Events

🌍 B2B tour operator Vista, after rebranding in 2023, celebrates a record year with cruise sales now over a third of their business. A new dedicated Touring team expands their services to meet the growing demand for authentic travel experiences. The Touring team supports the strategy of Hays Travel for a balanced booking distribution. Kathleen Molloy highlights the growth in cruise sales from just over 20% and the importance of bespoke itineraries. Heather Hutton, with 18-year industry experience, leads the Touring division, offering expert agent support and exclusive offers. Fam trips have also been introduced.

🏖 Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay reopens on 11 April 2025, offering a mix of luxury, relaxation, and adventure. Guests can enjoy a beach club, The Rooftop with live music, and Epic Beats & Special Treats packages with VIP perks and detox juices. The Kids Club introduces cultural activities, while the expanded gym and Holistic Hikes enhance wellness options. The new Crystal Sound Sanctuary Retreat and the Self Space Leadership Retreat promise rejuvenation and professional growth. Dining includes fresh local flavors and NO&LO cocktails, coinciding with the hotel's sponsorship of the Ibicine Film Festival from 11-13 April 2025.

🍷 The Woodsman Restaurant at Hotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon will host a tasting evening on Thursday, 3 April, featuring a 7-course menu with 5 wines from Welcombe Hills Vineyard, located 3 miles away. The Woodsman, led by Executive Head Chef Greg Newman, has 2 AA Rosettes and is associated with Michelin-starred Harwood Arms co-owner Mike Robinson. Welcombe Hills Vineyard has been acknowledged for 20 years. The event costs £130 per person, with limited spaces available.

📝 On April 9th at 10:30 AM EST, HOTELS Magazine hosts a free webinar titled “Nimble Moves: How Hotel Procurement Adapts to the Policies of Change”. Industry experts like Jason Reader (COO of Remington Hospitality), Debbie Young (VP at Loews Hotels & Co), and Jeffrey Simmons (VP at Sodexo) will discuss the challenges and adaptations in hotel procurement. Registration is online via Zoom.

🏘 The 55th CIFF Guangzhou, Asia's largest outdoor furniture event, is set for March 18-21, 2025, featuring 50,000 square meters of space, over 350 brands, and a focus on sustainable outdoor living. The "Nature's Echo·Pristine Nature" showcase curated by Tony Ho will highlight eco-conscious designs with brands like HIGOLD and Sunwell participating. Preparations are ongoing with free preregistration available at www.ciff-gz.com.

🏨 Hospitality Operator Forum, set for June 12, 2025, at InterContinental Paris - Le Grand, is an essential gathering for industry transformation. Alix Boulnois, Chief Business, Digital & Tech Officer at Accor since June 2024, will be a key speaker. She began her career in 2008 and joined Accor in February 2020. Accor has seen post-pandemic performance acceleration with recruitment, customer satisfaction, and team engagement. The Forum will share strategies to turn challenges into opportunities.

👩 On International Women’s Day 2025, Firebird in Soho, London, will host a pop-up featuring Savannah Hagendijk from Amsterdam’s Michelin-starred Restaurant de Kas. The event, celebrating female culinary talent, will occur on Saturday, 8th March and showcase De Kas' plant-to-plate dishes integrated with Firebird’s open-fire cooking style. The restaurant cultivates 300 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and fruit, and will offer exclusive dishes paired with wines selected by co-founder Anna Dolgushina.

🍴 Chef Patron Steven Smith of KAJI Manchester teams up with Dave Wall of The Unruly Pig for a guest chef event on 5th February 2025. The UK's top gastropub and KAJI will present a 9-course tasting menu featuring sushi, Louët-Feisse oysters, BBQ Octopus, and Iberico Presa. Optional wine pairings are available at £95 for standard or £150 for premium. Tickets cost £120 each, with high demand and pre-booking advised.