Miscellaneous

🍴 Paris, the City of Love, offers an unforgettable cultural experience through guided tours of its restaurants and bars. Travel with a local guide to explore hidden gems, enjoy personalized itineraries, and ensure safety in a city with a 68% safety index. Must-try dishes include escargots and croissants from top spots like L’Escargot Montorgueil and Sain Boulangerie. For an unforgettable trip, try a 90-minute walking tour in Le Marais or a wine and champagne tasting experience with at least 12 stops.

🐐 In this delightful farm tale, Helen shares her experiences with unexpected visitors. Who? Farm animals like draft horses, cows, chickens, and guineas. Where? Her yard, near farm fields. How? Animals wander into her space, bringing lively entertainment. Neighbors play an important role, helping manage these escapades. Helen, a multi-talented individual, is now on Instagram for those interested in her musical and artistic pursuits. Follow her adventures for a blend of rural charm and creativity.

🍽 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, is known for his expertise in food trends. His podcast, "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn," delves into industry insights. Thorn, a Tufts University graduate, studied at Le Cordon Bleu and has written for the Oxford Encyclopedia. His career spans roles at the New York Sun and Asia Times. He resides in Brooklyn and served as IFEC president in 2005.

🥃 Brockmans Gin announced its expansion in Poland by partnering with Amka Poland, the new official importer and distributor. Amka Poland will promote Brockmans Gin through its vast network, targeting on-premises, retail, and e-commerce channels. Known for its unique blend of botanicals, such as blackcurrant and bilberry, Brockmans aims to capture a broader audience in Poland. Both companies emphasize marketing campaigns and events to boost awareness and customer engagement, leveraging Amka Poland's industry expertise.

🚀 Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air announced a strategic partnership with Blacklane at the 2025 Paris Airshow. Guests in Business Elite or Business Class enjoy complimentary chauffeur services within 50 km of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. Blacklane operates in 50+ countries and 500+ cities, employing 400 people globally. The collaboration integrates with Riyadh Air’s booking platform, enhancing the premium travel experience and setting new service standards globally. Blacklane emphasizes innovation in electrification and sustainable technology in the mobility sector.

💳 TBC Bank Group partners with Turkish Airlines and Visa to launch Georgia's first co-branded premium debit card. Signed on June 12, 2025, in Istanbul, this exclusive card allows TBC Concept 360 and Wealth Management clients to earn miles on their travel expenses. Benefits include 10 airport lounge passes and fast-track security access. TBC has issued over 260,000 flagship debit cards by Q1 2025. This collaboration aims to enhance customer travel experiences and loyalty.

✈️ XCF Global appointed a Board of Directors after completing its business combination and Nasdaq listing (ticker: SAFX). The initial six directors are Mihir Dange (Chair), Anne Anderson, Sanford Cockrell, Si-Yeon Kim, Carter McCain, and Wray Thorn, all with diverse expertise in energy, aviation, finance, and law. The Board aims to decarbonize the aviation industry using Synthetic Aviation Fuel (SAF) and plans to expand to nine members, subject to Nasdaq rules.

✈️ DerbySoft, in collaboration with Ryanair Holdings PLC, enters the aviation tech sector with a new flight technology solution. This initiative, led by Jason Sui, aims to connect flight content between airlines and OTAs. DerbySoft acquired PKFare in 2024, enhancing their capabilities. In early 2023, DerbySoft restructured its executive team and acquired Arise, an AI platform. This solution expands their portfolio, focusing on innovation and seamless travel distribution.

🌍 In June 2025, anti-tourism protests erupted across Spain, notably in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca. Locals, frustrated with overcrowding, rising rents, and housing shortages, targeted tourists using water guns, flares, and chants like “tourism is terrorism.” The backlash highlights issues like Airbnb's impact on housing affordability and threatens the region's tourism-dependent jobs and revenue. Spain's global tourism image risks damage, pushing the industry towards sustainable solutions to balance visitor impact and local quality of life.

📰 Joanna Fantozzi, with over 7 years in the restaurant industry, is the Senior Editor at Informa's Restaurant & Food Group since August 2021. From 2018-2021, she progressed from Assistant to Associate Editor. Her education includes a BA from The College of New Jersey and an MA from CUNY. Joanna has written for The New York Times, Forbes, and more, and moderates industry events like MUFSO. Her expertise covers restaurant news and cultural issues.