Nation's Restaurants Extend Welcome Mat To Families During August, Most Popular Month To Dine Out 8/7/2003
From: Katharine Kim, 202-331-5939, or Tom Foulkes, 202-331-5902, media@dineout.org, both for the National Restaurant WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The nation's 870,000 restaurants have long played an essential role in Americans' way of life, particularly during August, when more Americans are vacationing and savoring the last month of summer -- making it the most popular time to dine out with friends and family, according to the National Restaurant Association. "Restaurants have always served as a social oasis for friends and family to enjoy quality time together over a relaxing and rewarding dining experience," said Steven C. Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the Association. "Family time in restaurants is most evident during the month of August, as Americans are traveling and dining out more to enjoy the last bit of rest and relaxation before kids head back to school and everyone resumes their busy schedules after the summer. We hope families will continue to dine out together beyond the summer and incorporate this important family activity into their regular routine throughout the year." To underscore the essential role of restaurants to Americans' lifestyles and as a venue for family-bonding, the National Restaurant Association recently partnered with Coca-Cola in the unveiling of a Web site, www.familydiner.com. The Web site highlights the importance of families dining out together to build and nurture relationships, as well as provide an opportunity for parents to teach their children social skills and manners. The site provides useful family dining tips and allows visitors to submit and share their own helpful hints to making family dining experiences more enjoyable. FamilyDiner.com also includes results from a national survey of children, ages 6-17, conducted by KRC Research indicating that while most kids only dine out about once a week with their family, 41 percent said that being with their family is the number one reason they enjoying going out to dinner. The survey also found that dining occasions for children and teens tend to center around special occasions, including birthday celebrations (77 percent) and holidays (62 percent). In addition to being a great way to spend quality time together with friends and family, the restaurant industry plays a vital role as the cornerstone of the economy and the travel-and-tourism industry, as tourists report that dining out is the most popular activity after reaching their destination, according to Anderson. For more information about the role of restaurants as the cornerstone of the nation's economy and travel-and-tourism industry, as well communities and families, visit http://www.restaurant.org. ------ The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 870,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of 11.7 million employees - making it the cornerstone of the economy, career opportunities and community involvement. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.restaurant.org. |