Miscellaneous

📑 Ron Ruggless, senior editor at Informa Connect's Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1992, previously worked at the Dallas Times Herald (1982-1991) and edited the Zagat Dining Guide. Based in Dallas-Fort Worth, he moderates industry events worldwide. His expertise covers foodservice mergers, acquisitions, and marketing. Follow Ron on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok @RonRuggless.

📈 Restaurant traffic is down despite increased menu innovation and consumer-facing technology. In Las Vegas, David Henkes highlights low consumer confidence, which has dropped 14 index points since 2023, as a major factor. A 10-point decline in confidence could reduce traffic by 0.5% to 2% within two months. From 2023-2025, inflation and layoffs further erode confidence. July's menu prices rose 3.9%, surpassing a 2.7% CPI increase. QSR prices rose 1.3% YoY in Q2 2025, slowing from 10.6% in Q2 2023.

🏨 Hospitality ON provides an expert look into hospitality. Membership grants access to exclusive content, jobs, and more. The image URL suggests a possible focus on hospitality-related visuals, but no specific statistics, dates, or detailed events are mentioned in this excerpt. The article emphasizes the benefits of becoming a member for comprehensive insights into the hospitality industry.

🏨 Holiday Inn Express and Ibis Styles Burton Upon Trent joined Burton Albion FC as bronze partners. Holiday Inn Express has operated since 1997, and Ibis Styles marks its first anniversary. Both hotels are managed by HCM Midlands under IHG and Accor franchises. Alan Northern, the general manager, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. HCM Midlands also runs hotels in Swindon, Cardiff, and Wimbledon. Ibis Styles caters to long-stay guests with in-room kitchens.

🛠 Recoire, a luxury furniture manufacturer, offers bespoke pieces for residential and commercial use. Harriet Nicholls utilized their expertise for a Suffolk farmhouse design. The Library Arm Chair, upholstered in 7 meters of Susan Deliss fabric, and a custom ottoman feature prominently in the space. Recoire employs 12 skilled artisans, combining traditional and modern techniques, operating from their London warehouse. With over 25 years in the industry, they tailor furniture to client needs with precision and quality.

📅 October 16, 2025, Milan, Italy: EFCEM will meet at HostMilano, focusing on global foodservice equipment industry challenges. This follows a successful meeting in London, June 17-18, 2025. FEA aims to strengthen ties with international partners like NAFEM (USA) and NAFES (Australia/New Zealand) amidst rising costs and skill shortages. FEA CEO John Cunningham emphasizes collaboration, noting Europe as a crucial trading partner. FEA members will also exhibit at HostMilano. Contact: john.cunningham@fea.org.uk.

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💰 Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) partners with The Wolseley Hospitality Group, allowing GHA Discovery programme members to earn and redeem rewards at nine London restaurants. The Wolseley's portfolio includes The Wolseley on Piccadilly, The Wolseley City, and others. GHA Discovery covers over 850 hotels in 100 countries and uses Discovery Dollars (D$), equivalent to USD 1 or 74p. This collaboration expands the program's value, enhancing dining experiences by integrating iconic destinations.

✈️ Sabre renews its long-term partnership with oneworld, a leading global airline alliance, using PRISM, a cloud-based corporate travel data platform. Over 30 airlines and alliances utilize this solution to manage corporate sales. Sabre emphasizes PRISM's role in advancing personalized, data-driven airline retailing. Darren Rickey highlights PRISM's unique capability in leveraging real-time intelligence and predictive analytics. This renewal reinforces Sabre’s influence in global travel markets.