TOP NEWS

💰 The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, enacted after receiving Royal Assent in May 2022, mandates businesses to distribute 100% of tips to staff. Chef Calum Franklin will oversee Harrods’ The Georgian's evening menu, highlighting British cuisine and his signature pies, after his departure from Holborn Dining Room in summer 2022. Despite a turnover increase from £15.7m to £16.4m in 2023, Richard Corrigan Restaurants reports a £1.1m loss, contrasting with a 7% revenue rise and 57% adjusted EBITDA increase at Virginia Park Lodge, Ireland. Michael O’Hare closes Leeds restaurant Psycho Sandbar after seven months. StreetSmart's charity campaign, starting November 1, 2024, aims to raise funds with over 500 restaurants, including newcomers like Julie's and Kolae in London, and Mana in Manchester.

💸 Small and mid-size hotels rely on the right OTA channel manager to update room availability, pricing, and bookings on platforms like Booking.com and Expedia. A proper channel manager streamlines operations, prevents overbookings, and maximizes revenue. Key considerations when choosing include real-time updates, integration with the Property Management System (PMS), user-friendly interface, dynamic pricing tools, and reporting analytics. Additional factors are OTA network coverage, customer support, cost, and scalability to support business growth.

💲 In June, a report showed 63% of hospitality businesses took a cut of employees’ tips, with 29% using them to cover costs and 28% taking a profitable share. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act, which prohibits businesses from withholding service charges from employees, was enforced this week, aiming to reallocate £200m yearly back to staff. A RSM UK survey found 80% of consumers support staff receiving 100% of tips. Ping Pong, a London-based restaurant chain, faced backlash for trying to circumvent the law with a 15% 'brand charge,' later reducing it to a 5% discretionary service charge distributed to staff.

📝 85% of UK hospitality workers experienced poor mental health in the past year, with 67% desiring more notice of shift patterns. Planday's survey of over 2,000 shift workers informs The Single Biggest Shift campaign, targeting enhanced employee retention and happiness. 15% wouldn't recommend the industry, citing low pay (66%), long hours (57%), and rota control (46%). Currently, 53% plan to leave their jobs, and 68% considered industry change due to erratic scheduling. Planday CEO, Dave Lee, suggests planning shifts ahead and better mental health support to retain staff; 47% prioritize work-life balance, and 25% want regular working patterns.

📈 Acclaimed chef, author, and TV host Carla Hall to keynote at the National Restaurant Association Show 2025, scheduled for May 17-20 at McCormick Place, Chicago. The keynote session is set for May 18, 2025, at 1 p.m. Registration for the event is available with an early bird rate until November 18. Hall, a former "Top Chef" contestant and "The Chew" co-host, will share industry insights and her journey from accountant to culinary icon, aiming to inspire foodservice professionals. Michelle Korsmo, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, will provide an industry outlook and host a Q&A with Hall. Hall's work includes judging on Food Network shows and advocating for causes like No Kid Hungry. The National Restaurant Association Show, started in 1919, is a platform for foodservice innovation and trends.

📣 Cloudbeds, headquartered in San Diego, CA, partners with PXier, enhancing its property management system with sales, catering, and spa software solutions. Cloudbeds, serving properties in 150+ countries, has been honored by Hotel Tech Report (2021-2024) and World Travel Awards (2022), and featured in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 (2023). The integration leverages Cloudbeds’ open API for real-time data sync, centralized event management, and automated spa management, catering to hotels of all sizes.

🏨 On October 3, 2024, Ruby Molly Hotel Dublin, boasting 272 luxury rooms, integrated Shiji's Enterprise Platform to boost automation, consolidate guest data, and enhance efficiency. This technology enables rapid integration of new properties, streamlines check-in/check-out, and supports Ruby's "lean luxury" approach, balancing high quality with cost optimization. Shiji, established in 1998, serves 91,000 hotels and Ruby, starting in 2013, now runs 19 hotels with more upcoming, plus workspaces across Europe.

💡 Hoteliers can achieve energy efficiency without sacrificing guest comfort or incurring high costs. Motion sensors and occupancy-based systems can save energy while advanced sensors recognize sleep mode to maintain comfort. Wireless technology and factory pre-programmed systems reduce installation costs and complexity. Balancing energy code compliance, cost control, and guest satisfaction is key. Strategic planning and the right IoT solutions can transform energy regulation challenges into opportunities for innovation, maintaining both environmental and economic benefits.

🏨 Luxury independent hotel properties have seen a resurgence in 2024, particularly in popular UK destinations like York, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Glasgow. The broader hospitality market in 2024 remains flat, with the global MICE market predicted to grow from $970.76 billion in 2024 to $1,932.73 billion by 2032. Hoteliers face challenges in rate strategies, direct bookings, management costs, and investment in technology and talent. Opportunities lie in long-term planning and personalization to gain competitive advantage.

📅 Cisneros discusses the evolving role of revenue managers in the hospitality industry, emphasizing understanding customer digital patterns and demand. He predicts technology, especially AI, will shape future sophisticated, data-centric revenue management strategies. Mint House uses attribute-based selling, offering services like "Stock Your Stay" for groceries and partnerships with local restaurants for food delivery. He also touches on the challenges of sourcing revenue management talent, highlighting three types of managers: operational, technical, and platform experts.