Miscellaneous

🍽 Bret Thorn has been the senior food & beverage editor for Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999. In 2005, he served as president of the International Foodservice Editorial Council. He was awarded the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award for his column. He studied at Tufts University and Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, and worked for ABC News during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. Thorn is based in Brooklyn, NY, and runs a podcast, In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn.

🍴 Hai Hospitality will open Uchibā, a Japanese cocktail bar and restaurant, in Charlotte's Plaza Midwood in early 2026. The 2,200-square-foot venue will have a 24-seat bar, a 38-seat dining room, and a 1,500-square-foot rooftop for 60 guests. Chef Shaun King will lead the kitchen, inspired by Japanese flavors. Uchibā adds to locations in Dallas (2018) and Austin (2023). The design is by Hai Design Studio and Mother Studio.

🛢 Hilton, in collaboration with Explora Journeys, will allow Hilton Honors members to earn and use points for cruises starting summer 2026 in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Caribbean. Explora Journeys plans a fleet of six ships by 2028. A limited-time offer till June 7, 2026, includes 100,000 bonus points per suite and up to $/€400 Journey Experience Credits. AAA projects 21.7 million Americans will cruise in 2026, an increase of 4.5% from 2025. Hilton Honors has 235 million members.

🌐 Hubby eSIM partners with Flight Centre Travel Group to offer global mobile connectivity through the new World360 Rewards programme. Launched last month, the $249 AUD-a-year Member Plus tier includes a complimentary eSIM, offering mobile data in over 200 destinations. Members earn points when traveling or shopping with 300 partners, redeemable on travel services. Boris Bijlstra highlights the practical benefits of reliable mobile internet for travelers, while James Kavanagh emphasizes enhanced connectivity for Australians abroad.

🛩 Travelsoft forms a strategic alliance with Gekko Group, integrating Teldar Travel and Infinite inventories into Travelgate and Travel Compositor. This move expands real-time hotel access for travel agencies, boosting visibility and distribution. Fabrice Perdoncini, CEO of Gekko Group, and Christian Sabbagh, CEO of Travelsoft, emphasize their commitment to enhancing travel technology solutions and meeting industry needs. The collaboration strengthens Travelsoft's pivotal position in the travel tech ecosystem.

✈️ Airlines face a "perfect storm" of challenges in 2023, including trade policy shifts, rising costs, and demand for personalization. Accenture reports 70% of travelers prefer booking through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). Modernizing order management systems can enhance customer loyalty and operational efficiency. 44% of travelers would change airlines for real-time improvements. Airlines must integrate real-time data to deliver seamless, personalized experiences and maintain competitive advantage.

🍴 In 2025, notable restaurant concepts emerged across the U.S., particularly in New York, California, Boston, Nashville, and Washington, D.C. Highlights included celebrity-owned eateries, international expansions, sports bars, and unique pizza places. Standout locations ranged from a converted boogie board factory to a restaurant near the White House. These venues showcased innovative flavors and local ingredients, and they captured the attention of food enthusiasts. Explore the top 10 restaurant stories that captivated readers this year.

📚 Joanna Fantozzi, a Senior Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News, has over 7 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry. From August 2021, she’s held her current role at Informa Restaurant & Food Group, having progressed from Assistant Editor since October 2018. Joanna holds a bachelor's degree from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree from CUNY. Her work is featured in The New York Times and Forbes, focusing on restaurant news and cultural issues.

📰 Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, based in NYC, is the content manager for Informa’s Restaurant and Food Group since February 2020. Previously, she served as the digital content manager (April 2018-Feb. 2020) and digital content producer (June 2016-April 2018) at the same company. Her career includes roles at Mail Online (2014-2016) and Gannett's Phoenix Design studio (2012-2014). She has a journalism degree from Arizona State University. Follow her on Twitter @LeighAnneZin.