Each year, Club + Resort Chef releases a list of Top Ranked Culinary Experiences, which showcases a list of club and resort properties in order and as judged independently by a panel of club chefs from several of the industry’s most well-respected properties.
The rankings reflect the judges’ scoring of submitted entries that includes data on annual food-and-beverage revenue, membership size, weekly cover counts, banquet capacity, a la carte and banquet menus, food costs, certifications, front- and back-of-house photos and more. The judges score each entry independently, assigning points to the various aspects of the data and information submitted.
The Top Ranked Culinary Experience list aims to highlight the aspects of the club industry that drive membership and retention while providing an industry benchmarking tool that supports capital expenditures to deliver exceptional member experiences and captures best practices from club to club.
Through C+RC‘s Top Ranked Culinary Experiences, clubs can showcase their Top Ranked food and beverage programs and collectively measure the data behind industry culinary programs to help foster a baseline for a better understanding of how to improve and grow more valuable to members.
As part of the Top Ranked Culinary Experience, clubs receive national recognition by Club + Resort Business and Club + Resort Chef, coverage online and in print magazines, and an opportunity to use the exclusive “Top Ranked” badge in marketing and member materials.
Access the 2023 list here.
To enter, the following information was required:
- Club name
- Club website
- Club address
- Executive Chef’s name
- Executive Chef’s email address
- Club logo
- Total membership size
- Annual food-and-beverage revenue
- Certification status
- Sommelier status
- Total number of outlets
- Average weekly a la carte covers
- Number of a la carte kitchens
- Number of banquet kitchens
- Total banquet capacity
- Number of BOH employees
- Number of FOH employees
- Food cost percentage
- At least one a la carte menu
- At least one banquet menu
- At least one photo of the main dining room
- At least one photo of the main kitchen
- A summary of the club’s culinary experience
- A brief explanation of why the club’s overall culinary experience should be Top Ranked
FAQs
Q: Can I enter my club in the 2024 Top Ranked Culinary Experiences program?
A: All clubs are welcome to submit! The application for the 2024 Top Ranked Culinary Experiences program will open in the fall.
Q: What does the $279 entry fee cover?
A: The entry fee helps to cover the administrative costs we incur for building and maintaining the website platform for submitting entries and preparing them for judging. It also helps to discourage frivolous entries and fund the recognition awards we will issue to those earning rankings. Those who enter and earn rankings will also receive special research reports and data that we will prepare based on the information submitted from all entries.
Q: Where are the winners featured?
A: The 2023 rankings for the entries were published in the March 2023 issue of Club + Resort Chef, on the C+RB and C+RC websites and in C+RC‘s e-newsletter and C+RB‘s special-focus e-newsletter.
Q: Once we enter, are we guaranteed to be featured in an upcoming publication?
A: All entries will be recognized, but the judging will determine the final rankings.
Q: What if I want to purchase plaques and other items to showcase this distinction to our membership?
A: Club + Resort Business hosts a Top Ranked Storefront where clubs can decide what other products they might like to purchase once the rankings are published.
Q: Which clubs were Top Ranked in 2022?
A: Click here for the 2022 Top Ranked Culinary Experiences.