Is the third time really the charm? I gave up on The Bear Season 3 after two episodes because it was too boring, and I’m about to drop The White Lotus because nothing happens. Also, Charlotte Le Bon was way better as Le Petit Journal‘s Miss Météo than whatever her role is now.
-
See Spot Spa: Hotels Are Ready to Pamper Your Pup – Dogs were already on the rise in 2024, but they’re about to be an even bigger trend in 2025. Not just in hotels—everywhere. Two weeks ago, Girl Boss Sophie Amoruso explained how flying from LA to London was actually cheaper with K9 Airlines than with a regular airline, once you factor in all the vaccines and specific documents/boxes you need. The biggest opportunity I see here is in tech; right now, there’s no system catering to furry friends, maximizing revenue. Dog-related info is just stored in guest profile notes instead of having dedicated profiles. Tech needs to do better.
-
Are we still talking about members’ clubs? Apparently, yes! Mainstream media just can’t stop printing articles about them. At this point, I don’t know what’s left to say. Ned’s just opened an outpost for the “cool kids of D.C.” As a European, I don’t automatically associate D.C. with “cool kids,” but sure, why not. Vogue loves to recycle the same topics: first, Gen Z is lonely and doesn’t drink anymore, so for them, the new members’ club is their fitness center. Then, saunas are becoming “the hottest social spot.” Sounds familiar? That’s because WSJ covered the same thing in November 2024, and NYT did in 2023.
-
Coffee shops in France are popping up like mushrooms after the rain. And who can blame them? A coffee shop is the perfect setup for hospitality enthusiasts who still want work-life balance. Regular hours, no kitchen, minimal staff, you get the joy of a restaurant without the downsides.
-
My favorite keynote of the year is the Taco Bell one! Live Más Live is both incredibly cringe (“The Met Gala, but Taco Bell style” is not how I’d describe it) and kind of great. Two key takeaways: it’s another big year for beverages, and digital sell. I wish hospitality would catch on to the beverage trend as mini-bars are such a missed opportunity for selling product placement.
-
Speakeasies were a response to alcohol restrictions. People loved them because they let them defy prohibition laws. With tariffs coming up, maybe it’s time to bring them back. I can totally picture French people smuggling bottles of champagne across the border to quench American thirst. And as for Italian Parmiggiano, I’m trademarking SpeakCheesy.
-
Is AI making us dumb? Probably not, but it’s definitely eroding our connection to nature. Old sailors could read the sky to predict rain, while Gen Z can’t even read cursive. My biggest concern with Wine AI is cultural homogenization. Yes it’s great if it reduces agriculture’s environmental impact, but if every vineyard is optimized by data, we’ll lose the uniqueness of each château. Same thing happened in European football, since data took over, the game’s gotten boring. No more personalities, just a series of identical plays.
-
The 2021 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was turned into houses. Airbnb experiences are going way too far!
