Miscellaneous

📖 David Lund, a hotel financial coach from St. Andrews, Canada, was inspired by Stephen King's book "On Writing," leading to a pivotal moment in mid-2016. Despite struggling financially and relying on his partner's consulting business, Lund joined a coaching program by Debbie Allen, which required him to write a guidebook. This experience spurred his writing habit, ultimately resulting in his first book being published later that year.

🏨 Elena Amabili’s new book, "Socialist Hotels," explores over 150 Soviet-era hotels across former Eastern Bloc countries, including Abkhazia, Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Crimea, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The photographic monograph captures the stasis and architectural ambition of socialist brutalism. Many hotels remain operational, maintaining their original roles as affordable retreats. The book, priced at £28 and published by Fuel Publishing, includes an introduction by Caroline Eden, emphasizing the structures' historical context.

🍽 The Original Ivy's Edition Menu Vol. 03, curated by chefs at the West Street restaurant, is available daily from 11:30 am with two courses for £39.95 or three for £49.95. Dishes include Pan-Fried Cornish Hake and Treacle-Cured Pork Cutlet. An 8oz Grilled Sirloin of Beef is available for a £5.95 supplement. Desserts feature classics like Banoffee Pie and Eton Mess. Sean Burbidge emphasizes timeless cooking using quality ingredients.

📚 In a recent article by Professor Robert O’Halloran from East Carolina University, storytelling is highlighted as a crucial tool for businesses aiming to connect with customers. Kemmons Wilson, founder of Holiday Inns, exemplifies this with his "20 Tips for Success," emphasizing work ethic and positive attitude. The article underscores storytelling's importance in marketing, brand loyalty, and educational contexts, enhancing emotional connections and memory retention across various sectors, including hospitality and ecotourism.

🏆 In 2019, Will Prosser, originally from Tui’s graduate program (2012), won the Travolution Rising Star award and is now director of digital marketing & eCommerce. Tobie Bowdler, 2021 winner, progressed to easyJet’s web merchandising manager and trained as cabin crew in 2024. In 2024, Jordy Vernes won and advanced to senior digital manager at Qantas. Boris Bijlstra, last year's winner, co-founded Hubby eSIM three years ago. Nominations close this Friday, 18 September.

🕹 In São Paulo, Brazil, Soho House features a monolithic billiard table with sculptural legs and deep netted pockets in a games room. The navy-topped table matches the room's ornate patterns. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, House Kala by Caceres + Tous offers panoramic jungle and sea views. This lookbook explores billiard tables in various settings, from bars and hotels to homes, showcasing diverse cloth colors like blues, reds, and neutrals for spontaneous play across the globe.

🏘 Georgia O'Keeffe's architectural fascination is showcased in a new exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts from September 11, 2026, to January 3, 2027. Curated by Benjamin W. Colman, the exhibition features 36 paintings spanning nearly 40 years. Highlights include works influenced by O'Keeffe's time in New York and New Mexico, such as "Stables" (1932), "My Shanty, Lake George" (1922), and "Ladder to the Moon" (1958). The show includes immersive elements like a 360-degree video of O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch.

🏨 Up Hotel Agency won seven awards at the 2026 Web Marketing Association WebAwards, including Best Hotel and Lodging Website for Arcus and six Outstanding Website awards. The winning designs emphasize user experience and responsive layouts, integrating booking systems across devices. Websites like Bertrand’s Townhouse, Mayfield Hotels, and Haddington House reflect unique styles and practical navigation. The WebAwards, established in 1997, recognize excellence in design, innovation, and usability, with top entries scoring over 60 out of 70.

💸 The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Airbnb, reveals key insights from a national study on Latino entrepreneurship. Latino contributions to the U.S. GDP exceed $3.6 trillion. Hosting on Airbnb is seen as a pathway to business ownership and financial independence by 84% of Latino adults. Hosting income primarily addresses household expenses (62%) and aids financial security. 91% support fair taxes and safety standards for hosts, favoring balanced regulations to preserve economic opportunities.

🏨 UK, H1 2026, £2.1 billion hotel transactions, up £500 million from 2025, leading Europe with 24% of investment volumes. London, £1.4 billion in deals, key investors from Spain, Italy, Israel, Singapore. 44.2 million visitors and £33.9 billion spending forecasted. Regional market growth uneven; 23 of 32 markets increased RevPAR annually. Owner-operators and private equity: 40% and 37% of London deals since 2024. Room supply grew 0.6% by June 2026.