Marriott ‘BANG!’ Contest Offers Shanghai F&B Entrepreneurs ‘Opportunity of a Lifetime’
Inviting restaurant and bar concepts for three Shanghai hotels with the promise: "You have the idea, we have the space”
Marriott International is offering ambitious Shanghai entrepreneurs a chance-of-a-lifetime to make their dream F&B concept come true. The opportunity comes by entering the hospitality group's ground-breaking global 'BANG!' competition. With the promise 'You have the idea, we have the space', Marriott International is inviting ideas for F&B concepts that will reinvent a lounge at Renaissance Shanghai Caohejing Hotel and JAVA+ venues at Marriott...
Shanghai -- Marriott International is offering ambitious Shanghai entrepreneurs a chance-of-a-lifetime to make their dream F&B concept come true.
The opportunity comes by entering the hospitality group's ground-breaking global 'BANG!' competition. With the promise 'You have the idea, we have the space', Marriott International is inviting ideas for F&B concepts that will reinvent a lounge at Renaissance Shanghai Caohejing Hotel and JAVA+ venues at Marriott Hotel City Centre and Marriott Hotel Luwan.
A "first" in the hospitality industry, 'BANG!' is on the lookout for "passionate individuals with original, feasible and creative new ideas that reflect the F&B culture of the local authentic market", said Ralph Frehner, Marriott International's Vice President, Food and Beverage Operations, Asia Pacific.
Marriott International's BANG! campaign made its debut in Asia at the JW Marriott Hotel Shenzhen in December 2014. It was won by Ms. Estella Pan, who recently opened a 'Tofu Boutique' with stylish, contemporary versions of tofu recipes passed down through her family.
"We are now looking for similarly creative and original concepts in Shanghai – with our biggest contest so far inviting concepts for three hotels," said Mr. Frehner.
Details of competition, entry requirements and entry forms can be found online at www.startwithabang-shanghai.com/.
Contestants should initially submit innovative ideas with a short description and either 30-second video or 1 photo image (jpg or png file) on the campaign website. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit detailed business plans in early August 2015.
Each of the three properties will ultimately select three finalists to pitch at the 'BANG! Ultimate Cook-Off' – with live presentations of concepts and judges deciding which three finally get the go-ahead in mid-September. Four guest judges will include Brad Turley, Chef and Owner of Goga and Hai by Goga; Willy Trulas, owner-chef of El Willy,Elefante and Tomatito; Kelley Lee, owner of Liquid Laundry, Cantina Agave,Boxing Cat and Sproutworks; and Anthony Zhao, owner of Mi Xiang Yuanand host ofFood Hunters.
As was done in Shenzhen, Marriott International will fully support the Shanghai winners to nurture their concepts to success.
Extensive support and resources for each winner will include a start-up budget, professional advice from Marriott International, including regulatory and legal assistance, staffing, menu design, food safety and hygiene, marketing, and communications. The venue will also be provided rent-free for up to six months, and the winners will be compensated based on the performance of the outlet, working either independently or in partnership with the selected hotels earnings will be contractually agreed.
Peggy Fang Roe, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Marriott International Asia Pacific said: "Marriott is renowned for innovative F&B projects and by embracing local talent, we continue to pioneer the way our guests eat and discover."
The 'BANG!' campaign pays homage to a newlywed couple who opened a small A&W® root beer stand with just nine seats and "five-cent frosty mugs" in Washington DC in 1927. Those young entrepreneurs, J. Willard and Alice Marriott, laid the foundations for Marriott International, one of the most successful hospitality companies in the world.
The campaign name BANG! symbolizes energy, impact, dynamism and power. The Chinese translation '棒!" has a similar pronunciation, meaning synergy with excellence and greatness.
The Lounge, Renaissance Shanghai Caohejing
Java+, Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre
Java + Concept Coffee Bar, Marriott Hotel Shanghai, Luwan
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a leading global lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories and reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands. For more information or reservations, please visit our website atwww.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.
Since Willy's arrival to Shanghai in 2007, Willy has created fun F&B projects that now are presented under the group umbrella. Our first concept, "el Willy, Happy Spanish Restaurant" -today our flagship venue- was followed by "el Cóctel" -a Japanese cocktail bar with a funky twist-, "FoFo by el Willy" -a contemporary Spanish restaurant in Central Hong Kong-, "Bikini, Snackies and Hot Dogs" -a tiny crazy sandwich bar-, and "Elefante, Happy Restaurant and Bar" -Mediterranean. On the horizon, new concepts under developement in China and beyond.
Kelley Lee is the young, talented French trained chef and mastermind behind some of Shanghai's most famous and well-loved eateries (Boxing Cat Brewery, Cantina Agave, Liquid Laundry and Sproutworks). A remarkably tenacious businesswoman, she has opened more than 19 restaurants in her 10 year Shanghai career. Her latest dining concept - Liquid Laundry is a 900 m2 New York-style gastro-pub and microbrewery, which has become the place to see and be seen in Shanghai. Kelley & her restaurants have been featured in many international publications such as Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, Food & Wine, CNN and BBC.
Brad Turley is a Shanghai veteran chef cooking Cali-Asian food, and wearing a Hawaiian print shirt. Turley has taken his San Fran background (GO-lden GA-te), his career layover in Hawaii (with Roy Yamaguchi), and his decade in Asia (Vietnam, Shanghai), and turned them into twenty-odd seats and about as many dishes. Since opened in 2011, GoGa has won a series of most influential awards including "21 Hot Tables" Conde Nast Traveller, Best Restaurant Shanghai by Modern Weekly.
Chef, restauranteur and food consultant Anthony Zhao owns three restaurants in Shanghai including the critically-reviewed Holy Cow hotpot, serving fresh, never frozen, beef and organic vegetables. Anthony's family also recently launched an organic farm, Soleil Villa, near Shanghai which supplies many top restaurants in Shanghai. Zhao is also a popular food show host, having worked on multiple shows over the past decade.