Carlson CEO visits TGI Friday's in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - Hubert Joly, president and chief executive officer of Carlson, recently visited TGI Friday’s at Ayala Center, Cebu City. During his trip to the Queen City of the South,   he was a guest at the Radisson Blu Hotel, which is owned by the SM Group. Both TGI Friday’s and Radisson Hotel are part of Carlson, a family-owned, global hospitality and travel company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Carlson encompasses more than 1,070 hotels, including Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn and Park Plaza, more than 900 TGI Friday’s restaurants; and a majority stake in Carlson Wagonlit Travel, the global leader in business travel management.

W illiam Stelton, Bistro Group of Restaurants president and chief operating officer, led officers of Friday’s Philippines in welcoming Joly and giving him a tour of the restaurant.

Joly said, “TGI Friday’s is a powerful and iconic brand and has outstanding growth opportunities in the United States and internationally.” He added that the company is keen to pursue these opportunities.

Following an impressive growth in 2010 through its performance and expansion, Friday’s is still relentlessly on the move to maintaining its lead in the casual dining market. This year it is geared to open nearly 40 new restaurants globally. Joly’s visit has strengthened Friday’s unique promise to its guests of “In here it’s always Friday” and has reinforced its brand promise as it embarks on an innovation program focused on its menu, service delivery and marketing.

The Fridays Team with Radisson executives: Hubert Joly, Simon Barlow, and Anna Maria Fernandez, director of sales and marketing, Radisson Blu (right, second row)

To date, Friday’s remains to be the casual dining leader internationally with more than 350 restaurants in 60 countries outside the United States. Globally, Friday’s has a total of more than 900 restaurants.

In the Philippines, Friday’s is the first American casual dining phenomenon to open in 1994 and introduced a whole new dining experience in the market like fun and friendly service, refillable iced teas and huge portions. 

 For the past 16 years, Friday’s in the country has been enjoying tremendous success and local patronage who are wowed by the restaurant chain’s infectious energy through the vibrant service of its staff, and the overall fun and casual ambience, not to mention its dishes.

Friday’s Philippines will pursue its own expansion plans through future openings in new wave cities like Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao. To date, there are 11 TGI Friday’s branches in the Philippines located at Glorietta 3, Robinsons Place Manila, Alabang Town Center, Tomas Morato, Sta.Lucia, Robinsons Galleria, High Street, Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Marquee Mall , Pampanga and Ayala Center, Cebu. Opening on May 12 is TGI Friday’s at Abreeza Mall in Davao.