Market Trends

🌱 Furikake, a Japanese seasoning blend containing seaweed, sesame seeds, and dried fish, is witnessing a 36% growth on restaurant menus over four years, with a forecasted rise of 52% in the upcoming four years, according to Datassential’s Menucast. The seasoning, which appeals to Asian consumers and those interested in global flavors, is increasingly used by chefs in the United States to enhance various dishes due to its umami-rich taste and minimal cost implications for restaurants.

🎄 INNSiDE by Meliá UK offers Christmas festivities in Liverpool, Newcastle, and Manchester with a winter tea tasting event in collaboration with Bird & Blend Tea Co. On December 4th, INNSiDE Manchester and Liverpool will host hour-long sessions from 7PM, priced at £10, including nine tea flavors and discounts. Newcastle's event is on December 10th. The hotels also feature Gino D’Acampo's festive Italian menus and stays from £99 for exploring local Christmas markets.

🏨 Hotel cap rate spreads decreased to 2.44% in Q1 2024, nearly 50 basis points below their long-run average since 2001, suggesting normalization in hotel investment risk. During the pandemic, hotel mortgage interest rates doubled, but by Q1 2024 spreads to 10-year Treasuries and 15-year residential mortgage rates returned close to pre-pandemic levels, at approximately 100 basis points and 124 basis points, respectively. The CBRE report indicates that these trends in the capital market signal a stabilization in the relative pricing of hotels.

📌 SiteMinder's "Changing Traveller Report 2025" indicates 63% of global travellers are open to using AI for trip planning. Conducted by Kantar in August 2024, the survey included over 12,000 travellers from 14 top tourism markets. AI adoption varies: Thailand and Indonesia both at 98%, China 96%, India 94%, while below 40% among those over 60. UK travellers booking through agents rose to 14.5% in 2025 from 6.5% in 2020, and 50% prefer Standard Rooms, above the global average (46%). UK travel trends show 53% likely to travel for events, 57% willing to pay for eco-friendliness, and 82% spending on extras. However, only 49% support dynamic pricing during peak seasons. Top international destinations for UK travellers include Spain (18%), France (10%), and the US (7%), with 69% planning overseas travel, down 2% year-on-year. Domestic favorites are Scotland (24%) and London (21%). Travel companions are mostly partners (41%) and family (30%).

🏨 Cody Bradshaw, CEO of L+R Hotels for two months, was previously with Starwood Capital for over 13 years. Joe Pettigrew, after 11 years with Starwood and six months as CCO at EOS Hospitality, joins L+R Hotels as Group Chief Commercial Officer. Pettigrew will oversee commercial strategies for the group’s approximately 23,000-room global portfolio, targeting efficiency and growth in North America, Palm Beach, Marbella, Venice, and beyond. He will be based in London, reporting to Bradshaw.

🏨 AUSTIN, Texas—Cendyn's Sales Intelligence platform and Amadeus reported Q3 2024 Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index at 107.9% YOY, the highest in four quarters. Houston led with a 120.0% Index score, followed by New Orleans at 118.0%. All top 25 markets, except San Francisco, exceeded 100%, with New Orleans (152.6%), Chicago (123.6%), and Houston (115.3%) showing the highest group growth. GDS performance grew to 113.5% due to an 11% rise in room nights and a 2.4% increase in ADR. Negotiated performance was up at 101.6% despite a 2.2% decline in room nights, thanks to a 3.9% ADR rise. Event volume reached 110.2% of the previous year's level, with average attendee size at 136 and space used around 3,766 square feet. Las Vegas, Detroit, and Atlanta meeting volumes were at 124.1%, 123.5%, and 123% respectively.