Miscellaneous

🍴 Kenny Atkinson's Michelin-starred House of Tides will take over Solaya, a Mediterranean restaurant in London, on Wednesday, 7th October. Located on the 25th floor of art'otel London Hoxton, this event offers a five-course tasting menu at £95 per person. Optional wine pairings are available for £70 or £95. Enjoy dishes like Lindisfarne Oyster and Highland Venison. Experience this unique Northern dining experience amidst stunning skyline views of London.

🏈 IHG Hotels & Resorts, a leading hospitality company with over 6,000 hotels, is the Official Hotel Partner for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia from October 1 to November 13. This tournament will feature 24 teams in 52 matches across seven cities. The partnership aims to enhance fan experiences and utilize IHG's network and 160 million Rewards members, boosting brand awareness and accommodation demand globally and locally.

🍴 Minor Hotels secured 22 Michelin Keys across 18 properties in 2026, with recognition announced on 18 September. Three brands—Anantara, Avani, and Tivoli—are covered. Nine properties received their first Key, including Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur Hotel in India. Africa’s Anantara Stanley and Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel earned 2 Keys. In Europe, three properties gained recognition; Anantara Vienna Hotel received 2 Keys and holds a Michelin Star. Tivoli São Paulo Mofarrej Hotel in the Americas earned 1 Key.

🚗 Škoda, part of VW Group, is expanding its EV lineup with the Epiq, Elroq, and Peaq models. The Elroq offers a range of up to 372 miles with its 84kWh battery. The Epiq is smaller with up to 273 miles range, while the Peaq, a 7-seater, offers up to 397 miles. Prices start at £26,200 for Epiq, £33,970 for Elroq, and £51,980 for Peaq. Škoda ranks 4th among EV makers in Europe, with 30,000 pre-orders for Epiq.

📈 CapitaLand Investment Ltd acquired the 550-key ibis Hong Kong Central and Sheung Wan for HKD2.3 billion, equating to HKD4.2 million per key. Star Asia Investment Management purchased KOKO Hotel Osaka Shinsekai for JPY3.926 billion, and sold Washington R&B Hotel Umeda East for JPY3.01 billion. Banyan Tree Holdings gained a 70% stake in Newmark Hotels for ZAR756 million. Megaworld targets 12,000 hotel keys by 2032, with a PHP27 billion asset infusion into MREIT.

🏨 In the 1970s and early '80s, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, known for the Algonquin Resort, saw an influx of hotel staff each spring from Ontario and Quebec. Local staff mainly worked in maintenance and golf course roles. David Lund, growing up there, experienced the hotel's exclusivity and later gained insight into the hospitality world through a high school romance with the general manager's daughter. This exposure led him to a four-decade career in hospitality management and coaching.

📅 Dara Khosrowshahi, since 2005 at Expedia and now at Uber, has focused on expanding platforms beyond their core services. At Expedia, he broadened the online travel business to include hotels, flights, cars, and packages over a decade. Now at Uber, he is extending from rides to Eats, groceries, and travel services, including hotels, leveraging high-frequency consumer habits to integrate multiple services into one platform.

💪 Loews Hotels & Co launched "Active Stays" on September 9, offering flexible fitness and wellness options across its 18 properties in the U.S. and Canada. The initiative, created with trainer Makena Rae, includes in-room workouts and locally inspired movement experiences. A March 2026 Peloton survey found that 60% of travelers prioritize fitness amenities. Loews properties, including in New York and Chicago, provide curated running maps and special packages, aligning with the growing guest demand for inclusive wellness options.

🖼 Jonny Trunk, a notable archivist and record label owner, showcases retro graphic design in his volume "Holiday Exotica," published by Fuel Publishing. The book, priced at £26.95, highlights vintage holiday brochures from the 1950s to 1980s, capturing the allure and simplicity of graphic design from that era. Trunk's collection offers a nostalgic view of travel marketing, appealing to those interested in visual art and history. Available through Fuel Publishing and Amazon.

🎧 Danish design brand Fritz Hansen collaborated with Technics at the London Design Festival, transforming its Farringdon showroom into four domestic listening scenes. Featuring a 90th-anniversary edition of the Kaiser Idell Luxus lamp and Technics' SL 40CBT turntable, the installation invites guests to explore how sound influences interior experiences until 20 September. The event highlights include a study area with Arne Jacobsen's Ant Chair and a living room featuring Poul Kjærholm's PK31 sofa.