Miscellaneous

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Oman Air and Turkish Airlines expand travel…

✈️ Oman Air partners with Turkish Airlines for loyalty points exchange, enhancing Sindbad members’ benefits on trips to Türkiye, Europe, and more. Following Oman Air’s oneworld alliance entry, members gain rewards across 900 destinations. Despite halving losses to $187 million in 2024, Oman Air plans new routes. In 2025, UK routes add four weekly flights, aiming for double-daily by summer 2026. Point-to-point passengers increased from 75,000 to 200,000 (2024-2025). Oman hotels’ revenues rose 17.3% in early 2025.
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Attraction World Group goes live with…

✈️ Attraction World Group (AWG) and Southwest Airlines have launched a strategic partnership, effective today, expanding Southwest's Getaways by Southwest packages to over 30 destinations. The collaboration includes premium airport transfers and plans to expand through 2025-2026. Accessible via AWG's Experience Connector platform, the initiative aims to enhance holiday planning for North American customers. Through API integration, Southwest customers will have access to flexible, bundled travel packages including air, hotel, and transportation options.
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Quiet luxury: When wealth goes silent

💸 Aug 19, 2025: Wealth is shifting from flashy logos to "quiet luxury" or "stealth wealth." This change favors subtlety and craftsmanship, driven by cultural shifts and generational values. Established wealth ("patricians") prefers subtlety, while new wealth ("parvenus") seeks recognition. Millennials and Gen Z value sustainability and purpose, while older generations focus on longevity and wellness. Inconspicuous luxury leads in mature markets, whereas emerging economies still favor conspicuous consumption. Brands must navigate craftsmanship, heritage, and exclusivity.
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Chef Richard Sandoval adds loyalty program to Chicago lounge Casa Chi

🍴 Chef Richard Sandoval introduced a loyalty program at Casa Chi in Chicago, focusing on Nikkei cuisine, a Japanese-Peruvian fusion. Launched with OpenTable, it offers perks like free appetizers and drinks based on visit frequency. Initial rewards include free guacamole or swordfish dip. After 3, 5, 7, and 10 visits, guests earn additional rewards such as sparkling wine and a “Pour Decisions” Boozy Tea Experience. The program aims to foster deeper guest engagement with personalized experiences.
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Simply Ice Cream Launches 120ml Mini Pots Online for the First Time

🍦 Simply Ice Cream, an award-winning brand from Kent, announced on August 2025 the online launch of 120ml mini pots. Previously available only in 500ml tubs, these mini pots come in four collections: Mini Classics, Mini Fruity, Mini Seasonal, and Little Scoop. Each box contains 12 pots priced at £36, available exclusively on their website. Founder Sally Newall highlights their convenience for sampling new flavors, smaller freezers, and personal indulgence. Crafted with natural ingredients, it’s a true handmade delight.
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Arora acquires QAM office block from Landsec in £245m deal

🏢 Landsec sells Queen Anne’s Mansions in central London to Arora Group for £245m, expected to complete in December 2025. Developed in the 1970s, the fully let lease expires in December 2028. The sale helps Landsec's target of releasing £2bn by 2030. Proceeds, received as a lump sum in 2025, affect EPRA earnings, reducing by £7m in 2026 and £15m in 2027. Landsec's loan-to-value ratio drops by 1.3% to 37.1%. Disposals since March total around £500m.
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Awaze announces its surpassed covid Easter…

🏡 Awaze, the parent company of Hoseasons, Novasol, and cottages.com, achieved record bookings over Easter 2025, with a 6% increase compared to 2022. From April to June 2025, revenues rose by 2% to €93 million, with a 3% increase in occupancy. Repeat bookings accounted for 51% of revenue, driven by customer demand for unique experiences. Awaze offers 105,000 accommodations in over 20 countries, focusing on direct bookings and enhanced customer experiences.
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easyJet extends Travelport content…

✈️ UK-based Travelport renews its content distribution agreement with easyJet, a leading European low-cost airline. Travelport+ users will continue accessing easyJet's retail-ready content, enhancing speed, choice, and flexibility for global travelers. Sheelagh Mahoney, head of distribution at easyJet, emphasizes the partnership's role in their growth strategy. Travelport's Damian Hickey highlights their platform's unique capabilities in offering agents low-cost flights and personalization. This collaboration supports easyJet's expansion on popular European routes.
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New on the Menu: Two seafood dishes and two desserts

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, hosts "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast. He wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and was a sub-editor at Asia Times (1995-1997). Thorn received the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and joined Restaurant Hospitality in 2016. A Tufts University graduate, he studied at Le Cordon Bleu and was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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