Miscellaneous

🍱 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor for Nation’s Restaurant News, has been with the publication since 1999. He hosts the podcast "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" and previously wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008). Thorn graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University in 1990 and studied French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in 1986. He has been a member of Phi Beta Kappa and won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Journalism Award.

📑 Hospitality ON invites readers to explore the world of hospitality through expert insights. Membership offers access to exclusive content, job listings, and a comprehensive ecosystem. This opportunity provides industry professionals and enthusiasts with valuable resources and connections.

🏢 Charles Paiement highlights the stark contrast in student housing markets between Montreal and English Canada. With Montreal's 1.5–2 million residents and 250,000 students, a shortage persists, needing 60,000 more beds. Future plans include 597 rooms near Montreal and 120 downtown. International student numbers are impacted by geopolitical issues, yet American student interest grows. Their hospitality-like model, with services such as a 24/7 concierge, focuses on premium experiences over basic offerings.

🛫 Flight Centre UK launched its "This is Awkward" campaign to highlight its full-service travel offerings beyond flights. Running until September 10, 2025, the campaign spans digital, print, and radio, including Classic FM and Gold Radio. With 13 UK stores, the latest opened in North London in July 2025, Flight Centre seeks to boost its brand recognition. The campaign follows the new global tagline: "Your centre for travel" and precedes the "Not just a flight sale" from September 11 to October 1, 2025.

💻 Noida, 28th August 2025: RateGain partners with Profitroom to aid Middle East and Africa hotels in expanding reach via seamless channel connectivity. RateGain operates in 100+ countries, partnering with 3,200+ customers and 700+ partners. Profitroom offers real-time connectivity to 400+ demand partners, enhancing booking and profitability. This collaboration targets hotel growth, reducing OTA dependency, and improving guest experience. Key figures: RateGain founded in 2004, works with top global hotel chains and airlines, headquartered in India.

📰 Joanna Fantozzi, currently a Senior Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News, has over seven years in the restaurant industry. Informed by degrees from The College of New Jersey and CUNY, her career includes roles at Insider and The Daily Meal. Since 2018, she's been with Informa's Restaurant & Food Group, advancing from Assistant Editor (Oct. 2018) to Senior Editor (Aug. 2021). Her expertise spans restaurant innovations and cultural issues, and she moderates industry events like MUFSO and Restaurants Rise.

📖 Saladplate is a content hub for the Hospitality, Food, and Beverage sector under Informa Markets. It offers insights into industry trends through weekly news, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-monthly e-magazine. Users gain access to over 10,000 brands and products and updates from over 35 international trade events.

🚀 Accelya integrates AI in its Sales Audit tool, detecting over 60% of missed revenue earlier, accelerating recovery to weeks. Launched with FLX AIViator, it's trusted by 70+ airlines, reclaiming over $150 million annually. Continuous monitoring, adaptive algorithms, and hybrid intelligence enhance audit accuracy and efficiency. Operating 24/7, it shortens query resolution by 10% and maintains a 100% recommendation rate. Airlines can customize AI models, leveraging the scalable architecture for real-time intelligence and revenue optimization.

📰 Joanna Fantozzi, a senior editor at Nation’s Restaurant News, boasts over seven years of experience in the restaurant industry. She joined Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018. Her expertise includes industry news and cultural issues. Joanna has held positions at Insider and The Daily Meal. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s from The College of New Jersey and a master’s from CUNY. Her editorial work is featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and more.

🍴 During the US Foods event last week in Las Vegas, Matt Bruenderman discussed 10 hidden costs in restaurant operations, emphasizing strategic planning, brand clarity, customer data, effective training, technology adoption, and preventive maintenance. He cited TGI Fridays' past mistakes and highlighted potential savings like a 3% labor cost reduction via scheduling platforms. Emphasizing culture's impact on turnover, he advised listening and feedback. Proper packaging and a focused menu can enhance efficiency and customer retention.