The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, and several local businesses have joined forces to support struggling restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Chamber is offering a $10 coupon to customers ordering takeout to help local eateries. Restaurants that participate will be reimbursed for the coupon discount through support from the City of Palm Springs and other local businesses. “The concept is simple” said Nona Watson, CEO of the Palm Springs Chamber. “The Palm Springs Chamber has a coupon available on our website pschamber.org. Anyone interested in participating in the program can register and print or download the coupon on their phone. Simply order your favorite takeout meal from one of the participating restaurants and present the coupon. The coupons are good for $10 off your entire purchase of take out for $30 or more.”
Watson reports that in less than one full week there have been more than 9,000 downloads of the coupon and the Chamber has already distributed $2,500 in reimbursements to participating restaurants. That’s a clear sign of success and striking a chord in the community that has led to so much support of many of the city’s impressive array of restaurants. “Even if someone’s favorite restaurant is not currently participating in the program, our hope is that they’ll try one of the other ones and find some new favorites,” she said.
Customers ordering takeout can use their coupon multiple times in their favorite restaurant, or in any of the participating restaurants that are listed on the chamber’s website. The coupon is not good for third-party delivery services. Participating restaurants will document the coupon numbers and be reimbursed for every coupon number they collect each week. “We are happy to be joining this important initiative which supports our local restaurants,” said Rob Hampton, General Manager of the Palm Springs Convention Center and Bureau of Tourism. “Palm Springs is more than just a destination, it’s the people that hold this community together, which is at the heart of our locals-love-locals campaign called “We Are Palm Springs.”
Sponsors for the program should be saluted for their generous cash gifts that were necessary to launch and sustain it. Those organizations include the City of Palm Springs, Brady Sandahl Real Estate Group, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Eisenhower Health, Barton CPA, Miralon Palm Springs, Hot Purple Energy, Palm Springs Disposal, Jewish Family Services of the Desert, Grit Development, Elevated Experiences and Sunny Cycle. As word has spread about the success of the program, others have come through with additional cash donations, including the Palm Springs Police Officers Association.
The program will last while funds are available. A list of participating restaurants, program sponsors as well as coupon information is listed on the chamber’s website www.pschamber.org. Watson noted that since word has spread, the Chamber is getting one or two applications from other restaurants wanting to participate. “We just don’t know how long the funding will last, but we’re encouraging participation on both ends while we wait for restaurants to be able to open again for indoor dining,” she added.
Any Palm Springs restaurant interested in participating in the program can call the chamber office to sign up. The Palm Springs Chamber encourages everyone to download their $10 coupon and order take out to support Palm Springs restaurants.
