Food brokering menus

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for brokering food services are disclosed. The methods and apparatus described herein provide quality controlled room service to guests of hotels that do not otherwise have traditional room service available. A call center operator routes each call to the appropriate restaurant and stays on the phone line to monitor the call. The restaurant delivers the order and collects the appropriate fee. Menus used by the system are generated by a process that maintains a consistent look and feel despite the fact that each area uses a unique menu.

1 . A method of brokering food services comprising the steps of:
 designating a first food supplier operating under a first name in a first geographic location near a first lodging provider;   designating a second food supplier operating under a second name in a second geographic location near a second lodging provider;   generating a first food menu based upon food options of said first food supplier, said first food menu displaying a third name associated with a broker and not said first name;   locating said first food menu in one or more rooms of said first lodging provider;   generating a second food menu based upon food options of said second food supplier, said second food menu also displaying said third name and not said second name;   locating said second food menu in one or more of rooms of said second lodging provider;   whereby a guest of said first and second lodging providers perceives a source of food for said lodging providers as commonly being said broker and not said different first and second food suppliers.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising displaying first order information on said first food menu and second food order information on said second menu wherein said first and second order information link to said broker rather than said first or second food suppliers. 
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first and second food order information comprises a telephone number. 
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first and second food order information comprises an website address. 
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first and second food menus have a common graphical layout. 
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first lodging provider comprise a first hotel and said second lodging provider comprises a second hotel. 
     
     
         7 . A food menu configuration comprising:
 at least one first food menu for guest of a first lodging provider which is located in a first geographic location, said first food menu identifying food which may be ordered from a first food supplier which is located near said first lodging provider and markets food services under a first name;   at least one second food menu for a guest of a second lodging provider which is located in a second geographic location, said second food menu identifying food which may be ordered from a second food supplier which is located near said second lodging provider and which markets food services under a second name; and   said at least one first and said at least one second menu commonly branded under a third food service supplier name which is different than said first and second names of said individual first and second food suppliers.   
     
     
         8 . The food menu configuration in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said at least one first food menu is located in at least one room of said first lodging provider and said at least one second food menu is located in at least one second room of said second lodging provider. 
     
     
         9 . The food menu configuration in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said first lodging provider comprises a first hotel and said second lodging provider comprise a second hotel. 
     
     
         10 . The food menu configuration in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said first food supplier comprises a first restaurant which is not affiliated with said first lodging provider and which operates under said first name. 
     
     
         11 . The food menu configuration in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said second food supplier comprises a second restaurant which is not affiliated with said second lodging provider and which operates under said second name. 
     
     
         12 . The food menu configuration in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said at least one first food menu and said at least one second food menu utilize a common graphical layout. 
     
     
         13 . The food menu configuration in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said at least one first food menu and said at least one second food menu display order contact information for said third food service supplier and not said first or second food suppliers. 
     
     
         14 . The food menu configuration in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said order contact information comprises a phone number or website for said third food service supplier.