Miscellaneous

🍝 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor, has been with Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999 and joined Restaurant Hospitality in 2016. His career highlights include winning the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and serving as IFEC president in 2005. Thorn, a Tufts University graduate, studied at Le Cordon Bleu and in China. Notably, he contributed to the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America (2012) and was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014.

🏨 SalesAndCatering.com has partnered with Champion Hotels, the largest privately-owned hotel operator in the U.S., to implement STS Cloud across 21 of its over 150 properties. Champion Hotels, based in Oklahoma, aims to optimize sales and event management with this cloud-based platform, which offers end-to-end event management, real-time collaboration, and comprehensive reporting. Mike Farney, Area Director, praised STS Cloud for enhancing communication and decision-making across departments.

🍴 Bret Thorn, host of "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast, is the senior food & beverage editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999. He earned a BA in history from Tufts University in 1990 and studied at Le Cordon Bleu in 1986. Thorn has been involved in journalism since 1989, winning the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. He was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014 and resides in Brooklyn, NY.

🍸 Restaurant operators and bartenders from Austin to Miami and Oklahoma City to Brooklyn are celebrating summer by launching frozen cocktails. From Memorial Day weekend, these creative and classic icy drinks will be available on patios nationwide. Expect to see a range of exciting glassware and garnishes as they experiment with bold new flavors. Don't miss the top 10 must-try frozen cocktails this season!

📰 Ron Ruggless, senior editor at Nation’s Restaurant News, joined in 1992 after a decade at the Dallas Times Herald. Expertise: foodservice mergers, operations, and marketing. Edited Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth. Frequently moderates panels like MUFSO and Horeca Professional Expo. Career includes roles at Dallas Times Herald (1982-1991), Charlotte Observer (1980-1982), and Omaha World-Herald (1978-1980). Connect with Ron via Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok: @RonRuggless.

🏨 The Ritz Paris in France, Aman Tokyo in Japan, and The Peninsula Hong Kong offer urban elegance with amenities like personalized services and art collections. Soneva Fushi in the Maldives and Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora emphasize island retreats with eco-projects and activities like snorkeling. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in France and Raffles Singapore provide historic luxury with features like heated pools. Boutique luxury is highlighted by COMO Hotels and Fogo Island Inn, focusing on wellness and sustainability.

🍮 Jessica McCormack and Nicolas Rouzaud launch a new patisserie, **Cerisier**, in Mayfair on June 2nd. Priced at £17 takeaway and £19 in-store, the dessert features almond and sakura mousse, almond sponge, and cherry confit. It mirrors McCormack’s Fruit Salad jewelry collection. Rouzaud, trained at Le Bristol Paris and The Lanesborough, brings expertise honed at The Connaught. Available through cherry season, this collaboration celebrates artistry and summer’s vibrant spirit.

✈️ Rachel Vandenberg transformed from a hotel owner to a flight attendant by June 3, 2025. In a podcast with Nancy Mendelson from Hertelier, she discusses leading with empathy and enhancing hospitality through a coach approach. Rachel emphasizes that great service starts with the team and shares her inspiration to pursue her dream 30,000 feet in the air. The conversation highlights leadership and service in the hospitality industry.

📈 eDreams ODIGEO reported record profits for fiscal 2025. Cash EBITDA soared 49% YoY to €180.4 million. Prime subscribers increased 25% to 7.26 million, while revenues hit €718 million, a 6% rise YoY. Marginal profit grew 30% to €281.6 million. Cash generation surged 123% YoY to €100 million. Since November 2021, Prime membership quadrupled to 7.26 million and Cash EBITDA skyrocketed 62-fold, reflecting the successful strategic transformation.

✈️ Nauru Airlines, the national airline of Nauru, enhanced its load control with Ink Innovation's cloud-based platform. Operating across the Pacific with Boeing 737s, the airline produces load sheets quickly, within 10 minutes, even during system outages like the one at Brisbane International. The partnership with Ink spans over 15 years, facilitating real-time collaboration and efficient operations, crucial for their unique passenger and cargo mix in remote island destinations.