Menu-Order-AI taps into the GLP-1 shift | What to order of the menu?
1-5-2026
The rise of GLP-1 medication (prescription drugs that mimic a natural hormone to manage Type 2 diabetes and obesity by regulating appetite, increasing fullness, and controlling blood sugar) is changing the eating habits of millions of consumers worldwide. Reduced appetite, shifting preferences, and a focus on high-protein, lighter meals are shaping new choices at the table. Yet when dining out, practical guidance is often missing. That’s exactly where Menu-Order-AI comes in. The U.S.-based app helps users decide in real time what to order, tailored to their dietary needs and goals. With more than 110,000 downloads in just four months, demand for this kind of smart, in-the-moment support is clearly growing.
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 17
28-4-2026
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:
- Top chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is serving a hotdog, street food in front of the Mark Hotel in New York.
- Are you going to New York? You can create a unique selfie on one of the 900 pedestrian crossings of New York!
- TRIBE Hotels launched a TRIBE Vinyl Club on Disquaire Day / Record Store Day on April 18.
- In celebration of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, hitting theaters May 22, Burger King in the US is launching their ‘Out of This Galaxy Limited-Time Menu’.
- The Sauna Club opened their first mini-spa location at Moai Beach Club in Zandvoort (the Netherlands).
- During Antwerp Art Weekend (May 14–17), WOLF will present a new installation by Marius Ritiu at their Felix Pakhuis location.
- Starbucks partners with Warner Bros. to bring the world of Harry Potter to Asia Pacific stores.
- SeaWorld San Diego will open Shark Encounter on May 22, an immersive exhibit showcasing sharks through interactive environments and advanced multimedia.
- You can buy chef Olivier Roellinger’s spices at Épices Roellinger in Paris, and at authorized retailers all over France and even one in the UK and in San Francisco.
Enjoy reading!
Airbnb launched a ‘Host Earnings Calculator’ for World Cup 2026
23-4-2026
Airbnb is responding to the surge in accommodation demand around the 2026 World Cup with a new ‘Host Earnings Calculator’ tool for hosts. Interest in host cities is rising quickly, and more residents are considering renting out their homes temporarily. With a dedicated earnings calculator and attractive incentives, Airbnb aims to expand supply while encouraging new hosts to join the platform.
2 minutes read
Bites launches on ChatGPT | Unlocking AI-powered direct ordering
17-4-2026
Bites, the first AI-native food ordering platform, recently announced the launch of its ordering experience on ChatGPT, enabling restaurants and point-of-sale (POS) platforms to capture demand through conversational AI. The launch enables diners to discover, browse, and place orders directly within ChatGPT without any price markups or marketplace service fees.
As Bites explains on its website, their platform offers a solution for everyone who overpays for food delivery, both diners and restaurants. The company started in California, where most participating restaurants are located, but it already includes participants from across the United States. We’re curious to see whether Bites will also launch in Europe, or if similar platforms will emerge here.
3 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 15
13-4-2026
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:
- Eberhardjes, the heart-shaped butter biscuits from Amsterdam, are launching a limited-edition pack this month in collaboration with Schiphol, to mark the 100th anniversary of the connection between the city of Amsterdam and the airport.
- Over the past ten years, the Verspillingsfabriek (the Waste Factory) has grown into an impactful production site where circularity, taste and social value come together.
- Since 2024, there has been a ban on single-use plastic cups at events in the Netherlands, but research by the ‘Inspectie Leefomgeving & Transport’(Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate) (ILT) in 2025 shows that the sector is failing to comply. They announced stricter enforcement.
- From 14 to 17 April 2026, Interclean Amsterdam, an international trade fair for the cleaning and hygiene sector, will take place at the RAI Amsterdam. It will conclude with a ‘Feel Good Friday’, a themed day exploring the role of cleaning in the hospitality experience.
- KFC in the US released a single, ‘Finger Lickin’ Machine’. They hope the track will be a new contender for the season’s most popular track. Introduced in combination with a Value-feast meal.
- AI voice agent Rachel called 3,000 Irish pubs to reconstruct the Guinness Price Index.
- McCain Foods launched ‘Brew City® Beer Battered Potato Waves’: a crispy, wavy potato innovation for the hospitality sector in the US and Canada.
- From 21 April, McDonald’s in the US is expanding its value-for-money offering by giving fans more choice on the McValue® menu.
- The Berkeley in London will reopen its exclusive rooftop terrace to the public again in summer 2026. The organize ‘Capri in the City’ near their rooftop pool, for the second year running.
- McDonald’s in Türkiye launched a ‘Drink & Drive’-campaign to raise awareness of road safety. Starring their McCafé.
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McDonald’s Türkiye Introduces ‘Archie’ for gamers
7-4-2026
McDonald’s continues to redefine user experience through practical solutions that adapt to the rhythm of everyday life. As digital lifestyles evolve, the rapid growth of home-based activities and gaming culture is leading brands to find new ways to engage with this world more closely. Inspired by this insight, McDonald’s Türkiye has developed a creative solution targeting one of the most fundamental challenges. They offer a Pro Gamer Menu, the ‘Archie’ for Gamers device is designed to keep the character in motion, helping ensure an uninterrupted gaming experience.
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 13
31-3-2026
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:
- Horecava is taking the next step in its culinary positioning with the arrival of the Gault&Millau Netherlands guide launch in Amsterdam.
- Speaking of April Fools’ jokes: BJ’s Restaurants is launching a bold Pizookie with a sweet-and-savory twist on April 1 — the ‘Sweet Heat Pepperoni Pizookie®’.
- Planet Hollywood has announced plans to open a large-scale resort, including hotels, a casino, and an entertainment complex, in Tbilisi.
- Travel and Tour World recently published its list of the 50 safest travel destinations for 2026. Due to geopolitical tensions, travelers are increasingly choosing stable countries with strong infrastructure and reliable systems. Find out where the Netherlands ranks!
- Anantara Ubud Bali Resort has recently launched an initiative to release the endangered Bali starling (a bird species) into the jungle. The first two pairs will be released on Earth Day.
- Grubhub is launching a pilot program for drone delivery by Dexa at Wonder in Green Brook, New Jersey.
- NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort, in collaboration with Planteray Rum, has completed the world’s first certified underwater rum aging process.
- This week, among others: we spotted ‘Wearable Cones’ on Instagram, handy for the ice cream season? And a funny April Fools’ post by the Nuttington Post about ‘McSushi’.
Enjoy reading!
Bagels & Beans introduces the Caffeine Compass | Discover your personal caffeine rhythm
26-3-2026
From strategic sipper to double-shot thinker, insight into how coffee affects your energy. These days, we measure just about everything. Our steps. Our sleep. Our screen time. But our caffeine intake often remains overlooked. Even though coffee is a fixed part of the daily rhythm for many Dutch people: nearly 80% drink coffee weekly, averaging around 3 to 4 cups per day. With the Caffeine Compass, Bagels & Beans provides insight into what that means for your energy throughout the day.
2 minutes read
Trends we spotted | Week 12
23-3-2026
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:
- Padbol, an energetic Argentine game that combines padel and football on a fenced-off court.
- Lighthouse is launching the first ChatGPT app for direct hotel bookings, featuring AI-driven, reliable hotel information.
- 24H Chefs, a biennial initiative with Gault&Millau, sees top chefs cook for 24 hours to raise funds for War Child and the Prinses Máxima Centrum.
- Bagels & Beans is expanding to nearly 100 locations, preparing for international expansion and appointing Carolien Vergouwe as managing director.
- The ‘Wissel ’ns Wat!’ campaign encourages the Dutch to make plant-based choices and offers a newsroom on the protein transition.
- Design & Wijn, in collaboration with Wijngoed Gelders Laren, is launching Portique, a Dutch port-style wine in a limited edition of just 438 bottles.
- Le Pain Quotidien is opening a location at Designer Outlet Roermond, thereby expanding its presence in the Netherlands.
- HEINEKEN has reached 1,500 alcohol-free tap points in The Netherlands and is promoting responsible 0.0 draught beer consumption at sports clubs.
- Het Noorden celebrates its 160th anniversary with Noorden Blond, a speciality beer brewed by Brouwerij Wentersch.
- Nine new properties join the global Relais & Châteaux collection.
Enjoy reading!
Redefine Meat launches next-generation plant-based Flank Steak
13-3-2026
Redefine Meat, the pioneer of ‘new-meat’ – an emerging category of premium-quality, 100% plant-based products – today announces the next generation of its multi-award-winning Redefine Flank Steak, offering a richer, juicier and even more premium steak for meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans alike. The New-Flank is now available to both new customers and Redefine Meat’s existing network of foodservice partners and retailers across Europe.
2 minute read
Menu-Order-AI taps into the GLP-1 shift | What to order of the menu?
