Condensation on glassware always adds safety and cleanliness challenges for wait staffs, especially in outdoor settings at clubs that are in coastal areas or other environments with high levels of humidity.
When the John’s Island Club of Vero Beach, Fla. opened its glittering new Beach Club (to be featured in C&RB’s March issue) to tremendous acclaim, it found itself serving many more members outdoors—but that in turn led to an unanticipated increase of drinking glass-related problems, including:
• More water spots on menus
• More water dripping on members’ clothing
• Greater difficulty keeping drinks cold in the outdoor environment
• Safety concerns about glassware around the club’s new pool, which had quickly become a popular new gathering spot
Going to disposable plastic cups wasn’t a good option, either aesthetically or in terms of cost-effectiveness. But the always solutions-oriented John’s Island staff—led by General Manager/COO Brian Kroh (a 2009 recipient of the Excellence in Club Management Awards co-sponsored by the McMahon Group and Club & Resort Business), Assistant GM David Colclough, and Food & Beverage Manager George Dadufalza—quickly swung into action to find the right answer. And that led to replacing all glassware at the Beach Club with a new supply of upscale, insulated tumblers that had been customized with the John’s Island Club logo.
The advantages gained from the change were immediate, and numerous:
• The new tumblers came with a lifetime warranty, and because they were stackable, less storage space was required
• Multiple sizes were available for varied types of drinks and uses
• Reduced breakage kept costs down, while at the same time glass-related safety concerns at the pool were eliminated
• Daily menu printing expense was reduced because water-related damage was no longer an issue
Perhaps the biggest “win” of all was gained through the increased sense of pride, special appeal and enhanced club identity created by the new, logoed tumblers. And in addition to how they enhanced the Beach Club experience and operation, in fact, the new tumblers quickly became popular items when displayed for sale in the club’s retail shops.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.