From room service, to delivery apps, and on-street dining, the hospitality industry at large continues to pioneer new business models to capture lost revenue due to the global coronavirus pandemic. We’re following the latest news, trends, and ideas happening in our beloved industry and sharing the insights with you here. Read on for last week’s highlights.
Our Customers and Partners:
- Getting Back to Business, Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group to Convert Three Venues to Community Kitchens [Nation’s Restaurant News]
USHG working in partnership with Brookfield Properties and Rethink Food, will provide 125,000 meals to families in South Bronx. The program allows USHG to rehire 20 employees and open three kitchens which have been closed during the pandemic. - The Top 20 Resort Hotels in Hawaii [Travel and Leisure]
Congratulations to the outstanding properties that made the Top 20 list. We’re proud to partner with many of the winners, including several properties in the Four Seasons and Fairmont portfolios.
News:
- How Black Communities Are Bridging the Food Access Gap [Eater]
Black organizers nationwide are addressing food insecurity and poverty with fresh groceries and cooked meals in communities of color that have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. - Bar Owners Recon With Costly Stop and Starts as States Close Them Down Again [CNBC]
Governors in Michigan, Florida, Texas, California, Colorado, and Arizona are closing thousands of previously reopened bars as new coronoavirus cases rise across the country. - NYC Restaurants Can Apply to Have Seats on Closed City Streets Starting Monday [Eater]
NYC is accepting applications for expanded outdoor dining. The city will close 20-30 additional streets to accommodate street dining on weekends, beginning in July. The city has already received 5,500 applications for temporary permits and expects more.
Technology:
- Maestro PMS + Silerware POS Bringing Contactless Phone-to-Table Guest Dining Experiences to Hotels and Resorts [Hospitality Net]
This “in-seat” digital menu, ordering and payment app leverages a leading PMS and POS integration that extends the touchless traveler experience from rooms to restaurants. - Uber Technologies to Buy Postmates for $2.65 Billion [Nation’s Restaurant News]
The merger follows Uber’s failed negotiations with GrubHub. Postmates “delivery as a service” model compliments Uber Eat’s model, expanding beyond take out deliveries. - Portland City Council Approves a 10% Cap on Fees Delivery Apps Charge Restaurants [Eater]
In addition to capping the amount of money popular delivery apps can charge restaurants, the ordinance also prohibits providers from recouping lost funds out of driver’s paychecks.
Trends:
- Restaurant Employees Are Pleading with Atlanta Diners to Wear Masks [Eater]
In the absence of a state-wide mask mandate, Georgia restaurants beg customers to wear masks inside to reduce the spread of Covid-19, protect employees, and keep restaurants open. Cities and restaurants across the state take mask rules into their own hands. - Black-owned Businesses Report Boost in Sales and Interest on Blackout Day [CNBC]
The movement to pause spending, or support Black-owned businesses gains popularity, boosting sales and accounting for $7.6 million in spending between June 19-July 6. - How Relevant is Room Service in the Modern Hotel? [Hospitality Net]
With at-home dining gaining popularity, hotels seek ways to differentiate in-room dining to evoke luxury as well as convenience. Removing barriers like added fees and limited menus will help carry room service into the next decade.
