Trends we spotted | Week 31
30-7-2020
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, among other links to articles about the Robot Rosé that delivers wine to your room at hotel Trio in California and about a sustainable wine bottle made for 94% out of paper.
Select Palladium Hotel Group properties in the U.S.A. offer free medical insurance to guests and The new Tony’s Chocolonely Super Store is located in the heart of Amsterdam at the Beurs Building. With a video of the theme park they’re developing!
Pentatonic is a design and technology company that makes purpose from waste, they created furniture and textiles out of store waste for Starbucks and last year they created the Burger King Meltdown in the UK.
We spotted a new hotel brand: the LyvInn, an extended-stay and transient hospitality concept and initial locations for this brand include Amsterdam. And an interesting read about apps trying to solve the surplus, here in the Netherlands we know ‘Too good to go’ but for example the app Karma makes an extra effort to prevent products going to waste.
For those living in London: there are about 45 Michelin star restaurants where you can eat out and pay partly with the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ discount.
Trends we spotted | Week 30
24-7-2020
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, among other links to articles about the ultimate post-lockdown party at East Asian Kitchen & Bar Lan Kwai Fong in london and ‘Cinéma sur l’Eau’ in Paris.
In the Chicago area, the fast food brand white Castle will start testing their Flippy ROAR (ROAR stand for Robot On A Rail) and in London at Fitzpark we spotted the parklets, created by Arup. A high quality temporary space!
The Indian company Techmax Solution created a touchless elevator panel to fight against COVID-19 and in Stockholm a developer has made a new social distancing app for drinkers, called Byevid, it will help people track pub crowds in real time.
The Dutch solar designer Marjan van Aubel has introduced solar panels that look as if they are made from stained glass, as part of The Netherlands’ pavilion for the World Expo 2021 in Dubai. And IKEA will start selling their Swedish plant-bases meatballs this summer.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Meat of the future | Lab-grown KFC nuggets?
21-7-2020
KFC in Russia is taking the next step in its innovative concept of creating a ‘restaurant of the future’ by launching the development of innovative 3D bioprinting technology to create chicken meat in cooperation with the 3D Bioprinting Solutions research laboratory. The idea of crafting the ‘meat of the future’ arose among partners in response to the growing popularity of a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, the annual increase in demand for alternatives to traditional meat and the need to develop more environmentally friendly methods of food production. The project aims to create the world’s first laboratory-produced chicken nuggets. They will be as close as possible in both taste and appearance to the original KFC product, while being more environmentally friendly to produce than ordinary meat. Receiving a final product for testing is already planned for this fall (2020) in Moscow.
Back in 2018 we wrote about JUST Meat and JUST Egg. JUST Meat was creating nuggets from chicken cells as well. At this moment we can only trace back JUST Egg so we think they didn’t have the means to stay in business till their product was approved. Lots of scientists believed this meat created from a single cell is one of the solutions for the environmental problems we are addressing at this moment. They also believe lab-grown meat will hit the market in the coming 5 years.
The Tasting Room | Offline flagship store of webshop Our Daily Bottle
20-7-2020
On Thursday July 16, 2020 web shop ‘Our Daily Bottle’ opened the doors of their unique hybrid retail wine concept ‘The Tasting Room’ on the Vlaamsekaai in Antwerp. The Tasting Room is the brand new offline showroom and flagship of digital innovator ‘Our Daily Bottle’: a successful start-up web store with wine subscriptions. Entrepreneur Isabeau Sas, the driving force behind both concepts, challenges the traditional retail and skilfully responds to a combination of online and offline by focusing on the wine experience.
Great concept to visit as a wine lover if you go to Antwerp! It’s the first online wine shop we spotted making this move but here in Europe we even spot big online brands creating offline experience shops, like for example Coolblue here in the Netherlands.
Diageo announces creation of world’s first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle
17-7-2020
Diageo, makers of Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Guinness, has today announced that it has created the world’s first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle, made entirely from sustainably sourced wood. The bottle will debut with Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Scotch Whisky, in early 2021.
NONA June | Gin-Tonic without hangover
16-7-2020
Gin & Tonic: It is arguably the most popular drink of the last couple of years. Just a pity that the alcohol percentage is so high that the next day you need a lot of aspirin, a fleece blanket, a sofa and about ten hours of Netflix to overcome the hangover. There are plenty of non-alcoholic spirits for sale, but none really taste like pure gin, according to the makers of NONA June. “That could be differently,’’ thought the Charlotte a bio-engineer from Ghent (Belgium), and she created NONA June, which is an alcohol-free gin that cannot be distinguished from the real gin. The Kicker? Charlotte only allowed herself to launch NONA June after the approval and support of renowned sommeliers and chefs.
Trends we spotted | Week 29
16-7-2020
Here in the Netherlands it looks like we control the #Covid-19 outbreak and we’re trying to get used to the new normal. We wish all those living in areas where all the measurements against the pandemic are still in place to stay healthy and take care of each other.
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, among other links to articles about the opening of the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, an automated dumpling shop which is offering the first ‘Zero Human Interaction (Z.H.I.)’ restaurant experience ! And Phoenix Arizona will open the first Atari hotel with a video game theme.
Design and innovation firm Teague has developed a way to create an “air curtain” around each passenger for in plains. And at the Seaside Finolhu hotel you can book a ‘Beach Bubble’ on a small island at the Maldives! Sounds like the perfect getaway during the Covid-19 pandemic, although you might need the ‘air curtain’ during the flight to the Maldives!
The Chinese hotel chain Leyeju is perfect place for staying, taking into account the coronavirus. The hotel employs just two members of staff, it operates with an entirely automated experience. Both hotel chains Virgin Hotels and CitizenM also offer ‘contactless stays’ through their apps.
At Cakeland Gallery in Los Angeles, the exhibit called The Beauty War, will open this Friday, July 17, reservations by appointment only and the exhibit will be on view until December 31, 2020.
Makeen Technologies | Latest mobile app development trends
14-7-2020
This is a guest blog by Makeen Technologies from the U.S. with their thoughts on cloud computing, user engagement, wearable tech, mobile payments, in-app marketing, app security and HTML5. With their thoughts on the future; “Developers are shifting toward a future governed by user experience, mobile payment, and hybrid technologies that reach across platforms. Current and future app development will be in part tested by its ability to incorporate cloud computing, m-commerce, and mobile advertising into its arsenal. While you may not be able to include these trends into your current development alone, you can find the right team to implement them for you.” Makeen Technologies is a leading global provider of end-to-end technology solutions.
A guest blog that might enable hospitality entrepreneurs to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the mobile landscape.
Net zero energy-designed McDonald’s restaurant at the Walt Disney World Resort
14-7-2020
What if a restaurant could generate all its own power from renewable energy? McDonald’s has completed construction of a first-of-its-kind restaurant designed to do just that – create enough renewable energy on-site to cover 100% of its energy needs on a net annual basis. Their global flagship restaurant will serve as a learning hub for McDonald’s to test solutions for reducing energy and water use, a testament to the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable innovation.
Virtual influencer as brand ambassador for Postillion Hotels
7-7-2020
Early 2021, Postillion Hotels will be the first Dutch hotel chain to enter into a long-term partnership with Esther Olofsson, the first virtual influencer in the Netherlands. This starts at the occasion of the opening of their new hotel in the World Trade Center (WTC) Rotterdam. Olofsson is fully computer generated and created by communication agency RauwCC. As a brand ambassador made from bits and bytes, she is prominent at the festive unveiling and opening of the new Postillion hotel and will be available as the most trusted city guide for hotel guests 24/7.
You can follow Esther Olofsson on her Instagram account, in addition, a complete profile of Esther has been compiled. For example: she was ‘born’ in Malmö, Sweden, is 29 years old and has lived in Rotterdam since 2019. Just like a real-life influencer, Esther works with local entrepreneurs and on behalf of brands that match her character and taste!
Reading time: 2 minutes
WATER³ natural mineral water | A sustainable choice for responsible consumers
7-7-2020
Very environmentally friendly WATER³ (Water Cubed) from DRINKS³ (Drinks Cubed), 100% recyclable, greater transport efficiencies versus conventional plastic bottles and made with 95% plant based materials. The team behind DRINKS3 has a mission to build a brand based on ethical production and planet sustainability that trail-blaze the rest of the drinks industry for a better tomorrow.
WATER³ natural mineral water is a sustainable choice for responsible consumers, the carton-bottles are made FSC® Certified, they generate 41% less CO2 than disposable PET multilayer bottles and are thus 100% recyclable. WATER³ is sold in the UK for at example at different Whole Foods locations, like Clapham Junction, Camden, Fulham, Kensington, Piccadilly Circus, Richmond and Stoke Newington.
Reading time: 1 minute
The Upside Down Amsterdam | The largest ‘Instagram museum’ in Europe
7-7-2020
On the third of July Anna Nooshin opened the doors of her own completely new Instagram museum: The Upside Down Amsterdam. After a year and a half of brainstorming, planning and searching for the perfect location, this dream has come true in collaboration with entrepreneur Hans Plesman. Visitors can immerse themselves in a completely new museum experience. The Upside Down Amsterdam also wants to activate social involvement and bring a deeper message. Attention is asked for ‘forgotten children’, among other things, with which they support the foundation ‘Het vergeten Kind’ (the Forgotten Child). The initiators believe that everyone has the right to play and that’s why they are opening up the experience to this target group in cooperation with the foundation.
“It’s great that after years this dream can finally be realised. With The Upside Down Amsterdam we want to create so much more than just an Instagram worthy museum. We want to tell a story about the Netherlands of today and give visitors and creatives the opportunity to fully develop themselves in our museum. In addition, one of our most important pillars besides entertainment is education and we will focus on lectures and master classes where experienced content creators and influencers share their creative passion with our visitors”, says Anna Nooshin.
Reading time: 1 minute
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants | Bid for Recovery
6-7-2020
Until this Sunday (July twelfth) all food and travel enthusiasts have the opportunity to bid for out-of-this-world gastronomic experiences with the world’s best chefs. The ‘Bid for Recovery’ Auction is organized by the organisation behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. The 50 Best ‘Bid for Recovery’ Auction is the largest global event of its kind, aiming to raise funds that will provide direct and tangible financial relief for restaurants worldwide as they emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic. The auction is a key fund-raising element of the 50 Best for Recovery programme, announced last month, in partnership with founding donor S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.
The 50 Best ‘Bid for Recovery’ Auction does feature more than 100 lots, providing the opportunity for bidders to select from an array of the most extraordinary global gastronomic experiences imaginable, as well as rare and limited-edition items. For example the Dutch restaurant De Librije (***), offers a package that includes a food-and-wine pairing with Jonnie and Thérèse Boer, a dinner at their new Brass Boer Thuis restaurant, an overnight stay at Librije hotel including breakfast and a lunch at De Librije. Until now they’ve received 6 bids and the price is now 1.350,= pounds. Many more bid possibilities in the vicinity of the Netherlands! They also launched an e-cookbook with simple lockdown recipes by chefs, in exchange for an eight pound minimum donation. The proceeds of this e-cookbook will also go to the 50 Best Recovery Fund.
Trends we spotted | Week 26
30-6-2020
Here in the Netherlands it looks like we control the #Covid-19 outbreak and we’re trying to get used to the new normal. We wish all those living in areas where all the measurements against the pandemic are still in place to stay healthy and take care of each other.
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, among other links to articles about Prosecco Rosé that will hit the market in 2021 and about a Ramen Pizza, created by Pizza Hut and Japanese ramen chain Menya Musashi.
In Reykjavík ICE & FRIES opened their doors, a selfservice concept with a bionic bar. Two cocktail-shaking and dancing robots create more than 150 drinks per hour.
And in New York the city government is considering extensive road closures as part of its plans to slowly reopen its economy, The architecture and design company The Rockwell Group have created a modular kit to create safe terraces on the pavements.
Airbnb is going to measure discrimination at their platform, they’re creating a system in cooperation with Color Of Change and with guidance from civil rights and privacy rights organizations. The project is called Project Lighthouse. And Starbucks introduces an Impossible Breakfast Sandwich in selected locations in the U.S.
‘Rain Check Registry’ by Domino’s Pizza in the USA | For those who have to postpone their wedding because of the pandemic
29-6-2020
Domino’s Pizza knows that wedding planning is exhausting. Replanning a wedding due to a pandemic is twice as exhausting. Now friends and family can send couples pizza to show their support with Domino’s new Rain Check Registry, on dominosweddingregistry.com.
Many couples have had to postpone their weddings due to the circumstances around COVID-19. Great marketing by Domino’s Pizza in the USA to help make their days brighter with their ‘Rain Check Registry’.
The WELYNQ app , the smart green card for an event and hospitality visit
29-6-2020
Everyone is looking forward to visit events, theatres, a cozy terrace or booking a table in a restaurant. The event and hospitality industry is ready, but also knows that the requirements are strict. Here in the Netherlands everyone has to indicate to be healthy beforehand. Only when you answer all questions about your health positively, you get a virtual green card that allows you to enter either the event, theatre or restaurant. A great step forward, but there are quite a few snags. And what if it turns out that someone with corona was at the location you visited? Then you want to know that, too. WELYNQ has developed an app that solves it all.
Camping at Olof’s in Amsterdam| Master chef Chris Naylor opens BBQ restaurant
26-6-2020
In the months of July and August, the temporary restaurant Camping at Olof’s opens its doors in the oldest chapel in Amsterdam: the Sint Olofskapel on the Zeedijk. It will be a barbecue restaurant led by chef Chris Naylor of Michelin-starred restaurant Vermeer.
A pop-up staycation restaurant that requires you to book a camping pitch! You cannot sleep there, but you can enjoy the camping atmosphere and great food. Inspiration for chefs all over the world, create a special restaurant once your government allows you to open again!
The Grand Beach | The French Riviera in the heart of Amsterdam
25-6-2020
On Wednesday 24 June, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam opened ‘The Grand Beach’ in its historic courtyard. A beach and terrace inspired by the French Riviera where guests enjoy a cold glass of rosé or a fresh cocktail and French dishes and snacks in a summery atmosphere. Until September 13th, the courtyard will be transformed into a real sandy beach with various seating areas – a meter and a half away from each other, of course -, a bar and with a regular DJ providing summery background music. The opening of The Grand Beach coincides with La Fête de la Musique, during which all Sofitel Hotels around the world celebrate summer in French style.
‘Rond de Tafel’ in the Gashouder Amsterdam | the new dining in the social distancing way
12-6-2020
From the 1st of July until the 31st of August, the Gashouder on the Westergas will be transformed into the largest one and a half meter restaurant in the Netherlands, called ‘De Ronde Tafel’ (the round table). A concept in which various top chefs temporarily move their kitchen and spoil and surprise 100 guests with an exclusive 5-course menu accompanied by top-quality wines, every night. Read on to see of which 5 top chefs you can enjoy a 5-course dinner!
It is a collaboration of Les Patrons Cuisiniers, which is also partly responsible for the selection of the guests, Westergas and Famous Flavours. It is a great idea to combine the cooking skills of top chefs with the space of the Gashouder! We publish this article in English as well, as we believe the collaboration between the event industry and the restaurants industry is great. What are you able to organize on a local level in collaboration with the event industry?
Reading time: 1 minute, reservation may take a little longer ?
BUNK Amsterdam | Receives their first guests
11-6-2020
The last couple of months, Covid-19 created a lot of uncertainty but finally BUNK Amsterdam officially opens its doors to hotel guests. After the enormous renovation of the former Sint-Rita church in the north of Amsterdam, the monumental building offers space for 300 guests. BUNK is a hotel with hostel prices and a hostel with the quality and service of a hotel.
Earlier we wrote about the official opening of BUNK Amsterdam. One of our colleagues was also present at the press dinner and had a tour and explanation about this great concept.
What does the hospitality industry do in the context of the COVID-19 virus? | Inspiration June 9
9-6-2020
Since the first of June the Dutch restaurants and bars reopened. We already enjoyed the first terraces again and we also went out for dinner. Wonderful to be able to enjoy a restaurant visit again! But we’ve experienced first-hand that there is no rush to enjoy dinner or lunch, not even on the terraces. Let’s hope that everyone regains a little bit more confidence after the first effects of the relaxation of the corona measures become known. For the time being, it looks like the Dutch intelligent lockdown has worked so now we need more sun and better temperatures to enjoy our great terraces! We hope that you will be able to reopen or enjoy dinner or lunch in your country as well. We have come across some great articles as inspiration on what’s going on in the hospitality industry.
With this week links to articles about DIY ‘Social distancing crowns’ by Burger King in Germany and the trendiest suntan trend 2020 we spotted on the Instagram account of hotel Dexamenes in Greece! Both funny!
Another funny article is about a Covid-19 masks for dining out with a remote control mouth! And inspiration for other hotels; a nice gesture ‘Together again’ by Oaks Hotels, Resorts and Suites in Australia.
In the south of the Netherlands, in the city Maastricht, Dadawan restaurant reopened with robots as extra staff and check out the Smink mobile with which restaurant Smink delivers their @home menu. And created in Japan: the Norimaki Synthesizer, which allows us to taste video games!
Stay healthy and take care of each other! ^Team Horecatrends
Turning The Tables | Digital discussions with restaurant industry insiders
4-6-2020
In response to the biggest crisis ever seen in the restaurant industry Fine Dining Lovers, the global gastronomic platform by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, has brought together some of the brightest and boldest voices of the global hospitality industry to discuss the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Turning The Tables: Digital Discussions with Industry Insiders. The inspiration has been aired on May 26th and consists of four presentations, two debates and over ten short video soundbites from over 25 of the brightest and boldest voices of the global hospitality industry and they’re interesting for anyone interested in restaurants, both consumer and from within the industry. In the video’s they also presented the results of the ‘Fine Dining Lovers Global Coronavirus Restaurant Survey’. All videos can be viewed here without registration and content will be added consistently as the situation evolves and changes. Wondering who is sharing their insights?
Without the ‘Turning The Tables’ section we already loved to check ‘Fine Dining Lovers’ for insights in the culinary scene, we even often link to them in our ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
What does the hospitality industry do in the context of the COVID-19 virus? | Inspiration May 18
18-5-2020
As noted last week, we here in the Netherlands are still in an ‘Intelligent Lockdown’ which means, we’re all working from home if possible and our high schools, universities, restaurants, cafés, gyms, leisure centers, museums, etcetera are closed. But we can take a walk outside and shop for food and even shop at hardware stores and garden centers. As from May 11 our primary schools have re-opened as have the day-care centres but also hair and beauty salons and physiotherapist are allowed to re-open.
As from the first of June restaurants will re-open with a maximum of 30 persons inside, and a social distance of 6 feet, terraces are re-opening as well without a maximum of guests. This, of course, if the Covid-19 casualties remain low. Our government created a path in which they think our economy has to restart, with no festivals, concerts or congresses till the first of September and even gyms aren’t allowed till then. In the meantime we keep spotting all kind of inspiration worldwide around the hospitality industry.
With this week links to articles about the Robot dog Spot that is used in a park in Singapore to warm people to observe a social distance. And the Restaurant Brands International Inc. (Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes) considers designing face masks as part of their uniforms.
‘Care by Roseate Hotels & Resorts’ is an interesting article for those hotels who aren’t sure yet what measures to take to implement a touchless hospitality. And Eleven Madison Park’s chef-owner Daniel Humm says the coming back of his famous restaurant is a question mark.
The Frontline Stays Program by Airbnb has had 100,000 nights booking in free or subsidized accommodations for first responders. And check out the red puzzle by Heinz Canada! Would be appreciated by European puzzle and ketchup aficionados as well, especially during lockdown.
Stay healthy and take care of each other! ^Team Horecatrends
Pay-it-Forward Pizza Program by Uno Pizzeria & Grill
15-5-2020
Here in the Netherlands we saw the big line ups with people waiting for food in the U.S. and we’re very happy that up till now we don’t have that many people losing their jobs because of the Covid-19 crisis. The crisis also brings out the best in people and companies. Uno Pizzeria & Grill chain in the U.S. introduced a Pay-it-Forward Pizza Program. Customers can buy an extra pizza to help feed those on the frontline, hospital workers, first responders and to those that are now food insecure. If a customer buys 1 extra pizza ($ 10) the chain will match the contribution. So, the buyer will be “digging deeper” to feed those who need it most and to keep the restaurant workers at Uno Pizzeria & Grill employed during these challenging times.
We’ve seen many pay-it-forward examples back in time when we started with horecatrends (2007) and we can imagine lots of people love the gesture. It made us think why there aren’t more initiatives like this when there isn’t a crisis. Personally I always hate it to walk past homeless people without acting. Last year we were visiting the U.S. and noticed the many homeless people and wondered why there aren’t more small food businesses selling small ‘gift certificates’ guests can buy and hand out to homeless instead of money! ^Marjolein
The Inn at Little Washington | Mannequins at tables to mark social distancing
15-5-2020
Restaurant The Inn at Little Washington in Washington VA (1,5 hours west of Washington D.C.) is on track to be the first three-Michelin-star restaurant to reopen in the U.S. The open for the Memorial Day weekend with ‘fresh air’ lunches at the more than 20 acres of outdoor space with many beautiful gardens which is located all around the property. Allthough they open this Memorial Day Weekend to have lunch in the gardens, they have opted to wait until Friday, May 29th to open the indoor dining rooms. With restrictions on capacity, Chef Patrick O’Connell has decided that empty tables will be theatrically dressed with mannequins. The Inn is working with local companies Signature Theater and Design Foundry to create the sets. Tables that are unable to be seated with actual guests will be an entertainment and design touchpoint to keep things interesting. The Inn at Little Washington is known for being reverently irreverent as is felt through playful experiences, such as the cheese specialist with mooing cow cart that speaks exclusively in puns or the dining room dress code: “no wet bikinis.”
A charming solution for empty spaces! We came across another restaurant in Bangkok (Thailand), here the owner placed stuffed animal panda’s at the empty seats. A bit of humour in the dining room and an opportunity to make some fun photo’s for guests. Like with the mannequins… Look at the image in this Dutch article: In Gemany hotel Haase also uses mannequins to sit at the tables in their restaurant.
SweeTARTS Film Fest on TikTok
SweeTARTS Film Fest on TikTok
SweeTARTS Film Fest on TikTok
