San Diego Restaurant Week Rises to Top of National Culinary Scene With Zenzi

Challenge: Zenzi was tasked by the California Restaurant Association to direct all marketing, public relations and advertising efforts. Zenzi established several goals for the event: to elevate San Diego’s reputation as a dining destination among local San Diegans and visitors alike, expose restaurants to new patrons, boost sales during a traditionally slow time of year, engage local community to explore new restaurants and maximize attendance during the event.

Solution: Zenzi enlisted and increased participation from restaurants all over the city: 60 restaurants in 2005 and 105 in 2006 to 130 in 2007 and 150 in 2008 and breaking 200 in 2009. Zenzi partnered with San Diego Magazine and San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau and was personally responsible for securing major sponsorships from Clear Channel, Carnival Cruises, American Express, Specialty Produce, Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream and others. In order to illustrate community and government support, we host annual conferences with Mayor Jerry Sanders and dozens of chefs who showcase their finest dishes.

Results: In addition to successfully enlisting the participation of over 150 restaurants, Zenzi drove traffic to restaurants during that week increase the bottom line for restaurants during that week from 20% to 50%. Zenzi also procured a number of sponsorships with local media, including SignOnSanDiego.com, DiningOut Magazine and the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego county’s most high-circulated print publication. The campaign garnered 601,223,845 million impressions in TV, radio and print. 250,000 diners were sold that week at fixed price 3-course meals.