TOP NEWS

🍽 Anne Burrell, 55, died on June 17, 2025, at her Brooklyn home. Born on September 21, 1969, in Cazenovia, NY, she was a Food Network star, known for "Worst Cooks in America." Burrell graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and authored two cookbooks. She supported several philanthropic causes, including the Garden of Dreams Foundation. Survived by her husband Stuart Claxton, his son, and her children, Burrell's culinary legacy and philanthropic commitments remain influential.

🏁 2025, Le Mans saw a record 332,000 spectators at the 24 Hours race, up from 329,000 in 2024. Tickets sold quickly despite a €20 price increase over two years. Hotel occupancy dropped to 85.5%, down 6.9 points from 2024, due to the rise in short-term rentals. Local accommodations, extended stays, and 45% local spectatorship contributed to the trend. Jean-Jacques Foignet of Sarthe Tourism sees the event as an economic boon for the region.

✈️ TransPerfect partners with TAP Air Portugal to translate digital content into 12 languages using GlobalLink technology. TAP operates from Lisbon, connecting over 90 destinations, aiming to enhance multilingual communication for millions of travelers. GlobalLink, integrated with Adobe Experience Manager and Salesforce Connect, simplifies and accelerates content delivery. Sara Walter de Freitas, TAP's Digital Director, emphasizes meeting customer expectations, while TransPerfect's President, Phil Shawe, underscores commitment to supporting TAP and Portugal.

💸 Outpayce from Amadeus collaborates with a leading network airline to develop an automated reconciliation system, now deployed across the airline's operations. The system leverages native access to airline sales and payment data, achieving industry-leading reconciliation ratios with smart algorithms. It detects discrepancies, understands chargeback statuses, and prevents unpaid ticket issues. Outpayce's Reconciliation module, part of the Xchange Payments Platform, enhances accounting clarity and optimizes payment processes for airlines globally.

🍽 Phila Lorn, chef and co-owner of Mawn in Philadelphia, won the 2023 Emerging Chef award at a James Beard Foundation gala in Chicago. Bûcheron in Minneapolis was named Best New Restaurant. The foundation, since 1991, adapted its awards to include social responsibility, boosting smaller markets. New beverage awards recognized Identidad Cocktail Bar (San Juan), Arjav Ezekiel (Austin), and Ignacio Jimenez (NYC). Key winners included Jungsik Yim (NYC) and Frasca Food and Wine (Boulder).

💻 Carl Winston, from the Payne School at San Diego State University, addressed AI's impacts on hospitality at HITEC 2025, urging ethical scrutiny. AI's bias, data misuse, and job impact are immediate concerns. For instance, a 2023 study predicts AI could match a country's electricity use by 2030. AI reflects societal biases, and unchecked data can harm operations. Emphasizing transparent, inclusive AI practices, Winston advocates training staff and planning for tech failures to mitigate risks.

💻 Since 2020, Jurny has raised approximately $16 million in funding. Jurny launched Jurny Virtual in 2021, and its Management Operating System in 2022. In 2023, they introduced JurnyOS 2.0 and NIA, evolving into multi-agent tools in 2024. The latest, JurnyOS 3.5, offers advanced AI capabilities. Notable industry leaders, like Paul Tuscano, joined their advisory board. AI adoption is crucial, enhancing efficiency and personalization, with a potential 30% boost in guest retention through hyper-personalization.

📖 Sam Seigler, Managing Director at Trinity Bridge, emphasizes the role of effective leadership in hospitality recovery, highlighting strategic hiring, innovation, and succession planning in a fast-changing global landscape. Modern leaders must prioritize people, embrace change, and balance strategy with hands-on management. With a focus on diversity, technology, and long-term talent investment, Seigler advocates for empowering management and recruiting from diverse sectors to enhance performance and adaptability in the hospitality industry.

💬 VSR introduces VAIA® at HITEC in Indianapolis, Booth 3214. VAIA, a multimodal AI voice assistant, enhances guest satisfaction and hotel efficiency. Available in multiple languages, it handles queries via voice, text, chat, and email without app downloads. VAIA integrates with PMS, POS, and over 7,000 apps for seamless operations. It's deployable in days, reduces front desk workload, and boosts revenue through upselling. VAIA is PCI, GDPR, and HIPAA compliant, ensuring secure guest data management.