Miscellaneous

📚 Joanna Fantozzi, a Senior Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News, has over 7 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry. From August 2021, she’s held her current role at Informa Restaurant & Food Group, having progressed from Assistant Editor since October 2018. Joanna holds a bachelor's degree from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree from CUNY. Her work is featured in The New York Times and Forbes, focusing on restaurant news and cultural issues.

📰 Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, based in NYC, is the content manager for Informa’s Restaurant and Food Group since February 2020. Previously, she served as the digital content manager (April 2018-Feb. 2020) and digital content producer (June 2016-April 2018) at the same company. Her career includes roles at Mail Online (2014-2016) and Gannett's Phoenix Design studio (2012-2014). She has a journalism degree from Arizona State University. Follow her on Twitter @LeighAnneZin.

🍴 At Chicago's Atelier, founded in 2023, a Michelin star was quickly earned. By summer 2025, it closed temporarily to relocate within Lincoln Square, reopening in October in an 1,800 sq ft space with 36 seats. A $500,000 capital was raised through SMBX, offering minimum $10 public investments. Investors enjoy monthly interest and tiered perks. Chef Bradyn Kawcak leads with a global, seasonal menu, while Ali Martin heads diverse beverage options. Lacey values community support and a welcoming atmosphere.

🍽 Bret Thorn, Nation’s Restaurant News Senior Food & Beverage Editor since 1999, lives in Brooklyn, NY. With a BA in history from Tufts University (1990) and a cooking certificate from Le Cordon Bleu (1986), he served as IFEC president in 2005. Thorn won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and contributed to food encyclopedias in 2012 and 2015. Previously, he wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and lived in Thailand for five years.

🏆 RIU celebrated the 8th RIU Awards at Riu Palace Pacifico, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, honoring top travel agents from the USA and Canada. In 2024, RIU hosted 6.7 million guests and employed 38,055 people. The event featured 90 attendees and highlighted agency achievements: The Travel Agent Next Door and Inteletravel were top hosts. Founded in 1953, RIU has 98 hotels across 21 countries, ranking 40th globally and 4th in Spain by room count.

🎶 Designers George Vlasis Pakalidis and Artemis Valyraki transformed a former tyre workshop into Voulkanizater, a listening bar and restaurant in Athens' Koukaki neighborhood. Retaining the concrete walls, they added wood and metal elements for warmth and an industrial feel. The "box-in-a-box" design features a metal bar with tyre rims as décor. Vintage tyre company logos influenced the space, with acoustic panels ensuring optimal music listening. The dark color palette merges grey concrete, brown wood, and metal.

✈️ UK Civil Aviation Authority anticipates record-breaking Christmas travel in 2025. Already, 231 million passengers flew through UK airports in the first nine months of 2025, with predictions exceeding 300 million by year-end. In 2024, December saw 22 million passengers. Flight punctuality improved to 64% this summer. Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Bournemouth airports experienced significant passenger growth. Middle Eastern airlines reported surging UK traffic. Nearly 700,000 tons of cargo were processed mid-year.

🍦 Zac Young's Sprinkletown Donuts & Ice Cream at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., sees a sundae resurgence. By Q3 2025, 15.3% of U.S. restaurants serve sundaes, up from 13.7% in 2020. Trending toppings include blueberry (+20.6%), pistachio (+25.9%), pretzels (+21.7%), and gummies (+21.6%). Sundaes range from $12 to $38, with options like The Unicorn, The Piescream Cone, and Palladino’s banana split. Sundaes are presented with sauces at the bottom for a lasting experience.

🍴 Little Mountain, a new dining spot in Montecito’s Upper Village, is founded by Graham Duncan and Eva and Bryan Schreier. Chef Diego Moya leads the menu, inspired by global seaside traditions. Designer Andrew Cosbie infused the interiors with local historical references and warm materials. An art program, curated by Allison Harding, showcases local artists like Meredith Brooks Abbott. This venue celebrates the landscape and community of Santa Barbara, blending architectural elegance with a welcoming atmosphere.

🏨 Eighty-eight countries, forty-nine states, and 266 Manhattan hotels—one night each—were explored in a quest to understand authentic hospitality, not algorithm-driven service. The journey emphasized genuine human connection, inspired by cultural experiences in places like Damascus. The monthly column in *A Hotel Life* delves into how culture and design influence hospitality, stressing that human connection outweighs amenities. This exploration is crucial for hospitality professionals and enthusiasts.