Small gestures in hospitality 2
4-10-2013
With the publication of “Small gestures in hospitality” we want to provide hospitality entrepreneurs with hospitable gestures that are usable without having to make large investments.
We have examples from the Hotel Mainport in Rotterdam, The Mark Hotel in New York, het Pulitzer hotel in Amsterdam and the Palais Hansen Kempinski in Vienna. Download the free publication here.
Boxing at the Marriott Hotel
1-10-2013
The Amsterdam Marriott Hotel offers the ‘Future of Meetings’ concept with boxing and bootcamp trainings for companies. During the BodyFit meeting arrangement world champion kickboxing Fouad Tijarti introduces various boxing techniques. The training is a mix of stamina, power, speed and technique practices.
Bello Limoncello measuring card
1-10-2013
There are Bello Limoncello bottles with a measure card on the tables at café restaurant Braque and Mata Hari in Amsterdam. This makes it easier to pour a glass of Limoncello (or a few more) and you don’t have to buy a whole bottle. The idea for this service sprouted in Italy, where limoncello producer Natwerk found out that local restaurants estimate the amount of booze you’ve had from the limoncello bottle on the table. Thus they’ve made small addition to adapt the service for the Netherlands: a measuring card to ensure a fair price if you ‘Go Dutch’.
Solo per Due
25-9-2013
Romantic diner for two? The smallest restaurant of the world ‘Solo per Due’ is located in the Italian town Vacone. The restaurant has only one table with two chairs and two red armchairs by a fireplace. Guests don’t have to wait long for the food and the attention of the staff is completely focused on the two guests. The restaurant is located in a building dating from the nineteenth century in a historic town. The location offers a beautiful view across the valley of olive trees. ‘Solo per Due’ offers exclusive Italian dishes for € 250,= per person, drinks excluded.
Food tours
24-9-2013
Recently we published an article about Food Sherpas; local people who take tourist on a local culinary discovery tour. Food tours along local culinary hotspots for tourists are becoming more popular. Like in Washington culinary tours are given by companies. For example DC Metro Food Tours gives tours in 13 different neighborhoods in Washington. The food served during the tour are a reflection of both residents and the history of the area. During the Food Tours architecture, culture, history and food are combined. The website Skift published an interesting article about these food tours.
The stories begin here…
19-9-2013
A beautiful example of storytelling. Waldorf Astoria shows unforgettable stories that have a link with the hotel through their youtube channel. The video above shows the story of the relationship between Michelin-starred head chef Pierre Gagnaire and chef de cuisine Roel Lintermans. They surprise the guests with high quality food at the new restaurant Les Solistes at the Waldorf Astoria Berlin. Watch more unforgettable stories on the youtube channel, like the story of exectuive chef Heinz Beck at restaurant La Pergola in the Cavalieri hotel in Rome or the fashion journalist Eleonora Attolico, who shows another site of Rome, within reach from the hotel.
World Food Festival
17-9-2013
Mr. Aboutaleb, the Mayor of Rotterdam opens ‘The World Food Festival’ on Thursday September 19th. More than five weeks hospitality, scientists, food producers and chefs will show and let you taste what Rotterdam has to offer. Festivals, markets, tastings and trips through the city will bring the visitor in contact with food. From a Maroccan food court to the Rotterdam meatball. In the Future Food House designers, scientists and artists give their predictions about the future of food. The Italian culinary movie ‘Pranzo di Ferragosto’ will be shown at the ‘Museumpark’.
Battle of the Bees
12-9-2013
The ‘Waldorf Astoria New York’ and the ‘Grand Wailea’ in Maui, both members of the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand, held a ‘Battle of the Bees’ to celebrate the National Honey Month. Both hotels have a set of beehives and use the produced honey in culinary dishes, cocktails and spa treatments. During the ‘Battle of the Bees’, at September 4, a panel of judges elected the honey of both hotels, processed in dishes. The Waldorf Astoria New York won the judges’ approval by a vote of 3-2, the Grand Wailea got the popular vote as the media attendees awarded its honey as the best. Actually a bit of a tie. Guests are able to taste the honey-exchanged dishes throughout the month of September.
Pin Pack Go travel planner
5-9-2013
Four Seasons brings the guests journey to life with Pin.Pack.Go, a new travel planning service on Pinterest. Via Pinterest you can make your own Pin.Pack.Go board and specify the Four Seasons hotel you will be visiting during your holiday. Follow that specific hotel and the hotel will follow you back. The Four Seasons hotel will pin recommendations like tourist attractions, restaurants and shops. And through your board they have an insight in your interests. The Four Seasons thus plans your ideal travel from start to finish via Pinterest. An interesting and innovative way to inform your guests before their stay, a kind of concierge. And it increases the anticipation for your guests…
Family fun all in one
4-9-2013
Our colleague Steven van ‘t Hart celebrated his holiday in America this summer. He went out to eat the ‘Pizza-burger‘ by ‘Boston Pizza’ at the Niagara Falls location. We did mention this burger on horecatrends in April (kind of a April the 1st joke) and the burger will be on the menu in September. But Steven got to taste one! Especially the Pepperoni version was considered very tasty! He also noticed that children received a mini pizza box by entering the restaurant, containing coloring pages, games and crayons. Nice small gesture… That of course can be taken home ….