During the initial launch, Starship’s fleet of up to 30 on-demand robots will deliver from six campus eateries: Au Bon Pain, Garbanzo, The Gilded Bean, Hagerty Family Cafe, Modern Market and Taco Bell. The University’s more than 17,000 students, faculty and staff can now use the Grubhub app (iOS and Android) to order food and drinks from on-campus retailers to be delivered nearly anywhere on campus, within minutes. The service also works in conjunction with students’ meal plans. By spring, the robot fleet will reach 50 and will service additional Campus Dining eateries.
“We are thrilled to partner with Grubhub and Starship Technologies to bring robot delivery to our students, faculty and staff on campus. The robots will provide increased accessibility to our campus units by conveniently bringing the food to our customers, filling a void in the service that we currently have,” said , executive director of campus dining.
Robot delivery is easy to use via the Grubhub app. To get started, diners open the Grubhub app and choose from a range of restaurants labeled “Offers Robot Delivery,” and then select the location to send their delivery. They can watch via an interactive map as the robot makes its journey to their location. Once the robot arrives, they receive an alert to meet and unlock the robot through the app. Each robot can carry the equivalent of about three shopping bags of goods.
“We’re excited to bring robot delivery to Notre Dame’s campus and continue supporting innovation within its campus dining program,” said Adam Herbert, senior director of campus partnerships at Grubhub. “Robot delivery is a natural progression of the work we’ve been doing with Notre Dame for years. This includes offering mobile ordering, Grubhub Ultimate, a kiosk solution and pickup capabilities within the football stadium via lockers.”
Grubhub partners with more than 270 college campuses across the United States to give students the ability to integrate meal plans directly into their Grubhub account and access restaurants both on and off campus for delivery and pickup.
“We’ve been expanding our relationship with Grubhub and are pleased to announce that Notre Dame is our latest collaboration,” said Chris Neider, vice president for business development at Starship Technologies. “We know the campus community will appreciate the convenience of on-demand deliveries, whether it’s to save time or to avoid some of the seasonal weather. The robots don’t mind the weather, regardless of rain, sleet or snow.”
In the fall of 2022, leadership within worked with Starship to map delivery routes across campus. The group then collaborated with the to make sure everyone was familiar with the new initiative and that it met the standards of safety on Notre Dame’s campus. The robot delivery will not displace any of the associates within the Campus Dining department, but will instead increase operational productivity for team members.
“The fleet of robots will have such a positive impact on campus. They are part of our ongoing effort to bring innovative solutions to Campus Dining, they’ll expand our omnichannel retail strategy and they’ll provide flexibility and accessibility for our students,” Alberganti said. “They are also going to be a fun addition to our community.”
]]>Hayes, a native of Mobile, Alabama, has released three albums, and his single “Fancy Like” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list. In 2005, Hayes worked in Nashville as a songwriter for Colt Ford and Rodney Atkins. In 2017, he signed a contract with Monument Records and released the single “You Broke Up with Me.” Following the success of “Fancy Like,” Hayes released “Country Stuff the Album” in January 2022 and had the hit singles “U Gurl,” “AA” and, most recently, “Y’all Life.”
IDEA Week is hosted by Notre Dame, the South Bend-Elkhart region and various community organizations and businesses. It will be held April 15 through 21 at the University and other locations throughout South Bend and Elkhart and will be open to the public.
“Due to COVID, IDEA Week hasn’t had a major concert act since 2019. We’re thrilled to be able to bring this popular portion of the event back,” said Kelley Rich, interim vice president and associate provost for innovation at Notre Dame. “Walker Hayes’ concert will kick off IDEA Week and be a great prelude to what promises to be a fantastic week of events.”
Ingrid Andress and Breland will each open for Hayes. Andress is a Michigan native and four-time Grammy nominee. Her single “Wishful Drinking” featuring Sam Hunt garnered more than 130 million global streams and is platinum-certified. Andress’album “Lady Like” was named one of Billboard’s Top 10 Best Country Albums of 2020. Her album “Good Person” was released in 2022. Breland is the son of ministers and a graduate of Georgetown University. His music bridges the genres of country, R&B, hip-hop, gospel and pop.
“We very much look forward to welcoming Walker Hayes, Ingrid Andress and Breland to Notre Dame,” said Anne Griffith, vice president for University enterprises and events. “This collection of artists will be sure to provide an incredible and memorable night at Purcell Pavilion and kick off IDEA Week.”
For tickets, go to or use the Ticketmaster app. Fans are encouraged to use the page to create an account or refresh their existing account for a quicker purchasing experience. For more information on where to eat, where to shop and what to do, with a complete listing of campus events and retail locations, visit , and follow Experience Notre Dame on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
]]>Experience Notre Dame now offers more than just venues. The team provides event management services, including hotel rooms, transportation, catering, event coordination and campus experiences, to friends, family and guests — offering a comprehensive and distinctly Notre Dame experience.
Guests will always experience “a higher degree of hospitality,” and that starts with the office’s new global service standards that guarantee guests receive a consistent experience in all venues across campus. These standards have been created to ensure campus teams provide exceptional service through consistent training and development.
The Experience Notre Dame team is available to help create once-in-a-lifetime moments from the minute guests arrive. The department has created a new streamlined and elevated catering menu for all events held at the University of Notre Dame. This integrated menu allows meeting and event planners the flexibility to choose hand-crafted menus while keeping local vendors and in-season produce in mind. From delicious offerings, socially responsible sourcing and cutting-edge presentations to the expertise of top chefs, guests will find food and beverage experiences for every budget and every event.
Anyone, whether a faculty, staff or student at the University, a community member or an event planner not affiliated with the University, may book an event on campus. For more information, call 574-631-1400, email ExperienceND@nd.edu or visit .
Contact: Molly Di Carlo, marketing manager, University Enterprises and Events, mschau@nd.edu ,574-631-2049 (office), 815-735-4138 (cell)
]]>On Monday (Nov. 4), a five-month renovation project to expand the warmth of the hotel’s dining experiences will begin. Over the past several months, a team led by , vice president for University Enterprises and Events, and , senior director of the Morris Inn, reimagined the hotel’s restaurant spaces.
“With our living room theme in hand, we arrived at a concept that celebrates a casual and warm shelter from the outside world — a place where the food is simple, bright, healthy and wholesome; the service is genuine, unpretentious and joyful; and the ambiance warms the soul,” Kidder said.
Rohr’s will reopen in spring 2020, and will offer a modern tavern concept unique to Notre Dame and South Bend, taking cues from restaurants such as Chicago’s and and New York City’s .
“Whatever the occasion, we want our guests to walk into this space, exhale and drop their shoulders a bit,” Kidder said. “They will note an air of casualness and comfort, as well as refinement and excellence.”
The menu will reflect the mood of the room, honoring a few traditions and breaking new ground with current culinary trends and fresh vegetables.
“The idea is to appeal to guests who want the classics — steaks, fresh fish, flatbreads, pastas, Manhattans, Old Fashioneds and martinis — yet offer healthier and more vibrant options to guests who are looking for a little something more,” Kurth said.
In preparation for the renovation, Sorin’s will serve its last meal Sunday morning (Nov. 3), after the Virginia Tech football game, and the existing Rohr’s will close Nov. 24 (Sunday), following the last home game against Boston College.
Starting Nov. 25 (Monday), a lobby pop-up restaurant, Rohr’s Test Kitchen, will offer food and beverage service to ensure minimal impact to hotel guests and staff. Guests will help choose menu items for the new Rohr’s, and the first 50 guests dining at least once a month between December and March will be invited to the soft opening of the newly designed Rohr’s.
The Smith Family Ballroom, private dining rooms (Hesburgh, Joyce and Carmichael) and Morris Inn kitchen will operate normally during the construction period. Special holiday events such as Morris Inn’s signature holiday buffets for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, afternoon tea, and its annual breakfast with Santa will be unaffected by the project. , in the University’s office of event management, will continue to book wedding receptions, meetings, conferences and special events as normal.
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