Trends we spotted | Week 32
Avani puts a “Paws” on pet fees as ‘dogs stay free’ for International Dog Day
goodBytz expands into hospitality - Leonardo Hotels Central Europe deploys autonomous kitchen robot
Radisson Hotel Group leverages its strong owner confidence to accelerate global growth
'Twelve Nights of Wonder' for the 2026 holiday season at Orlando World Center Marriott
Vinyl Voyages - “Monkey Shoulder Selects” spotlights Europe’s trendiest Hi-Fi bars and cocktail neighbourhoods
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:
- DoorDash recently unveiled DoorDash Air, an in-house program that will develop a drone delivery system.
- ‘Twelve Nights of Wonder’ for the 2026 holiday season at Orlando World Center Marriott. Are you already working on your holiday season calendar?
- For one night only, on August 27, 2026, Waldorf Astoria New York’s legendary Grand Ballroom will transform into a full-size tennis court beneath the chandeliers.
- It already sounds delicious in French: “La Brioche Glacée & Toastée célèbre les saveurs Fetish de la Maison: Ispahan et Infiniment Vanille”.
- Avani Hotels & Resorts is inviting guests to celebrate International Dog Day, which takes place on 26 August, with a getaway designed for the whole family.
- Hamburg-based robotics company goodBytz and Leonardo Hotels Central Europe have entered into a strategic partnership.
- For fans of Aperol Spritz: spotted in France, Aperol Gummies.
- Vinyl Voyages: ‘Monkey Shoulder Selects’ spotlights Europe’s trendiest Hi-Fi bars and cocktail neighbourhoods.
- Radisson Hotel Group leverages its strong owner confidence to accelerate global growth.
Enjoy reading!
DoorDash Air | DoorDash launches its own drone delivery program
DoorDash is getting serious about drone delivery. Last week on July 29, the company unveiled DoorDash Air, an in-house program that will develop a drone delivery system. The company also announced that it has been granted Part 135 air carrier certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, allowing it to operate a drone delivery service. It is one of just eight drone operators with the certificate. Drone delivery is slowly growing, especially for ‘mid-range’ deliveries of 3 to 5 miles that tend to be less appealing to human couriers. More details in their news article, linked above in the title.
DoorDash Air – DoorDash launches its own drone delivery program
‘Twelve Nights of Wonder’ for the 2026 holiday season at Orlando World Center Marriott
This holiday season, Orlando World Center Marriott invites guests to step into a winter wonderland during its highly anticipated “Twelve Nights of Wonder” celebration. Running from Dec. 20 through Dec. 31, 2026, the resort-wide activation will transform the sprawling property into a festive escape filled with holiday magic, daytime pool events, nightly village experiences, and brilliant fireworks. More details can be found in their press release, linked above.
As we indicated in our ‘Trends we spotted week 30’, the holiday season events are slowly being announced! Although the current heat is melting our brains, how far along is your Christmas planning?
Waldorf Astoria in New York serves up tennis beneath the chandeliers of the legendary Grand Ballroom
For one night only, on August 27, 2026, Waldorf Astoria New York’s legendary Grand Ballroom will transform into a full-size tennis court beneath the chandeliers, trading its dance floor for the baseline and turning one of New York’s most storied gathering spaces into the city’s most unexpected tennis venue.
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts recently announced the Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club: Ballroom Tennis Invitational, an unprecedented celebration of tennis, style and hospitality at Waldorf Astoria New York. The event marks the official debut of Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club, the brand’s new global platform embracing the world of racquet culture through extraordinary destinations, distinctive hospitality and experiences timed to some of the world’s most celebrated sporting and social moments. More details can be found in their press release, linked above.
Waldorf Astoria in New York serves up tennis beneath the chandeliers of the legendary Grand Ballroom
Brioche with ice cream by Pierre Hermé Paris
It sounds delicious just in French alone: “La Brioche Glacée & Toastée célèbre les saveurs Fetish de la Maison: Ispahan et Infiniment Vanille”. In other words: a toasted brioche with ice cream, as a tribute to the House of Pierre Hermé’s fetish flavors: Ispahan and Infiniment Vanille.
Freshly toasted, this brioche reveals a play of contrasts between warm and cold, soft and melting. Each brioche is carefully sliced to be filled with cubes of shortbread and a generous scoop of sorbet or ice cream. The brioche is then folded shut and briefly toasted, after which it is served immediately to let the unique flavor experience come fully into its own. You can taste it at Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet – 35 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris. The link to Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet can be found above.
Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken
Avani puts a “Paws” on pet fees as ‘dogs stay free’ for International Dog Day
Avani Hotels & Resorts is inviting guests to celebrate International Dog Day, which takes place on 26 August, with a getaway designed for the whole household. From beach breaks and heritage escapes to culture-filled city stays, Avani is inviting guests to bring their four-legged companions along for the journey.
From 23 to 30 August 2026, participating Avani hotels in Thailand, Laos and the Netherlands (Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam) will welcome dogs with thoughtful in-room amenities, dedicated menus, outdoor spaces and easy access to local walks, while their owners settle into relaxed stays inspired by each destination. More details in their press release, the link can be found above.
goodBytz expands into hospitality | Leonardo Hotels Central Europe deploys autonomous kitchen robot
Hamburg-based robotics company goodBytz and Leonardo Hotels Central Europe have entered into a strategic partnership. The first deployment will take place at Leonardo Smart Vienna Airport, where the autonomous kitchen robot luca will prepare fresh salads and bowls on-site, 24/7. Through this partnership, goodBytz continues to expand its presence in the hospitality market, demonstrating how autonomous kitchen robots can enhance the guest experience in modern hotels. More details in their press release, the link can be found above in the title.
For the fans of Aperol Spritz | Aperol Gummies
A summer collab of Alice Malaret of Food Events Studio Douceurs Capitales (their website is linked in the title) with Aperol Spritz France, she created Aperol Gummies. She sold packages with Aperol Spritz Gummies in three different flavours and colours: Aperol, bergamot, bitter orange. Sounds delicious! She made more gummies for different brands, check out her Instagram account.
Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken
Vinyl Voyages | “Monkey Shoulder Selects” spotlights Europe’s trendiest Hi-Fi bars and cocktail neighbourhoods
Speyside, Scotland: Monkey Shoulder Whisky isn’t launching another bar list. It’s tuning into the cities that set the pace where tomorrow’s trends are already happening. Unveiling Monkey Shoulder Selects, a bold new digital guide and social media series featuring Europe’s vibrant cities spotlighting the Hi-Fi bars, vinyl listening spaces, hidden cocktail spots and neighbourhood scenes where music, cocktails and culture collide. Part city guide, part cultural map, Monkey Shoulder Selects is a curated discovery platform built in collaboration with the people who know their streets best: bartenders, DJs and local tastemakers. The result is a Europe‑wide edit of places worth leaving the house for and the perfect excuse to order a Monkey Shoulder Old Fashioned while you’re there. Check out the guides to London, Lisbon, Zurich, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Milan in the link in the title.
Radisson Hotel Group leverages its strong owner confidence to accelerate global growth
Radisson Hotel Group continued to accelerate its growth strategy in the first half of 2026, signing and opening 160 hotels, representing more than 22,000 keys. This sustained momentum reflects continued owner confidence in the Group’s brands and ability to generate compelling results, alongside continued demand for high-quality branded hospitality across global markets.
During the first half of the year, the Group strengthened its presence across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific through a combination of signings, openings, market entries, and brand extensions. Activity continues to be driven by a diversified portfolio spanning luxury, lifestyle, upscale, resort, conversion, and mixed-use opportunities. More details in the link in the title or check out the video below.
