TOP NEWS

🍴 Celebrity chefs Todd English and Olivia Ostrow are launching a global kosher hospitality group under Ostrow Global Inc. 🌍 Debuting December 18 in Miami at Maison Ostrow, the project includes restaurants in Miami, New York, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Paris, and London. The first dinner supports Sharsheret, aiding Jewish women facing cancer. The brand aims to elevate kosher cuisine globally, with future expansion plans for a French-English kosher brasserie in New York City. 🍽️

📱 In December 2025, in Auburn, California, VSR and MeetingPackage launched an integration to enhance meetings and events reservations. MeetingPackage now uses VSR's VAIA Conversational AI Assistant to enable direct, 24/7 voice communication for inquiries, event details, and requests in multiple languages, without human intervention. The system can even automate quote generation for customers. The collaboration aims to increase revenue and reduce costs by centralizing sales processes and incorporating advanced voice workflows.

💻 Dubai has launched a revolutionary citywide contactless hotel check-in system, backed by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. This system allows guests to upload IDs, complete biometric scans, and confirm details before arrival. It offers a seamless experience without the need for reception desks or paperwork. Unlike partial solutions in other cities, Dubai's full-stack system requires no hardware overhaul, echoing its advanced biometric use in airports. This sets a global standard in hospitality.

💰 MIAMI—In December 2025, Gencom, Argent Ventures, and Highgate acquired the 607-key InterContinental New York Times Square in Midtown Manhattan. This second Gencom purchase in NYC within 18 months emphasizes their faith in the city's appeal. The hotel will transition from IHG management to a franchise, led by Highgate, which recently invested in the 1,331-room Row NYC. Monroe Capital financed the acquisition, while Eastdil Secured facilitated the transaction.

📖 00:00 - Intro, 02:51 - Growing Up in a Family Hotel, 06:14 - Following Emotion Into a Creative Career, 07:59 - The First Restaurant That Changed Everything, 08:24 - Why Story Matters More Than Style, 09:20 - Designing for Wonder and Escape, 11:24 - Balancing Grit and Beauty, 13:47 - What Theatre Teaches Hospitality, 16:31 - Empathy as a Design Tool, 19:19 - Designing Spaces That Feel Alive, 22:19 - Where to Remove Risk—and Where to Add It, 23:54 - Emotion Is Good Business, 25:39 - Hospitality in an AI-Driven World, 30:09 - Designing from Story and Place, 35:13 - Designing with the Market in Mind, 35:59 - What Being an Owner Changed About His Work, 37:59 - Leading Creative Teams, 44:11 - Social Wellness and the Future of Hospitality.

📊 In 2025, hotel labor dynamics saw significant shifts. Wages, headcount, and overtime were examined, with overtime cut by 50% through strategic tools and housekeeping training. Peter’s Playbook emphasized part-time hiring, cross-training, and flexibility. Department-level productivity improvements focused on guest services, housekeeping, and management. Wage growth and labor cost per occupied room varied by role, with overtime trends signaling future labor strategies for 2026. Aligning labor with real-time demand became crucial.

📈 U.S. Travel Association forecasts a decline in international inbound travel, with visits dropping from 72.4 million in 2024 to 67.9 million in 2025, a 6% decrease. Domestic traveler spending is projected at $1.2 trillion for 2025. Las Vegas expects a 5.8% visitor decline. Restaurants rely heavily on travelers; 47% report decreased tourism-related sales in 2025. Fine dining sees 41% sales from visitors. 2026 may see a rebound due to events like the FIFA World Cup.