TOP NEWS

🏨 On August 28, 2025, more than 15,000 European hotels joined a collective lawsuit against Booking.com over rate parity clauses, following the European Court of Justice's ruling on September 19, 2024. Led by the Dutch Stichting Hotel Claims Alliance and supported by HOTREC and 30 national hotel associations, hotels from Italy, Germany, and Greece are prominent participants. The suit will be filed in Amsterdam District Court by year-end. Registration closes on August 29, 2025.

🏨 Luxury isn't a global concept; it's hyperlocal, varying from Dubai's architectural spectacle and boldness to London's heritage prestige and timeless rituals. Dubai features extravagant seven-star hotels and indoor ski slopes, while London's luxury is in discreet service and historical lineage. Tokyo, Paris, and Bali also define luxury uniquely. Leaders must embrace these cultural narratives, focusing on emotional connection and local traditions, to resonate with diverse guests who seek identity and authenticity in luxury experiences.

🍴 Daniel Humm, chef at Eleven Madison Park in New York City, reintroduces meat to his menu on Oct. 14, 2025, after a vegan-only phase since 2021. Influenced by financial reasons and event booking challenges, the $365 tasting menu now includes fish, meat, and duck. Despite a 23% drop in NYC vegan restaurants and a mere 1% vegan population in the U.S., meatless meals remain popular among health-conscious youth. Vegan restaurant sales fell 7.5% by April 2023.

🗺️ Europe’s top attractions are under strain, with a report from Arival and Destination Wayfinder analyzing 56 million reviews across 300,000 listings. Less than 0.2% of destinations account for nearly 50% of traveler reviews. Major cities like Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Amsterdam see over 40% of reviews concentrated on top attractions. The report urges dynamic pricing, equitable access, and diverse experiences to manage demand. Long-term solutions involve public-private efforts to balance tourism benefits.

🍲 Bret Thorn, a food & beverage editor since 1999, covers trends for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. Formerly with The New York Sun (2005-2008), he received the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. Thorn is a Tufts University magna cum laude graduate and a Le Cordon Bleu alumnus. He contributed to Oxford food encyclopedias and was inducted into Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. and his expertise spans global cuisines and restaurant operations.

📈 In Greenville, South Carolina, Hospitality America's PEACH Con 2025 convened over 50 hotel leaders and experts. This three-day event emphasized strategies for boosting performance and adapting to hospitality trends. Keynote speakers included Hospitality America CEO Ben Campbell and Olympian Ryan Lavarnway, focusing on leadership and resilience. Topics such as labor efficiency, AI transformation, and economic outlook were discussed. Plans for an expanded PEACH Con 2026 are already in progress, promising new sponsor activations.

🏨 Hotel consulting expert Jan Adamek leverages 30 years in hospitality to enhance hotel success through four pillars: operations and technology, training, organization, and emotional intelligence. Collaborating with JAN-Hospitality.com, Schulering.com, Systematika.cz, and Vladkavlaskova.cz, the focus is on reducing staff turnover and improving emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence has helped Adamek's hotels achieve #1 guest ratings, transforming it into a measurable skill for sustainable service excellence.

🍲 Bret Thorn, an expert in food and beverage trends, has been with Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999. He won a 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and served as IFEC president in 2005. Thorn graduated from Tufts University in 1990 and studied at Le Cordon Bleu in 1986. He covered the 1989 Tiananmen Square events for ABC News. Thorn contributed to the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America in 2012 and was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014.

🛌 Hourly hotel bookings are gaining traction for business and leisure travelers seeking flexibility. However, risks loom with more than 81% of US sex trafficking cases involving hotels, and over 10% of exploitation reports linked to them. Louisville has banned hourly bookings, and the 2024 Hotel Fees Transparency Act requires compliance. Technology offers solutions like biometric verification, AI monitoring, and blockchain accountability. The American Hotel & Lodging Association's "No Room for Trafficking" campaign and the Safe House Project aim to combat exploitation.

🍽 Asia Pacific's foodservice industry is rapidly transforming, driven by digital ecosystems, bold innovations, and consumer demands. China leads with digital-first strategies, while Southeast Asia adopts personalized and health-focused menus, with hybrid formats in the Philippines and Indonesia. Sessions cover evolving consumer preferences, hyperlocal strategies, and chef collaborations. The focus is on APAC's culinary growth and experimentation, with insights into creating unique guest experiences and sustaining operational excellence across diverse markets.