In a strategic move, TGI Fridays has opened a new restaurant concept inside the Hilton Garden Inn in Los Angeles/Hollywood, California. Targeting struggling hotel restaurants is a move that aims to replicate this model and revitalize underperforming hotel restaurants across the country.
Last week’s Hollywood opening features seating for 150 guests and includes a relaxing outdoor patio. This marks the second TGI Fridays location within a property owned by RLJ Lodging Trust.
TGI Fridays partnered with Aimbridge Hospitality, which manages the Hilton Garden Inn Hollywood for RLJ Lodging Trust. This project successfully replaced the hotel’s existing Garden Grille and Bar, demonstrating a potentially repeatable model for Aimbridge’s vast portfolio of over 1,500 properties.
TGI Fridays Golden Opportunity
TGI Fridays sees a golden opportunity to convert underperforming hotel restaurants. Renovations leverage existing kitchens, utilities, and restrooms, significantly reducing costs compared to new construction projects – exemplified by their previous location near Chicago Midway Airport.
This strategy seems to be paying off—TGI Fridays in hotels are seeing significantly higher sales volumes than previous restaurants. GI Fridays’ brand recognition attracts both hotel guests and local customers. The Hollywood location, for example, benefits from its proximity to tourist spots and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Their recent renovation at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is on track to become the highest-grossing airport restaurant. However, the competition is fierce—last year’s top performer was Chili’s, grossing $8 million.
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