster, Leah Millis Organizations: New, New York CNN, Thai Union Group, Red, Lobster, Thai Union, CNN, Red Lobster, John West Foods, longtime, Reuters, Thai, West Coast, Lobster’s, Bloomberg, Getty, Minor, Thai Union —, Union, Darden, Gate, Golden, Capital, Facebook, Thai Union . Thai Union, ” Thai Union Locations: New York, Thai, Thailand, Thai Union, United States, Orlando, Australian, Dallas, America, United, Texas, Spring , Maryland

☆ How Red Lobster’s misguided endless shrimp promotion drove it into bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy Sunday, and the bankruptcy filing sheds new light on Thai Union’s role in the endless shrimp mishap. Red Lobster said it is investigating the circumstances of that promotion, which Red Lobster management opposed. Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Images“This decision created both operational and financial issues for [Red Lobster]… saddling the company with burdensome supply obligations” to Thai Union, Red Lobster said in the filing. “Certain operational decisions by former management have harmed [Red Lobster’s] financial situation in recent years,” Red Lobster said in its bankruptcy filing. Red Lobster stallsBut Red Lobster fell behind its sister brand Olive Garden under Darden.

Persons: Michael Nagle, ”, Alex Susskind, Susskind, General Mills, Bill Darden, Charley Woodsby, Darden, ” Woodsby, Jonathan Maze, Betty Crocker, Red, Mills, Cyrus McCrimmon, ” Joe Lee, Olive, Red Lobster’s, “ Darden, ” Les Foreman, Anthony Behar, SIPPL, AP Darden, they’ve, John Gordon, “, Patrick T, Fallon, Thiraphong Chansiri, ” “, ” Chansiri Organizations: New, New York CNN, Union became Red, Thai Union, Red Lobster, Bloomberg, Getty, Cornell University, CNN, Baby Boomers, General, Howard, Restaurant Business, Darden, Lobster, Denver Post, Harvard Business School, Longhorn, AP, Gate, ‘, Thai, Getty Images Thai Union, ” Thai Locations: New York, Thai Union, Bangkok, Thai, underinvestment, Lakeland , Florida, Orlando, America, Olive, Square , New York, Sale, Torrance , California, AFP

☆ Red Lobster brought seafood to the masses. Now it’s on the verge of bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

While it was a delicious deal for customers, it was terrible for the company: Red Lobster lost $3.3 million in seven weeks. The deal was once again too popular, and Red Lobster was unprepared for its customers’ insatiable lust for discounted shellfish. Red Lobster is now reportedly considering filing for bankruptcy protection to restructure its debt and shed some of its 650 US locations. Red Lobster stallsBut Red Lobster fell behind its sister brand Olive Garden under Darden. In 2021 and 2022, Red Lobster brought on a new CEO, chief marketing officer, chief financial officer and chief information officer.

Persons: Lobster, “, ”, John Gordon, Michael Nagle, Alex Susskind, General Mills, Bill Darden, Charley Woodsby, Darden, ” Woodsby, Jonathan Maze, Betty Crocker, Red, Glen Martin, Mills, ” Joe Lee, Olive, Red Lobster’s, “ Darden, ” Les Foreman, Justin Sullivan, they’ve, Les Foreman, Thiraphong Chansiri, ” “, ” Chansiri Organizations: New, New York CNN, Lobster, Thai Union, Bloomberg, Getty, Red Lobster, CNN, Cornell University, Baby Boomers, General, Howard, Restaurant Business, Darden, Denver Post, Harvard Business School, Longhorn, Darden Restaurants, Gate, ‘, Thai, “, ” Thai Locations: New York, United States, Bangkok, Thai, underinvestment, Lakeland , Florida, Orlando, America, Olive, Sale, Thai Union, Thailand

☆ A 6-month Chinese-food festival is bringing authentic and flavor-packed cuisine to New York City's masses
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Xintian Tina Wang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

At New York's Dragon Festival, authentic Chinese brands and restaurants excite locals' taste buds. Its founder shared some of her favorite vendors of soup dumplings and candies at the opening event. "This doesn't taste like home," said Xu, a 31-year-old entrepreneur and the creator of New York City's Dragon Festival, the biggest Chinese-food festival in the metropolitan area. Jessie YuChen for BIChen said that confectioners in her home province of Fujian, China, caught her attention when she was younger. In 2006, inspired by the soup dumplings made popular by Shanghai's Nanxiang district, Ma opened his first New York City storefront.

Persons: —, Xu, Jessie YuChen, she's, Mila, Tang Hulu, I'm, Bu Tong, Ivy Chen, Dragon Lulu, Chen, Vivian Cao, confectioners, Emperor Guangzong, Michael Ma, Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Ma, Nan, bartenders, Coco, Xibei Yang Organizations: Service, Park, Dragon, Prospect, lollipop, Michelin, Chi Forest, Haidilao, BI Locations: New York, SoHo, Chinatown, Flushing, York City, Koreatown, Union, Chelsea, Washington, Kwa, Henan, Queens, Prospect Park , Brooklyn, Beijing, Fujian, China, Shanghai, York, Nanxiang, New York City, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Chi, Thai, Bangkok, Sichuan, Manhattan

☆ Chefs hate tipping, but they don't know how to make it go away
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewIt turns out chefs dislike tipping as much as you do. AdvertisementChefs don't like tipping as a practiceOverall, the chefs seemed frustrated with tipping as they spoke to Moskin, particularly since diners often resent the practice that is unique to American restaurants. AdvertisementThe chefs don't love tipping. Tipping culture as a whole has been under scrutinyThe restaurant industry isn't alone in reaching a reckoning with tipping. The practice of tipping is clearly at an impasse in the US, but it's unclear how Americans will adapt.

Persons: —, Julia Moskin, David Chang, Eric Huang, Moskin, Huang, Grace Cary, Geoff Davis, Davis, Michael Rafidi, Hajime Sato, Rafidi, Tandy Wilson, Corey Mintz Organizations: Service, The New York Times, Business, City House Locations: America, New York, Burdell, Oakland , California, Albi, DC, Sozai, Clawson , Michigan, Nashville

☆ Restaurants Across America Are in Crisis Because of Stubborn Diners
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Corey Mintz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Unlike most in rich countries, American restaurant servers depend primarily on tips for their income. You might not know “dynamic pricing” by name, but if you’ve ever booked a flight, hotel room, or gone to the movies on a Tuesday, you understand it intrinsically: Dynamic pricing is when the price of goods or services fluctuates based on demand. “When confronted with dynamic pricing, customers react negatively,” a 2022 study said . In late 2023, after 35 years, Bayless decided to try dynamic pricing, raising the dinner menu on weekends from $165 to $185. Nick Kokonas, who cofounded Toast, also uses dynamic pricing at his Chicago restaurants.

Persons: Toast, they’re, Tipping, Michael Lynn, Zachary Brewster, Lynn, L’Oca, “, ” Adam Orman, we’ve, haven’t, Crudo, you’ve, Sherri Kimes, Rick Bayless, Bayless, It's, ” Bayless, ”, Roger Yang, Nick Kokonas, Ari Weinzweig, ” Weinzweig, Yang, Corey Mintz Organizations: National Restaurant Association, Bureau of Labor Statistics, waitstaff, Cornell University, “, Michelin Locations: America, Italian, Austin, Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Ann Arbor , Michigan

☆ Forget the Ritz. I dined at a restaurant inside a London prison, and it's the best place to eat in the city.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Eibhlis Gale-Coleman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewI've lived in London for nearly two years and have been visiting the capital city for even longer. The food scene is pretty diverse, and London has a reputation for having chain restaurants and upscale dining experiences, like the Ritz and after-the-theater restaurants around Covent Garden. But recently, I dined at quite the hidden gem: The Clink Restaurant inside Brixton Prison. Entering the prison reminded me of going through airport securityWe had to go through security before entering the restaurant. The restaurant is located in the center of the prison courtyardThe Clink is housed in a converted governor's house that dates back to 1819.

Persons: —, Eibhlis Gale, Coleman, I've, JUSTIN TALLIS, Granny Smith, I'd, frazzled Organizations: Service, Ritz, Business, Getty Locations: London, Covent, Brixton, It's, Yorkshire

☆ Liquor lockers are revolutionizing how the elite have a nightcap
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Priya Raj | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewLiquor lockers, also known as bottle keeps, are popping up in bars and members' clubs across the globe. They allow patrons to buy a bottle of alcohol and store it at the establishment to be consumed at a later date. AdvertisementLiquor lockers provide a home away from homeThe Whiskey Locker at The Other House resident's club in South Kensington, London. "We've had members buy some exclusive bottles, come in and do exactly that — show off," he added. Though the venue has 120 spaces for bottles, Gow told BI they have been extremely popular and they're quickly running out of space.

Persons: —, Priya Raj, James Semenowycz, Liam Simmons, Tom Dixon keyring, Simmons, Kyle Gow, they've, Gow, We've, It's Organizations: Service, Business, Soho House, Co Inc, Pan, BI Locations: South Kensington, London, Pan Pacific London, Edinburgh, Scotland, San Francisco, New York

☆ I went on Norwegian's newest luxury and ultra-luxury ships targeting wealthy travelers — see how a $685 per night cruise compares to a $210 per night one
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

AdvertisementWhen you think of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, you probably think of its giant amusement park-like cruise ships with 10-story-tall slides, go-kart tracks, and many families. Its newest Oceania Vista ship, which debuted in May 2023, is at the higher end of the range with a 1,200-guest capacity. Regent Seven Seas Cruises — the true ultra-luxury optionThe Seven Seas Grandeur's pool was surrounded by several hot tubs. And both vessels — built without loud water slides or arcades — exude a feeling of peace and quiet not often experienced throughout larger family-friendly cruise ships . Brittany Chang/Business InsiderNCLH's mass-market eponymous brand still has more ships in its fleet than Regent Seven Seas and Oceania combined.

Persons: —, NCLH, Brittany Chang, Hermes Birkin, Bulgari, Jacques Pépin, isn't, — they're, I've, Pablo Picasso, Mark Kempa Organizations: Cruise Line Holdings, Regent Seven Seas, Regent Seven, Service, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Norwegian Cruise, Mexico itineraries, Business, Oceania, Culinary Arts, Regent Locations: Oceania, Norwegian, Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Mexico, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, New York City, Oceania Vista, Brittany, French, France, Nicaragua, Regent Seven Seas

☆ A woman created a list of service workers she refuses to tip in 2024, saying that tipping has gotten 'out of control'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Kieran Press-Reynolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

@Antidietpilot began the video by saying that tipping culture has gotten "out of control." AdvertisementShe said she wouldn't tip for to-go orders, drive-thru service, frozen yogurt shops, or the pretzel store Auntie Anne's. She said she wouldn't tip people who set their own wage, like beauty service professionals. She also said that if someone needs a medical qualification or license to perform their job, she wouldn't tip them. AdvertisementAs tipping screens become increasingly prevalent throughout the US, tipping culture continues to be a hot debate on TikTok.

Persons: —, @Antidietpilot, I'm, Anne's, @antidietpilot, @hopscotchproductions, I've Organizations: Service Locations: TikToker, TikTok

☆ Sold out hotels and spike in beer sales: How the Cricket World Cup could boost India's economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Spectators react in the crowd during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 between India and Afghanistan at Arun Jaitley Stadium on October 11, 2023 in Delhi, India. Matt Roberts-icc | Icc | Getty ImagesIndia is once again hosting the Cricket World Cup after more than a decade. "We must remember that the World Cup coincides with the Diwali season. Media and advertisingDuring the last Cricket World Cup in 2019, a global average of 1.6 billion people tuned in. Spectators watch the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Oct. 16, 2023.

Persons: Matt Roberts, Shantanu Bhargava, Lalitya, Avi Mehta, Waterfield, Bhargava, Dhavala, Aditya Suresh, Suresh, Zomato, Prakash Singh, Mehta, —, Radico Khaitan, Shibani Kurian, It's, Tauseef Mustafa Organizations: ICC Men's Cricket, Arun, icc, Icc, Getty, Cricket, Waterfield Advisors, Hospitality, CNBC, International Cricket Council, Macquarie Group Demand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indian Hotels Company, Macquarie Group, Alcohol, Afp, Spirits, Kotak Mahindra AMC, Media, Disney, ICC, Board, Control, BCCI, Ekana Cricket Locations: India, Afghanistan, Delhi, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ahmedabad, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Pune, LSEG, New Delhi, Lucknow

☆ Meet the families who are ditching America to travel abroad as digital nomads
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Simone Stolzoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

At just shy of 400,000 inhabitants, Sintra is also big enough to absorb the 25 Boundless families without the expats dominating all the local haunts. At school, kids are fed organic meals made by a local chef. After school, kids from different families entertained themselves in the cobblestone streets and parks under light adult supervision. But despite some early success, Boundless Education, like the organization itself, is still very much a startup. On my last night in Sintra, the Boundless families gathered together at Praia de Maçãs, a beach 20 minutes from downtown.

Persons: Shirly, Erez Weinstein, Shirly Weinstein, Ella, Mauro Repacci, Simone Stolzoff, Edward, Jessica, —, Rekha Magon, I've, Repacci, Marcos Carvalho, Rolf E, Carvalho, Lona Alia, Alia, Elina Zois, it's, Andreas Wil Gerdes, Penguin Random Organizations: Khan Academy, Green School, Nordic Baccalaureate, North America, Penguin Locations: United States, Israel, Atlanta, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Portugal, Indonesia, Italy, Greece, Bali, Dominican Republic, Sintra , Portugal, Lisbon, Sintra, Ohio, Seattle, Italy's Tuscany, Montreal, Costa Rica, Europe, Southeast Asia, North, Praia, Maçãs, America, San Francisco

☆ European castles, private chefs, and a startup school: These families are ditching the US to live the American dream abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Simone Stolzoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

☆ Mess at Chef's Table: How claims of theft, embezzlement, and abuse shut down Brooklyn Fare's legendary Michelin-starred restaurant
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +25 min

Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, the iconic three-Michelin-star tasting restaurant by chef César Ramirez, quietly ceased operations in July. Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare is one of New York's most hallowed culinary institutions. A former employee at Chef's Table at Brooklyn FareBut beneath the restaurant's pristine stainless-steel surface, chaos was brewing. By 2011, Chef's Table had become one of only 138 restaurants worldwide to boast three Michelin stars. This year, Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare was the highest-ranked US restaurant on the 2023 World's 50 Best Restaurants' list.

Persons: César Ramirez, hasn't, Ramirez, Moneer, Moe, Issa, I'd, Ramirez's, Conti, David Bouley's, Le Bernardin, Per, Chef César Ramirez, Jamie McCarthy, WireImage, Joshua David Stein, Grub, Ramirez freaked, he'd, didn't, Pete Wells, Issa didn't, Adriana, Issa's, Heidi, —, Domaine, disrespected, Spencer Platt, Cesar, Issa wouldn't, commenter Organizations: Brooklyn, Brooklyn Fare, Manhattan Fare Corp, Chef's, Pepsi, GQ, Michelin, Madison, New York Press, Guardian, Staff, New York Times, York, Madison Park Locations: Hokkaido, Los Angeles, New York, Brooklyn, Burgundy, Israeli, Hill, Mexican, Chicago, West, Madison, Masa, Kaluga Queen, Russia, Asia, Kings County, Clinton Hill, Taiwan, York

☆ The Big Business of Dressing Like a Little Girl
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Jessica Testa | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

I’m wearing the shoes. Ms. Liang, who grew up in Queens, is part of a tradition of female designers subverting ultrafeminine clothes. “I’m a Sandy girl,” she said. Because of the brand’s nostalgic sensibility, Ms. Zauner said that she felt uniquely connected to its designer, too. The blurring between Sandy Liang, the brand, and Sandy Liang, the person, is partially by design.

Persons: “, ” Ms, Sugihara, Liang, Anna Sui, ’, Liang’s, Michelle Zauner, Sandy Liang, Zauner, ”, Ms, Dorian Booth, Merrell Locations: Queens, Japan, ., York

☆ 3 places people say they never tip amid 'tipflation': ‘It’s out of control’
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Many also feel added pressure to tip amid the rise of automatic tipping prompts on self-service kiosks and apps, NerdWallet's consumer budgeting report found. Amid the "tipflation" debate, where are consumers tipping the least, or skipping gratuity altogether? To find out, CNBC Make It asked three New Yorkers which services they never tip on — and what etiquette experts recommend in each scenario. If it's fast food or you're grabbing a pre-packaged item from a shelf, Farley says you don't need to tip. An etiquette expert's take: When you're paying for a taxi or rideshare, you're paying the price of convenience, and your tip should reflect that, says Farley.

Persons: Saad Kabir, Thomas Farley, Mister Manners, Farley, Haley Truchan Organizations: CNBC, New York City Public Schools Locations: U.S, New York, Manhattan

Their tipping behavior might be especially revealing, said Irina Manta, a New York-based dating coach and consultant. Simply put, not leaving a good tip — or any tip — can be a huge turn off, Manta added. Blaine Anderson, a dating coach for men in Austin, Texas, agreed, Tipping "is important because it can be a proxy for how you treat everyone in your life." 'Make sure you're doing the minimum'But if you're confused about how much to tip and when on a date, you're not alone. Manta, the New York dating coach, said it was bad form to be too nosy about your date's tipping practices.

Persons: Daria, Istock, Irina Manta, Manta, Blaine Anderson, Nick Leighton, Leighton, Post, Anderson, Sherlock Holmes Locations: New York, Austin , Texas, York

☆ South Park's creators have eliminated tipping at Denver's famed Casa Bonita. Servers now make $30 an hour — and some are mad.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Casa Bonita, a 50-year-old Mexican restaurant in Colorado, reopened after a $40 million renovation. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker bought the joint, which was featured in their show. The series, which is set in the fictional small town of South Park, Colorado, features Casa Bonita in an episode in its seventh season. Trey Parker (left) and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, purchased Casa Bonita in 2021. The zany interior of Casa Bonita, pictured in 2019, has been remodeled, while still being faithful to the original, the new owners have said.

Persons: Matt Stone, Trey Parker, —, Araya Doheny, Casa Bonita's, Fox31, Axios, It's, Hyoung Chang, Stefanie Jones, Jones Organizations: Casa, Service, The Denver Post, Casa Bonita, Employees, Denver Gazette Locations: Casa Bonita, Colorado, Lakewood , Colorado, South Park , Colorado, Park, Bonita, Denver

☆ Americans hate tipping so much it was once banned in 7 states
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

By the 1700's, tipping in Europe had evolved from masters tipping servants to customers tipping service-industry workers. Seven states passed anti-tipping legislation in the early 1900sBy the early 1900s, early grumblings about tipping had escalated into full-fledged anti-tipping movements. But in 1919, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the state's anti-tipping law was unconstitutional, and other states followed by striking down or repealing their own similar legislation. Tipping persists in the US todayDespite originating in Europe, tipping has become deeply ingrained in American culture. Today, while many Americans aren't fans of tipping, and some restaurants have tried doing away with the practice, tipping is unlikely to be banned anywhere in the US anytime soon.

☆ Why are you suddenly being asked to tip more? It could be because workers are getting more expensive.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Andy Kiersz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

More and more businesses are asking customers to tip. It's driven in part by the spread of digital payment technologies that include prompts to tip workers. Workers are getting more expensive, and tips help cover the costBusinesses relying on tips to help pay their workers is far from a new phenomenon — particularly in the restaurant industry. One potential reason service businesses are warming up to tipping is that they're under particular pressure to keep labor costs in check. In recent years, many service businesses have struggled to attract workers and been forced to raise pay considerably as a result.

☆ I got a job as a Waffle House server that pays $2.92 an hour and now realize why there's a labor shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Amanda Claypool | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Amanda Claypool started working at Waffle House once a week to try and understand the labor shortage. She enjoys working at Waffle House, but says she's glad it isn't the source of her livelihood. When I'm not at Waffle House I'm a freelance writer and strategy consultant. After searching for a couple months, Waffle House gave me a chance, and I started working there once a week. The money isn't much, but what's shocked me the most about serving at Waffle House isn't the pay — it's the cost of employment itself.

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