Miscellaneous

Mauritius-based MJ Holidays selects Influence Society to drive global growth. Influence Society, the digital marketing agency known for its expertise in hospitality branding, has been selected by MJ Holidays, a…

🚢 Riverside Luxury Cruises on the Danube, Mozart ship, offers flexible travel with embarkation at any port in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Guests can choose 3/4-night trips or 2/3-week journeys, appealing to diverse nationalities. With a 2:1 guest-staff ratio, operations remain smooth despite variable schedules. Debuting in 2023, the ship features opulent interiors and a collapsible top deck. Experiences include small-group excursions with local partners, emphasizing exclusivity.

🛅 Check-in processes at hotels can be frustrating. Guests often face lengthy waits without clear reasons and are required to provide information that the hotel already has. Repeated requests for credit card details for deposits create distrust. The initial experience becomes overwhelming with excessive information delivered at once. Ideal check-ins should take under 60 seconds, using pre-filled forms and digital keys when possible, enhancing the feeling of being welcomed rather than processed.

🏠 A few days ago, Texas: After a dozen work trips this year, the writer returns home to his family. He shares a heartfelt moment with his children, Lucas and Ezra, emphasizing "home" as a sense of belonging rather than a place. The article discusses the superficial connections in modern life and the importance of building genuine relationships. Through mutual understanding and kindness, true hospitality can be achieved, spreading the feeling of belonging to others.

🔍 In today's digital era, traditional criticism faces challenges. Economic constraints have dulled professional critics, with legacy media losing prestige and budgets. Example: New York's Le Chêne restaurant received glowing reviews despite mediocre food. Online reviews suffer manipulations like extortion and biased rankings. Influencers prioritize algorithm-driven content over genuine critique, offering free meals in exchange for coverage. Ultimately, reliable recommendations might come from trusted friends rather than critics or algorithms.

📅 Direct Travel Inc has acquired ATPI, creating one of the world's largest travel management companies with over $6 billion in annual revenue. This merger aims to enhance international rollout of Avenir Travel Edition, a real-time intelligence platform. Direct Travel CEO Christal Bemont highlights the strategic fit, enhancing service delivery at scale. ATPI CEO Ian Sinderson emphasizes the shared vision for innovative global travel management, combining specialized services and technology to rival mega-agencies.

🎧 DJ booth designs are captivating audiences worldwide. "Unveiled" in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, features a metallic booth in a VIP area. Sydney's "JAM Record Bar" boasts 15,000 vinyls. Valencia's "Oven" uses red and black wood for an oven-like feel. Brooklyn's "Nursery at Public Records" incorporates a shipping container booth. Kyiv's "Bursa Bar" uses dark wood for acoustics. Seattle's "Supernova" centers around an 8-ft disco ball booth. Tokyo's "Koganeyu" converts a bathhouse into an event space. San Francisco's "Side A" combines design and music in a hub.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor, is renowned for his expertise in food trends, particularly in French and Asian cuisines. He joined Nation’s Restaurant News in 1999, after five years in Thailand. His notable accolades include winning the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and serving as IFEC president in 2005. A Tufts University graduate, Thorn studied at Le Cordon Bleu and in China. He wrote entries for the Oxford Encyclopedia in 2012 and the Oxford Companion in 2015.

🍴 India Doris, chef and owner of Markette in New York City, brings her diverse culinary journey to life in her restaurant. Her grandmother, who emigrated from Jamaica to London, inspired her cooking. After 18 years in the industry, including working for James Kent at Saga and Crown Shy, Markette is her autobiographical culinary expression. Doris highlights the importance of community and recognition in her kitchen, inspired by the support she received from Kent.

📃 Architect Nicholas Grimshaw, a key figure in design, died at 85 this week. His notable works include the Enneüs Heerma Bridge (2001) and the Eden Project in Cornwall. Miss Dior's exhibit launched in Shanghai, spanning 6,800 sq. ft. with 200 items. Invite-only dining is trending in NYC and Virginia. Wellness retreats offer drugs like Ozempic; The Ranch Malibu reports rising usage. The 2025 Gold Key Awards finalists were announced; winners will be celebrated in New York on November 10.