American Express and McDonald’s announce that starting today they will debut the capability for eligible U.S. Card Members enrolled in the Membership Rewards® program to seamlessly use points, in select locations, in real-time for food and beverages at the counter in McDonald’s restaurants. This capability is expected to roll out to all participating McDonald’s U.S. […]
Beijing, – Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA) today announced that its online travel business, Taobao Travel (trip.taobao.com) will become an independent business and brand named “Alitrip” (去啊). Like Taobao Marketplace, Tmall.com and Juhuasuan, “Alitrip” will be another marketplace platform under Alibaba Group with a new independent web domain www.alitrip.com. “This initiative is part of our Group’s […]
On a rainy Friday, a man in a business suit looked out the 56th floor window of Seattle high-rise. The phone call he was on – an interview for a job in New York – couldn’t hold his attention. “All I wanted to do was race downstairs and get to the Starbucks store I was […]
Starbucks Coffee Company unveiled a roadmap of innovations to its more than 2,000 district managers at the Starbucks Leadership Experience conference in Seattle this week. The company shared several customer initiatives to further transform and elevate the Starbucks Experience in Holiday 2014 and beyond. “Holiday 2013 witnessed a seismic shift in consumer behavior in which […]
McDonald’s Corporation today announced it will accept Apple Pay in all of its U.S. restaurants following today’s launch of the mobile payments service, making food and beverage purchases fast and easy for customers using iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch. The combination of Apple Pay and McDonald’s investments in NFC (near-field communication) enabled […]
SEATTLE; September 24, 2014 – Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq: SBUX) today announced that it will acquire the remaining 60.5% share of Starbucks Coffee Japan, Ltd. (Starbucks Japan) that the company currently does not own through a two-step tender offer process, further elevating Starbucks growth and innovation in its second-largest market when measured by retail store sales. […]
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s largest hotel companies, has announced its seventh multiple development agreement (MDA) in Germany with existing owner partner Sierra Hotel Management Ltd. The first property already signed under the agreement is Holiday Inn Express® Karlsruhe – City Park, due to open in mid-2016. Holiday Inn Express Karlsruhe – […]
ORLANDO, Fla., — Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) today commented on the operational plan proposed by Starboard Value L.P. and its affiliates (“Starboard”). “We remain open minded toward all ideas that support long-term value creation for our shareholders and improve the dining experience for our guests,” said Gene Lee, President and Chief Operating Officer of […]
Bethesda, Md., – JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts and The Joffrey Ballet are taking guest service to a new level with the launch of “Poise and Grace,” a series of inspirational video training tutorials led by Ashley Wheater, artistic director of The Joffrey Ballet. As part of the luxury hotel brand’s commitment to service excellence, […]
Oakville, Ontario and Miami, Florida; August 26, 2014 – An agreement was reached today to create the world’s third largest quick service restaurant company. Tim Hortons Inc. (TSX, NYSE: THI) and Burger King Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: BKW) today announced a definitive agreement under which the two companies will create a new global powerhouse in the […]
