Which term is best described as a standard by which performance can be judged?

• A. Agenda
• B. Anniversary date
• C. Benchmark
• D. Arbitration

Answer: (C)

A benchmark is a standard by which performance can be judged. In hospitality and restaurant management, benchmarks provide a reference point—whether from your own past results or from industry leaders—so you can compare actual performance to the expected level. This helps you spot gaps, set realistic targets, and drive improvement. For example, you might benchmark average service time, guest satisfaction scores, or occupancy against a top-performing period. The other terms don’t describe a standard for performance: an agenda is a plan of topics to cover, an anniversary date is a yearly date, and arbitration is a method for resolving disputes.