Restaurants to Serve 100 Million Americans this New Year's Weekend, According to the National Restaurant Association

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Dec 14, 2011, 11:33 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec.14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association estimates that 100 million Americans plan to celebrate the New Year by going out to a restaurant or bar, or order restaurant takeout or delivery. The Association's new research also shows that half of American adults plan to dine out with family or friends over the next few weeks to celebrate the holidays.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111214/DC22718)

"New Year's is traditionally one of the most popular times of the year to dine out," said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the National Restaurant Association. "This year, we expect to see a welcomed bump in customer traffic both on- and off-premises as we ring in the new year."

The survey shows that one in five consumers (20 percent) plan to go out to a restaurant or bar on New Year's Eve, and 22 percent say they plan to order restaurant takeout or delivery on that day. On New Year's Day, 12 percent plan to dine out and 16 percent say they plan to order takeout or delivery from a restaurant.

In addition, 10 percent of consumers say they plan to dine out on Christmas Eve, 8 percent plan to dine out on Christmas Day, and 4 percent plan to do so on the start of Hanukkah (Dec. 20). Fifty percent say they plan to share a special meal with family or friends at a restaurant during the holidays.

The National Restaurant Association surveyed 1,006 American adults on December 8-11 about their dining and restaurant gift card plans for the upcoming holiday season. Projections for the number of Americans who will visit restaurants or order takeout are based on economic analysis and research conducted over the last two decades by the National Restaurant Association.

For more restaurant industry research and information, visit www.restaurant.org.

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 960,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of nearly 13 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry's largest trade show (NRA Show May 5-8, 2012, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart, including the National ProStart Invitational April 27-29, 2012, in Baltimore, Md.); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids' menu options. For more information, visit www.restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.