Miscellaneous

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality, has been with NRN since 1999. He served as president of IFEC in 2005 and won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. Thorn, a Tufts University graduate, studied at Le Cordon Bleu. He worked for ABC News during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Thorn wrote for New York Sun (2005-2008) and contributed to Oxford's food encyclopedias in 2012 and 2015.

🎤 On Wednesday, The Music Center in Los Angeles announced a new multi-year partnership with Sodexo Live! for handling food and beverage services at venues like Walt Disney Concert Hall and more. Chef Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne will lead catering as Hope & Grand Events by Lucques. The center features restaurants like Kendall’s Brasserie, with a new eatery opening next year. Sodexo Live! serves other notable venues like the Eiffel Tower and Hollywood Bowl.

🚄 Toronto to Vancouver on VIA Rail's The Canadian spans four days. Essential packing includes a carry-on with necessities, as checked luggage is inaccessible during the trip. Sleeper Plus Class costs $1,500-$4,000 CAD, offering a cabin, meals, and dome car access. Arrive in Toronto a day early to explore, then unwind in Vancouver with a walk or dinner post-arrival. The journey emphasizes scenery, connections, and adapting to 'train time' over speed.

🛩 SmartLynx Australia, formerly Skytrans, is an Australian airline rebranded by Avia Solutions Group in 2024. The airline expanded its fleet with Dash 8-200 and Airbus A319, totaling 13 aircraft. The rebranding aligns with Avia's growth strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. SmartLynx Australia focuses on ACMI services, aiming to lead this market by the end of 2025. Avia acquired the company in March 2024, enhancing its global expansion and mitigating seasonal demand fluctuations.

🥚 Marco Pierre White, renowned chef, introduces savory cocktails featuring seasonal ingredients, including heirloom tomatoes, using Mr. White’s Gin. In September, try "Mr. White’s Garden" with 50ml of gin, 25ml homemade tomato shrub, 10ml dry vermouth, and optional 5ml sugar syrup. Tomato shrub ingredients: 360g ripe tomato, 235ml vinegar, 200g sugar, basil, and peppercorns. Mr. White’s Gin, priced at £32.99 for 70cl, is available at Sainsbury’s, Thresher’s, and other retailers.

✈️ Air India deploys SITA’s OptiFlight and eWAS technologies to cut carbon emissions by 35,000 tons annually. These tools optimize flight phases and provide real-time weather updates, enhancing efficiency and safety. Currently active on Air India's Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 fleets, the technology will expand to their widebody fleet. The initiative aligns with Air India’s modernization strategy, addressing sustainability and operational efficiency amid industry pressures.

📈 July 8, 2022, Prabhash Bhatnagar reports on the hospitality and tourism industry’s recovery post-COVID-19 pandemic standstill. The pandemic caused a significant disruption, leading to a slow and challenging recovery. The focus is on the future trajectory of these industries, highlighting the struggle to regain pre-pandemic momentum. The article underscores the persistent impact of COVID-19, emphasizing the need for strategic adaptations to navigate ongoing challenges successfully.

📈 The Consumer Price Index rose by 2.9% in August 2025, the highest since January, with Trump's tariffs impacting inflation. Food prices increased by 3.2% annually, with grocery prices up 2.7% and restaurant prices up 3.9%. The South led menu price growth at 4.1% annually. Grocery inflation outpaced restaurant prices for the first time since March. Despite this, restaurant inflation surpassed grocery inflation for 29 consecutive months. Analysts suggest inflation impacts restaurant sales in 2025.

🍹 The Ixian Grand & All Suites in Rhodes, a five-star adults-only resort, is hosting an exclusive mixology event on 19th August, led by Michele Lombardi from Four Seasons Hotel London. The resort introduces KYMA, a dining series featuring top chefs: Charis Nikolouzos (30 July), Ilias Kiazoli (20 August), and Dimitris Tsikilis (2 September), showcasing modern Greek cuisine through one-night-only experiences. 🌊🍸

🏀 Village Hotels extends its partnership with AFC Bournemouth into its 11th season, continuing gym and facility access for the club’s women’s, development, and academy players. Located near Vitality Stadium, Village Hotel Bournemouth offers a gym, pool, steam room, and spin studio. They'll have a presence on selected matchdays and support The Net, the club's business group. Faye Goddard from Village Hotels and Rob Mitchell from AFC praise the partnership's growth.