Cheers Magazine Announces Winners of the 2008 Cheers Awards for Beverage Excellence at Annual Conference

Cheers magazine, the premier on-premise beverage resource, today announced the winners of the 2008 Cheers Awards for Beverage Excellence at the annual Cheers Beverage Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Miami, January 22 and 23.

Twelve program awards and two individual awards were presented by Cheers Editor Donna Hood Crecca. The winners are:

Best Chain Beverage Menu
Outback Steakhouse
Sponsored by Island Oasis

Best Chain Beverage Merchandising
Hard Rock Café
Sponsored by Diageo

Best Chain Drink Program
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Sponsored by Skyy Spirits LLC

Best Chain Signature Drink
Walt Disney World Resort
Sponsored by Diageo

Best Chain Adult Non-Alcohol Drink Program
ESPN Zone
Sponsored by Monin Gourmet Flavorings

Best Chain Spirits Program
Bennigan’s Grill & Tavern
Sponsored by Pernod Ricard USA

Best Chain Beer Program
Buffalo Wild Wings
Sponsored by Anheuser-Busch

Best Chain Wine Program
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Sponsored by Trinchero Family Estates

Best Chain Hotel Beverage Program
Hilton Hotels
Sponsored by Moet Hennessy USA

Best Chain Multi-Concept Beverage Program
Back Bay Restaurant Group
Sponsored by American Beverage Marketers

Best Chain Overall Program
Walt Disney World Resort
Sponsored by Future Brands LLC

Best Chain Responsible Alcohol Service Training Program
Applebee’s International
Sponsored by the Diamond Sponsors of the Cheers Beverage Conference

Raising the Bar
Patrick Henry, Patrick Henry Creative Promotions
Sponsored by Brown-Forman Beverages

Industry Innovator of the Year
Ann Rogers Tuennerman, Tales of the Cocktail
Sponsored by the Cheers Editorial Team

“We received 110 entries from 47 restaurant chains, a record, and all of them were impressive for their creativity, innovation and impact on sales,” said Cheers Editor Donna Hood Crecca.

The awards program is open to all chain restaurants, defined as an operation with five or more locations in two or more markets. The chain must be in existence for at least three years.

The criteria for these awards are the program’s creativity, originality and impact on the sales and profitability of a full-service restaurant operation. Other factors considered are the level of marketing support, staff training and overall operator commitment to the initiative that lead to its success.

The entries were evaluated by a judging panel that included previous Cheers Awards for Beverage Excellence winners and other leading operators.

For more information about Cheers magazine, the Cheers Beverage Conference, and the Cheers Awards for Beverage Excellence, contact Cheers Editor Donna Hood Crecca, at (631) 265-3839 or email dhc@m2media360.com or visit www.cheersconference.com and www.beveragenet.net.