Miscellaneous

🍴 Bret Thorn is a senior food & beverage editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999. He also joined Restaurant Hospitality's staff in 2016. Thorn hosted a podcast and wrote the Kitchen Dish column for The New York Sun (2005-2008). A Tufts University graduate, he studied at Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, and in China. His NRN column won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. He contributed to the Oxford Encyclopedia (2012) and was inducted into Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, NY.

🍴 President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C. on Aug. 11 led to a significant drop in restaurant reservations, declining 16% initially and 31% by Aug. 13. There was a slight recovery by Aug. 16, but reservations remained down by 20% year-over-year. Prior to this, D.C. experienced 11 months of growth. 380 restaurants are participating in the Summer Restaurant Week, crucial for post-pandemic recovery. The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington remains optimistic about increased reservations.

📍 Find the perfect event venue in three phases! Phase 1 involves using online platforms and specific queries to narrow options. Phase 2 focuses on venue vetting by examining capacity, location, ambiance, budget, and rules. Phase 3 includes city-specific examples like London, Miami, and Tel Aviv, each offering unique venue styles. Utilize services like rsrv.rest for effective venue comparison in these diverse locations. This structured approach ensures an ideal match for any celebration.

✈️ 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.

✈️ 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.

🍴 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.

Monday 18 August, 2025 – SAN DIEGO –  Casago, the premier vacation rental property management company known for its franchise-first model, has partnered with current franchise Casago San Diego to manage more than…

🍦 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.

🏡 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.

✈️ 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.