Accor announced the global launch of ‘Accor Key’ | A digital key solution

15-2-2021

Accor recently announced the global roll-out of its digital key solution, ‘Accor Key’, in line with the Group’s strategy to provide a contactless guest journey in its facilities. This exciting new step for Accor confirms its ambition to innovate and invest in high-quality technological solutions to deliver the very best and most convenient experience for its guests.

Following successful pilot programs in North America, Europe and Asia, the roll out will start in all new Accor hotels opening in 2021 and extend to existing properties with an objective to equip 500 hotels with Accor Key this year, and at least 50% of all rooms across the network within the next five years. By providing customers access to their rooms without a physical key, Accor will also help reduce the amount of plastic used for traditional key cards and cardboard for the key holder.

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Trends we spotted | Week 2

19-1-2021

At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu 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’.

This week, links to articles about plant-based braised beef by Fable Food Co and Five Guys has partnered with Radius Networks to roll out curbside & in-store pickup.

The 2021 Food Trends Report by Fine Dining Lovers – with trends like Plant Power, Brunchfast en Linner, Kitchen Co-Ops and Ghostronomy. And here in the Netherlands the bagels from Bagels & Beans are now sold at most Jumbo Supermarkets.

This March, the founders of Assembly Underground in Leeds will launch a brand-new food and entertainment space, Society Manchester at Barbirolli Square. And we spotted E-bike parking units, called the HAVN, with built-in storage and charging by a Belgium start up called Streetwaves. Interesting for restaurants and hotels near bike routes!

British Airways has recently roped in Michelin-starred chef, Tom Kerridge to design a gourmet food menu for its economy class passengers. And a list of all the planned openings of the Accor Group in 2021, an encouraging development outlook!

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Trends we spotted | Week 51

21-12-2020

At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu 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’.

This week, links to articles about Serrano ‘sinjamón’, recently introduced in Spain by Rollito Vegano and recently opened in Israel: The Chicken by SuperMeat, the world’s first restaurant with cultured chicken grown directly from chicken cells.

Scotland is the first country to make menstrual products free for all. That made the Scottish brewer BrewDog so proud that they brewed a Bloody Good Beer for the occasion! And Pepsi had its #PepsiApplePieChallenge on TikTok and Twitter, for this challenge people had to upload video’s or photos of trying to and failing to bake an apple pie.

A vending machine with culinary meals by Alexander Herrmann (**) in Wirsberg, Germany! Beyond Meat has introduced Beyond Pork at the Chinese market and an article about inspiring restaurant food service models post Covid!

And recently opened in Munich, a FC Bayern boutique hotel and 2 restaurants!

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Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2020 | This year’s theme: Art Deco

7-12-2020

Claridge’s, London’s legendary Mayfair hotel has unveiled its much anticipated Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2020 in the hotel lobby. This year the landmark hotel has drawn on its rich and glamorous Art Deco design heritage evoking the Roaring 20’s, a time when people were looking for a symbol of hope and happiness post World War One. As London looks for a beacon of light amidst the trials and tribulations of this year, the message seems very fitting as we once again hope for better times to come.

The Claridge’s Christmas Tree has long symbolized the start of the festive season in the capital, drawing visitors and Londoners alike to admire its magnificent design. This is the 11th year that Claridge’s has invited a longstanding partner and friend to reinterpret the tree in their own distinctive style. We wrote about a couple of them because we love the inspiration they offer, on the level of decorating but also in choosing to cooperate with the designers. Check out the trees by regular guests and designers Christian Louboutin, Diane von Fürstenberg and even Karl Lagerfeld.  

Reading time: two minutes

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The Berkeley unveils ‘Winter at The Garden’

1-12-2020

On Thursday 3rd December, as The Berkeley reopens its doors to all, the hotel will reveal a new festive addition: Winter at The Garden.  Following the summer sell out success of The Garden and now reimagined for the winter months, this culinary terrace spot will consist of five cosy wooden cabins, each seating up to six diners.  These cabins, glittering with flickering candles, will be decked with wreaths courtesy of McQueens, and surrounded by a forest of fir trees and fairy lights.  Guests will be armed with blankets and heaters to keep warm.  A menu of alpine specialties, built around a showstopping raclette grill, will delight eager guests after weeks of eating at home.

The UK is getting out of their lockdown tomorrow December 2 just after midnight, at that moment the country will go back to a three tier system. Only if you’re located in a tier 3 region, the restaurants and pubs aren’t allowed to open. London for example is located in a tier 2 region (most regions are tier 2), the rules here are: ‘Pubs and bars can only open if they serve substantial meals. Alcohol can be served with that meal. Pubs and restaurants must shut at 23:00 GMT, with last orders at 22:00 GMT.’ We wish that this was the case here in the Netherlands as well!

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Trends we spotted | Week 47

24-11-2020

At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu 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 among others articles about, Eataly in London and Bee Approved, a 100% vegan, gluten-free & organic alternative to honey.

In the food delivery section we spotted Pickup Pods by Minnow, contact-free food delivery and pickup solutions developed in the US and in New York, Eat Plantega. This company offers vegan foods in fridges in bodegas.

A company in Belgium created the FagronLab™ UVGI-80 Air-Sterilizer. It does a full cleanse of contaminated environments, via the elimination of virus and bacteria spread in the air through aerosols. And trust in how you clean the surroundings is very important according to this online survey: ‘Dining Habits 2020’ by Lightspeed.

KFC has unveiled its Next Generation Prototype restaurant that puts digital and contactless experiences front and center and we spotted the cutest ‘Charcuterie Chalets’ on Instagram. Might be inspiration for your Christmas dinner!

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Trends we spotted | Week 46

17-11-2020

At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu 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’.

This week with links to articles about, among other things, cute desserts at patisserie/café ‘Bibble & Sip’ in New York, the McPlant is coming and Impossible Foods is testing plant-based milk.

Inspiration concerning room service for hotels, including high-end snacks from a secret menu at the Kimpton LA Peer hotel and a cocktail bar that will be placed in front of your hotel room at The Portofino Hotel & Marina.

Original decorations for your Christmas tree: Smirnoffs Nr. 21 Christmas ornaments filled with vodka and Guinness comes with two limited-edition stout beers for the holidays.

An interesting article about Uber, showing that the turnover of Uber Eats has increased by 190%, but that does not make up for the loss on the taxi rides. And the Manchester based food delivery platform “Get Vegan Grub” aims to be an ethical and vegan alternative to Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat. They will also start in London in February 2021.

The Russian franchise chain Dodo Pizza recently opened its first branch in Germany.

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The Berkeley Breakfast in Bed delivery service in the neighbourhood

17-11-2020

From November 16, The Berkeley will be taking to the streets delivering joyful bundles of breakfast by bike. Two different breakfasts are available during lockdown and beyond, and will be whizzed to neighbourhood doors via The Berkeley’s bikes to bring a little comfort to the local SW1X area.

From which hotel in your vicinity would you like to order a ‘breakfast in bed’?

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Trends we spotted | Week 45

10-11-2020

At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu 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’.

Vegan is getting more and more important! We spotted articles about Willicroft’s ‘This is Not Cheese’ products, vegan Mini BabyBel cheese, vegan Boursin soft cheese and a new sustainability label for fish alternatives called ‘friend of the Sea’.

With all the restaurants, pubs etc. closing in the UK, Burger King tweeted that people could help the industry by treating themself to tasty meals even from McDonald’s. And we spotted one of the first list of predictions for 2021, ten food trends according to Whole Foods.

Recently opened at The Connaught Hotel with its own entrance: The Connaught Patisserie. Take-away or delivery of an afternoon tea! And a great way to introduce your new hotel in Auckland, New Zealand by QT Hotels & Resorts. Their treasure hunt created a big buzz!

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CityHub just opened its first international location in Copenhagen

3-11-2020

CityHub, the award-winning champion of smart city travel, opened its first international location on the 8^th October 2020 in the diverse Vesterbro neighbourhood of Copenhagen, Denmark. CityHub Copenhagen marks the beginning of CityHub’s European rollout, following recent global financing from Dutch banks NIBC and ABN Amro.

 “CityHub Copenhagen is our largest location yet, and the first milestone towards international development. A city known for its pioneering design and hospitality excellence, Copenhagen is a perfect fit for the brand,” asserts CityHub Co-founder Pieter van Tilburg. read more