Rent a smartphone in Hong Kong
15-3-2013
Hong Kong-based Handy is leasing Android smartphones out to visitors, pre-loaded with free calls, 3G internet access and apps to help them navigate their destination. Handy provides users with the most up-to-date information and the latest happenings in Hong Kong. The smartphones can be picked up from the Hong Kong International Airport and it is possible to connect the phones with laptops to the internet and helps tourist avoid spending time looking for free wi-fi. Earlier we saw that tourist can hire a tablet with free wi-fi in Singapore and guests of the London’s Stratford Holiday Inn can use a Samsung Galaxy S III during their stay.
Culinary cocktail lab
15-3-2013
A nice new concept of molecular chef cook José Andrés. The cook has several restaurants in Washington and opened a cocktail bar named ‘Barmini’ in the space adjoining restaurant ‘Minibar’. More than one hundred artisan cocktails are crafted and served with the combination of art and science as well as tradition and technique. Earlier we saw that José Andrés applied his innovative style to the American cuisine at restaurant America Eats Tavern.
Free access to the New York Times at Starbucks
14-3-2013
Soon people will be able to get free access to 15 articles a day of the New York Times through the Starbucks Digital Network. Starbucks customers will be able to view three articles a day from five different sections. This action approach benefits for both companies, because it attracts people to visit Starbucks over a local coffee shop and it widens the reach of the New York Times.
Fashion Saturday in Hotel Bristol Paris
12-3-2013
Watching a fashion show of one of the great Parisian fashion designers during a high tea with a glass of champagne on a Saturday afternoon in Paris,? That is exactly what is possible at the Salon Castellane in the Bristol hotel in Paris. Because of the friendly and accessible concept, they have been managed to persuade a few major fashion houses for a show. The designers from Celine, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Chloé, Christian Lacroix, Versace and Ungaro all showed their latest collections. The hotel also wants to give fashion shows by the designers of tomorrow. Something for the Amstel hotel or Krasnapolsky hotel in Amsterdam?
CulinaryArtbazaar brings hospitality entrepreneurs together
11-3-2013
On 24 March 2013 the first CulinaryArtbazaar will be organized in the Netherlands, an event for and by hospitality entrepreneurs. During the CulinaryArtbazaar suppliers of quality product have the opportunity to be in contact with restaurant owners. In an informal atmosphere they can show their products. There will also be a live cooking and artists and retailers can present their products. A special part of the event is the auction for KWF Dutch Cancer Society. The event is an initiative of chief cook Roderick Rijsdam and artist Monique van der Meijden.
Destination Shibuya Station in Milan
11-3-2013
Fastweb, the second largest network in Italy, wants 20% of the Italian population to enjoy fast Internet via fiber by the end of 2014. This guerrilla action is set to announce the introduction. To visualize the speed Fastweb has created a unique experience in Milan: a trip to Shibuya Station, Tokyo within one stop of a subway station. Fastweb transformed the station in detail, displays, kiosks, audio information in Japanese and a Japanese audience. By using QR codes the experience could be shared through social media. Perhaps an idea for restaurants, to convert a bus stop into a mini-restaurant for one day and spoil the travelers?
Paint Your Pizza and then order it
11-3-2013
Paint your own pizza and then order it. This is possible at ‘Paint your Pizza’ a project by the Swedish artist Jonas Lund. New York-based ‘Paint Your Pizza’ arose from another project Lund created last year called The Paintshop, which offers a platform on which online users can collaboratively paint pictures and then sell their creations . ‘Paint Your Pizza’ offers an online “canvas” upon which visitors can create the image of their dream pizza. Through a partnership with New York City’s Famous Original Ray’s Pizza, customers can then order an edible version of their creation for delivery to the door.
Great, smaller portions for the same price
8-3-2013
In November 2012, 20 restaurants in São Paulo, Brazil, launched an initiative where their guest could choose for smaller portion sizes, while still paying the full price. ‘Satisfeito’ (‘Satisfied, in Portuguese) dishes were 1/3 smaller than the usual dishes. The money saved from serving these smaller dishes has been donated to the Instituto Alana, an organization fighting child malnutrition in Brazil. Satisfeito is a global movement that aims to alleviate child hunger and prevent food waste by providing restaurants and their customers with the chance to help organizations feeding starving children around the world.
Photo is looking for family
8-3-2013
Action by Go-Tan: the company collaborates with the ‘Tropenmuseum’ to start the action ‘Photo is looking for family’ to find the rightful owners of 335 family albums under former inhabitants of Dutch East Indies. Go-Tan put stickers with family photos on 80.000 ’emping’ bags to reach people who have lost an album, or can help identifying owners of an album.
The Bay Lights
6-3-2013
Inspired by the Bay Bridge’s 75th Anniversary, artist Leo Villareal created the project ‘The Bay Lights’. ‘The Bay Lights’ is the world’s largest LED light sculpture, that is made of 25,000 white LED lights and is 1.8 miles wide and 500 feet high. Each light is individually programmed and shines from dusk until 2:00 a.m for the next two years.