Miscellaneous

🏨 NEWH, Inc. announced nominees for the 2026 Pinnacle Award, to be presented March 27, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Nominees include Stacy Elliston, Leigh Mitchell, Trisha Poole, and Stacy Shoemaker Rauen. Elliston, founder of HIVE Collaborative, has 30+ years in hospitality. Mitchell, a Northern California representative, organized NEWH Leadership Conferences. Poole founded Design Poole Inc. in 2000, with projects like Richmond Marriott Short Pump. All nominees exhibit significant contributions to the hospitality and NEWH communities.

📓 New job struggles highlight the gap between perceived competence during interviews and actual skills. Many experience "imposter syndrome," but it's often a rational response to unrealistic expectations. This issue creates high-risk environments where asking for help feels unsafe, leading to inefficiencies. Teams project competence to maintain job security, which thwarts true learning and collaboration. Ultimately, genuine competence requires honesty about knowledge gaps, contradicting current hiring and workplace practices.

📰 AHLA has expanded its Premier Partner program by adding 11 new companies. Silver Partners include Deloitte, PwC, and Quore, while Associate Partners consist of Amazon Web Services, ConnexPay, and others. These partners support AHLA’s mission to protect, unite, and promote the hotel industry by providing insights and trends. Deloitte focuses on strategy and resilience, PwC on efficiency and sustainability, and Quore on operational streamlining to enhance guest experiences.

💰 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.

🍷 Lewis Cellars, a Napa Valley winery with over 30 years of acclaim for its bold wines, unveils a new tasting room. Designed by Lynda Resnick and Bernard Jazzar, the space features 19th-century European-inspired decor, custom floors, and views of the Mayacamas Mountains. With 15 artworks by Zachary Scott, the experience blurs reality and fantasy. The Salon Privé offers a private lounge for two, complete with personalized service and access to the estate’s private cellar.

🏌️ Hand Picked Hotels partners with Basingstoke Golf Club to offer a 'Golf and Stay' package, including golf, overnight stay, dinner, and breakfast. Basingstoke Golf Club members receive discounts at Audleys Wood Hotel, with 25% off afternoon tea and 15% off select food and drinks for up to 12 guests. The hotel, a Grade-II listed 1880s Victorian building, and the golf club, transformed in 2021 with a £20m investment, aim to enhance leisure experiences in Hampshire.

🍴 March 19, 2026, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong celebrates its continued recognition in the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau. Caprice holds three Michelin stars, and Lung King Heen retains two. Floriane Hureau, Senior Sommelier at Caprice, wins the 2026 Michelin Sommelier Award. Caprice's beverage program features over 1,200 wine labels. Charles Fisher, General Manager, praises their team’s dedication in maintaining the hotel's seven Michelin stars.

📈 In 2025, a fast-growing software company held a leadership retreat at a scenic resort, measuring outcomes like engagement, collaboration, and satisfaction. Employee satisfaction scores rose by nearly 20%, proving retreats as strategic investments. Using the Corporate Retreat ROI Model (CRRM), companies see 30% higher engagement and reduced turnover. CRRM focuses on engagement, financial correlation, performance, and retention, turning retreats into measurable successes. A luxury hotel chain using CRRM saw increased corporate bookings.