In addition to depending on delivery and curbside pick-up, restaurants around the country have pivoted to developing creative ideas for outdoor dining―even during inclement weather. And American Express and its subsidiary Resy, an app for booking restaurant reservations, recently teamed up to help the hard-hit restaurant industry—while also creating an exclusive, memorable and COVID-safe experience for card members.
Since May 2020, Resy has helped restaurants generate over $2.3 million with unique culinary experiences that go beyond the typical dine-in option for patrons. These new activations include unique take-out options and outdoor dining experiences such as the Yurt Villages Presented by American Express and Resy, which popped up around the country starting Dec. 3, and wrapping up Feb. 28. 
The Chicago experience took place at upscale steakhouse Swift & Sons in the West Loop.Photo: Courtesy of Kehoe Designs
“While the pandemic has drastically changed the restaurant industry and overall dining experience, consumers’ love for dining out and supporting their favorite restaurants remains strong,” explains Chris Cracchiolo, senior vice president of global loyalty and benefits at American Express. “We wanted to find a way to bring the dining-out experience to our card members in a safe and special way—so we worked closely with our restaurant partners to introduce the Yurt Villages across 13 cities."
After adding their American Express cards to their Resy wallet, card members could book reservations for the yurts, which have appeared at 15 different restaurants including Bywater American Bistro in New Orleans, Canlis in Seattle, The Charter Oak in Napa Valley, Calif., Crown Shy in New York and others. (Platinum Card and Centurion Members enjoyed some additional benefits, including early access to reservations and on-site perks like desserts, an extra exclusive course, bottled cocktails and even a VIP tour. 
Each of the yurts could safely accommodate up to six guests from the same household or pod.Photo: Courtesy of Kehoe Designs
In Chicago, the brands worked with local event and decor company Kehoe Designs to design the yurt experience at the upscale steakhouse Swift & Sons in the Fulton Market district of the West Loop. Called “The Swift Alps—A Winter Journey Through the Ages," the outdoor experience featured 10 yurts, each representing a different decade starting with prehistoric times (think 10,000 BC), and leading to a futuristic space set in the year 3000. Inside the spaces, guests indulged in an alpine-inspired five-course prix fixe menu.
Tom Kehoe, president of Kehoe Designs, says that the overall planning process was seamless from start to finish. The Boka Restaurant Group, which owns Swift & Sons, gave Kehoe its initial vision and the creative license to run with it. “The Swift Alps came as a creative play on words, springboarding off the restaurant’s name and tying into the winter season. It provided a nice umbrella theme that tied all 10 yurts together, creating a sense of intrigue for the pop-up dining experience,” says Kehoe. “We then challenged ourselves to conceive how the yurts might be styled to iconically represent a specific decade, showcasing specific color palettes, trends and treatments of the era.”
Kehoe Designs was inspired by a different decade for each yurt.Photo: Courtesy of Kehoe Designs
Kehoe’s design team created the yurts to safely accommodate up to six guests from the same household or pod—and there were, of course, some standouts. “A few favorites came naturally. For instance, the 1970s is one of my favorite eras,” notes Kehoe. “We chose to hone in on the emblematic colors of mustard yellow and avocado green, from the shag of the carpets to the retro design patterns of the era to immerse diners in the overall aesthetic."
A futuristic yurt meant to evoke the year 3,000 had an ethereal and dreamy feel.Photo: Courtesy of Kehoe Designs
As for the futuristic yurt, Kehoe’s goal was to create an ethereal and dreamy space. It was more of a blank surface, he notes, with the intention to clear the mind of clutter so the guest can envision whatever it is they might hope for in their future. “The interior walls of the yurt were covered in faux white fur, accented with fragments of silver mirror, so guests could literally see themselves in the future,” Kehoe says. The design team wanted guests to feel as if they were floating amongst the clouds—so to accomplish this, they used clear glass for the table and clear acrylic chairs to really set the mood.
There was also a 1920s-themed yurt inspired by The Great Gatsby.Photo: Courtesy of Kehoe Designs
Tara Hoffmann, product design manager at Kehoe Designs, adds that utilizing these canvas yurts was a great starting point to create safe yet elegant dining experiences during the pandemic. “We had to be thoughtful to create a layout with multiple walking paths for both servers and diners. This accommodates social distancing when parties are seated, leave the yurt to use the restrooms and depart for the evening,” says Hoffmann. “A shared courtyard provides visibility to various destinations, and linking paths were designed to be single-lane only. A broad avenue provides access to both the Yurt Village and the adjacent residential and commercial lobby, so as to allow for social distancing.”
Additional safety precautions put in place included a two-hour time limit for the private dining experience, satisfying Illinois State mandates, plus limited capacity to allow for social distancing and frequent cleaning. Mask-wearing for staff and guests (when not seated), temperature checks, contactless payment and disposable menus were some other precautions.
