San Antonio River Cruises

05/25/2017

Statement by Kenneth Svendsen, CEO of Entertainment Cruises:

"While we are disappointed by today’s City Council vote, I am exceptionally proud of our proposal and of all the work done by my colleagues at San Antonio River Cruises and our San Antonio partners. We were honored to have been considered by one of the great American Cities and grateful to be recommended not once but twice by two independent city selection committees and City staff. The groundswell of support we received from individuals and businesses across the local community was gratifying.

The San Antonio River Walk is the heart of this great City and we would have loved to have led the transformational change our company is known for across the country. But either way, it’s been a tremendous journey and we’ve been fortunate to meet so many wonderful San Antonians – your pride for, and love of your city is apparent and contagious. We feel privileged to have worked with great local partners such as Johnny Hernandez; Tony Gradney, Chelsea’s Catering/Tony G’s Soul Food; Kandace Hawkins, Tri-Starr Personnel; Magaly Chocano, SWEB Development; and Melissa Aguillon, Aguillon and Associates. Thank you all.

We look forward to continuing to support the City as visitors and friends."

05/24/2017

"I agree with the recommendation outlined by City Staff, where they state in their memo that San Antonio River Cruises is 'the best company to improve and elevate the barge experience for locals and visitors.' As a San Antonio business owner, I know first hand how important it is to take all things into consideration when selecting the right person for the job. From price to experience, and, especially, performance, I think our river barge experience can benefit from having an organization as experienced as Entertainment Cruises lead the way as a world-class operator." - Frank Herrera Jr.

05/24/2017

From San Antonio business leader Joe Linson:

"San Antonio River Cruises is the best, most qualified firm prepared to hit the water immediately. They received the city staff recommendation rating because of their performance and reputation. Furthermore, they are the only bidder that reached out to African American business leaders with ideas of future partnership. Can you envision Tony G's Soul Food on our River Walk? That would be San Antonio for real, and not another Landry Inc. restaurant. Have you been to the Tower of Americas lately? Poor customer service and less-than bland food. This won't happen with San Antonio River Cruises, Chef Johnny Hernandez and Tony Gradney. I fully support San Antonio River Cruises!"

05/24/2017

"San Antonio River Cruises’ proposal has been bolstered by its partnership with innovative local chef Johnny Hernandez, who envisions a barge experience that includes pop-up floating restaurants and wine tasting.

The [Landry's Seafood] team talks about mariachis, margaritas, hot salsa and a duck mascot."

[...] it should serve to correct any mistaken notions that Andrade (the former Texas secretary of state) and Wong (the owner of Rosario’s Café y Cantina and Ácenar) only recently developed a sudden, convenient interest in river barges. [...] this backstory should make it clear why Andrade and Wong n...

05/24/2017

"San Antonio River Cruises’ proposal has been bolstered by its partnership with innovative local chef Johnny Hernandez, who envisions a barge experience that includes pop-up floating restaurants and wine tasting.

The [Landry's Seafood] team talks about mariachis, margaritas, hot salsa and a duck mascot."

It’s easy to forget, but less than three years ago, Hope Andrade and Lisa Wong were competing against Landry’s for the city’s river barge contract.

05/23/2017

“The River Walk and our downtown deserve the quality of experience that San Antonio River Cruises has proposed. Landry's track record (Rainforest Cafe, Kemah, Joe's crab Shack, etc.) provide the lowest common denominator experience.

Proposing to have an employee dressed up in a duck costume as our 'mascot' only proves this point. We want a great authentic and unique experience, not another theme park ride.” – Larry Clark

05/23/2017

"Imagine parking at the San Antonio Museum of Art, having a cocktail on their grounds before taking a taxi to and from your show at the Tobin..."

Entertainment Cruises is uniquely positioned to offer a world-class experience that every San Antonian will be proud of and every visitor wants to do again.

05/22/2017

San Antonio Chef Johnny Hernandez and San Antonio River Cruises wants to showcase local restaurants and provide opportunities for up-and-coming chefs to launch and market themselves. We want to give chefs their own pop-up restaurants on the the River Walk, the gem of our city.

"I’m committed to making the river available for locals, visitors, and all the small businesses on the river that are uniquely San Antonio. It’s going to be accessible to the chef community, to children, and the all the independent restaurants that want to charter a barge.

I am proposing a new, never done before dining program on the river, and I am committed to working with the broader food community to reimagine what dining on the river can be, and should be, to bring back locals and visitors from across the world. Add the cutting-edge cuisine, the talent, the personalities, and the chefs -- and make that available to our guests -- and that’s where the magic happens.

I need San Antonio’s support and we need our City Counsel to make the right decision. The danger of commercializing our river is a real threat that we’re currently facing. We’re at a crossroads where we are considering partnering with a business who owns nearly 40 national brands. We cannot let that happen to our river on our watch."

I need San Antonio’s support and we need our City Council to make the right decision and select Entertainment Cruises on Thursday.

05/22/2017

As reported in The Rivard Report, Landry's Seafood currently "operates one dinner cruise boat, one speed boat, and two shuttle boats in Kemah near Galveston" and wants to trim the banks of the River Walk with national commercial chains like Rain Forest Cafe and Salt Grass Steakhouse.

San Antonio River Cruises, a subsidiary of Entertainment Cruises, has been recommended - not once, but twice - by City Staff because of its 35 years of experience and steadfast commitment to excellence.

As the nation's largest dining and sightseeing cruise company, Entertainment Cruises boasts a fleet of 36 ships in cities that include: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, National Harbor, Norfolk, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, D.C.

We'd be honored to be a part of your future, San Antonio.

You might never take a ride on one of the barges plying the narrow confines of the San Antonio River, but as a taxpayer and voter you should care about the 10-year, $100 million contract that is no…

05/20/2017

San Antonio Express-News thinks our city deserves the world-class river barge experience we've all been begging for - an experience that drives locals back to our river - so they've endorsed San Antonio River Cruises.

"As for the bids, it’s clear why staff is sticking with San Antonio River Cruises... It’s a better operator. That’s what the scoring says.
..Put another way: San Antonio River Cruises was much stronger on experience, finances and proposal.

This is a crucial contract. Visitors from across the world come to San Antonio to visit the Alamo and check out the River Walk.

The top priority should be providing the best river barge experience possible."

- SAEN Editorial Board

Mayor Ivy Taylor and the City Council were warned about the mess they would create if they rebid the city’s high-profile barge contract. At the heart of the issue are ethical concerns about former Mayor Phil Hardberger’s role with San Antonio River Cruises, which is the local arm of Chicago-based En...

05/19/2017

San Antonio River Cruises wants to showcase local restaurants and provide opportunities for up-and-coming chefs to launch and market themselves. We want to give chefs their own pop-up restaurants on the the River Walk, the gem of our city.

Landry's Seafood, on the other hand, is looking to make the River Walk a corporate carnival eye sore.

“[Tilman] Fertitta (known by some as the Donald Trump of the Gulf Coast) has built an empire aiming for the 'masses, not the classes,' ... serving middle-of-the-road food.”

The other two-thirds of Go Rio San Antonio — VIA Metropolitan Transit board Chairwoman Hope Andrade and local restaurateur Lisa Wong — find that characterization just short of insulting, not to mention convenient: Mayor Ivy Taylor scuttled a previous bidding process because Hardberger had advocated…