In the past, the world knew us as IHOP, an American icon to our guests and a franchising company that was focused on providing strategic leadership and vision for our franchisees and on enhancing value for our shareholders. With this dedicated focus, we cultivated a core expertise in brand revitalization and franchising know-how which became the basis for the winning formula that has defined the financial success of our business in recent years. With the addition of Applebee’s to the IHOP family of restaurants in November 2007, we made a bold new commitment to our brand revitalization abilities and to the power of franchising. DineEquity promises to make our two businesses more powerful and more successful than either brand could have been apart. Along with our new name comes a new opportunity to focus even more clearly on how we win: energizing our brands, improving the operational performance of our franchise systems, and maximizing franchise development. These goals, along with our intention to transform Applebee’s to a nearly 99% franchised system, will inform how DineEquity provides leadership for our Applebee’s and IHOP brands, today and into the future.

This company has some fast food royalty in its blood. Carrols Restaurant Group is a leading quick-service restaurant operator and the #1 Burger King franchisee in the US, with more than 300 locations in a dozen states, primarily in New York, Ohio, and Michigan. The company also operates two of its own quick-service chains: Taco Cabana and Pollo Tropical. Taco Cabana offers Tex-Mex and Mexican dishes through 155 locations (mostly in Texas), while Pollo Tropical features fresh grilled chicken at more than 90 company-owned locations (primarily in Florida). In addition to its corporate-run units, Carrols has about 30 franchised Pollo Tropical restaurants mostly in Puerto Rico and Ecuador.

Since first opening our doors in 1964, Benihana has become, beyond a doubt, the longest running dinner show in the world. And what would an entertaining dinner show be without great food? Benihana restaurants are traditional Japanese hibachi steakhouses, which feature the Japanese cooking method known as "teppanyaki." From mouth-watering steak, tender chicken, succulent seafood and garden-fresh vegetables to a variety of sushi and other Japanese favorites, your meal is prepared fresh and served by a performing chef, right before your eyes.

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Enterprises operates nearly 70 barbecue restaurants in Texas. Most of the eateries are found in San Antonio, while a handful of others are in Austin and Corpus Christi. Family patriarch Bill Miller opened his first restaurant in 1953. His sons continue to operate the business, which runs a central cooking facility in San Antonio.

Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball owns and operates the Minnesota Timberwolves professional basketball franchise, which joined the National Basketball Association as an expansion franchise in 1989. Playing host at the Target Center in Minneapolis, the Wolves have yet to claim an NBA Finals appearance. Local businessmen Harvey Ratner and Marv Wolfenson were first awarded the franchise; Glen Taylor, chairman of printing giant Taylor Corporation, led a group of investors who bought the team in 1995.

Legal Sea Foods was born in 1950 when George Berkowitz opened a fish market in the Inman Square neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He opened it adjacent to his father Harry’s grocery store Legal Cash Market where customers were given “Legal Stamps” (forerunners of S&H green stamps) with their purchases. It’s here that the “Legal” name became synonymous with quality and freshness.In 1968, the Berkowitz family opened its first seafood restaurant, right next to the fish market. The fish was simply prepared, either broiled or fried, and served on paper plates at communal picnic tables. Despite the low-key trappings, the food was second to none and word quickly spread. This early success led to further expansion and now, six decades later with restaurants along the Eastern Seaboard, the family philosophy endures: Legal Sea Foods is a fish company in the restaurant business. George's son, Roger, has been at the helm since 1992 and has expanded the business into new markets while maintaining the company's focus on its proud tradition and core values. So when we say, "If it isn't fresh, it isn't Legal!," we renew a commitment that has sustained us for over a half-century.

Life Time Fitness wants to help you keep your New Year's resolutions. The company operates more than 85 exercise and recreation centers in some 20 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, and Virginia. Life Time Fitness facilities offer swimming pools, basketball and racquet courts, child care centers, spas, dining services, and climbing walls, in addition to some 400 pieces of exercise equipment. Most facilities are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and average about 100,000 sq. ft. in size. They target a membership of about 5,500 to 11,500, and are designed to serve as an all-in-one sports and athletic club, professional fitness facility, family recreation center, and spa and resort.

China Travel International Investment Hong Kong is a holding company that owns and operates businesses specializing in tourist infrastructure. Through various subsidiaries, the company owns hotels and resorts, travel agencies, theme parks, passenger transportation services, and golf courses. While most of its business is conducted in Mainland China and Hong Kong, China Travel also has overseas operations (about 10% of sales). China International Tourism Holdings Ltd. is owned by China National Travel Service (HK) Group Corporation, a PRC state-owned enterprise.

Hilton Worldwide offers business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. Since Conrad Hilton bought his first hotel in 1919 in Cisco, Texas, we have expanded geographically, produced original hotel and travel concepts, and developed innovative technologies to enhance the guest experience. Today Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels.

Since opening our first Red Lobster restaurant in Lakeland, Fla., in 1968, Darden has grown to become the world’s largest full-service restaurant company. Through subsidiaries, own and operate 1,800 restaurants, employ approximately 180,000 people and serve more than 400 million meals a year. That last number reveals something telling about how we do business. In serving that many meals, we’ve come to know our guests extremely well. From them, we’ve realized what it takes to create an environment of natural hospitality and to build enduring brands. It’s why we’re able to make our guests feel so welcome, special and at ease.

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.