Blog

How to Prepare Your Dining Services for the Enrollment Cliff

In all our work in the higher-ed sector over the past several years, the prospect of an upcoming enrollment cliff has been omnipresent. According to the most recent addition of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) published in December ’24, this cliff will materialize by the end of 2025. Between 3.8-3.9 million high […]

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How Important is Social Media in Venue Rental Sales?

In today’s digital age, social media has become an indispensable tool for businesses across various industries, and the venue rental sector is no exception. Museums, zoos, aquariums, performing arts centers, and even colleges/universities can benefit from upping their social media game for venue rentals. Leveraging social media platforms can significantly boost venue rental sales by […]

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Museum Expansion Tips: Shopping, Dining, and Private Events!

Is your new museum building or renovation going to include a shop, restaurant/café or private events space? Below we share JGL’s top tips for developing successful and functional spaces. Enhancing Visitor Experience and Revenue Streams Museums have long been seen as bastions of culture, education, and history. As they evolve with the changing times, many […]

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A Look Back at 2024…

At JGL, we like to look back at the end of each year and take a moment to highlight everything that our small, but mighty team has accomplished. See below for some of this year’s company highlights: In 2024, JGL has… Completed more than 75 projects Conducted client site visits in 4 different states on […]

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JGL Takes Portland, Maine!

In early November, the JGL team got together for our 2024 Annual Retreat in Portland, Maine. The retreat is a special time for us to share industry observations, brainstorm on how to best serve our clients and bond over delicious food, cocktails and shopping! Tracy selects locations that provide a calm and reflective energy, and […]

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The Harrowing Tale of the Failed (Self-Managed) RFP Process

Once upon a time, there was a cultural institution in a major metropolitan city.  This institution had everything; robust daily attendance, a lovely café, beautiful event spaces, international recognition, phenomenal collections and a major expansion on the horizon that included a full-service restaurant! It seemed that nothing could go wrong. Until one day, it was […]

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Earned Income + Membership Benefits = The Perfect Fit!

Many of our cultural clients use their food services and retail stores to increase the value of their membership benefits. Standard discounts in the café, restaurant, or shop are terrific benefits, and many clients report high utilization. Here are six ways to supercharge those benefits. Of course, this takes excellent communication and coordination with your […]

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Meal Plans 101

Meal plans are synonymous with higher-ed dining; they are the fundamental building blocks of most dining programs and are extremely impactful to the student experience. While we all understand the purpose of a meal plan, many don’t understand the purpose of meal plan structures. Is a block plan better than a meals-per-week (MPW) plan? When […]

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The Power of the KPI!

KPI’s or Key Performance Indicators are incredibly powerful tools for measuring an operator’s success within a subsidized environment. KPI’s are most often included in management contracts that include a risk/reward component. We love KPI’s, but they are only effective if they are measurable! The first step in creating powerful KPI’s is defining what is most […]

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Incorporating Technology into Your Retail Program

  Understanding how technology can play a role in your retail merchandise program can help your zoo, aquarium, or museum shop stand heads and shoulders above the rest. Technology can be found at just about every step of the consumer journey from entry to product selection to check-out. Creating a shopping experience that integrates technology […]

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