Posts by author

katherinedoggrell

430 posts

Government Reports 129,810 New Business Rates Appeals in Q1 2026, Indicating System Struggles in England

📈 Business rates experts at Colliers report a surge in appeals against the 2023 Rating List, calling the system “not fit for purpose”. From January 1 to March 31, 2026, England saw 129,810 new checks registered, nearly five times the usual number. Government (VO) statistics highlight the system's inability to cope with this volume, indicating significant dissatisfaction among businesses with the current assessment process.
View Post
Share

Hyatt Place Delray Beach Unveils Newly Renovated Property with Unique Coastal Design and Prime Location in Florida

🏖 Hyatt Place Delray Beach in Florida underwent a complete renovation in 2024, offering ocean views, redesigned interiors, and robust F&B options. General Manager Taylor Wauhob, who joined just before the renovation, highlights its coastal design and the vibrant Delray Beach location. The property received the Hyatt 2025 Commercial Team of the Year Essentials Award. A key local event is the Delray Beach Tennis Open every February. Room 413 offers stunning views, and the hotel features a standout bar with large windows.
View Post
Share

Britain's Leading Hospitality Groups Report 0.4% Decline in Like-for-Like Sales in April, NIQ RSM Tracker Shows

🍽 Britain’s top hospitality groups experienced a 0.4% drop in like-for-like sales in April 2026, according to the NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker. This marks the third month of negative growth in four months for the Tracker. Both restaurants and pubs saw stagnant sales, indicating a tough start to 2026 for managed hospitality groups as consumer spending contracts and cost pressures persist.
View Post
Share

Actabl Receives U.S. Patent for Innovative Tag-Based Hotel Data Normalization Across Disparate Systems

💻 Clark Brayton, Joe McGroarty, Pritesh Patel, and Justin Call are behind Actabl’s new U.S. patent for normalizing hotel data, a first for hotel tech. Actabl processes tens of millions of rows daily, integrating over 400 systems. Typical hotels run 10-15 systems; luxury ones, 40+. Actabl's tag-based method standardizes data from disparate sources, ensuring consistent AI insights. The patent emphasizes scalable, real-time data normalization, crucial for AI integration in hospitality. Full patent details at actabl.com.
View Post
Share

Think Hospitality Joins Global Leaders at Nova SBE in Lisbon to Discuss Future Leadership and Inclusion in Hospitality

🏨 Who? Nova SBE, Think Hospitality Consulting, James Hacon. When? Recently. Where? Lisbon, Portugal. What? Female Empowerment Workshop focused on leadership, inclusion, and organizational culture in hospitality and tourism. How? Through a keynote by James Hacon highlighting outdated leadership models and discussing the need for the hospitality industry to transition from awareness to meaningful action.
View Post
Share

Britain's Leading Contract Caterers Report 10.5% Sales Growth in Early 2026, Outpacing Inflation Rates

🍳 In the first quarter of 2026, Britain's leading contract caterers achieved a 10.5% sales growth compared to the same period in 2025. This growth, reported by the Contract Catering Tracker from NIQ, CGA intelligence, Bidfood, and UKHospitality, surpasses the national inflation rate by more than three times. The growth follows a strong year in 2025, continuing positive momentum into the new year.
View Post
Share

James Hacon and Markus Thesleff Discuss Strategies for Building and Scaling Multi-Concept Hospitality Brands at Industry Event

🍴 James Hacon and Markus Thesleff, during Restaurant Marketer & Innovator, discussed the dynamics of scaling multi-concept hospitality brands. They highlighted Los Mochis' success, renovation of heritage concepts, and international expansion. Key insights emphasize the significance of experiential dining and hospitality as entertainment. The future belongs to brands that foster culture, emotional bonds, and memorable experiences.
View Post
Share

Experiential Hospitality Outperforms Through Immersive Storytelling at Cahoots, Mr Fogg's, and Bunga 90

🍽 Michael Ingemann and Duncan Stirling discussed experiential hospitality at Restaurant Marketer & Innovator. Brands like Cahoots, Mr Fogg's, and Bunga 90 excel by offering more than food and drink, using immersive storytelling, nostalgia, and world-building to create emotionally memorable experiences. Their success highlights the importance of capturing attention in today's competitive market by focusing on unique customer experiences and psychology.
View Post
Share

Leaders at Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Discuss Convergence of Wellness, Community, and Social Experience in Hospitality.

🍽 This year's Restaurant Marketer & Innovator event featured an insightful discussion on the growing trend in hospitality: the fusion of wellness, community, and social experiences. Led by Heleri Rande, the panel included industry leaders from hospitality and wellness sectors. They examined how evolving consumer behavior is reshaping expectations in restaurants, bars, hotels, and social spaces. The conversation highlighted the need for adapting to these changes to meet new customer demands.
View Post
Share