How DalMar Hotel Made Dining Easy for Families with Food Allergies
Hotel guests with kids can finally relax at dinner – allergy information is clear, accurate, and always available across all three restaurants.
BUSINESS TYPE
Luxury Hotel
RESTAURANTS
3 Dining Venues
LOCATION
Florida
The DalMar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale operates three distinct dining venues: The Terrace Grill, Sparrow Rooftop Bar, and their casual dining restaurant. As a luxury hotel, they serve both hotel guests and locals, with a particularly strong draw for families visiting South Florida.
THE CHALLENGE
The problem was clear but complex: hotel guests arrive from all over the world with different dietary needs, and families were especially anxious about their children's food allergies. Parents would ask detailed questions about ingredients, but maintaining an easy to access source of truth was challenging. This led to frustrated families, stressed staff, and parents who simply couldn't relax during what should have been a vacation meal.
THE SOLUTION
The DalMar decided to implement Foodini across all three hotel restaurants simultaneously. Rather than a gradual rollout, they wanted consistent dietary information available everywhere from day one. The platform digitized menus for The Terrace Grill, Sparrow Rooftop Bar, and their casual dining venue, providing clear allergen and dietary restriction information that consumers and staff could access instantly.
The rollout focused heavily on family-friendly service. Staff were trained not just on using the system, but on how to reassure worried parents that the information was accurate and comprehensive. The goal was simple: let families enjoy their vacation meals without the constant worry about what their kids could eat.
THE RESULTS
The transformation was immediate and measurable. In the last quarter, over 2000 families have used the technology to understand what they could eat on the menu. Families began spending more time at hotel restaurants instead of leaving to find "safer" dining options elsewhere. Parents reported feeling significantly more confident about meal choices, and kids with allergies could actually enjoy looking at menus instead of feeling left out.
The success was so clear that when DalMar opened their second Sparrow location in St. Petersburg, Foodini was implemented from opening day. The new restaurant launched with the same family-friendly confidence that had transformed the Fort Lauderdale locations.
Families Served
Used dietary technology last quarter
WHAT THEY SAY
"Parents used to look so stressed when they sat down with kids who have allergies. Now they actually seem excited to try new dishes because they know exactly what they can and can't eat."
Food & Beverage Director, DalMar Hotel
"The best part is seeing families stay for dessert instead of rushing off to find something their kids can eat somewhere else. We're actually keeping revenue that we used to lose every single day."
Food & Beverage Director, DalMar Hotel
LOOKING AHEAD
DalMar is exploring bringing Foodini to additional hotel restaurant partnerships, with particular interest in family-focused resort destinations where dietary concerns are consistently top-of-mind for guests.
"We're looking at expanding this to our partner properties because the impact on family satisfaction has been incredible."