TOP NEWS

🏨 2023, Madrid: Heather Byron and Jordan Kestle introduced the Return on Concierge (ROC) at Les Clefs d’Or. ROC assesses concierges' impact on hotel profitability, considering ancillary sales contributing 10%-15% of total revenue. Upscale hotels aim for 25%-30% of room revenue from ancillary spend. Key metrics include guest satisfaction scores and upsell conversion rates. A Cornell study shows a one-star rating boost allows for up to 11% rate increase. Personal service is crucial per J.D. Power's 2023 study.

📖 2020 Zeno study found brands with a strong purpose increase consumer likelihood to purchase by 4x and champion the brand by 4.5x. In 2023, a Kantar study revealed 52% of 12-29-year-olds prefer classic brands, contradicting the belief they only resonate with older audiences. Timeless brands like Four Seasons and Hermès maintain consistent values and cultural relevance while evolving. Key attributes: clear values, consistent identity, emotional resonance, consistent quality, iconic design, strong branding, and cultural relevance.

💻 Greengage Solutions has revamped its ECOsmart portal, a pioneering AI-supported tool, enabling quicker ECOsmart sustainability certification for the travel, hospitality, and events sectors. SMARTscan completes up to 60% of surveys efficiently by analyzing and extracting data from uploaded resources. It offers tailored sustainability recommendations and ensures compliance with EU’s CSRD. Partnered with Replacer, the portal helps reduce single-use items. This innovation streamlines sustainability management, offering cost-effective certification for businesses lacking dedicated sustainability staff.

Hotels and lodging operators can now automate smart devices, streamline operations, and give guests direct control – all from a single, powerful workflow engine. NEW YORK, 28 MAY 2025 – Guest…

📈 Hotels can turn lost bookings into opportunities by analyzing data from booking engines, metasearch platforms, SEO, and digital ads. Key strategies include user experience audits, personalization, competitive positioning, keyword analysis, and A/B testing. Understanding guest behavior through these channels enables hoteliers to refine approaches, improve conversions, and develop long-term guest relationships. Insights from data can transform digital strategies in the fast-evolving hospitality landscape. Article contributed by Rosalie Stahley, Vice President, Digital Strategy and Innovation at ComOps.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor for Nation’s Restaurant News, has been with the publication since 1999. Previously, he was a columnist for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and sub-editor at Asia Times (1995-1997). Thorn holds a history degree from Tufts University (1990) and studied French cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu (1986). He has also written for publications like Manager magazine and ABC News during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

🌏 Prince Harry urged the APAC travel industry to enhance sustainable practices at Trip.com Group's Envision 2025 Conference in Shanghai, China. APAC is projected to be the top travel market in 2025, valued at $490 billion, with a 33% rise in international arrivals last year. Travalyst's report highlights APAC travellers' preference for sustainable options. Climate change costs $143 billion annually, emphasizing sustainability's urgency. Travalyst, founded in 2019, now includes 13 partners worth over $3 trillion.

🍕 2025, London: Trinity's outside space transforms into "Outside 2025," offering al fresco dining. Led by Chef India, the menu features five staple sandwiches, weekly specials, fresh ciabatta, chips, and soft-serve ice cream. Guests can opt for takeaway or dine in, with a beverage menu including Trinity's beer, wine, gin, and cocktails. This innovative venture, spearheaded by Adam Byatt, marks a shift towards accessible and high-quality dining in the city.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, covers U.S. food trends and guides F&B coverage. Formerly, he was a New York Sun columnist (2005-2008) and Asia Times sub-editor (1995-1997). A Tufts University history graduate with studies in China and France, he won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and led IFEC in 2005. Thorn lives in Brooklyn, NY and has contributed to Oxford food encyclopedias.

🍴 Approximately 14,000 new U.S. food and drink establishments opened in Q3 2024 compared to late 2023. However, 60% of restaurants fail within one year, and 80% within five years. The National Restaurant Association highlights a demand for international cuisine, particularly Asian flavors. A survey of 85 chefs for 2025 trends supports this. Operators should adapt, incorporating international flavors to meet customer expectations and remain competitive in the evolving market.