Tim Zagat

In 1979, Tim Zagat and his wife, Nina, founded Zagat Survey which pioneered rating restaurants through public opinion surveys. Originated as a hobby, the project became so popular that it rapidly developed into a full-time digital publishing business By the mid-1980’s, the Zagats expanded their concept to cover hotels, nightlife, movies, golf, shopping and a host of other entertainment and travel resources. Tim earned his B.A. from Harvard in 1961 and a JD from Yale in 1966. Between Harvard and Yale, he was Vice President of the U.S. National Student Association and Director of Reading Material Programs for the Peace Corps. Culminating his 20 years of practicing law, Tim served as Chief Litigation Counsel at the nation’s then largest conglomerate, Gulf & Western Industries. For their work at Zagat, Nina and Tim were recognized as Entrepreneurs of the Year by Ernst & Young and Harvard Business School in 2000 and in 2001 were inducted into NYU's Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. They are also Fellows of the Culinary Institute of America and inductees of the Hospitality Industry Hall of Honor and the James Beard Who's Who in Food & Beverage. In 2009 they received Travel Weekly Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2010, both received Honorary Doctorates from Johnson & Wales University and from Pace University. Tim has also served on the boards of the Partnership for the City of New York, World Travel & Tourism Council and NYC & Company which he twice chaired. In 2015, the President of France named Tim a Chevalier of the French Legion d’Honneur. Other honors received by the Zagats include China Institute’s Blue Cloud Award (with Henry Kissinger); Nation’s Restaurant News Innovator Award; Citizen’s Union Business Leadership Award; NYC & Company’s Leadership Award; Relais & Chateaux’s first ever Art de Vivre Award; the Ellis Island Medal of Honor; Straus Media’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Landmark Conservancy’s Living Landmarks Award. Married since 1965, Tim and Nina have two adult sons and three grandchildren. Finally, Tim and Nina have been profiled in lengthy videos broadcast by The History Channel, CBS and Arts & Entertainment.