Market Trends

🍴 Emerson Nascimento won the DaVinci Gourmet Barista Craft World Champion title in 2024. DaVinci Gourmet, partnered with Kerry, focuses on flavor innovation in coffee. The Flavour Genius Academy, launched before 2024, offers training for café professionals in the APMEA region, with monthly virtual gatherings and collaboration with the ASEAN Coffee Institute (ACI) to provide specialized training. Eloise Dubuisson from Kerry Asia Pacific emphasized the winners' role in promoting the brand's flavors and artisanal syrups.

🍷 80% of NA beverage drinkers also consume alcohol, providing a taste reference. Catalan restaurant Gaig, recognized by the Michelin Guide, features Noughty's non-alcoholic (NA) wines. The no- and low-alcohol market is growing by 20% annually, with a forecasted value of $36.6 billion by 2030, where NA beer holds 60% of the market share. The NA wine segment, valued at $52 million, grows by 23% yearly. Noughty, with six premium NA wines, sees popularity in Michelin-starred venues and is favored by chefs like Andrew Pern and Oscar Lorenzzi. The largest NA markets are Europe and the UK, with the US experiencing a rise in nondrinkers. Asia and Singapore's NA demand has increased since 2021, notably for business lunches. The UK sees 55% of drinkers reducing alcohol intake, and 57% of global consumers participated in Dry January or Sober October in 2023. Health concerns drive this shift, with alcohol identified as a leading cause of cancer. NA wine options are effective on wine lists, and Noughty's sparkling Chardonnay has just 14 calories per glass. Restaurants, while facing challenges in stocking NA wine, recognize the evolving consumer preferences and potential for higher profit margins, with Noughty focusing on 'by the glass' placements.

📸 WeRoad surveyed 4,634 solo travelers aged 20-49 to understand backpacking motivations, revealing a trend towards off-the-beaten-path destinations like Jordan, Namibia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Forbes found 68% of Gen Z and Millennials seek new travel experiences. 40% of respondents prefer less-touristic locations for more authentic experiences, while 48% reported making lifelong friendships and 27% learning about themselves. Drawbacks include 72% admitting to overpacking and 10% running out of money. WeRoad CEO Andrea D’Amico highlights solo backpacking as challenging and life-changing.

🌳 Designed by Kristian Talvitie and Polestar, KOJA is a sustainable treehouse in Fiskars, Finland. Featuring panoramic windows for a seamless nature experience, it blends futuristic design with ancient woodland, aiming for minimal environmental impact.

🏡 The MIPIM Awards 2025 recognized Sky Mirrors as a winner for its sustainability and vision in real estate, particularly in hotel-related buildings. Built in Luzhou, China, atop a mountain for Sichuan Gulin Langjiu Distillery Co., the project was designed by the French architectural firm Zone of Utopia. Their approach involved harmonizing with nature, creating an invisible building that only reflects the sky and valley, using mirrors to amplify the landscape and maintain the mountain's pristine views.

🔔 Hilton operates over 125 dual-brand properties globally. Dual-brand hotels are popular due to their flexibility and cost-saving benefits for owners. Key brand pairings include Tru by Hilton X Home2 Suites by Hilton (22%), Hilton Garden Inn X Homewood Suites by Hilton (16%), Hampton by Hilton X Homewood Suites by Hilton (15%), Hampton by Hilton X Home2 Suites by Hilton (14%), and Hilton Garden Inn X Home2 Suites by Hilton (9%). More than 100 dual-brand Hilton properties are under development, primarily in the United States. Recent openings include Tru by Hilton Phoenix Midtown X Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix Midtown, Tru by Hilton Lumberton X Home2 Suites by Hilton Lumberton, Tempo by Hilton Raleigh Downtown X Homewood Suites by Hilton Raleigh Downtown, Hampton by Hilton Austin East Side 5th Street X Home2 Suites by Hilton Austin East Side 5th Street, and Hilton Garden Inn Nashville West End Avenue X Home2 Suites by Hilton Nashville West End Avenue.

🏨 In February 2025, U.S. hotel industry occupancy was at 59.1%, a 0.5% increase from February 2024. Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose by 1.4% to $159.39, and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) grew by 1.9% to $94.24. Tampa saw the highest surge in occupancy among the Top 25 Markets, at 86.4% (up 9.2%). Minneapolis and St. Louis had the lowest occupancy rates, at 49.5% and 50.7% respectively. The Top 25 Markets also outperformed other markets in occupancy and ADR.