Bed time stories
17-8-2016
The ultimate bed time stories to read in hotels are stories which takes place in the hotel….. Don’t you agree? We once philosophized about starting our own hotel and one of the ideas that came up was writing a story which took place in the vicinity of the hotel. And sending this story to every guest two weeks prior to their arrival, to enhance the anticipation. Imagine the kind of stories that could be written about your hotel or the hotel you love to visit as a loyal guest. We haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying such an idea as guest yet but it’s quite interesting to see what is done with storytelling in the hospitality industry.
We made a small list with successful storytelling examples!
Too Good To Go…
16-8-2016
The Too Good To Go app lets you eat food which restaurants normally throw in the bin at the end of the service. Take away from your favourite restaurants for next to nothing: that’s the idea behind this new app and meanwhile preventing food waste!
Playground WIP/WAP beer – create your own unique beer
15-8-2016
One box, two beers and a unique flavour. That, in a nutshell is the WIP/WAP beer from the VandeStreek brewers in Utrecht (the Netherlands).
WIP/WAP beer is created to mix, that’s why they are sold in one box. WIP, the White IPA has the fruity and fresh aroma of American hops, is full of flavour through the wheat and thirst-quenching as a white beer. WAP, the oaked Barley Wine is high in alcohol and has a full, round flavour. Create your own beer by mixing both beers and be surprised by the balance.
Great examples of how to use the Olympic Games in your benefit
12-8-2016
We have seen quite a few examples of restaurants, hotels and leisure centres using the Olympics in their benefit. The Olympic Experience on the beach of Scheveningen is a great example. As well as storytelling in advertisings! One of the best is probably the Olympic anthem of Samsung.
We checked the web to see what has been organized in the hospitality and leisure world with the Olympics in mind.
Did you spot other great examples or did you organise an inspiring Olympic event? Let us know, we like to complete our list!
Trends we spotted this week – week 32
12-8-2016
At Horecatrends we spot a lot of national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write articles about, the smaller trends we use in our column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. This week among others about a rooftop bar in London you will be able to sip a cocktail in the nude and Yannick Alléno about fermentation to enrich his sauces.
If you like to read the whole article, click the title. Enjoy reading!
Citrus caviar from Finger Limes
11-8-2016
In 2010 we spotted Finger Limes for the first time and wrote about it. But we never saw an opportunity to taste the Finger Lime, which originates in Australia. Although we came up with great ideas to combine these citrus caviar with for example a Gin & Tonic, oysters, in fruity desserts, as garnish at hors d’oeuvres or in salad dressing. But still we hardly spot them in Europe! Well at least we know this is going to change because they are now cultivated outside Australia as well. We spotted them in the USA and in Italy.
Poptail = popsicle + cocktail
10-8-2016
March last year we wrote about a new twist to the cocktail at the Sky Bar, Bangkok’s highest rooftop bar at the Lebua State Tower hotel. Poptails are premium classic cocktails paired with brain-freezing popsicles. It’s kind of maths: Poptail = popsicle + cocktail. This was the first time we spotted the poptail. Tasting Table now published a recipe for Strawberry Sangria Ice Pop Cocktails…. Created by People’s Pops.
Zwolle has a temporary city beach: Stränd!
9-8-2016
Zwolle (a city in the East of the Netherlands) has gained a temporary city beach: Stränd! Late July the proverbial doors of the beach opened, located near the canal in Zwolle. For five long weekends you can ‘relax, drink, socialize, eat and above all … enjoying the summer in a Zwolsch manner’ as indicated by the initiators on the website.
New location of restaurant FG ready for the absolute best
9-8-2016
From today on FG restaurant (Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 2 Michelin Stars) will be situated at a new location. François Geurds will serve the best dishes in the restaurant, which is located next to FG Food Labs. We were invited to check this new place out and can only indicate that their future guests will be in for an even greater culinary surprise than at the last location! We wish François and his team the best of luck and a lot of fun at the new location and with their path to the top of gastronomy, the third Michelin Star.
Beer Pong Knock Out; Get your balls wet!
8-8-2016
Once the red cups were only destined for drunken partiers, but the game leaves the student dormitories and house parties with official tournaments between beer pong enthusiasts and experts. Strandzuid brings the Beer Pong Knock Out to Amsterdam on Saturday, August 13.
Trends we spotted this week – week 31
5-8-2016
At Horecatrends we spot a lot of national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write articles about, the smaller trends we use in our column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. This week among others a Floating beer garden in London and a Peruvian model opens a restaurant in New York City. Besides that would you try cockroach milk? Researchers claim it might be the next superfood!
If you like to read the whole article, click the title. Enjoy reading!
Gastronaut Ice Cream – world’s first artisanal freeze-dried ice cream
4-8-2016
Gastronaut Ice Cream, the first organic and unmeltable ice cream. Freeze-dried so you can enjoy this premium ice cream anywhere.
Luggage assistant Gustave at your service in Paris
3-8-2016
Would you use a luggage assistant? We know the drill: your plane or train leaves late in the afternoon, so you want to spend the day in the city. Or you arrive very early and don’t want to waste time bringing your suitcase to the hotel. Most probably you do what we always do: pack your bags and leave them with the doorman or reception. That will cost you time in the afternoon: having to return to the hotel to pick up the luggage. Well in Paris, you can ask Gustave to be your luggage assistant! He will pick up your luggage at the hotel, seal it, insure it and secure it in a safe place till he drops it off at the requested rendez-vous point. Ensuring you and your family of more time in the city and no return way to the hotel! Bag-free traveling. The motto of Gustave in Paris: Keep calm and enjoy your day!
Snapchat as marketing tool to reach out to young people
2-8-2016
More than one million Dutch people use Snapchat currently. 56% of the users are between the age of 15 and 19 and 11% are between the age of 20 and 39. Only 2% of the people that are 40+ downloaded Snapchat. This is shown in the ‘Nationale Social Media Onderzoek 2016’, a Dutch research about Social Media. Would you like to attract a younger public for your business like a club, disco or leisure centrum? You should try-out Snapchat!
Picnic in the city: get a picnic basket at Bairro Alto
1-8-2016
A Picnic behind the ‘Grote Markt’ (the big square) of Nijmegen (the Netherlands). You can order a picnic basket at Bairro Alto. Take your blanket and your receipt and you can go and enjoy the spot already. When your order is ready, your number will show up on a board. Once you picked up your basket, you’re able to enjoy the sun and the food!
Trends we spotted this week – week 30
29-7-2016
At Horecatrends we spot a lot of national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write articles about, the smaller trends we use in our column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. This week among others beer glasses that communicate with an app, Otima port who has to be drunk really cold, Black Lime and fermented French fries?
If you like to read the whole article, click the title. Enjoy reading!
The Langham children’s afternoon Tea with Hamleys of London
29-7-2016
Launching 1st August, the first Children’s Afternoon Tea at The Langham hotel in London. In partnership with Hamleys, the afternoon tea is part of a series of initiatives aimed at providing families an enjoyable experience within Regent Street’s Grand Hotel.
ClearTaste: blocking bitterness instead of adding sugar
28-7-2016
Another way to reduce the amount of sugar in our food! A bitterness blocker that sweetens your food without actually adding sugar or a sugar substitute. A start-up from Colorado blocks the bitter taste from food with the use of a simple fungi. Myco Technology has labelled it’s product ClearTaste.
Key in a safe Stravinsky city hotel, comfort without any extra’s
27-7-2016
Last weekend Horecatrends was invited to try-out the Stravinsky city hotel in Hengelo before the opening. A hotel where you won’t have to ask the staff for your key or breakfast.
Golden Milk and the Blue Algea Latte
27-7-2016
Healthy and trendy: from Australia to the States, from Great Britain to South Africa, the so called “super lattes” are a rising trend. We spotted the super lattes: Golden Milk and the Blue Algea Latte. The last one only on paper. But we drank the Golden Milk a couple of times before we knew it was called the Golden Milk. Both drinks can be added to the healthy and trendy list of lattes. Next to the lattes of almond milk, soy milk or a latte with matcha. A latte with matcha is already at the menu of Starbucks.
This product creates an extra WOW factor to your cocktails
26-7-2016
The Levitating CUP is world’s first zero gravity drinkware that will create an extra ‘WOW’ factor to your cocktails. The gravity defying drinkware will leave your guests in awe. The Levitating Cup is on Kickstarter at this moment.
All-day breakfast at The Egg Store
25-7-2016
The Egg Store is an all-day breakfast concept where ‘eggs any style’ are being served, seven days a week. Open since February 2016 and located at the Turfmarkt in Haarlem. An initiative of Bas Lammersen and Michael Kras, entrepreneurs of the Roast Chicken Bar.
Trends we spotted this week – week 29
22-7-2016
At Horecatrends we spot a lot of national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write articles about, the smaller trends we use in our column ‘Trends we spotted this week’. This week among others about a Hello Kitty pop-up Café, summer drinks and world’s most expensive diner experience.
If you like to read the whole article, click the title. Enjoy reading!
Sign language and deaf baristas at Starbucks
22-7-2016
A Starbucks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia looks just like the other stores in the region. Baristas are handcrafting beverages with the rich aroma of coffee lingering in the air. However, when customers reach the counter to order a drink, they’ll notice something different. Instead of calling out beverage orders, baristas use sign language.
Tartaria by Wolf Atelier
21-7-2016
Chef Michael Wolf of restaurant Wolf Atelier in Amsterdam launches the first Tartaria in the Netherlands. Besides his normal lunch menu, guests now have the choice of various meat, fish and vegetarian tartars in various sizes. In addition to his selection of fine wines and bubbles by the glass, gin and tonics and juices this is an original addition to their current lunch menu.