You would think a tempest outdoors would be bad for business. But a lot of restaurants in hotels are doing well, like O’Connor’s at the Westin Waterfront, owner and Briar Group CEO Austin O’Connor happily reports. To learn more fascinating trends, we invite you to our Restaurant Development Summit, Thursday, Feb. 26, 4pm, Hard Rock Café Boston. We're contributing 15% of next Friday's tickets sales to Friends of Boston's Homeless. Register here.

After the first storm, business was up 63% compared to a year earlier at Briar Group hotel locations like Solas in the Lenox. After a few -- storms, not drinks -- people got fed up; they wanted to go out and socialize, Austin tells us. Hotel guests, especially, are visiting his venues since they can stroll to them from their room without wetting their feet. But how can he open and staff these restaurants when it’s so hard for servers and chefs to commute? The hotels put up Briar Group employees to keep the guests happy and ensure they don’t go bonkers from being shut in for days. Hear more from our expert panel and stay for cocktails. Sign up today!