Trends we spotted | Week 44
Universal Epic Universe opens May 22nd 2025
Sir Paul Smith to decorate the Christmas Tree 2024 of the Claridge's Hotel London
Taste of Horecava by Gault&Millau during the Horecava 2024 - credits MVDE
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:
- A new theme park at Universal Orlando Resort opens on May 22, 2025: Universal Epic Universe.
- Sir Paul Smith is designing the Claridge’s Christmas tree 2024. It will be unveiled on November 20th.
- McDonald’s in Budapest introduced the McDonald’s Nyugati Lounge with DJ’s and live music, every Friday and Saturday. We think this idea might work for more locations!
- How about a game of ‘Glow in the dark Padel’? It’s possible at the Sand Dune padel club in Dubai. Inspiration for other padel clubs or for Family Entertainment Centers?
- New in New York City, a great spot for a picture with NYC in the background: The Skylift at the all-new Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.
- Did you already spot ‘sealed burgers’ or in France ‘Disco Burgers’? We recently spotted the Sunny Pockets with other ingredients than just burgers. It originates from France.
- Selling stamppotten (stew with mashed potatoes and vegetables) in the winter instead of ice cream! Done by DROOMijs in Nijmegen and more Dutch ice cream parlours!
- For those visiting the Horecava, check out the way to experience some of the Netherlands’ leading chefs up close in the exclusive Chef’s Table setting of Taste of Horecava by Gault&Millau.
Enjoy reading!
Universal Epic Universe | A new theme park at Universal Orlando Resort opens on May 22nd, 2025
Universal Epic Universe is the most ambitious theme park Universal Destinations and Experiences has ever created and will be the next gamechanger for theme park entertainment. With a total of more than 50 incredible experiences that range from groundbreaking attractions to breathtaking entertainment to incredibly themed dining and shopping and so much more, Epic Universe will present a level of theme park immersion and innovation that is unmatched across five themed worlds: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe. The new theme park in Universal Orlando opens officially on May 22nd next year, more details in the press release, link in the title.
Sir Paul Smith is designing the Claridge’s Christmas tree 2024
Claridge’s, London’s legendary Mayfair hotel, recently announced that this year its annual Christmas tree will be designed by longtime friend of the hotel, Sir Paul Smith. The tree which brings together two illustrious British names, will be unveiled by Sir Paul in the hotel lobby on the morning of Wednesday 20th November 2024. Sir Paul has collaborated with two friends of the fashion house on the decorations, British architect Nik Ramage, who will make a series of mechanical birdhouses and design studio Studiomama, who will create a series of their whimsical ‘Off Cut Creatures’ to sit around the base of the tree. More details will follow after November 20th. In the link in the title, the menu’s for the festive season, starting on Thanksgiving, November 28th.
McDonald’s in Budapest introduced the Nyugati Lounge with DJ’s and live music
Budapest’s Nyugati McDonald’s has launched a special program, the Nyugati Lounge, on Friday and Saturday nights after 10pm. Known as one of the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s locations, the revamped restaurant now features custom light painting and live DJ performances. Every two weeks, a live musician joins the performance. Available from 10 PM to 4 AM until year-end! Check out the reel of Rave Residence below. The website of the McDonald’s Nyugati Lounge, is linked in the title.
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Glow in the dark padel
Okay, in the reel below you will find a special Halloween edition that took place on October 25th: Glow in the dark padel at the Sand Dune padel club in Dubai. Next up is the ‘Glow in the Dark Padel Sensation White’ edition this November 29th. It looks amazing and who knows, we might spot it at another padel club or in a Family Entertainment Center someday!
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Skylift on top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center
Now open! Experience Skylift and take in the greatest views in the world from the all-new Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. Link to their website where you can buy tickets in the title. Heart-pounding 360 degree experience at great hights above Manhattan! If you’re not afraid of hights, a must visit in New York and a photo with your group with the skyline of NYC in background is included.
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Disco & Sealed burgers and now Sunny Pockets
We already wrote about the Disco Burger, spotted in Paris, in our trends we spotted in week 16. We have also come across burgers like that with some regularity on the internet. For instance, we recently came across the ‘Sealed Burgers’ from Spinning Buns in Austin Texas. We also spotted chef Jo Bussels’ Sunny Pockets on Nieuwsblad’s Instagram, check out the reel below. The sunny pockets are loaded with other ingredients than only burgers. Jo Bussels now launches this product in several student cafés in Belgium. The product comes from France; the Sunny Pocket website is linked in the title.
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Selling stew in the winter instead of ice cream
A real Dutch item! One of our younger colleagues came across the reel from Omroep Gelderland (below) about the ice cream shop DROOMijs in the Dutch city of Nijmegen, which has also started selling ‘Stamppotten’ (stews with mashed potatoes and vegetables) in the winter. We have seen before years ago, for example at IJscuypje/Stamppotje and at even more places. Even in the comments, people mention that they have seen it before but there are also many people who really like the idea. Who knows, it might be inspiration for more ice cream parlours! Check out the reel or the winter edition of the website of DROOMijs, link in the title.
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Taste of Horecava by Gault&Millau
During the upcoming Horecava 2025, visitors will have the chance to experience some of the Netherlands’ leading chefs up close in the exclusive Chef’s Table setting of Taste of Horecava by Gault&Millau. This Chef’s Table experience, part of Horecava’s newly launched concept, brings the skills of culinary leaders directly to hospitality professionals who want to taste, learn and inspire. More details, including which chefs you can see at work, on the Horecava website, link in title. Here you will also find information on how to participate.
