Here’s a good way to boost productivity: Eat with your co-workers.

According to Cornell University study of firefighters, people who dine together have better group performance compared to those who dine alone.

“Eating together is a more intimate act than looking over an Excel spreadsheet together. That intimacy spills back over into work,” said the study’s author, Kevin Kniffin, a visiting assistant professor in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, in a statement. “From an evolutionary anthropology perspective, eating together has a long, primal tradition as a kind of social glue. That seems to continue in today’s workplaces.”

Kniffin studied more than 50 firehouses for his research and spoke with 395 supervisors, who provided insight on a platoon’s productivity after eating either together or alone.

Based on the results, Kniffen suggests that organizations should give more consideration for expenditures on cafeterias as an investment in employee performance.

(Image: Cornell University)

The Wolf and the Hen are expanding their venue talk domain to include special episodes focusing on individual sectors. The first special “Coffee Break” will feature convention centers and be co-hosted by Stacey Church, general manager of the MassMutual Center/Spectra Venue Management in Springfield, Massachusetts.

This is an opportunity for teams to talk to each other during a short break in the day to discuss issues related to convention center operations. The episode airs live on Tuesday, December 15, at noon (EST).

Please register at this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7657587585649094914.

(Image: Nick Lee/Creative Commons)

Let’s eat!

A distinguished panel of venue managers will share their thoughts on the F&B trends identified in the new VenueDataSource “Food and Beverage Report.”

Join Lorrin Shepard, COO of the Straz Performing Arts Center; Michele Swann, general manager and CEO of the Cobb Galleria Centre; and Lee Zeidman, president of the STAPLES Center, as they share their thoughts on:

—Considerations in maximizing operations – choosing self-operation or exclusive contracted F&B services
—Considerations in maximizing revenue – selecting self-operation, commission-based or management fee
—Sponsorships for venues who don’t normally sell sponsorships
—The leading edge in venue F&B trends

Register now for the webinar, which takes place Friday, December 11, at 1 p.m. (EST).

The other Jason isn’t here to give you a soccer update, so I’m taking a shot. This week’s news? Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion.

After the league’s Board of Governors meeting on December 5, the owners announced support for future expansion to 28 clubs. The process and timeline will be detailed at a later date.

“There is no shortage of demand for MLS expansion teams, and we believe the opportunity exists to grow beyond our current plans,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “During the next few months, we will evaluate the possibility of growing the league to 28 teams and establish a process and timeline should we decide on further expansion.”

More teams means more job opportunities for venue professionals.

The current expansion plan is for 24 teams by 2020. Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Minnesota will join MLS during the next three years. The owners are also in favor of David Beckham’s Miami expansion plan.

“We are very supportive of Miami Beckham United’s plans to build a soccer stadium in the City of Miami’s Overtown neighborhood,” Garber said. “Their vision for a world-class venue within the urban core that is accessible by mass transportation is impressive, and we believe it will be an important part of the continued revitalization of the area. We look forward to working with David and his partners to finalize plans to bring Major League Soccer to Miami.”

And that is your soccer news this week.

(Image: Twitter)

Le Comedia theatre in Paris is offering non-French speaking guests glasses that project translations right in front of their eyes.

“It’s very similar to Google glasses, except the screen is larger and the words are positioned closer to where you’re looking,” Carl de Poncins, co-founder of the theatre, told The Local. “It’s a lot less effort from a user standpoint—you see the words on a virtual and transparent screen.”

The theatre, IT company Atos, and eyewear company Optinvent partnered to develop the concept, and translations will be available in six languages. And according to de Poncins, things are just getting started with theatres embracing augmented reality.

“We are just seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to breaking down the language barriers in theatre,” he said.

(Image: Optinvent)