Dunkin' Donuts and its sister brand, Baskin-Robbins, opened a combination restaurant in March at The Embassy Suites Hotel San Diego Bay-Downtown. The opening marks the debut of the first non-traditional Dunkin' Donuts restaurant in San Diego County and the third non-traditional location in California.
The new co-branded unit is centrally located inside the lobby of the hotel.
"We are very pleased to have Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins inside our hotel and we hope the combination shop will become a popular destination for hotel guests, local area patrons and visitors looking for coffee, snacks and ice cream," said Brian Murphy, general manager of the hotel.
Partnerships with lodging properties are a continued focus for Dunkin' Brands' growth, and opportunities exist with Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins individually or as combination units. Flexible design options are available to suit any lodging facility, including full retail restaurants, kiosks and self-serve hot coffee stations well-suited for gift shops and general stores. Dunkin' Donuts or Baskin-Robbins can also be designed to suit specific areas, such as snack bars and convention registration areas. Dunkin' Donuts' bakery products can be prepared in the property's own kitchen, with the addition of some simple equipment, giving the food and beverage team flexibility to manage product inventory in accordance with guest traffic.
Grant Benson, CFE, vice president of global franchising and business development for Dunkin' Brands, noted that the Embassy Suites opening represents the power of the two brands coming together to further expand the company's presence in the lodging industry.
Since opening California for Dunkin' Donuts franchise development last year, the company has executed store development agreements for more than 150 new freestanding restaurants.