Miscellaneous

🏨 Helene Okabe's 18-year career at Concord includes leadership in Concord’s Emerging Leaders Mentor Program and cofounding CWomen, an affinity group for women. In 2025, she was promoted to senior vice president. Concord introduced its first NYC properties and launched the first U.S. Canopy by Hilton in D.C. Mentors like Will Loughran and Debra Punke taught her creativity and intentional leadership. Okabe sees progress in female leadership and anticipates diversity growth in 2026 and beyond.

🏡 Located in La Jolla, San Diego, Fleurette is a restaurant designed by Studio UNLTD, showcasing chef Travis Swikard's Southern Californian and French Riviera influences. The venue features a sail-like ceiling, rust-colored steel exterior, and an elliptical travertine bar. The interior includes blue velvet seating, terrazzo floors, and oceanic stone accents. Fleurette offers a glass-enclosed wine room and greenhouse dining area, enhancing the maritime theme with dynamic fabric lighting and intimate dining spaces.

📚 Lindsey Goedeker highlights her career in hospitality, inspired by her mother and early hotel experiences. Notable moments include attending a 2024 Accor conference in Dubai, transitioning from student to industry participant. In 2025, women held 25% of C-suite roles, with significant appointments like Rosanna Maietta at AHLA. Goedeker calls for addressing the "broken rung" at the managerial level. Looking to 2026, she advocates for diversity, encouraging women to apply for roles and fostering a supportive environment.

☕ In July 2025, Luckin Coffee, China’s largest coffee chain, boasted over 22,000 stores domestically and approximately 4,000 internationally. China’s branded coffee outlets surged by 58% last year, surpassing the US with over 49,000 locations. Luckin Coffee's collaboration with Moutai led to the viral success of the Jiangxiang Latte, selling 5.42 million cups on launch day, featuring Moutai liquor-flavored milk with 0.5% alcohol, embracing the Guó Cháo movement.

🏖 Discover why repeat visitors are crucial for destinations. Many locations prioritize new arrivals, neglecting the loyal guests who return. These loyal visitors don't depend on ads—they return for the familiar experience they love. Ignoring return rates can lead to constant spending on new visitors, which isn't growth, but churn. Track repeat visits to foster lasting tourism success; cultivating loyal guests costs less and stabilizes demand over time. Prioritize loyalty, not just arrivals.

🏠 Casolare Scarani in Puglia, Italy, was transformed by Studio Andrew Trotter from a 19th-century school into a serene home, retaining its original vaulted ceilings. Mourning Dovecote in Sonoma, USA, was designed by Neal Schwartz with a chapel-like extension featuring a skylight. Vaulting Loft in London, UK, by Mata Architects, boasts cathedral-like wooden ceilings. In Hong Kong, NC Design & Architecture transformed a six-storey residence with arches and marble. A2 Architects designed Gate Lodge in Navan, Ireland, with a cruciform plan.