Murder at the Grand Resort | Grand Resort Bad Ragaz launches a crime thriller radio play
19-12-2023
A murder case at the Tamina Therme, six suspicious guests and a master detective. This is the basis of the first fictional crime podcast from a Swiss luxury hotel. The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz launched this audio experience yesterday in Bad Ragaz. The five episodes of ‘Murder at the Grand Resort’ were produced in collaboration with the Winterthur-based company Podcast Schmiede and are based on the famous crime story ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ by Agatha Christie. The postcast is in the German language and is officially called “Mord im Grand Resort’, good to practice your German.
Contest for Holiday Cheermakers around the U.S. by Starbucks
18-12-2023
December 14, Starbucks started their search for five of the merriest homes in the U.S. – and the stories behind the people who bring cheer to their neighborhood during the holidays. This holiday season, Starbucks is teaming up with singer, songwriter and actress Christina Milian. From December 14 through Sunday, December 17, Starbucks invited everyone to share how their home’s holiday display brings cheer to their neighborhood. Everyone could submit an image of their very merry home to holidaycheermakers.com and share their story and inspiration for a chance to be selected as one of Starbucks Holiday Cheermakers. Five winners will receive Starbucks Cards for their neighborhood to enjoy.
The contest already closed but we think it’s a great idea to organize a contest like this as local shops! Even in the Netherlands where most Christmas decorations are modest in comparison to some streets in the USA!
The Mac & Cheese Nibblers of White Castle
18-12-2023
In America, Mac & Cheese is hugely popular and available with all kinds of ingredients, even with crab and lobster! Why this dish isn’t as popular here in Europe, we really don’t understand. Recently, we came across the Mac & Cheese Nibblers from White Castle, an American fast food chain. They are putting their beloved Sloppy Joe, Smoky Joe and Spicy Joe Sliders, along with the Mac & Cheese Nibblers, back on the menu during the winter months until February 4.
Their Nibblers look like our famous ‘bitterballen’ with a creamy content of macaroni and cheddar! We think a lot of Dutch people would love them as well!
Pleun’s Regenboogijsje and Horeca Vakbeurs Hardenberg join forces
14-12-2023
Pleun’s Regenboogijsje (rainbow ice cream by Pleun) will have a special place on the exhibition floor at the Horeca Vakbeurs Hardenberg. Pleun’s Regenboogijsje is an ice cream that draws attention to Batten disease (CLN3). Pleun is a 9-year-old girl from Deventer who suffers from this rare metabolic disease. Trade fair organiser Easyfairs of the Horeca Vakbeurs is keen to help raise awareness of the disease and reach even more hospitality outlets by providing an exhibition space during the Horeca Vakbeurs on 29, 30 and 31 January 2024 at the event location – Evenementenhal Hardenberg.
Domino’s® is Plowing for Pizza | Snowy roads shouldn’t get in the way of hot pizza
12-12-2023
As an innovative response to winter snow challenges, Domino’s Pizza in America is introducing the campaign, ‘Plowing for Pizza’. This particular initiative aims to ensure that, even under harsh winter conditions, hot pizza delivery will continue in certain zip code areas. The philosophy behind it: by contributing to snowplows from 20 cities, Domino’s Pizza is contributing to the ability to deliver quickly in wintry weather. In America, local businesses also often contribute to bits of road maintenance.
Trends we spotted | Week 49
11-12-2023
At horecatrends.com 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:
- An emission-free and energy-efficient coffee roasting line will be built in Belgium – a collaboration between Sucafina, Beyers Koffie and the Belgian cleantech company CEE.
- A recent study by the University of Wageningen researched the Dutch supermarket sector and reports a significant decrease in food waste.
- SVH (The Dutch foundation for professionalism in the catering industry) has announced the Top 3 Best Hospitality Training Companies and Best Trainers for 2023/2024.
- Fletcher Hotels, the largest hotel chain in the Netherlands, expands with the acquisition of Hotel Restaurant Oud London in Zeist.
- Mercure Hotels celebrates its 50th anniversary with the launch of ‘Discover Local: The Bucket List Edition’, a selection of 50 unique culinary experiences worldwide.
- Relais & Châteaux, a leading association of world-class chefs, has committed to protecting the critically endangered European eel by immediately removing it from their menus. #EELNOTANKYOU
- From Instagram: Christmas tree croissants as a festive delight; espresso Romano and gilded holiday splendor at Le Bristol Paris.
Enjoy reading!
After Dinner Sip | Extend the holidays and skip your dip
8-12-2023
On December 28 and 29, there probably isn’t a whole lot on your calendar. The days between Christmas and the turn of the year are generally days to recover from Christmas and prepare for a festive end to the year. To make these days even more fun you can go to ‘After Dinner Sip’ in Utrecht this year.
A party to make the dip between Christmas and New Year’s Eve more fun and one of the last parties before the start of the healthy or vegan January regime!
The Berkeley offers a gift-wrapping service this December
8-12-2023
The Berkeley launched its very own gift-wrapping service for Christmas shoppers as we enter the busiest time of the year. From gifts big to small, little and large, guests staying at The Berkeley will have access to the hotel’s Wrapper in Residence throughout the month of December.
A great small gesture for the guests of The Berkeley Hotel in London! Inspiration for luxury hotels in other shopping areas? And if you stay at this hotel. check out Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley most certainly if you have a sweet-tooth.
Taco Bell at Home | Limited-edition ‘Taco Bell SOS kits’ for students
8-12-2023
As finals season begins across college campuses nationwide, thousands of students find themselves without a Taco Bell® restaurant within walking distance – leaving them in distress when study session cravings hit. Recently Taco Bell at Home came to the rescue with the new ‘Taco Bell SOS Kits’, designed to give students on these campuses the mouthwatering Taco Bell goodness, even without a restaurant nearby. The kit features the newest Taco Bell at Home essentials from Kraft Heinz to recreate fan-favorite menu items.
Great idea to focus on students in their finals season!
During the holidays it snows fresh ‘Brammetjes’ at Bram Ladage
7-12-2023
During the holiday season everyone is always busy and part of it is last minute Christmas shopping in crowded and busy shopping streets. Bram Ladage, known for its delicious fries, is giving shoppers in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) a great surprise this December. “To surprise our Bram fans while shopping, we sprinkle the month of December with free ‘Brammetjes’ or in English Bramlets. To warm up while shopping, or to give away to family or friends under the Christmas tree. Convenient, because then you don’t have to go into the stores for other presents,” says Isabeau Ladage, responsible for the marketing.
