Press & Interviews
What will it take to make diners feel safe? Sterilizing UV Wands, Air Purifiers, and More.
Nearly 60% feel uneasy eating inside, so restaurants try sterilizing UV wands, tabletop air purifiers as winter looms. Some restaurants are forgoing the headache of air quality investments and tent cities altogether and plan to ride out winter by focusing on carryout...
A survey commissioned by the guest experience platform Seven Rooms identifies what restaurant patrons are looking for as they dine out during the pandemic. Doug Roth of Playground Hospitality in Chicago joins the Noon Business Hour.
Chicago Restaurant Owners Lobby City to Raise Indoor Dining Capacity Before Weather Cools
"I don't see in my lifetime, any period of time, that could be considered more challenging than right now," said Doug Roth, a restaurant consultant at Playground Hospitality. Roth said research shows more than 70% of diners have concerns about eating indoors. He...
Will America still go out to eat? One restaurateur’s moment of truth.
Since April, when 4 in 10 restaurants had closed their doors, some have reopened, propped up by a spray of federal dollars and, in some cases, rent reprieves from landlords, but they’re not yet on a firm footing.
Americans are on pace to set a new record for spending on dining out this year. To prepare for the massive restaurant crowd, Founder and President of Playground Hospitality Doug Roth joined the WBBM Noon Business Hour to discuss the red flags that could signal an...
Takeout gets a makeover: How COVID-19 is forcing restaurants to improve the to-go experience
Takeout pricing is even higher at some restaurants because of the additional costs of packaging and third-party delivery platforms, a premium that customers for now, at least, may be willing to pay for the safety of eating from home, said Doug Roth, CEO of Playground...
What will the new reality be for restaurants? It’s going to be tough for many eateries to make a go of it, once restrictions are eased, says Doug Roth, founder and president of Playground Hospitality in Chicago. Initially, restaurants will not be able to reopen at...
Some states are allowing restaurants to reopen at reduced capacity. But one industry analyst said don't expect a restaurant recovery any time soon. Doug Roth, Founder and President of Playground Hospitality in Chicago, told the WBBM Noon Business Hour that a...
If you've been thinking about starting a restaurant, it might be time to sit down and come up with a plan to turn your dream into reality. The restaurant business is notorious for long hours and a high degree of failure. Consultant Doug Roth joined the WBBM Noon...