19 November 2024 - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers

3 min

ezCater Unwraps 2024’s Workplace Holiday Party Trends

📍 Renaissance Hotels, a Marriott Bonvoy brand with 170+ properties, launches R FINDS, a digital marketplace, on the 10th anniversary of its Global Day of Discovery. R FINDS features 175+ products from local artisans and small businesses, curated by the hotel's Navigators. The commission-free platform supports local economies and offers goods such as handcrafted items, artisanal foods, and home decor. Global Day of Discovery events occurred on November 19, promoting local communities and their businesses. Visit www.R-Finds.com for neighborhood finds from around the world.

3 min

Renaissance Hotels Launches ‘R FINDS’ Digital Marketplace

🏠 Renaissance Hotels, within Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio, launched R FINDS, a global digital marketplace, on the 10th anniversary of Global Day of Discovery, November 19. The platform features 175+ products from local artisans and small businesses, representing over 175 Renaissance properties worldwide, and is curated with zero commission to support community businesses. Products include handcrafted goods, artisanal foods, decor, and apparel, with a honey kit featuring Edisto Gold Honey, Heaven's Honey, and Manoa Honey & Mead to be introduced in 2025. Global Day of Discovery events highlight the launch, with further exposure from Wallpaper magazine and guest editors like Sophia Roe. Visit www.R-Finds.com for neighborhood finds and www.renhotels.com for more about Renaissance Hotels.

2 min

Af&co and Carbonate to make annual trend predictions this week

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor, with tenure at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999 and Restaurant Hospitality from 2016, previously wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008), Manager magazine and Asia Times in Thailand (1992-1997), and was a runner for ABC News in 1989. A magna cum laude Tufts University graduate (1990), a Phi Beta Kappa member, and Le Cordon Bleu-trained, Thorn won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and joined the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014. His expertise spans food and beverage trends, French and Asian cuisines, and restaurant operations.

2 min

Restaurant spending reaches new high compared to grocery shopping

📈 In October, the U.S. restaurant market share hit a record 56.4%, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Year-over-year gains were approximately 40 basis points. Retail sales rose 0.4% month-over-month and 2.8% year-over-year, signaling strong consumer spending. Experts suggest a positive impact from return-to-office mandates on the restaurant industry, potentially boosting weekday sales. Restaurants with catering services anticipate opportunities during the upcoming holiday season. Overall food and beverage spending growth in January-October 2024 was slower compared to the past three years.

2 min

Cocktail-inspired scents, Scotch eggs, and Fado dinner

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, hosts "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast. He reported on NYC food scene in The New York Sun from 2005 to 2008 and covered business in Thailand during 1992-1997. A Tufts University magna cum laude graduate and Phi Beta Kappa member, Thorn studied French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in 1986 and Chinese in Beijing during Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. He won a Jesse H. Neal Award in 2006 and joined Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014.

3 min

Hilton adds to South Asia portfolio, inks agreement to bring Spark by Hilton to India

🏨 Hilton signed a strategic licensing agreement with Olive by Embassy to open 150 Spark by Hilton hotels across India, marking Spark's Asia Pacific debut. Targeting southern India, the hotels will be located in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Spark by Hilton offers budget accommodations and was launched in 2023 with 100 hotels in development, becoming Hilton’s fastest launch-to-open brand. The brand aims to meet the demand for premium economy lodging. Waldorf Astoria Jaipur is set to open by 2027, expanding Hilton’s South Asia portfolio to eight brands. Hilton entered Nepal with Hilton Kathmandu and extended its full-service portfolio with DoubleTree by Hilton Whitefield. Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre, Hilton Garden Inn Surat, and Hilton Garden Inn Jabalpur are expected to open by year-end.

3 min

The Top Traits of Exceptional Hospitality Professionals

🏩 Empathy, adaptability, tech-savviness, attention to detail, passion for learning, communication skills, problem-solving, teamwork, cultural awareness, and commitment to guest satisfaction are identified as top traits for hospitality professionals. The industry requires continuous skill refinement, adaptability to change, and embracing of learning opportunities. Technological tools such as STAAH's property management systems and channel managers are emphasized for providing competitive advantage in the hospitality sector.

STUDY: 65% of Restaurants Adopted New Technology to Manage Labor

🌍 The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) saw a 27% increase in global Travel & Tourism businesses setting climate targets in the past three years. Over half (53%) of the 250 leading businesses analyzed have set climate targets, up from 42% in 2021. One third are committed to Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) goals, and the number of companies adopting SBTi targets more than doubled since 2021. The updated Net Zero Roadmap, launched at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, aims to guide the sector towards net zero by 2050. Notable reductions in carbon emissions were reported: Travel & Tourism's carbon footprint dropped to 6.5% of global emissions in 2023 from 7.8% in 2019, aviation reduced carbon intensity by 6%, and the cruise and accommodation sectors decreased by 11%. The roadmap encourages use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and stresses the importance of green financing for SMEs.

2 min

Destination of the Year 2025: Thailand

🌊 Moved from Vietnam to Thailand 12 years ago, the narrator works as the editor in chief at *Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia*. Embracing Bangkok's multifaceted culture, the writer appreciates the seamless commute options like motorbike taxis, tuk-tuks, subways, and Skytrain. Thailand, a country with a majority-Buddhist population, recently legalized marijuana and same-sex marriage. Boasting a dynamic restaurant scene, the best luxury hotels, and 1,430 islands, Thailand offers a rich tapestry of experiences from the mountainous north to the southern Andaman shores.

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