You might say it's Christmas Eve at Gorat's Steak House.
Instead of figgy pudding and eggnog, we're talking T-bones and hash browns.
Employees at the Omaha mainstay, a favorite haunt of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, have been preparing for months for when Berkshire Hathaway shareholders descend on the city for the annual shareholders meeting Friday and Saturday.
The steakhouse began taking reservations Feb. 1.
"This is our Christmas," general manager Ashley Blodgett said.
For the staff at Gorat's, the arrival of Omaha's largest business meeting and trade show —Ìýfeaturing Buffett himself — isn't just all hands on deck. It means calling in extra hands, Blodgett said.
"We reach out to servers who have worked for us in the past and who may have moved on to a different job," she said. "We reach out to them, and I don't think any of them have ever said, 'No, I'm not going to come back and work.' They all always do."
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TheÌýBerkshire Hathaway meeting is a huge boost to the local economy. It signals the start of the summer tourism season and puts Omaha in the national and international spotlight.
"Berkshire Hathaway is a legacy event for the city," said Deb Ward, executive director of Visit Omaha, the city's convention and visitors bureau. "It exposes thousands of people from all over the world to Omaha. I think if you talk with any business in the city, they are likely impacted in some way by all the travelers who visit during this one weekend."
When the pandemic struck in 2020, the in-person annual meeting was canceled. It was held virtually in 2021. The event resumed as usual in 2022, but with fewer visitors in town.
Hotel occupancy rates rebounded last year to pre-pandemic levels, a good sign for this year's event, Ward said.
In 2023, about 93% of all of the nearly 10,000 hotel rooms in Douglas County were filled Friday and Saturday during the event, she said. That was up from 90% in 2022.
Tracking by Visit Omaha showed that there were 27,498 out-of-town visitors in 2023Ìýwho attended the event Thursday through Sunday, Ward said. That number doesn't account for international visitors.
It's too early to tell whether rising inflation or the death of Berkshire Vice Chairman Charlie Munger will impact this year's attendance. Some shareholders may want to be in Omaha to celebrate his life.Ìý
The vice chairman helped build the company into a giant conglomerate while offeringÌýsage advice and humor, not only on financial matters but on life.ÌýHeÌýÌýat age 99.
The highlight for many visitors is a chance to hear from Buffett, the "Oracle of Omaha," in person during Q&A sessions at CHI Health Center. Missing, however, will be his longtime friend and associate.
Yet the Q&A won't be a solo act.
Buffett and Vice Chairmen Ajit Jain and Greg Abel will take the stage and answer an estimated 40 to 60 questions from shareholders.
Jain handles insurance operations and Abel is in charge of all other operations.
Questions will be submitted from shareholders in attendance and non-attendees.
Shareholders also can take advantage of discount shopping opportunities throughout the weekend, including at Omaha's Borsheims and Nebraska Furniture Mart, both owned by Berkshire Hathaway.
A 5K fun run/walk is set for Sunday.
For visitors who get a table at Gorat's, the Warren Buffett special is T-bone and hashbrowns.
"We only use upper two-thirds choice to prime grade beef, so we spend a lot of time going through and selecting the steaks for the event," Blodgett said.
The connection to Buffett has made the restaurant famous worldwide, and busy. That's not just during the event, she said.
"Not only do they come now, but because of this connection they come throughout the entire year to come and see Warren Buffett's favorite steakhouse," she said.
The restaurant at 4917 Center St. has a world map in the entryway, and visitors can mark their place of origin with a pin.
"It fills up quickly," she said.