2008 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT RECIPIENTS

Nina and Tim Zagat
Co-Founders & Co-Chairs
Zagat Survey

Zagat Survey was launched in 1979 as a hobby by Nina and Tim, who pioneered rating restaurants through public opinion surveys, first conducted on paper questionnaires and now online via the internet. The Survey became so popular that it rapidly developed into a full-time publishing enterprise.

Following their initial success in New York City, the Zagats expanded their concept in the mid-1980's to cover dining scenes in other markets, later adding hotels, nightlife, movies, golf, shopping and a range of other entertainment resources. Today, Zagat has a presence throughout the U.S. as well as in 100 major countries worldwide, and the Zagat brand is internationally respected as a symbol of quality. Its unique user-generated content is available in print, digital and mobile formats. Zagat content and the Zagats themselves have been featured on television virtually daily. They have been the subject of biographies on CBS, A&E and, most recently, on the History Channel

In 2000, the Zagats were recognized as Entrepreneurs of the Year by both Ernst & Young and Harvard Business School, and were inducted to NYU's Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame in 2001.  They are inductees into the Hospitality Hall of Honor and members of the James Beard Who’s Who in Food & Beverage as well as Fellows of the Culinary Institute of America.

Nina Zagat was named one of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World by the Star Group in 2001, one of Crain's Top Tech 100, featuring New York City's most influential people in technology in 2001, and one of Crain's New York 100 Most Influential Women in 2007.

Tim Zagat has served in various civic, cultural and charitable capacities.  For four years Tim served as the Chairman of NYC & Company, the official marketing, promotion and tourism arm of New York City, and is currently a member of the Executive Committee.  He is also a member of the Board of the Partnership for New York City.  Tim is also a board member and Vice President of Careers through Culinary Arts Program, C-CAP. Together, they served on the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism.

Nina Zagat earned an LL.B. from Yale Law School in 1966 and a B.A. from Vassar College in 1963.  She spent 24 years as a Wall Street attorney.  She also attended Le Cordon Bleu Ecole de Cuisine.

After graduating from Harvard College in 1961, Tim Zagat served as Vice President of the United States National Student Association and as a senior staff member of the Washington D.C. staff of the Peace Corps.  He and Nina met at Yale Law School from which he graduated in 1966.  He practiced law for over 20 years.

The Zagats have been married since 1965 and have two adult sons, Ted and John.