Miscellaneous

🛩 In 2024, 22% of U.S. flights were delayed, highlighting on-time performance (OTP) as a critical industry metric. However, TNMT's analysis of over 15,000 Tripadvisor reviews from the top five U.S. and European airlines reveals no direct correlation between OTP and traveler satisfaction. Notably, Southwest Airlines achieved high satisfaction with a 78% OTP, emphasizing comfort and crew friendliness as key factors. In contrast, within U.S. legacy carriers, punctuality aligns with satisfaction, with Delta leading. European airlines show a negative correlation, suggesting operational focus may reduce passenger experience quality.

🧁 2022 saw a labor crisis in restaurants, prompting a focus on culture. Dutch Bros (1,083 locations) hires "broistas" to emphasize relationships. Firebirds connects front and back-of-house staff to strengthen culture. South Block grew from 3 to 7 locations in a year, shifting hiring to passion-driven approaches. Executives see culture as a path to profit and opportunity, with Firebirds doubling personal time off for employees. The conversation was part of CREATE: The Event for Emerging Restaurateurs.

🍺 NEIT, in October 2025, collaborated with Chef Endo Kazutoshi to launch Silent Harmony, a limited edition Irish whiskey. Crafted over 34 years since 1991, Silent Harmony is a triple-distilled single malt, priced at £2,995 per bottle. Only 185 bottles will be available, reflecting a blend of tradition and contemporary aesthetics, with floral and herbal notes. This collaboration exemplifies NEIT's storytelling ethos and Chef Kazutoshi's precision in crafting excellence.

🏝️ SCHLOSS Spa at the SCHLOSS Roxburghe hotel won Scotland’s Best Hotel Spa 2025 at the World Spa Awards. This 5-star hotel, located in the Borders, also holds an AA Recommended Spa status. The "Reconnect with Nature" package, priced at £310 per person, includes archery, walks, massages, and more. Set in 300 acres, the estate offers golf, fishing, and whisky tasting. Dining options feature Sunlaws and Charlie’s.

💸 Amazon's "enshittification" journey began with attractive customer offerings, leveraging investor funds to subsidize prices and shipping. Over time, it exploited both users and business clients, enforcing price hikes with tactics like its "flywheel" strategy and excessive fees. Merchants now suffer a 45-51% fee burden, causing inflated prices across platforms. With $50 billion in annual search placement fees, Amazon manipulates search results, making the top listings pricier. This systemic issue requires policy intervention, not individual consumer action.

📚 Fredericia, a Danish furniture brand, launched its first showroom in Tokyo's Omotesando area, collaborating with local studio Flooat. Opened in an industrial concrete building, the showroom blends Danish and Japanese aesthetics, aiming for a gallery-like feel. The design incorporates exposed concrete and neutral colors, highlighting Fredericia's wooden furniture. The space emphasizes craftsmanship and a serene atmosphere, resonating with Japanese home sensibilities. This opening follows another Danish brand, Frama, in expanding into Tokyo.

🛫 Airlines and OTAs risk losing $117 billion in 2025 revenue due to outdated payment systems. A survey of over 1,000 travelers from the US, UK, Brazil, Spain, and Hong Kong shows 17% experience card declines. 13% switch to competitors, and 5% abandon purchases. 92% prioritize payment ease; 60% abandon bookings if preferred methods aren't available. Payment preferences vary: 71% of Brazilians use Pix, while over 40% in the US and UK prefer PayPal.

📖 Joanna Fantozzi, senior editor at Nation’s Restaurant News, boasts 7+ years in restaurant industry journalism. She joined Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in October 2018. Her career includes roles at Insider and The Daily Meal, with contributions to The New York Times and Forbes. Joanna holds a BA in English from The College of New Jersey and an MA in journalism from CUNY. She moderates industry events like MUFSO and Restaurants Rise.

🍽️ Bret Thorn, senior editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, lives in Brooklyn, NY. He studied at Tufts University, Nanjing University, and Le Cordon Bleu. Thorn won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and served as IFEC president in 2005. He wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and was inducted into the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014. Thorn's expertise spans food trends and French and Asian cuisines.

🍴 On September 22, Mexican Sugar, by Texas-based Front Burner Restaurants, opened its fifth location in Addison, Texas, after Dallas and Houston. A 9,000 sq. ft. venue features a tequila display and a 360-degree bar. Unique to Addison is a custom wood-fired oven. The menu includes agave-spirit flights, with happy hour from Monday to Friday, 2-6 p.m. Future locations planned for Austin and Frisco. Mexican Sugar blends Latin American inspiration, crafting dishes from scratch and using fresh ingredients.