Miscellaneous

🍴 February saw a 4.7% rise in delivery sales for UK restaurants compared to February 2025, outpacing the nation’s inflation rate. This follows January’s 7.4% increase. The NIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker attributes this growth to new delivery offers and wet weather conditions, which encouraged more at-home dining despite a sharp reduction in takeaway orders. Powered by CGA intelligence, these trends show a strong shift towards home-based dining experiences.

👟 HOFF, a sneaker brand, opened a 6,458-square-foot flagship store on Calle Velázquez, Madrid. Designed by El Departamento, the store's interior features zones with natural lime mortar, local stone, and stainless steel. The space includes a café, Sneaker Lab, Gallery, and a multipurpose Work—Shop. Highlights include pink olivillo marble, bespoke terrazzo flooring, and sculptures by Sara Regal, Casa Antillón, and Elisabeth Blumen. The upper floor hosts cultural programming and private meetings.

📚 At 18, Nadia Panasyuk began her hospitality career in Atlanta as a PBX operator. Over a 20+ year career, she held positions including Vice President of Revenue Strategy at First Hospitality. In 2025, women made 80% of travel decisions and 64% of global travelers were women, prompting First Hospitality to promote women like Jenna Fishel and Christina Santarelli. Nadia's mentors include Harry Carr, and her values are inspired by her father's escape from the Soviet Union.

💸 In 2025, the lodging industry progressed in promoting women to leadership roles, with increased decision-making positions across operations and finance. Mentorship transitioned to sponsorship, providing women with real ownership. Platforms like Women in Lodging enhanced visibility. Maha Shah, inspired by her father's hotel investment advice at age 11, now pursues an MBA at Cornell Johnson. She foresees a 2026 focus on diversity, with clearer leadership pipelines and stronger promotion accountability.

🛫 Markwayne Mullin was confirmed as U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, impacting the travel industry. Rosanna Maietta, CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, highlighted the need to end the shutdown affecting the travel sector. The disruption, mainly at airports, affects TSA operations, causing traveler uncertainty. There's a call for swift action to resume TSA work and ensure their pay. This aims to restore travel confidence and benefit communities nationwide.

💰 AHLA, March 2026, announced 11 new companies joining its Premier Partner program. Silver Partners include Deloitte, PwC, and Quore. Associate Partners are Amazon Web Services, ConnexPay, EDS Service Solutions, Enseo, Hapi, MindClick, PepsiCo, Purchasing Management International, and Signal Restoration. These partners provide strategic insights and trends to AHLA members, enhancing guest experiences and operational efficiency. Rosanna Maietta, AHLA CEO, emphasized the importance of these partnerships in meeting evolving hotel guest expectations.