Miscellaneous

🏨 Atlanta-based Hospitality Lodging Systems (HLS) becomes the exclusive franchise and management company for Live In Lodge through a long-term licensing agreement with S&S Hospitality. HLS takes over seven properties in Georgia, totaling 992 rooms. HLS operates 69 hotels, including 35 Budgetel, 25 AmeriVu, and 9 Haven Hotel properties. The partnership aims to expand the Live In Lodge brand and offer affordable extended-stay accommodations, enhancing guest experiences and owner profitability.

💄 BIG BEAUTY, a 10-day celebration, debuts in Covent Garden from September 4-14, 2025. The event features immersive pop-ups like Elemis' Skin Spa, Dolce & Gabbana's lemonade cart, and Ancient and Brave’s collagen coffee bar. Fragrance enthusiasts can explore the ‘Fragrance Garden’ with brands like Jo Malone and Penhaligon’s. The event also offers fitness classes with Peloton, skincare consultations, and masterclasses from beauty giants like Charlotte Tilbury and MAC. Enjoy exclusive offers, interactive sessions, and wellness experiences.

📈 At D-EDGE, 17,000 hotels benefit from an all-in-one platform optimizing distribution. Features include a powerful channel manager for direct and indirect distribution, premium connectivity with partners like Egencia and Booking, and support from an expert team to enhance GDS visibility. Hotels also gain access to preferential travel agency rates and resources, such as the Consortia Guide, for strategic partner selection.

🍗 Wan Kim, CEO of Smoothie King, will expand his restaurant portfolio by opening Flock & Fresh in winter 2025 or early 2026 at Dallas' Old Town Shopping Center. The 2,600 sq. ft. space will seat 42 inside and 42 on an open-air patio. Flock & Fresh will feature wellness dining with cage- and hormone-free chicken, and a variety of house-made sauces. Kim also opened Nuri Steakhouse ($20M) in August 2024 and JOA Grill in 2023.

📅 Crestline Hotels & Resorts, LLC, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, celebrated its 25th anniversary. Founded in 2000, Crestline manages 120 hotels and conference centers across 25 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, with more properties planned. CEO James Carroll emphasized their dedication to superior operations and innovative strategies. Supported by Barceló Hotel Group, Crestline aims to enhance asset value and deliver exceptional guest experiences, positioning itself as a leader in hospitality management.

💳 Accor announced ALL Accor+, a global subscription platform launching in 2026 to unify regional programs with four cards: Explorer, Voyager, ibis, and Signature. Tailored to diverse travel styles across 4,500 hotels, benefits include discounts and exclusive offers. Signature targets Brazil, priced at 135€ annually. The initiative aims to boost personalization, engaging over 100 million members since 2019. Accor partners with 110 global companies to enhance value and drive direct bookings.

✈️ Technology providers play a crucial role in the airline and travel industry, facilitating over a trillion dollars in air travel sales annually. Key players include Amadeus, Sabre Corporation, and PROS for airline distribution technology, Travelfusion and Duffel for content aggregation, and Spotnana and KAYAK for travel seller technology. These technologies range from legacy Passenger Services Systems to modern Offer & Order Management Systems and NDC APIs, enhancing distribution efficiency and enabling modern retailing.

📱 In 2001, Steve Jobs launched the Apple Store, consulting Bernard Arnault. Apple's revenue stands at $5,546 per square foot, while Louis Vuitton generates $100M+ per flagship annually. Apple's model focuses on accessibility, hospitality, and open architecture, while Louis Vuitton emphasizes exclusivity, cultural landmarks, and heritage storytelling. Apple's $17,000 Watch Edition failed to merge luxury with technology. Both brands showcase how innovation and heritage contribute to thriving retail strategies.

🍽 Saudi Arabia's foodservice patronage has declined. Consumers prefer purchasing foodservice for regular meals, with Middle Eastern cuisine being the most popular by a significant margin. However, sauces for proteins are generally less appealing in Saudi Arabia compared to other countries.

💻 Tony Fernandez, CEO of MTech Mobility, and Richard Newman, Chief Strategy Officer at Scale Computing, discussed challenges in scaling restaurant technology. Fernandez compared the process to solving a Rubik’s Cube, emphasizing unique solutions. Newman highlighted cost control as crucial, warning about spiraling expenses. Tim Tang from Hughes advised ensuring technology offers clear value to franchisees. Newman further stressed the need for a stable, scalable infrastructure and cautioned against transactional vendor agreements that hinder growth.