Not Your Grandfather’s Expense Account Dining

2 Min Read By MRM Staff

Not long after David Pogrebin joined Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Marlin Bar in New York City as General Manager, he was eyeing the P&L statement and noticed an unfamiliar line for guest acquisitions that prompted some investigation. Pogrebin discovered he had inherited a partnership with Dinova, a company that focuses on connecting expense account diners to restaurants nationwide.

“As an operator, it’s win-win-win situation,” Pogrebin told Modern Restaurant Management magazine. “I’ve found the more I spend on Dinova, the more guests spend here at Tommy Bahama. Expense account diners have high check averages and Dinova makes the process simple for staff and guests because there are no special procedures.”

David PogrebinIn fact, guests from Dinova's client network spend 68 percent more on average than regular guests, according to Dinova founder and CEO Vic Macchio.  

“Restaurants need people to come in and that is the challenge and gap we try to fill for the business dining…