Miscellaneous

🧀 Strengthening communities through craftsmanship can transform young people, families, and towns. Business should focus on building character and relationships rather than just making money. The true craft is about shaping hearts and souls. The author values work, character, and meaningful relationships, aspiring to emulate supportive friendships like those with Brian and Rebeccah.

🍴 A Street Hospitality, based in Boston, began in 2011 with Trade as the flagship restaurant. Cofounded by Eric Papachristos, Jody Adams, and Jon Mendez, this nine-unit group includes Greek and Mediterranean-themed eateries like Saloniki and Porto. In 2020, the group restructured under a single entity due to pandemic challenges. La Padrona, their latest opening, is critically acclaimed. A Street focuses on perfecting operations and hopes to expand Saloniki, capitalizing on the ease of scaling fast-casual concepts.

🍴 OpenTable and KAYAK, on July 2025, released a list of 100 top hotel restaurants in the U.S., reflecting dining's growing role in travel decisions. Key stats show 47% of Americans book trips for restaurants, with KAYAK seeing a 51% rise in its "restaurant" hotel filter usage. Surveys reveal 73% would revisit hotels for dining, and 38% choose hotels based on restaurants. The list includes venues from Arizona to Virginia based on OpenTable and KAYAK data.

📲 Extended Stay America (ESA) launches Client Connect, a business travel program, in Charlotte, North Carolina, offering tailored services for business travelers requiring extended stays. With over 30 years experience and 700+ locations, ESA focuses on personalized partnerships, competitive rates, and flexible policies. The program addresses needs of construction crews, traveling nurses, and military personnel, providing dedicated account management, streamlined booking, and a Direct Bill Program. Available immediately, enhancements are underway.

🍕 Domino’s Pizza saw a 5.8% increase in carryout comps for Q2 2025. The introduction of the Parmesan-Stuffed Crust Pizza late in Q1 attracted new customers. CEO Russell Weiner reported successful execution and positive customer feedback during an earnings call. A “best deal ever promotion” offers any pizza with any toppings for $9.99 via mobile app or dominos.com until August 3, providing value for cash-strapped consumers.

🛫 Trevolution Group reported $627.41 million in bookings and 508,333 airline tickets sold in H1 2025. Canada saw a 164% demand increase, while Italy's demand dropped 24%. Business class demand rose by 32.43%, with 57,421 tickets sold. 88.69% of tickets were economy class. Travel planning shifted earlier, with 31% booking 90+ days ahead, while shorter trips became popular. Dreampass app exceeded 37,000 members. The younger demographic grew, but seniors aged 90+ remain the largest customer group at 31.19%.

🎶 ILC's Confab in Chicago witnessed a vibrant gathering of hoteliers and designers focused on crafting meaningful experiences. Bespoke Sound curates music to foster a sense of belonging, introducing new clients like Goldener Hirsch in Park City and Baker's Place in Madison. Their recent rebranding, in collaboration with Vasily Grogol and Bursa Studios, emphasizes minimalism and intention, reflected in their new visual identity and website. Meanwhile, old-school letter-pressed business cards by Casual Letterpress highlight their commitment to quality.

🛫 Etraveli Group, headquartered in Stockholm, partnered with KKR as a new minority investor alongside CVC Capital Partners, who acquired it in 2017. The new strategic partnership aims to bolster Etraveli's global expansion. An eight-year agreement with Booking.com, active since 2019, continues. Etraveli also launched a Fintech division offering Precision, a fraud management tool for airlines. CEO Mathias Hedlund emphasized innovation and global growth with CVC and KKR. Financial details remain undisclosed.

📱 Thomas Cook, the UK's oldest travel agency, now part of eSky Group, launched its first app on iOS and Android. This app allows users to book ATOL-protected dynamic packages from hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels globally, all in one transaction. Chief Holidays Officer Alan French highlighted the growing mobile trend, emphasizing the app's role as both a booking tool and a personal travel guide. Developed in-house, it supports Google Pay, Apple Pay, Mastercard, and Visa.

💰 Paid $27 for a ride less than a mile via Uber, with the driver receiving only $6. Non-surge fares for similar distances are around $4. The gig economy platforms benefit from surge pricing, often leaving drivers with a small fraction. California challenges these platforms due to unfair practices. The digital economy needs a serious reevaluation to ensure fair compensation for service providers. Until reforms occur, these platforms remain exploitative in nature.