DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN), parent company of Applebee's Neighborhood
Grill & Bar® and IHOP® Restaurants, today
announced that IHOP, the iconic brand famous the world over for bringing
its guests “everything they love about breakfastSM” is
opening its first airport location October 1 at the world’s busiest
passenger airport, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The “IHOP Express” is run by franchisee Global Concessions, Inc., an
experienced operator of airport as well as traditional restaurants. It
will be open twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and serve a wide
variety of menu items, including the classic IHOP favorites, to the more
than 90 million domestic and international travelers who pass through
the airport every year, as well as the more than 60,000 airport workers
and members of the local community.
Located in the Main Terminal Food Court before the security checkpoints,
the “IHOP Express” will be accessible to everyone. “IHOP Express” is
approximately 3,000 square feet with a seating capacity for 120 guests.
In addition to sit down service, the “IHOP Express” features a “Grab and
Go” section, where guests can purchase some of their favorite IHOP menu
items to enjoy during their flight. This location will also serve a
selection of beer and wine, as well as provide a place for guests to
store their luggage while they dine.
“While we have been looking to enter what we think will be an extremely
lucrative market with great visibility for our internationally known
brand, we needed both the right location and the right franchisee,” said
Julia Stewart, Interim President of International House of Pancakes LLC
as well as Chairman and CEO of its parent company, DineEquity Inc. “With
this ‘IHOP Express’ we’ve found both. We are proud to be part of the
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, and Terry Harps and Global
Concessions, Inc. bring the perfect combination of experience in this
type of venue as well as a shared commitment to excellence in operations
and cuisine that our guests expect—and deserve—when they visit any IHOP
restaurant.”
“This ‘IHOP Express’ marks an important step in our continued expansion
into non-traditional venues like airports and colleges,” Stewart added.
“While we are starting at the top with the world’s busiest airport, we
hope this will be the first of many airport locations to come,
throughout the country and around the world.”
“It has been a pleasure working with my colleagues at IHOP. We are
delighted to have this opportunity to bring one of the world’s most
recognizable and beloved brands to this airport and to provide all our
guests the great service, value and classic menu items that have made
IHOP famous for more than 55 years,” said Terry Harps, President, Global
Concessions, Inc. “Together, we designed a modern, yet very comfortable
and accessible restaurant,” he continued, “one that we’re sure will
serve as a gathering place for friends and associates meeting before
they depart or when they arrive from their flight, as well as a
gathering place for airport workers and the local community.”
“We’re pleased to be able to add another terrific option to the diverse
array of dining choices at the world’s busiest airport,” said Louis
Miller, general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson. “IHOP is one of the
country’s truly iconic restaurant brands, and it’s exciting to be able
to offer this to travelers in the atrium of the Airport’s domestic
terminal.”
ABOUT DINEEQUITY, INC.
Based in Glendale, California, DineEquity, Inc., through its
subsidiaries, franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee’s
Neighborhood Grill & Bar® and IHOP® brands. With more than 3,500
restaurants combined in 18 countries, over 400 franchisees and
approximately 200,000 team members (including franchisee- and
company-operated restaurant employees), DineEquity is one of the largest
full-service restaurant companies in the world. For more information on
DineEquity, visit the Company's Web site located at www.dineequity.com.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES, LLC
For over 55 years, International House of Pancakes, LLC has been a
leader and expert in all things breakfast and a leader in family dining.
The chain is highly competitive in its menu offering, serving 65
different signature, made- to-order breakfast options as well as a range
of meals under 600 calories. Beyond offering “everything you love about
breakfastSM,” IHOP® restaurants have a wide selection of
popular lunch and dinner items, as well. IHOP restaurants offer guests
an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly
service. As of June 30, 2013, there were 1,593 IHOP restaurants in 50
states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, Guatemala,
Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines and the
U.S. Virgin Islands. Under the licensed name IHOP at HOME® consumers
can also enjoy a line of premium breakfast products available at leading
retailers. IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale,
Calif.-based International House of Pancakes, LLC and its affiliates.
International House of Pancakes, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN). For more information or to find an IHOP
restaurant near you, please visit www.IHOP.com.
Follow IHOP on Facebook
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ABOUT GLOBAL CONCESSIONS, INC.
Global Concessions, Inc. (GCI) was formed specifically to operate food
and beverage concessions in major transportation hubs in the United
States. With the opening of the first store in April 1991, the company
participated in the introduction of the first branded concepts at the
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA). As a
multi-concept operator, GCI now has over 500 employees and 12 brand
concepts in the HJAIA including One Flew South which opened in 2008, the
first fine dining restaurant in the world's busiest airport. The first
street-side GCI full-service fine dining restaurant, Sweet Georgia's
Juke Joint, a $4 million investment in the future of downtown, opened in
2010 in the historic 200 Peachtree building in Atlanta.
Copyright Business Wire 2013