The Grand Beach | The French Riviera in the heart of Amsterdam

25-6-2020

On Wednesday 24 June, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam opened ‘The Grand Beach’ in its historic courtyard. A beach and terrace inspired by the French Riviera where guests enjoy a cold glass of rosé or a fresh cocktail and French dishes and snacks in a summery atmosphere. Until September 13^th, the courtyard will be transformed into a real sandy beach with various seating areas – a meter and a half away from each other, of course -, a bar and with a regular DJ providing summery background music. The opening of The Grand Beach coincides with La Fête de la Musique, during which all Sofitel Hotels around the world celebrate summer in French style.

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‘Rond de Tafel’ in the Gashouder Amsterdam | the new dining in the social distancing way

12-6-2020

From the 1^st of July until the 31^st of August, the Gashouder on the Westergas will be transformed into the largest one and a half meter restaurant in the Netherlands, called ‘De Ronde Tafel’ (the round table). A concept in which various top chefs temporarily move their kitchen and spoil and surprise 100 guests with an exclusive 5-course menu accompanied by top-quality wines, every night. Read on to see of which 5 top chefs you can enjoy a 5-course dinner!

It is a collaboration of Les Patrons Cuisiniers, which is also partly responsible for the selection of the guests, Westergas and Famous Flavours. It is a great idea to combine the cooking skills of top chefs with the space of the Gashouder! We publish this article in English as well, as we believe the collaboration between the event industry and the restaurants industry is great. What are you able to organize on a local level in collaboration with the event industry?

Reading time: 1 minute, reservation may take a little longer ?

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BUNK Amsterdam | Receives their first guests

11-6-2020

The last couple of months, Covid-19 created a lot of uncertainty but finally BUNK Amsterdam officially opens its doors to hotel guests. After the enormous renovation of the former Sint-Rita church in the north of Amsterdam, the monumental building offers space for 300 guests. BUNK is a hotel with hostel prices and a hostel with the quality and service of a hotel.

Earlier we wrote about the official opening of BUNK Amsterdam. One of our colleagues was also present at the press dinner and had a tour and explanation about this great concept.

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What does the hospitality industry do in the context of the COVID-19 virus? | Inspiration June 9

9-6-2020

Since the first of June the Dutch restaurants and bars reopened. We already enjoyed the first terraces again and we also went out for dinner. Wonderful to be able to enjoy a restaurant visit again! But we’ve experienced first-hand that there is no rush to enjoy dinner or lunch, not even on the terraces. Let’s hope that everyone regains a little bit more confidence after the first effects of the relaxation of the corona measures become known. For the time being, it looks like the Dutch intelligent lockdown has worked so now we need more sun and better temperatures to enjoy our great terraces! We hope that you will be able to reopen or enjoy dinner or lunch in your country as well. We have come across some great articles as inspiration on what’s going on in the hospitality industry.

With this week links to articles about DIY ‘Social distancing crowns’ by Burger King in Germany and the trendiest suntan trend 2020 we spotted on the Instagram account of hotel Dexamenes in Greece! Both funny!

Another funny article is about a Covid-19 masks for dining out with a remote control mouth! And inspiration for other hotels; a nice gesture ‘Together again’ by Oaks Hotels, Resorts and Suites in Australia.

In the south of the Netherlands, in the city Maastricht, Dadawan restaurant reopened with robots as extra staff and check out the Smink mobile with which restaurant Smink delivers their @home menu. And created in Japan: the Norimaki Synthesizer, which allows us to taste video games!

Stay healthy and take care of each other! ^Team Horecatrends

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Turning The Tables | Digital discussions with restaurant industry insiders

4-6-2020

In response to the biggest crisis ever seen in the restaurant industry Fine Dining Lovers, the global gastronomic platform by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, has brought together some of the brightest and boldest voices of the global hospitality industry to discuss the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Turning The Tables: Digital Discussions with Industry Insiders. The inspiration has been aired on May 26^th and consists of four presentations, two debates and over ten short video soundbites from over 25 of the brightest and boldest voices of the global hospitality industry and they’re interesting for anyone interested in restaurants, both consumer and from within the industry. In the video’s they also presented the results of the ‘Fine Dining Lovers Global Coronavirus Restaurant Survey’. All videos can be viewed here without registration and content will be added consistently as the situation evolves and changes. Wondering who is sharing their insights?

Without the ‘Turning The Tables’ section we already loved to check ‘Fine Dining Lovers’ for insights in the culinary scene, we even often link to them in our ‘Trends we spotted this week’. 

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What does the hospitality industry do in the context of the COVID-19 virus? | Inspiration May 18

18-5-2020

As noted last week, we here in the Netherlands are still in an ‘Intelligent Lockdown’ which means, we’re all working from home if possible and our high schools,  universities, restaurants, cafés, gyms, leisure centers, museums, etcetera are closed. But we can take a walk outside and shop for food and even shop at hardware stores and garden centers. As from May 11 our primary schools have re-opened as have the day-care centres but also hair and beauty salons and physiotherapist are allowed to re-open.

As from the first of June restaurants will re-open with a maximum of 30 persons inside, and a social distance of 6 feet, terraces are re-opening as well without a maximum of guests. This, of course, if the Covid-19 casualties remain low. Our government created a path in which they think our economy has to restart, with no festivals, concerts or congresses till the first of September and even gyms aren’t allowed till then. In the meantime we keep spotting all kind of inspiration worldwide around the hospitality industry.

With this week links to articles about the Robot dog Spot that is used in a park in Singapore to warm people to observe a social distance. And the Restaurant Brands International Inc. (Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes) considers designing face masks as part of their uniforms.  

‘Care by Roseate Hotels & Resorts’ is an interesting article for those hotels who aren’t sure yet what measures to take to implement a touchless hospitality.  And Eleven Madison Park’s chef-owner Daniel Humm says the coming back of his famous restaurant is a question mark.

The Frontline Stays Program by Airbnb has had 100,000 nights booking in free or subsidized accommodations for first responders. And check out the red puzzle by Heinz Canada! Would be appreciated by European puzzle and ketchup aficionados as well, especially during lockdown.  

Stay healthy and take care of each other! ^Team Horecatrends

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Pay-it-Forward Pizza Program by Uno Pizzeria & Grill

15-5-2020

Here in the Netherlands we saw the big line ups with people waiting for food in the U.S. and we’re very happy that up till now we don’t have that many people losing their jobs because of the Covid-19 crisis. The crisis also brings out the best in people and companies. Uno Pizzeria & Grill chain in the U.S. introduced a Pay-it-Forward Pizza Program. Customers can buy an extra pizza to help feed those on the frontline, hospital workers, first responders and to those that are now food insecure. If a customer buys 1 extra pizza ($ 10) the chain will match the contribution. So, the buyer will be “digging deeper” to feed those who need it most and to keep the restaurant workers at Uno Pizzeria & Grill employed during these challenging times.

We’ve seen many pay-it-forward examples back in time when we started with horecatrends (2007) and we can imagine lots of people love the gesture. It made us think why there aren’t more initiatives like this when there isn’t a crisis. Personally I always hate it to walk past homeless people without acting. Last year we were visiting the U.S. and noticed the many homeless people and wondered why there aren’t more small food businesses selling small ‘gift certificates’ guests can buy and hand out to homeless instead of money! ^Marjolein

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The Inn at Little Washington | Mannequins at tables to mark social distancing

15-5-2020