Pin.Pack.Go travel planner
5-9-2013
Four Seasons brings the guests journey to life with Pin.Pack.Go, a new travel planning service on Pinterest. Via Pinterest you can make your own Pin.Pack.Go board and specify the Four Seasons hotel you will be visiting during your holiday. Follow that specific hotel and the hotel will follow you back. The Four Seasons hotel will pin recommendations like tourist attractions, restaurants and shops. And through your board they have an insight in your interests. The Four Seasons thus plans your ideal travel from start to finish via Pinterest. An interesting and innovative way to inform your guests before their stay, a kind of concierge. And it increases the anticipation for your guests…
Instagramhotel
5-9-2013
After the Twitter hotel in Majorca, the first Instagramhotel is now opened in Australia. Hotel 1888 has 90 rooms decorated with photos take by guests and is fully dedicated to Instagram. When you have more than 10.000 followers on Instagram you will get a free stay at the hotel and the guest/photographer of the Instagramphoto (of the hotel) of the month also receives a free additional stay. The hotel has a special room where you can take photos of yourself and guests are guided through the environment by an Instagram map.
Family fun all in one
4-9-2013
Our colleague Steven van ‘t Hart celebrated his holiday in America this summer. He went out to eat the ‘Pizza-burger‘ by ‘Boston Pizza’ at the Niagara Falls location. We did mention this burger on horecatrends in April (kind of a April the 1st joke) and the burger will be on the menu in September. But Steven got to taste one! Especially the Pepperoni version was considered very tasty! He also noticed that children received a mini pizza box by entering the restaurant, containing coloring pages, games and crayons. Nice small gesture… That of course can be taken home ….
More Bedtime Stories
4-9-2013
In the first version of the ‘small gestures in hospitality‘, in January 2013, we showed a ‘bedtime story’ that we found on our pillow in Hotel ‘The Palace’ in Dubai. A beautiful, simple poem about going to sleep. At the Copley Square Hotel in Boston, they wish their guest a good night with ‘bedtime stories’ by children. The stories are written by students of 826 Boston. 826 Boston is a non-profit writing center dedicated to supporting students age 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills and helping teachers inspire their students to write. Another great ‘small gesture in hospitality’.
Djemaa El Fna square in Rotterdam
3-9-2013
On September 20 and 21 the ‘Museumpark’ in Rotterdam will be transformed into a huge outdoor restaurant. Inspiration is the famous square in Marrakesh, Djemaa el Fna. This square will transform in the evening from a market into an outdoor restaurant where visitors can buy snacks at various stalls. During the first edition of the ‘Djemaa el Fna’ in Rotterdam, some entrepreneurs will make Moroccan snacks with the goal to make the diversity of cultures and nationalities visible. There will also be different Moroccan products for sale, musicians, dancers and camels. ‘Djemaa el Fna’ is part of the ‘World Food Festival’.
Firefly on the go
3-9-2013
During my holiday we were introduced to the PET bottles of Firefly. Attracted by the fresh design, I bought a few bottles on the go. A delicious fresh taste, 100% natural and thirst-quenching. Is currently sold in the Netherlands in glass bottle and soon in PET bottles. Available in the tastes lemon & Lime, Orange & Passionfruit and Rasberry & Pommegrate. Also nice to sell in a hotel lobby shop…. ^ Marjolein
Marriott Underground Lab
2-9-2013
Marriott Hotel asks their reward members to give feedback on the hotel rooms. The members are invited to the headquarters to give their opinion on the rooms, ranging from type of bed to the shower pressure. In the basement of the headquarters ‘The Underground’ lab is opened in June. ‘The Underground’ is an area where they work on innovation and improvement of the future of Marriott. Members can design their own hotel room in this area by moving the interior. Marriott get additional information for improvement in the future.
Hotel offers special kid program
2-9-2013
The Trump hotel in SoHo offers a special program for the children and teenagers. The program is for children between 3 and 17 years. There are child friendly facilities such as special kids cocktails, coloring books and children’s room service menu. But there are also special rates for children at the luxury spa, a map of the city with must see spots and movie channels. Parents can hire a nanny or let their kids have swim lessons.
Glaces & Jus by Marc Veyrat
30-8-2013
Last holiday we enjoyed reading Alain Caron’s book, Tour d’Alain (a French chef living in the Netherlands, so unfortunately in Dutch). Because of his enthusiastic stories about Montpellier we spent a few hours there. There we saw a new initiative by the former French three-star chef Marc Veyrat. In addition to his self-service restaurant ‘Cozna Vera‘ in Annecy, he opened ‘Glaces &Jus by Marc Veyrat’ early August in Montpellier. A small shop where you can pick frozen bio fruit and put it in various size cups, after which you can choose whether they will make an ice cream, yogurt ice cream, sorbet or smoothie from it. We had a delicious rhubarb yoghurt ice cream with raspberry, a smoothie of wild strawberries and a banana milkshake … Delicious …. And if you’re ever near Montpellier, go soak up the city and a bowl of healthy fruit processed at Urbanfruits. ^Marjolein
Taco Bell surprised impatient customers
30-8-2013
Taco Bell has held a fun stunt in collaboration with agency Grip Limited during the launch of the long-awaited arrival of Doritos Locos Tacos in Canada. Impatient customers were surprised during a special fan event. The exasperated tweets from the impatient customers were burned with a special laser on the first batch of shells and served to the specific customer. These customers ate literally their own words on the taco.
Hotel offers self cooking boxes
29-8-2013
Boutique hotel Affinia Hotels has started a partnership with US online grocer ‘FreshDirect’ to offer their guests an extra service. The rooms at the Affinia Hotels are equipped with a kitchen, separate dining area that allows guests to cook in their hotel room. Therefore the hotel offers meal packages by FreshDirect, such as the Healthy kit or the Business kit. The boxes are filled with food like fruits, vegetables, biscuits, dairy products and chips. Guests can order these boxed when they make the reservation for the hotel room or during their stay.
&samhoud foodlab
29-8-2013
Two starred michelin chef Moshik Roth and business partner Salem Samhoud will open the DNA restaurant &samhoud Foodlab in Amsterdam on 31 October. It will be the first restaurant in the world that serves DNA in the dishes. The restaurant will serve three natural GenBoosters with DNA extracts. The menu also contains small shakes and meals, as well as lunches, dinners with GenBooster to choice. The exact location in Amsterdam is not confirmed yet. The restaurant will be open seven days a week.
Update: The foodlab appears to be a hoax to feed the discussion about better food for everyone.
Meet the farmers and growers
28-8-2013
During the open door days of supermarket chain Albert Heijn on 21 and 28 September you can personally meet local farmers and growers. Approximately 140 participating farms, greenhouses and orchards are open for visitors. For adults there are guided tours organized where they can learn everything behind the product. Children can experience where there food comes from and get their farmers and growers diploma. Using the online map of Albert Heijn you can see which farmers and growers participate in the Netherlands. During these days consumers can meet the people behind the fresh products of Albert Heijn.
On The Roof Film Festival
28-8-2013
From 3 till 6 September the second edition of the ‘On The Roof Film Festival’ will be organized. During the four evenings films and documentaries with the theme ‘your green heart’ will be played. The festival will take place on the roof of the ‘Vrije Universiteit’ in Amsterdam. Every night, before the film starts, interviews with scientists about their green heart will be shown. Watch the video to get an impression of last year’s edition.
The Donut factory
27-8-2013
Frossja and Martijn are serving coffee with organic mini donuts from a 1974 caravan . The ‘Donut factory’ makes traditional mini donuts of organic flour and the toppings are adapted to the occasion. The ‘Donut factory’ also serves several fair trade coffees, teas and organic soft drinks and juices. You can find the ‘Donut factory’ at festivals, (organic) markets, fairs in the Netherlands but it is also available for rent for companies or individuals.
Hotel telephone has a pizza button
27-8-2013
Hotel Country Inn & Suites in Niagara Falls offers their guests an easy way to order pizza. Guests don’t have to search for a local pizza delivery because the hotel room telephones have a pizza button. The pizza button connects the guest directly with a local pizza company to order a pizza. An extra service for emergency pizza cravings.
Cafellow
26-8-2013
Cafellow is a new social platform focused on cafés, bars and terraces. Consumers can find a café selected on characteristics such as location, type of cafe, specialties, atmosphere and openings hours. They can also invite friends or share their favorite café through this platform. At this moment the service is available in six cities in the Netherlands, where more than 1,200 cafes are mapped. Cafellow creates a direct connection between supply and demand in the market.
Avocado Ale
26-8-2013
After chocolate beer, breakfast beer and coffee beer, a new special beer is introduced. During the opening of the Avocado Festival in Los Angeles, Angel City Brewery introduced a on guacamole inspired ‘Avocado Ale’. This special beer is made from a blend of Californian avocado, coriander, garlic, red pepper and lime. Ingredients that you normally use for guacamole. We are wondering if this beer also tastes delicious with tortilla chips?
Luggage robot Yobot
23-8-2013
In the Yotel hotel in New York, the luggage of guests is stored in a special way. It is not the concierge at the hotel taking the luggage, but the robot arm ‘Yobot’. Guests easily place their luggage in a bin and enter a pin number with their name. Yobot picks the luggage and stores it safely in one of the lockers. Guests will receive a receipt with a barcode that they can use to collect their luggage. An ingenious idea that gives more experience during a stay at the hotel. Watch the video of world’s first luggage robot here.
Games at Hotel Zetta
23-8-2013
Earlier this year Hotel Zetta in San Francisco opened its doors with the motto ‘work hard, play hard’. Designed by Andrea Dawson and her team of Dawson Design Associates, the hotel has 116 rooms and a creative and sustainable design with a unique experience for tourists and business travelers. In the lobby guests can enjoy various games. On the ground floor is a bar with different lounge areas and a large game where guests can roll a ball from top to bottom and score points. Upstairs is another public area with sofas, TV, video games, a pool table, a shuffleboard and other games. By offering these games, the hotel generates a creative (work) place for guests.
Bungalow for hearing impaired
22-8-2013
Holiday park Landal GreenParks has introduced the first bungalow for hearing impaired at the Landal Rabbit Hill park in collaboration with the Dutch Association for Hearing impaired. The bungalow has a number of adjustments and additional functional elements to make the stay of the guests with a hearing loss more enjoyable. There is an audio induction loop for the radio, DVD, TV and WII console. Both the smoke detector and the alarm are linked with an alarm- and warning system. This system creates intense lights and vibrations if necessarily. The front desk also has an audio induction loop. If the bungalow is successful, Landal GreenParks will extend the number of bungalows for hearing impaired to other locations.
Fries vending machine
22-8-2013
Belgium, the country of French fries, is testing a fries vending machine. For a number of years we get croquettes, cheese soufflés and minced-meat hot dogs through a hole in the wall, so why not fries? The fries vending machine ‘De Friethoek’ from BreakTime Solutions offers fries for € 2,50. Within 90 seconds you will get fries with salt and mayonnaise or ketchup. A number of countries are already serving fries via vending machine, but Belgium claims to serve the best fries because of the use of special vegetable oil.
24H West Amsterdam
21-8-2013
The western edition of 24H Amsterdam takes place on 7 and 8 September. For 24 hours companies, organizations, museums and theaters open their doors in Amsterdam West. There is for instance a tour by the ‘Afval Energie Bedrijf’ (Waste Energy Company) and a tour through the fourth harbor of Europe. Sporty (hotel) guests and employees of the Conscious Hotel Vondelpark will ride for 24 hours on a stationary bicycle to collect money for the ‘Bike for Water’ project and the second edition of The Race To The Top takes place at the Ramada Apollo Hotel. The next edition of 24H is in the northern district of Amsterdam.
Healthy fruit ice creams
20-8-2013
Fresh fruit, organic and sometimes herbs or tea.. These are the healthy pop-ice cream ‘Nice on a stick’. Nina and Elisabeth were looking for healthy and tasty snacks for themselves and their children and started to make ice cream of fresh fruit. The ‘Nice on a stick’ are 100% natural, made of organic fresh fruit and contain less sugar. The flavors for this summer are raspberry+ hibiscus, pear+orange, pure strawberry and watermelon+mint. These happy and healthy ice creams are available at several outlets and festivals in the Netherlands.
Origin Chocolate event Amsterdam
20-8-2013
The Origin Chocolate Event will take place in Amsterdam on October 22 and 23. The most renowned and award-winning chocolatiers from around the world will come together during this event. The chocolate experts will tell you everything about making chocolate. During these two days, presentations will be given by chocolate makers from different countries such as Ecuador, Switzerland and Grenada. Culinary delights are sampled from top pastry chefs and chocolatiers, there is an opportunity for meet & greets with chocolatiers and there are tastings.
#Goldenmilk by Instagram account @cukrfree.cz
Hagelswag
Jackfruit
Hagelswag
Pasta is back – like Pasta Vongole 
