Hotel Operations

📝 Inspire My Holiday launched a trade-only website to fill a "gap in the market," facilitating agents to match destinations with client needs. Partnerships include Gold Medal, Riviera Travel, Wendy Wu Tours, Fred Holidays, Windstar Cruises, and Latin Routes. The consumer brand started in September 2019, but the trade platform was always planned. Registration is free, with early sign-ups possibly winning part of a £1,000 prize pot.

📈 Event management efficiency is critical, and the right software can significantly streamline operations. Key features include: business-rule configurations showing real-time availability to reduce unnecessary inquiries; setting clear opening hours and booking lead times to prevent last-minute chaos; automating repetitive tasks to assist with staff shortages post-COVID-19; integrating with CRM, marketing, and property management systems for seamless data flow; utilizing real-time data and analytics for informed decision-making; and ensuring mobile compatibility for management on the go. These strategies not only save time but can also increase meeting and event sales.

🏨 AI transforms the hospitality industry, enhancing operational efficiency and guest experiences. Hotels leverage AI to automate tasks, provide 24/7 services via chatbots, centralize communications, and analyze data for better decision-making. In summer 2023, a report analyzed over 1.7 million conversations, identifying top guest queries. AI solutions must integrate smoothly with existing systems, scale with demand, and come with robust support for successful implementation.

🍕 In Waco, Texas, The Butcher’s Bar features thousand layer potatoes with crème fraîche and trout roe by Hell’s Kitchen contestants Alejandro Najar and Alyssa Osinga. Noisette in Denver offers chicken wings stuffed with sausage, topped with American sturgeon caviar. Valla Kitchen in New York City presents a som tam with strawberry and guava. Miami’s Lafayette Steakhouse serves octopus with local burrata. The National Bar in Nevada City, Calif., mixes rye, Licor 43, and Cynar for a summer cocktail.

🏠 In Amsterdam, The Social Hub is testing premium rooms designed for a "calming and functional private space," contrasting with communal areas. The year-long design process involved surveys, focus groups, and expert consultancies. Features include a hybrid space, king-size bed, rain shower, and a selection of motivational books. Italy's Rizoma Architetture leads the design with local and international partners. Following the pilot, the design will expand across the brand's portfolio in the coming years.

🍴 The Waterside Inn, a three Michelin-starred restaurant in Berkshire, reported a pre-tax loss of £181,000 for the year ended 31 December 2023, a downturn from the previous year's £814,000 pre-tax profit. Turnover slightly increased from £9.016 million to £9.064 million compared to 2022. Rising staffing, energy, and food costs were cited as the reasons for diminished profitability. The restaurant runs another establishment, Roux at Skindles in Maidenhead, and has implemented a tronc system and improved pay structure to retain staff. Future risks include UK income growth, consumer confidence, staff shortages, operational costs, political events, and currency fluctuations.

🍴 The Forge, part of Hotel Indigo Chester, awarded 2 AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence in 2023, partners with Aubrey Allen, Royal household suppliers, for its summer menu launch. Aubrey Allen selects the top 4% of British beef cattle, ensuring meat is ethically sourced and naturally produced. The 70-seater restaurant, opened Spring 2021, led by Head Chef Dan Regan, also offers fish, vegan, and vegetarian options. General Manager Scott Rankin highlights Aubrey Allen's 5-time Chef’s Choice Butcher Awards achievement.

🍽 In London, Knightsbridge's Sale e Pepe celebrates its Golden Anniversary by opening its summer terrace for authentic Italian dining. Offering 2-course lunches at £30 and 3-course at £35 with a bi-weekly changing menu, the terrace features chic navy blue décor and Italian white flowers. The menu includes classics like Vitello Milanese, fresh crudo, antipasti, and homemade pastas. Desserts like tableside-scooped Tiramasù are also available. The restaurant is a favorite among celebrities and royalty, maintaining high standards for 50 years.

🏡 The Hound, a modern-day coaching inn in Chiswick, opens Wednesday, 17th July, featuring a historic Victorian police station aesthetic. The venue includes a pub, two private dining rooms—main one seating 18 with a combined former prison cells design, outdoor courtyard with retractable roof, and south-facing terrace. August will see the addition of four boutique guest rooms. John Sparks, Executive Chef, collaborates with James Knappett of two Michelin-star Kitchen Table to serve British pub classics. Also offers live sports screenings, diverse beer and cocktail selections, and a children’s menu.

☕ Hotel guests now expect barista-quality coffee, with 75% rating in-room coffee as poor or average, per a UCC Coffee survey. 30% would not return to a hotel due to poor coffee quality. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii offers a choice of soy, almond, coconut, and oat milk, highlighting the importance of variety, including non-dairy options. Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa emphasizes alternative methods like pour-over travel packs to maintain quality. Automation and advanced machine technology, such as Schaerer's 'Twin Milk System', are employed to meet high guest expectations and provide convenience for staff. Regular cleaning and calibration of coffee machines are essential to prevent failures and ensure optimal brewing. Sustainability practices include recycling coffee grounds for compost, as done by Outrigger Kona Resort.