February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day | Zaxby’s created a TikTok #ZaxofKindness challenge
17-2-2021
Mascot Big Z is spreading the love, because who doesn’t want free air hugs? Today is ‘Random Acts of Kindness Day’ and although we are still not really used to the ‘Days celebrations’ from the US, we spotted this fast casual concept Zaxby’s, with 900 locations in 17 states with its headquarters in Athens, Georgia, playing with the principle of this idea. Zaxby’s, the beloved chicken restaurant chain, is adopting the ‘Random Act of Kindness Day’ and tries to make it popular by starting the #ZaxofKindness movement on social media. Although we spotted a lot of ‘random acts of kindness’ here as well, like for example the #socialfries at our Dutch Friethoes. With the corona crisis they offer their customers the possibility to donate an extra fries for those who can’t afford. At their social media they show how many ‘frietjes’ (portions of fries) have been handed out! We love this idea and acts of kindness will always be appreciated, every day of the year! Let’s hope more people and businesses will offer their random act of kindness! Check out the #ZaxofKindness on TikTok in this article.
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Claridge’s handcrafted eggs return this Easter | Are you ready to create your own tradition for Easter?
16-2-2021
We still enjoy the thought of our delicious meal from Valentine’s Day but restaurants and hotels are already focussing on Easter. We received the first press release already before Valentine’s Day. Lets hope that restaurants are already allowed to open by April 4 within limited regulations. We love to write about trendy subjects, but some classic, annual anticipated traditions are great as well. And we hope that those mostly English traditions inspire other restaurants to create their own tradition! Check out the images of the annually-anticipated Claridge’s Easter Eggs above! Next to all their other Easter festivities their eggs delight chocolate lovers and spread some much needed joy.
10 Valentine’s Day campaigns that will make you smile
12-2-2021
In a year where seeing your loved ones is not evident, we have compiled a list of campaigns that will put a smile on your face this Valentine’s Day. Some companies have set their creative minds to work to create products and services that put a twist to the well-known concept of Valentine’s Day. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
Take a look at our Pinterest Board to gain inspiration for next year or visit our posts ‘The Authentic London Valentine’s Day Experience’ and ‘Valentine’s Day Inspiration: Culinary Love in a Box or our Small gestures for Valentine’s Day for further insights and spotted trends.
#theALLjourney | A global treasure hunt by Accor Live Limitless to mark the launch of the 4th Paris Saint-Germain jersey
11-2-2021
Who isn’t dreaming about travelling at this particular time? From 10 to 12 February, ALL – Accor Live Limitless, the main partner and jersey sponsor of Paris Saint-Germain, is offering fans a dream getaway, while revealing the most wonderful places and hotels available among its portfolio of brands, through a digital treasure hunt accessible all around the world. Up for grabs – copies of the 4th Paris Saint-Germain jersey and stays in the Group’s various hotels. #theALLjourney!
Although you can only still participate till tomorrow, we love the idea of a digital treasure hunt, it might be inspiration for smaller companies.
Trends we spotted | Week 5
11-2-2021
At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
With this week links to articles about amongst others a Cocktail-gram for Valentine’s Day, an idea by the Avli Taverna and the packaged picnic at the Rockefeller Center ice rink by restaurant Frenchette in New York.
Inspiring: the ‘MEATliquor x Southern Comfort’ home kits in honor of Mardi Gras and an article about contactless ordering forcing restaurants to adopt 9 tech strategies in 2021. We really think individual restaurants have to react to the Internet of Behaviors and increase their cybersecurity.
PepsiCo launches a drink specifically aimed at teenagers: Frutly, one of the ‘better-fou-you’ beverages.
An interesting, but long article at the website of Nutritional Outlook about 2021 Flavor trends for food and beverage. With flavors like Banana 2.0, the Ispahan, blood orange, turmeric, yuzu, guava, bergamot, birthday cake and many more. And a joint venture that will leverage Beyond Meat’s leading technology in plant-based protein development and PepsiCo’s world-class marketing and commercial capabilities to create and scale new snack and beverage options.
Trends we spotted | Week 3
27-1-2021
At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
With this week links to articles about amongst others restaurant ONA (Origine Non Animale) is the first vegan restaurant awarded a Michelin Star in France and a Dutch vega restaurant ‘Bij de Tuinman’ launches socially-distanced neighborhood dinners.
Two new three-star restaurants, three new two-stars and seventeen new restaurants awarded one Michelin star at the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland. With two female chefs, Clare Smyth and Hélène Darroze awarded three stars!
Artisinal bakery The Pizza Cupcake, delivers Pizza Cupcakes and a link to an article about the smallest online wine store by British food and wine critic William Sitwell.
To celebrate the release of the new film ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’, General Mills has announced a new Ghostbusters cereal and Lotus-flavored ice cream, coffee, and candles honored Madame Vice President Kamala Harris.
Swedish electric bike company Cake teamed up with Dometic to create an electric food delivery box, with separate compartments and dedicated temperature zones. The electricity for the box is generated by the bike.
In this pandemic-era, there is no doubt that the megatrends for the new year will center around healthier and ‘cleaner’, more sustainable, premium and socially responsible products in line with the mantras – good for me, good for the planet – and quality over quantity. The top 6 drink trends in 2021 by Hospitality Insights.
The Kimchi Hotel | House of Fermentation in Amsterdam
26-1-2021
A Kickstarter project in Amsterdam for a garden space that will be transformed into the Kimchi Hotel, a community hub that will allow House of Fermentation to host experiential workshops and share the art of Korean culture with everyone. House of Fermentation is a Korean food company that focuses on, making The Table for Kimchi – the best & most authentic kimchi in Amsterdam and selling it in a zero-waste cycle and facilitating The Table for Experiences – kimchi fermentation workshops introducing the process of kimchi-making to the local community.
The Kickstarter project has been successful, so Amsterdam will get its Kimchi Hotel! For those chefs who want to experiment with Kimchi, the House of Fermentation might be a big help.
Trends we spotted | Week 2
19-1-2021
At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, links to articles about plant-based braised beef by Fable Food Co and Five Guys has partnered with Radius Networks to roll out curbside & in-store pickup.
The 2021 Food Trends Report by Fine Dining Lovers – with trends like Plant Power, Brunchfast en Linner, Kitchen Co-Ops and Ghostronomy. And here in the Netherlands the bagels from Bagels & Beans are now sold at most Jumbo Supermarkets.
This March, the founders of Assembly Underground in Leeds will launch a brand-new food and entertainment space, Society Manchester at Barbirolli Square. And we spotted E-bike parking units, called the HAVN, with built-in storage and charging by a Belgium start up called Streetwaves. Interesting for restaurants and hotels near bike routes!
British Airways has recently roped in Michelin-starred chef, Tom Kerridge to design a gourmet food menu for its economy class passengers. And a list of all the planned openings of the Accor Group in 2021, an encouraging development outlook!
Valentine’s Day inspiration | Culinary love in a box
18-1-2021
Within almost 4 weeks it’s going to be a special edition of Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love and embrace those close to you. Well it’s going to be though this year to embrace those friends and loved ones, not part of your household. How does the hospitality industry deal with all the restrictions? Well the most important fact is that most restaurants give their guests the opportunity to celebrate it on Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday the 14th of February. We found some great Valentine’s Day inspiration, like classic drive-ins, with carhop service at White Castle, a TLC Valentine’s Box by 2 Dutch chefs highly rated by Michelin and the Guilty Pleasures box by restaurant Hemingway in hotel De Draak (the Dragon) in Bergen op Zoom.
How are your New Year’s resolutions going? Can restaurants help you to keep them?
15-1-2021
Marjolein van Spronsen blogs about our New Year’s resolutions, which we are already releasing based on experience figures. Yet as a restaurant or catering you can respond to this fact and help your guests and potential guests to keep their resolutions. With examples of Saladworks “Our New Year’s ResoYOUtion”, the limited edition BitesWeLove x The Duchess box, resolution inspired LTOs, Dry January and Veganuary!
the #ZaxofKindness challenge by Zaxby's 
the #ZaxofKindness challenge by Zaxby's 
