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Singapore’s Curated Culture offers three zero-sugar functional beverage lines: Relax, Recover and Refresh

🥤 Singapore’s Curated Culture, launched in 2021 by National University of Singapore food scientists, offers three zero-sugar, halal-certified, Nutri-Grade B drinks: Refresh with 5g fibre, Relax targeting stress and sleep, and Recover with 2,400mg BCAAs plus electrolytes. Asia-Pacific’s functional beverage market is valued at USD 116.19 billion in 2026 and projected to reach USD 172.49 billion by 2031, growing at 8.22% annually as health-conscious consumers and low-sugar regulations reshape demand.
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Four Luxury Spas in Asia and the Middle East Turn Local Ingredients Into Signature Rituals

🌿 Four luxury spas across Malaysia, Oman, Thailand and Dubai spotlight local wellness traditions in a September 16, 2026 feature. The Datai, Langkawi, has 121 accommodations and uses rainforest ingredients. Oman’s Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, 2,000 metres above sea level, offers pomegranate treatments. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok blends regional spices with Thai massage. Dubai’s Jumeirah Zabeel Saray offers olive-oil hammam rituals and pineapple scrubs for ages 12+, connecting guests with local heritage.
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JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong Details Sustainability Challenges Facing Asia’s Hotels and Fish Bar’s Three-Star Rating

🌱 JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong earned LEED O+M Gold certification and a WELL Health-Safety Rating in August 2026. Its Fish Bar achieved a three-star Food Made Good rating in 2025. General Manager GP Yeow says departmental ESG targets, staff training and owner investment help reduce waste and conserve energy without disrupting 24/7 operations or luxury service. Level 7 showcases responsibly sourced timber furniture, organic culinary herbs and low-carbon wellness activities.
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Farmacy Brings Smart Mobile Farms to Hong Kong Urban Spaces, Using Data on Over 100 Plant Varieties

🌱 Launched in 2018, Hong Kong’s Farmacy brings decentralised farming into hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and offices. Its roughly 1-square-metre Smart Mobile Farms control growing conditions using data on 100-plus plant varieties. Hong Kong imports over 90% of its food; vegetable self-sufficiency is just 1.82%. Co-founder and CEO Raymond Mak’s model enables on-site harvesting, reducing transport and storage needs. Farmacy has established a Melbourne joint venture and targets Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Singapore for expansion.
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Plant-Forward Oyster Oyster in Washington, DC Earns Three-Star Food Made Good Rating in 2026

🌱 Chef-partner Rob Rubba’s Oyster Oyster in Shaw, Washington, DC, earned three stars in its first Food Made Good assessment in 2026. After nearly 17 years cooking meat and fish, Rubba champions seasonal, plant-forward tasting menus supporting regional farms and healthy soil. One course features a local oyster, with a vegan alternative available. The restaurant reduces waste by transforming stems, skins and seeds into dishes and drinks, while running weekly staff learning sessions.
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AI is becoming a shopping channel as 34% of shoppers use it, Acosta Group reports

🛒 Acosta Group’s study, reported September 19, 2026, found 34% of shoppers use AI to shop, primarily to save money, compare products and save time. Half of Gen Z and millennial AI users said it influenced purchases in the past three months. Among Gen Z AI users, 55% use it in-store. However, 48% of shoppers worry about data protection, and only 22% of generative AI shoppers trust agents to make purchasing decisions.
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What’s coming to restaurant menus in 2028: Technomic identifies 50 fast-growing flavors, ingredients and preparations

🍽 Technomic’s September 1, 2026 report forecasts 2028 restaurant menu trends using data from 8,000 operators, identifying 50 fast-growing flavors, ingredients and preparations. Current growth leaders include tallow (+61%), cold foam and brandy-mustard sauce (+50% each), lemon-parsley butter (+38%), whiskey glaze (+30%) and sweet fusion flavors (around +25%). Global flavors, health-conscious indulgence and nostalgia are driving demand, with herb emulsions, spirit-based sauces and retro classics expected to gain momentum.
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MGM Resorts Ends Merger Talks With People Inc. After $18 Billion Buyout Bid Fails on Financing

🏨 MGM Resorts ended merger talks with Barry Diller’s People Inc. after its $18 billion takeover offer—$48.30 per share, a 10.6% premium—collapsed over financing. Launched June 1, the bid was withdrawn in September. An amended agreement disclosed Wednesday caps People’s stake at 29.9% and requires People and Diller to follow MGM’s board on change-of-control votes. MGM pledged no defensive or adverse actions; CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the company is refocusing on operations.
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AI Hospitality Alliance publishes AI Orchestration Framework for Hospitality with contributions from AWS, Cloudbeds, Apaleo, Canary and FLYR

🏨 The AI Hospitality Alliance published its free AI Orchestration Framework for Hospitality “yesterday,” led by Ira Vouk with contributors from AWS, Cloudbeds, Apaleo, Canary and FLYR. Addressing the prospect of hotels running five AI agents from five vendors, it covers permissions, checks before AI changes hotel records, vendor questions and when orchestration isn’t needed. The author and Marianna Gelardi plan to attend WTM London “next week.”
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JLL reports 59 hotels worldwide achieve average daily rates above $3,000, up from zero in 2019

🏨 AI-native travel funding rounds fell more than 50% from Q2 to Q3 this year, Skift’s Dan Marcec reported. Meanwhile, JLL counts 59 hotels worldwide with average daily rates above $3,000, compared with none in 2019. Wealthy travelers’ demand for luxury experiences is outpacing hotel supply, constrained by scarce sites, lengthy approvals and construction costs. Examples include newly opened Airelles Palladio in Venice and planned Singita Elela in Botswana and One&Only Barrigona in Costa Rica.
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