Miscellaneous

📑 Ron Ruggless, a senior editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1992, covers foodservice mergers and marketing. He began his career as a restaurant critic at the Dallas Times Herald in 1982. Ruggless frequently moderates industry events including MUFSO and RestaurantSpaces. Previously, he held editing roles in Dallas, Charlotte, and Omaha. His articles have been featured in Food & Wine and Food Network magazines. Connect with him on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok at @RonRuggless.

🏨 Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies, part of Fordham Real Estate Institute, launches a new hospitality program in 2025. The program includes a Master of Science in Hospitality, advanced certificates in Hotel Management, and Hospitality Investment and Development. It kicks off with the “Business of Hospitality” series on November 4, 2025, featuring leaders from MCR Hotels, Highgate, Marriott, and Colliers. The initiative prepares students for leadership roles through degrees, certificates, and industry panels.

🛸 InterLnkd partners with Viasat to introduce AirMall, the first digital inflight shopping mall, announced at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon. Over 60 airlines using Viasat's inflight broadband can access more than 20,000 brands via AirMall. This collaboration allows airlines to monetize Wi-Fi investments without extra hardware or software. InterLnkd CEO Barry Klipp highlights the potential for monetizing passenger behavior, while Viasat's Nathan Clapton focuses on scalable revenue solutions and enhanced passenger experiences.

✈️ Aeroitalia, established in 2022, is enhancing its operations with Navitaire's solutions, including New Skies, a modern reservation platform for hybrid carriers. This partnership aims to improve customer experiences through dynamic offers, real-time disruption management, and omnichannel distribution. Aeroitalia plans to expand its fleet of 15 aircraft with new routes to Ibiza from Milan and Rome by Q3 2025. CEO Gaetano Intrieri highlights New Skies' flexibility and scalability as key benefits.

🛫 Oct 9, 2025: The U.S. Travel Association reports that the federal shutdown is costing the U.S. travel economy $1 billion per week, impacting airports and tourism-reliant businesses. Disruptions include longer TSA lines and flight delays, affecting local economies. U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman emphasizes the damage is “real and irreversible.” A call to action urges Congress to restore funding and stabilize the travel sector.

🤝 Accor partners with Standard Textile to provide Mascioni Hotel Collection linens for over 350 luxury hotels globally, including Fairmont, Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, and MGallery Collection. The Mascioni Hotel Collection, an Italian brand since 1957, acquired by Standard Textile in 2018, assures safety with OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification. This strategic collaboration prioritizes sustainability, promising exceptional guest experiences worldwide through high-quality, premium cotton products tailored to each brand's identity.

✈️ RateGain announces on October 8, 2025, from Noida, that Sunrise Airways has selected its AirGain platform. This move enhances fare visibility and optimizes revenue across the Caribbean. Sunrise Airways, operating for 16 years, connects destinations like Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. AirGain provides real-time market insights and AI-powered tools to adapt pricing strategies. RateGain, founded in 2004, serves over 3,200 customers in more than 100 countries, aiding airlines and travel sectors worldwide.

✈ Accelya and AWS have signed a five-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement to enhance airline retailing. The goal is scalable, secure, and modular solutions via the FLX ONE platform. This platform, already responsible for over 50% of global NDC volumes and 30 billion daily offers, will gain from AWS's technical expertise. This partnership will be highlighted at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon, showcasing innovative advancements in airline technology.

🛩 Passengers surveyed across 25 countries want smarter, faster, and sustainable air travel, reports SITA Passenger IT Insights 2025. With mobile usage up 20 points since 2020, nearly 80% are ready for phone-stored passports, and digital ID users are projected to hit 1.27 billion by 2029. About 90% would pay extra for greener flights. Intermodal trips gain traction, with 70% planning one this year. Despite low mishandling rates, 78% would pay for better baggage services.

🚀 DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub faced profitability challenges during the pandemic, with DoorDash posting its first profitable quarter in October 2024 and Uber Eats taking seven years to achieve profitability in 2021. Grubhub's value plummeted by nearly 90% from $7.3 billion in 2020 to a $650 million sale to Wonder in 2024. By 2023, DoorDash held over 60% of the delivery market. Platforms are diversifying, with DoorDash expanding into tech services and Grubhub integrating meal-time channels.