For Immediate Release
March 6, 2017
Contacts:
Jim Salengo, Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp., 518.377.9430
Robin Granger, Capital Region Chamber, 518.431.1400
DSIC and Chamber Announce Success of 2017 Schenectady Restaurant Week
(Schenectady, NY, March 6, 2017) – The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC) and the Chamber of Schenectady County, an affiliate of the Capital Region Chamber, are pleased to announce the success of the 12th Annual Schenectady Restaurant Week, which took place February 20-26, 2017. A total of 24 restaurants in Downtown Schenectady and nearby areas of Schenectady County participated in the promotion by offering multi-course, fixed-price menus for $25. Data gathered from participating restaurants and customer surveys showed increasingly strong results for the popular promotion.
Chamber CEO Mark Eagan said, “The average amount spent per person before tax and tip this year was approximately $33, which is 32 percent over the $25 promotional price and represents a 3 percent increase in average spending per person over 2016. With an estimated 11,870 meals served over the seven days of the promotion, this means the 12th Annual Schenectady Restaurant Week had an economic impact of approximately $391,700, which is 7 percent over 2016. These results are especially impressive since we had one less participating restaurant than last year.” He added, “We are so very pleased that this promotion continues to provide a significant economic boost to restaurants during a normally slow time of the year.
DSIC Executive Director Jim Salengo said, “We are extremely happy to see that Schenectady Restaurant Week continues draw new interest to Schenectady’s restaurants. This year, 34 percent of guests were from outside of Schenectady County, and 37 percent were trying a restaurant for the first time; both figures represent a slight increase over 2016.” He added, “In addition, 58 percent of diners indicated they would not have eaten out that night if weren’t for Restaurant Week, which is a 7 percent increase over last year. These numbers show the ever-increasing popularity of Schenectady as a regional dining destination.
Schenectady Restaurant Week is coordinated annually by the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation and the Chamber of Schenectady County, an affiliate of the Capital Region Chamber. The 2018 event will be scheduled for next winter after the release of Proctors’ full performance calendar. For more information on Restaurant Week, contact the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (www.downtownschenectady.org) at 518.377.9430 or the Capital Region Chamber (www.capitalregionchamber.com) at 518.431.1400.
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James J. Salengo
Executive Director
Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp.
143 State Street · Schenectady, NY 12305
P: 518-377-9430 · F: 518-377-9433