‘Free Sleep at Fletcher Package’ | They can’t make it any easier, but they can make it more fun!
11-11-2025
Fletcher Hotels in the Netherlands responds to the Tax and Customs Administration’s slogan in the Netherlands with a playful twist. From January 2026, VAT on accommodation will increase significantly, making a weekend away more expensive for many Dutch people. The VAT on hotel stays will then increase from 9% to 21%. An increase of no less than 12%. The Tax and Customs Administration always says: ‘We can’t make it more fun, but we can make it easier.’ Fletcher Hotels turns this around: ‘We can’t make it easier, but we can make it more fun!’. With this in mind, Fletcher Hotels is introducing the ‘Free Stay at Fletcher Package’. Guests who come for dinner and breakfast can stay overnight for free. With this package, the VAT is 21% on €0, or 0. The package can be booked until December 1, 2025!
2 minutes read
Young Entrepreneurs & new locations | Les Petits Canelés and Baked Amsterdam
6-11-2025
Every day, we spot fun and inspiring new concepts. This week, Les Petits Canelés has opened its first shop in the Jordaan neighbourhood in Amsterdam, offering traditional and flavourful French canelés, also in surprising variations such as matcha, coffee, orange and coconut. Baked Amsterdam introduces a revamped baked potato in the Westerpark in Amsterdam. The baked potato has crispy skins, homemade toppings and is made of locally grown Agria potatoes, a contemporary twist on comfort food for a quick, nutritious meal.
We wish these entrepreneurs and their teams the best of luck and lots of fun with their new and renovated concepts.
3 minutes read
Solo out and about | Celebrate yourself on Singles Day at Stayokay
4-11-2025
Next week we will celebrate a day all about you: Singles Day! Singles Day once began as a playful counterpart to Valentine’s Day. In the 1990s, students from China came up with the idea of using November 11, a day with four ones (11/11), to celebrate singles. What started as a funny tradition grew into a globally recognized day. Stayokay is having fun capitalizing on that with special tips on Bachelor’s Day 2025!
Another great example of capitalising on special days! We always mention these, well in advance, in our weekly trend mail! You can sign up here.
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 44
3-11-2025
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:
- Grubhub and Avride are launching a trial with autonomous delivery robots in collaboration with restaurant chain Wonder.
- Saudi Arabia Railways and Arsenale present the first luxury train in the Middle East, “Dream of the Desert”, which will launch in 2026.
- Dior introduces Haute Motherhood, a postnatal wellness program at Dior Spa Cheval Blanc Paris. It’s a great idea to offer special treatments aimed at small groups of guests, and as we always say, this can be done at any level!
- Regis Hotels & Resorts in the U.S. and Maison Ladurée are creating festive afternoon teas and Parisian elegance during the Christmas period.
- The Dutch franchise formula eazie has once again been nominated for Best Fast Service formula in the Netherlands in the YouGov Out of Home Formula Monitor 2025.
- THE BUTCHER is opening a temporary haute fast food pop-up at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport. This temporary location is the first step towards new branches of THE BUTCHER and Toni Loco, both concepts by THE ENTOURAGE GROUP, at Schiphol Airport.
- Hotelschool The Hague and House of Hospitality Amsterdam are organizing a masterclass in immersive technology for the Dutch hospitality sector on November 19. You will be able to experience AR/VR training courses that allow hotel staff to practice in realistic 360-degree environments!
Enjoy reading!
Inspiration for the Holiday Season | From a sushi Christmas Tree to an edible pinecone
27-10-2025
We’re already in the third week of October, and more and more festive inspiration is popping up online. Pinterest remains a wonderful source of ideas, and this week we explored Christmas dishes. We found several fun creations that would look great on the menu of any grand café or bistro. We’re sure chefs could take these ideas to next level!
A bruschetta Christmas wreath, a sushi Christmas tree, an edible pinecone, and a Christmas bauble dessert are among our favourites. We also noticed that most restaurants share their Christmas menus on Instagram as plain text. In our opinion, a missed opportunity!
2 minutes read
Holiday Season Inspiration | From a Gingerbread Wonderland and festive scents to a photobooth
17-10-2025
As we mentioned last week, it’s the perfect time to start planning for the holidays. Apparently, some hospitality venues are already fully booked for the Christmas Days! In October, we’re publishing a short weekly article full of inspiration; this week’s highlights include a Gingerbread Wonderland, festive scents in hotel rooms, a Christmas photobooth, messages on mirrors in restrooms, holiday fun, and a special way to unbox your Christmas boxes. By the way, you can find even more ideas on our Pinterest Christmas board.
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 39
29-9-2025
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:
- Ruby x ADE. Ruby Hotel Amsterdam celebrates Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) with a boutique stage for music, culture and unexpected moments in intimate setting.
- Restaurant La Mar celebrates 20 years of Peruvian culinary excellence with ‘La Mar Around the World’ menu.
- A new research-backed initiative sees physicians recommending trips to Sweden for the health benefits. ‘Sweden, first country on prescription’ by Visit Sweden.
- Hot Slices, Cold Drinks. A collab between Siegfried Gin and Domino’s Pizza Germany results in 2 small bottles of gin inspired by bestsellers pizza’s.
- The spooky season is arriving! Red Robin conjures up a Mega Monster Burger and a Mad Scientist Margarita.
- Starbucks named official coffee partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA.
- October 3 means it’s time for Leidens Ontzet – and at Snackcafé de Gaper this is celebrated in style! From 12:00 to 18:00, locals can stop by for refined snacks.
- World Tourism Day – Stefan Hartman of NHL Stenden wrote a vision: ‘Use tourism to strengthen broad prosperity, not just the economy’.
Enjoy reading!
Trends we spotted | Week 38
19-9-2025
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:
- Heineken Hoek on the Leidseplein in Amsterdam gets a new bistro concept, hearty food without fuss.
- Central Perk Coffeehouse, the iconic Friends hangout, is coming to Times Square this fall.
- The Belgium Sake Festival will take place on Octobre 4 & 5 in Antwerp.
- Restaurant Suus, the restaurant of Hotel De Plesman and culinary hotspot in The Hague, has a new chef and a new menu. And their deli Suusje has opened.
- Great tiny gesture: Scarlet Letter cocktail at Mr. Fogg’s in London.
- Mandarin Oriental will debut Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai in October 2025, located in the iconic Wasl Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road.
- Radisson Hotel Group opens Radisson Collection The National Hotel, Brussels, located at the prestigious The National Golf Brussels, 15 minutes from the city centre.
- We recently came across a great example of HosPETality – a BARKUTERIE Board – at BrewDog South Eveleigh in Australia!
- The first NYC Bakery Run takes place this weekend, we wonder when the first Bakery Run will be held in Amsterdam?
Enjoy reading!
From mini-cocktails to fries with your wine | “Tiny gestures, lasting impressions”
19-8-2025
A blog by Robin van Spronsen featuring a selection of small, surprising hospitality gestures for bars recently spotted on social media. From mini-cocktails that allow everyone at the table to try each other’s cocktails, to the Sauvignon & Sea Salt, or a freshly chilled glass halfway through your drink.
3 minutes read
The Doggy Route to Happiness | The world’s first sightseeing tour for dogs
12-8-2025
Last weekend, Helsinki, known as the happiest capital in the world, launched The Doggy Route to Happiness, believed to be the world’s first sightseeing tour designed especially for dogs. The event coincided with the World Dog Show 2025 and attracted over 1,000 dogs and their owners.
2 minutes read