#hospitality-industry

#hospitality-industry

Raise a glass, New York-literally anywhere from a board game café to a batting cage. The State Liquor Authority just rewrote its rulebook, opening the door for dozens of adult-oriented recreational businesses to snag liquor licenses. The policy, approved at a board meeting last week, takes effect immediately. That means comedy clubs , pool halls, axe-throwing spots, laser tag arenas, shuffleboard lounges, VR arcades and even climbing gyms can start applying for on-premises licenses. Mini-golf with margaritas? Pottery class with pinot? Suddenly possible.

Directors said the outlook "remains challenging," blaming Reeves's decision to increase employer National Insurance contributions and cut the payment threshold. They warned that the "service-led nature" of hospitality meant the sector was being "severely impacted" by higher staffing costs, with nearly 90,000 hospitality jobs already lost nationwide since the October Budget.

exposing the cracks and toxicity behind the scenes. Last year, Baby Reindeer, a Netflix show about a bartender being stalked by a customer, elucidated something that civilians (those outside the industry, in bartender speak ) don't always understand. It showed, plainly, that "bartending is an office that makes its holder a captive audience in a way that few other jobs do," Rosie Schaap wrote for Punch .

Las Vegas has always been synonymous with excess, entertainment, and endless opportunities. But in 2025, the city that never sleeps is experiencing what many industry experts are calling its most significant downturn since the 2008 financial crisis. The numbers don't lie: visitor counts are plummeting, restaurants are closing, and the hospitality industry that built this desert oasis is fighting for survival.

The food and beverage industry has a problem. Despite women making up a significant portion of the workforce in restaurants, bars, and hospitality venues worldwide, fewer than 7% of the world's top restaurants are led by women. It's a staggering statistic that reveals just how much untapped leadership potential exists in our industry. But here's the good news: Rosewood Foundation is doing something about it.

When London's Unity Diner wrapped up 2024 with the announcement that it would soon be shutting its doors for good, it expected some sadness from its customers. After all, the not-for-profit restaurant had been an innovator in the city's vegan scene, serving up 3D-printed vegan steak (made of plant protein with the fibrous feel of the real thing) and disarmingly realistic tofish (tofu fish) alongside the classic burgers and chips.

This is about reimagining London's streets, going al fresco, and making it the norm rather than the exception. If we go to cities like Barcelona or Paris, it's much more part of everyday life, isn't it? So we want that in London. This is really the start of it. It's starting to create a kind of sea change to imagine our city as an outdoor kind of urban environment.

I started my career working for the Philippines tourism board. At that time, the Philippines - and its 7,000 islands - as a destination was relatively unknown in UK and Europe. In my 10 and a half years there, I had all sorts of roles learning about the industry and learning about marketing in general. My first task was to build the website, at a time when online travel portals were pretty much in their infancy.

Soho House, a self-described members-only club for "creatives," announced in August that it's ending its yearslong stint as a publicly traded company. The London-based company has helped sparked a private club boom and has more than 40 houses across the globe, which have been the site of pivotal networking connections. While the company caters to the wealthy, its own finances have faltered.

Chipotle's use of AI for smarter scheduling has led to labor costs dropping significantly, adapting staff schedules to meet real demand and improving operational efficiency.

Chipotle's food safety crisis in 2015 demonstrated that the commitment to quality can create vulnerabilities in maintaining high-integrity supply chains at scale.

Hotel rewards programs allow members to earn points or credits during eligible stays and while spending at participating hotels. These points can typically be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, dining, and experiences, or transferred to airline miles.

Developers building near music venues will be required to soundproof their buildings under planned changes to licensing rules, aimed at reducing noise complaints.

James Taylor, chief executive of BrewDog, announced the closure of 10 bars, including the flagship location in Aberdeen, due to viability issues related to size and location.

According to the ADP Research Institute, job turnover during the summer months from June to September increases compared to the non-summer months, with rates 0.42 percentage points higher overall in the US.

Chick 'n' Sours' co-founder, David Wolanksi, expressed the struggle of independent operators, stating, 'It feels like the whole system is stacked against independent operators as we are being squeezed from every angle - food inflation, rising wages, relentless rent increases, service charges, and soaring utilities without the deep pockets to ride it out. It's an exhausting, never-ending battle to keep the lights on.'

President Trump acknowledged last Thursday that his immigration policies were 'taking very good, longtime workers away' from farms, hotels and other leisure businesses.

In a statement posted to Instagram, the pub expressed sadness over the closure, noting, "We are disappointed that after 25 wonderful years, we are sadly saying goodbye to The Shaston Arms in Carnaby."

There aren't many women with a Caribbean background thriving in hotel hospitality, so every breakthrough - a magazine mention, an influencer visit - we cherish.

Bulba is seeking a senior full stack developer to lead the technical direction of its influencer collaboration platform, emphasizing ownership of the web app.

If it passes, which most expect it will, and Mayor Karen Bass signs it, distressed hotel sales and skittish investors and developers could follow.

Sigal expressed, "Forget all the statistics and everything else. People are out to have fun and loosen up because it was a stressful year last year, and this year is stressful."

Carenin Rosa De Oliveira, an ex-employee of Karen's Diner, won a WRC ruling for unpaid tips, marking the third claim against the restaurant chain.

MGM Resorts confirmed the end of the concierge desk at several of its hotels, citing 'evolving' guest needs as the reason for the layoffs.

"Delivering exceptional hospitality requires ongoing innovation, and we are excited to unveil these revitalized spaces at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta," said Fernando Mulet, executive vice president and chief investment officer of Playa Hotels & Resorts.

One Reddit user expressed frustration, questioning why they should tip hotel employees when they were already paying high rates for their stay, highlighting a common concern about tipping culture.