Wahaca Southbank Experiment
3-2-2014
The Wahaca Southbank Experiment is a temporary restaurant build of eight recycled shipping containers, arranged in two floors with panoramic views over the river and a tequila bar with terrace. It is a creative and innovative restaurant with retro chairs, lamps made from recycled soda bottles and a relaxing atmosphere created by neon lights. Artists Daniel Melim has made Mexican street art works at the outside of the building. Wahaca is a Mexican restaurant that serves Mexican market food and they experiment with dishes, every month there is a new special on the menu. Wahaca has several locations in the London area. Check out this video of Wahaca Southbank being built.
Starwood Preferred Guest advertises on Instagram
31-1-2014
Starwood Hotels & Resorts guest loyalty program Starwood Preferred Guest advertises on Instagram. It is the first advertising campaign by a travel brand on the social media platform. The campaign runs through February 4 on mobile and desktop devices. The photos used in advertising on Instagram are already published by the brands and promoted within the feed of people who don’t follow them.
Aloft Hotel introduces virtual key
31-1-2014
The check-in process at a hotel can be long and often much paperwork must be filled in. The Aloft Hotel in Manhattan has a solution: a digital key to open the hotel room. Guests receive a virtual key through the Starwood app, compatible with both iPhones and Android devices. The Bluetooth enabled system will open the door. With this technical development the hotel chain wants to attract young people and offer an additional service.
Burger King gave away free Big Macs
31-1-2014
The Norwegian Burger King has performed a remarkable campaign: they gave way free burgers of their competitor McDonalds as part of their Facebook campaign. The campaign was meant to test the sincerity of their fans. The fans could choose whether they remained loyal to Burger King or would go for a free Big Mac. When the fan chose for the Big Mac, the fan was removed from Facebook. Although the number of Facebook fans significantly decreased, the involvement and interaction with the fine fans increased.
Hotel V opens 6 V lofts in Amsterdam
30-1-2014
Hotel V Frederiksplein has opened six V lofts in the center of Amsterdam. With all the amenities of a hotel but the comfort of a city apartment, each V loft has the same style as the hotel with a mix of design and vintage furniture. Each V loft has a fireplace, compact kitchenette, bathroom, sleeping area and free Wi-Fi. During their stay, guests can use the breakfast service, bar, meeting rooms and the lobby of Hotel V.
New pasta restaurant in Rotterdam
30-1-2014
A no nonsense restaurant, eating food as nature intended it: new in Rotterdam is ‘De Pasta Kantine’ (translated as the pasta canteen). Various pasta dishes, salads made from fresh and biological ingredients. Guests can also order half portions to taste a bit of everything. All dishes cost under € 10,= and are available gluten free, except the lasagnas. With the ‘Container for the neighbors’ suggestion guests are attended to take their leftovers home. A bottle of tap water costs € 1,= and sponsors to ‘Dine4Them’, a foundation dedicated to the Youth Care Agency and the Food Bank Rotterdam.
Pay your snack by mobile
30-1-2014
It might be possible to pay a snack at snack bar Febo by mobile soon. You need to scan a QR-code and the payment goes through a personal code on the mobile. After that the locker can be opened to grab the snack. To develop the app Febo started a collaboration with èM!payment.
Marriott Travel Brilliant
29-1-2014
Marriott organized the Travel Brilliant competition in 2013. Recently the hotel chain started developing the winning idea by Anjanna of a healthy vending machine, with for instance olives and dried fruit, in London. The idea is not new, but it’s interesting how a large hotel chain like the Marriott will implement it. The company is focusing more on content marketing around the competition and got a deal with websites like Fast Company, Wired and Mashable to support this.
Hotel shabbyshabby
29-1-2014
From 23 May to 8 June 2014 the Hotel shabbyshabby project will take place in the context of the Theater der Welt 2014 festival in Mannheim, Germany. For this project creative geniuses, students of architecture and professionals have build the hotel room of their dreams, made from the city of Mannheim’s trash. The rooms have to consist of mostly used or recycled materials (except for the beds and bedclothes) and may cost maximum €250,-. Contestants can send in their designs until 31 January and will construct them in 20 groups at a purpose-built construction camp in the week before the event. With the project the festival organizers want to change the view of residents and visitors on Mannheim. The reception and breakfast room is centrally located at the National Theater, while the rooms are scattered across town.
Sweet delights served by the meter from the Pastry Library
28-1-2014
If you are on a vacation in Dubai, want to dine out and love desserts, you should definitely eat at restaurant Stay at The Palm (One&Only resort). They have a menu that’s inspired by the French chef Yannick Alléno (three Michelin stars since 2007). By handing over the menus the waiter already warns you to leave some space for the dessert! And we must say that our meter desserts, prepared by Chef Kevin Lacote based on our tastes, was great! The method of serving is beautiful, a kind of ‘dessert wave’. Guests can also make a selection of friandises from the library, which will be served with your coffee. ^Marjolein
Bavaria Brouwerijcafe in Lieshout
28-1-2014
In the centre of Lieshout you will find the Bavaria Brewery café. Experience genuine hospitality in the Dutch area of Brabant in a contemporary atmosphere. You can drop by here for a delicious lunch, dinner and drinks. They also have a number of rooms, each with their own character, offering countless possibilities for a meeting, conference or presentation, among other things. More in the party mood? A birthday, anniversary or staff party, everything is possible. They also offer all kinds of arrangements such as motorised activities, (beer) games, workshops, tastings and guided tours. They also offer a Bavaria Brewery Tour for larger and smaller groups. Prefer something tailor-made? Then they will be happy to help you put together a tailor-made programme, of course with the conviviality known in this region. For more information on the packages and the restaurant, check out their website.
Winter sport drinks
28-1-2014
The winter sport season is kicking off. Skiers and snowboarders get in touch with new drinks and connect them with a holiday feeling. Spezi, made of cola and orange soda is one example, but there are many other examples. Surpise winter sporters with a German or Austrian soda in your bar or restaurant.
Cragels, the kickoff of the year of hybrid foods
27-1-2014
Cragels – the adventurous hybrid between a croissant and a bagel, the newest “famous” pastry of New York. Originating from The Bagel Store on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg this is the snack that tries to challenge the cronut in 2014. Saturday January 25, was the first day that the bakery was serving flavored cragels next to the basic cragels and we were there to try them out! They were selling plain, chocolate, bacon-cheddar-egg and parmesan spinach cragels. Personally I was especially impressed by the way both items were actually to be found in the eating sensation. When you take a bite, the first you notice is the flakiness of the croissant but when you are really eating your bite you feel and taste the denseness of the bagel. On top of that the flavor is very full and I have to say the bacon-cheddar-egg cragel was a delight for the taste buds! Hospitality insiders already predicted it.. 2014 will be the year of hybrid foods and I would say, this is a great kickoff!^Leonie van Spronsen
Call it a champagne bar, call it a hotdog store
27-1-2014
Dutch chef-kok Ron Blaauw opened the ‘Ron Gastropub‘ in April with affordable dishes of high gastronomic level. Ron Blaauw will open his new concept ‘The Fat Dog’ in Amsterdam in April. The restaurant will serve handcrafted hotdogs with diverse toppings in combination with a glass of bubbles, wine or gin tonic. The new concept is inspired by Bubbledogs in London, a champagne bar that serves bubbles with hotdogs instead of caviar.
Shepherd Ham
24-1-2014
Shepherd Ham is made from sheep that are taken to graze on moorlands, dikes and other natural grazing and they are accompanied by a shepherd. Shepherd Ham is a local product of Limburg and is soft and full of flavor, available with or without bone. The meat is massaged with fine sea salt and then dry-cured for a length of time. Each Shepherd Ham has its own story: every shepherd has a UBN number that can be traced through the website. So you can see the information about the shepherd and the grazing locations.
Vending machine with salads
24-1-2014
We already have seen a number of vending machines, but mostly with unhealthy products. The vending machine of Farmers’s Fridge sells healthy, fresh packaged salads, fruits and breakfast. The company prepares the salads made of organic, local en fresh produce early in the morning and delivers the packed salads to the vending machines by 10AM. The unsold salads from the previous day will be donated to the local food bank. The vending machine has a touchscreen and is made of wood and recycled materials. Farmer’s Fridge currently has vending machines in the Chicago area.
Design contest for bed Sofitel Luxury Hotels
24-1-2014
Sofitel Luxury Hotels organizes a design contest in collaboration with the Wallpaper magazine. Designers, artists and students worldwide can submit their bed design inspired by MyBed (the Sofitel bed concept). The winning design will be displayed in the lobby of Sofitel München Bayerpost and the winner gets a free night at a Sofitel Hotel.
Cheers to Sochi
23-1-2014
During the Winter Olympics in Sochi, fans can send their favorite athlete a personal message. Via the site ‘Cheers to Sochi’ or Twitter #cheerstosochi messages can be sent and McDonald’s will deliver them to the athletes in a special way. McDonald’s ensures that the messages are projected on a screen in the Olympic Village and athletes can print their favorite posts on a wrist-ribbon and respond to their fans through Twitter.
Volkshotel Amsterdam
23-1-2014
The ‘Volkshotel’ will open its doors in Amsterdam in May 2014. The old building of the newspaper ‘de Volkskrant’ undergoes a renovation to a multidisciplinary building with a hotel of 172 rooms. Existing elements with a creative character remain and a part will be converted into a creative space. The ‘Volkshotel’ will also have a restaurant, a cocktail bar with a ’20s New York look, a club, a theatre bar and a lobby with co-working space. On the roof there are hot tubs and a sauna with a view of the city of Amsterdam. The result is a combination of hospitality, work, art, music and culture.
Brand beer brewing challenge
22-1-2014
Brand beer challenges hobby brewers to create the best Inda Pale Ale beer. Contestants have to prepare twelve bottles for tasting and testing and ten candidates can make it to the finals. Subscibtions must be made before 1 April, the bottles must be ready on 26 April. The winner will produce the beer together with the Brand brewers and will get his or her name and picture on the packaging of the first brew.
Flanders promotes cooking talent abroad
22-1-2014
Flanders promotes it’s talented kitchen abroad. During the Madrid Fusion 27-29 January Flanders is guest region and chef Thomas Locus promotes the talented Flemish chefs in Spain as one of the ‘Jong Keukengeweld‘ chefs. He designed a special menu for The Westin Palace in Madrid, the best way to experience this region is through ‘The good taste of Flanders’ the coming two weeks.
The tourist marketing plan for promotion and development of the Flemish eating and drinking culture will be presented on 24 February.
Meet Oaky
21-1-2014
It’s all about creating the best hotel experience! Article by Julia Soldic.
Any Hospitality Organization wants to be the best – the winner, if you will. This goal has led the Hospitality Industry searching for the ultimate solution to fight competition. The question remains: “What is the most significant measurement tool in fighting competition?” The answer is often: customer satisfaction.
Oedipus Brewpub
21-1-2014
{youtube}gTSl3-CGWBw{/youtube}Alex, Paul, Rick and Sander started brewing beer 2,5 years ago in a kitchen with two pans on a stove. Nowadays the brewery produces at about 3000 liters of beer to a growing number of restaurants, bars and liquor stores in the Netherlands. For the next step, the creation of their own brew-pub, the brewers ask their fans for help. To set up the location where brewery, bar and local foodsnacks are combined at the Westerdok in Amsterdam, they need an investment of € 200.000,-. A total of €100.000,- will be collected via CrowdAboutNow, where everyone can invest from € 100,- upwards for a return on investment of 5% per year for three years. There are extra rewards for various amounts of invested money.
Pop up store with 22 creative entrepreneurs
21-1-2014
In the Jan Evertsenstraat in Amsterdam citizens joined forces to make the shopping street more vivid with pop-up stores. The latest achievement is the ‘Geef om de Jan Eef’ pop-up store where 22 entrepreneurs and artists host a 400m2 shop together. Doing this, they can be part-time entrepreneur and can run the shop in shifts. The product range includes goat-wool t-shirts, art, vegan wines, fashion, bikes (of course, it’s Amsterdam) and there is also a coffee corner by ‘Cup of Jo’. The combination of the various concepts enhances the reach of the shop and makes it a vivid meeting place for creatives from the area. The pop-up shops make the neighbourhood more interesting for other entrepreneurs. The street becomes a place where startups can develop in a steady pace and perhaps open a permanent shop in the future.
Coffee servings with tiramisu and mint flavor
21-1-2014
The Coffee and Tea bar research by Van Spronsen & Partners mentioned the change in coffee consumption by the youth. Next to that, consumers expect more luxurious coffee and different flavors when they order. Nestlé Professional and MONIN joined forces to actively advise barista’s in seasonal coffee flavors. For the coming months the Espresso Tiramisu Con Panna (with MONIN tiramisu syrup and whipped cream) and chilled Café Freddo Chocolate Mint (with MONIN chocolate mint) are advised.