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hospitality-trends

Andrew Freeman is an industry expert who uses his personal insights and vast connections to predict the future in his annual hospitality trends report.

Now president of San Francisco-based AF&Co., Freeman has worked at New York venues such as Windows on the World and Russian Tea Room before serving as vice president of public relations and strategic partnerships for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants. Freeman and his team at AF&Co. rely on industry observations, international travel, discussions with industry leaders, meetings with hotel and restaurant clients, industry conferences, media interactions and thousands of hours of research in hotels and restaurants around the country to compile their 2017 hospitality trends.

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“The new year promises to be very volatile with many industry reports indicating that there may be slowdowns in travel and dining out in certain categories, “Freeman says. “Add in the results of our most recent presidential election, the rising costs of running restaurants, the staffing shortages and the tipping debate, and we have quite a year ahead of us.

“There are also indicators that the year could be very exciting, including new hotel and restaurant openings, emerging cuisines and beverages, more technology solutions to simplify business and raise the bar for marketing, and so much more,” Freeman says. “What does this all mean? That restaurants and hotels need to be prepared, be nimble and be on their game. This year is not a test—it’s reality and if you are ready, you can emerge as true winners.”

2017 Hospitality Trends Predictions

Trend of the Year: Modern Takes on Ethnic Cuisine
Modern takes on lesser-known cuisines are taking the country by storm. Modern Indian, Modern Korean, Modern African, Modern Middle Eastern…it’s a modern-day miracle!

Dish of the Year: The Breakfast Sandwich
Restaurants are elevating the humble breakfast sandwich to new levels. Think breakfast sandwiches on dinner menus, and Michelin-starred restaurants doling out egg sandwiches paired with exceptional latte art in the morning.

Cuisine of The Year: We’re Flipping for Filipino
Influenced by a long history of culinary tradition and the flavors of India, Japan, Malay, China and Spain, Filipino cuisine is bold, fresh, and borderline addictive.

Food City Of The Year: To Live & Dine In L.A.
The Los Angeles restaurant scene has been booming (three James Beard awards this year!), but wait till you see what’s in store for the City of Angels.

Up & Coming Food City of The Year: Keen on Kansas City
It’s no surprise that the tight-knit community is pushing the fold and staying true to tradition in an unparalleled fashion. In KC, an old-school approach is embraced (think butcher shops, pickling, fermenting and Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que) alongside modern techniques.

Ingredients of The Year: High Expectations for Cannabis
California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada join the ranks of Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska in legalizing recreational cannabis. Marijuana edibles, cannabis cooking, infused cocktails, cannabis wine, oh my!

Hospitality trends consultants: Industry experts who provided insights on emerging trends in their respective fields, included David Miller (president and COO for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants); Carolyn Wente (CEO and fourth-generation winegrower, Wente Vineyards); Scott Howard (chef at Citizen); Brian Hinshaw (SVP of food and beverage, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants); Gabriel Lowe (bar manager at Black Cat); John Griffiths (chef at Bluestem Brasserie); Luigi Di Ruocco (vice president of sales and director of marketing for Mr. Espresso); Tonya Pitts (sommelier at One Market); Mark Knauer (founder and president, for Knauer, Inc.); Emily Shoop (Emily Shoop Branding & Design, Co. ); Mitch Mehr (vice president for Pineapple Hospitality Company); Brett Magnan (vice president for Pineapple Hospitality Company); Marco Baumann (managing director for Pineapple Hospitality Company); and Melissa Muoio (style director for Curiology).

stonewall-resort-roanoke-west-virginia Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia

Chefs from Benchmark Hospitality at Deloitte Hotel and Conference Center in Westlake, Texas, and Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, West Virginia, have won IACC’s annual U.S. Copper Skillet competition.

Sebastien Layen, executive chef at the Westlake property, won the Senior Category U.S. Copper Skillet Award for his winning dish, consisting of whole-grain, crusted striped bass with root vegetable hash, New York brim, blueberry gastric and tomato pie.

Shane Hawkins, lead cook at the Roanoke resort, took the Junior Category U.S. Copper Skillet Award for his entry, consisting of red potato hash, lightly fried striped bass with wine butter, and seared New York strip with portabella. The junior category was included for the third time, and was open to chefs under the age of 26.

Layen and Hawkins competed against six other chefs from throughout the United States at Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center on Nov. 10. They now will participate at the Americas Chapter Cook-off in February, consisting of senior and junior winners of the U.S. and Canadian cook-offs.

The winners from each chapter (Americas, Europe and Australia Asia Pacific) will be eligible to compete in the Global Copper Skillet Final on April 4 at UCLA Luskin Conference Center in Los Angeles.

In the recent U.S. finals, all chefs were presented with basic pantry items along with a mystery basket of proteins. They were given 30 minutes to prepare, create and present their creations to local area judges.

“Each year, IACC showcases the best in culinary performance through its Copper Skillet competitions, and this year’s U.S. cook-off featured impressive talent from eight chefs who competed from around the country,” said Dan Techman, director of sales and marketing for President Abraham Lincoln Springfield-a Double Tree by Hilton in Illinois and board member of the IACC-Americas chapter. “The chefs…represent the best of the best from across the United States…”

The Copper Skillet Competition was introduced in 2004 to highlight artistry and skill of the best chefs from IACC-member conference centers around the world, and to honor their contributions to the shared goal of providing an outstanding conference venue experience.

This year a record-breaking number of American travelers are expected to travel on the Fourth of July than ever before. More accurately, more Americans are set to travel this year since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000. AAA has recorded an increase in air travel, automobile travel and travel by trains, buses and cruise ships, with an overall increase in travel volume of 4.1 percent over last year. With millions more people expected in the air and on the road than normal this July 4, plan ahead to ensure you (and your attendees) get to the right place at the right time.

Have We Gotten More Patriotic?

Although an additional 1.9 million people are planning vacations this Fourth of July weekend, we can’t say it is entirely due to a love of country. AAA suggests that the increase could be due to falling gas prices. With a national average of $2.66 (which is expected to drop even lower in the coming weeks)—17 cents cheaper than Memorial Day weekend, families can go visit grandma or head to the beach to celebrate America economically. Additionally, we must remember that the founding fathers decided to sign the Declaration of Independence during school summer holidays (what forethought!) and so students can attend family reunions or party it up in Florida or Hawaii (two of the top destinations this Independence Day.)

What This Means for Your Commute

41.4 million travelers are said to hit the road this Fourth of July, while 3.96 million are expected to fly somewhere and 3.55 million will catch buses, trains or cruise ships to their destinations. Don’t forget that more people flying means longer security lines and more traffic near the airport so encourage your attendees to arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare.

In preparation for the big day, July 3 is supposed to be one of the heaviest traffic days. Expect your normal commute plus record-breaking numbers of families and holiday-goers—Yikes! Thankfully, AAA has made a chart to warn us of the most congested times and days in various regions, so you can stay off the roads, or at least mentally prepare to spend hours in your car. It’s the perfect time to download all those podcasts you have been meaning to listen to.

More: 5 Podcasts to Inspire and Empower Female Planners

Behind all that gold and neon at Caesars Entertainment hotels beats the heart of a green company. The operator of 40 properties in 20 destinations has qualified as a leader with CDP, a nonprofit that rates companies on how well they manage their environmental impacts on climate, water and supply chain.

A commitment to environmental sustainability has resulted in an 11 percent reduction in water consumption since 2008 and more than 58,000 tons of waste diverted from landfills in 2017—a total of 328,000 tons diverted since 2012. That is the equivalent weight of 1,640 blue whales-worth of trash that didn’t go to dumps around the world. A total of 23 percent of greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced since 2011 and 446 million gallons of water have been saved since 2008.

Eric Dominguez, vice president of facilities, engineering and sustainability for Caesars Entertainment, says the conservation realized so far is just the beginning. CAESARS FORUM, the $375 million, 550,000-square-foot conference facility opening on The Strip in 2020 will be the smartest building in the portfolio. Individually controlled lights will enhance the guest experience and optimize use on a lamp-by-lamp basis, enabling planners to dim or turn LED lights off strategically when they are not being used.

The building will also minimize water use with drought-tolerant landscaping and the most current low-flow fixtures. Dominguez calculates that the building will save 44 percent compared to the baseline for a similar building—4.6 million gallons a year in savings, or seven Olympic swimming pools worth of water.

And get this: Sensor batteries will be recharged by microturbines activated in the faucet when water flows.

An advanced demand-control detection system will measure CO2 levels as a proxy for occupation and turn heating and air-conditioning off so air won’t be flowing when no one is in the building. “This works well in convention spaces where there is variable occupancy, so you don’t have to worry about turning the system off manually or putting it on a timer,” Dominguez said. Overall, the building will be 24 percent more energy efficient than code requires, thanks to innovative technology and operational practices. He equates that savings to the amount of energy consumed by 73 average households a year, or 55,000 gallons of gasoline.

Additionally, fault detention will give the operations team remote visibility into all systems and a control system overlay will flag any glitches, such as a valve stuck open. All these sensors will eventually be integrated in a maintenance management system to automatically generate a work order to have problems fixed before they waste resources. Eventually, everything will be in the cloud so there is shared, centralized visibility with Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Paris Las Vegas Hotel and soon, Caesars Palace.

“We want guests to feel comfortable and have the right lighting; they probably won’t even notice that behind the scenes, it is operating in a very efficient way,” Dominguez said.

Responsible Meetings Matter

This sustainability investment is part of a bigger commitment to people, planet and play. Gwen Migita, chief sustainability officer, says that Caesars Responsible Meetings Professional program includes social, sustainability and environmental initiatives. Called Meetings for Good, it offers preset menus of philanthropic activities through Caesars Foundation so customers can easily plan volunteer events on- or off-property and make donations to vetted local groups.

More: Philanthropy and CSR: Missing Ingredients to Profound Meetings

More than 300 banquet and in-market sales managers have been certified through a responsible meetings training. It tests their knowledge of best practices and ties into operational audits at each property that follow national Green Key Meetings standards. The training covers everything from conscientious sourcing to proper idling, antitrafficking strategies and communications procedures to keep everyone safe. “This is part of a larger focus on corporate responsibility that been in place for 10 years,” Migita said.

Melissa Oliver

Marriott Syracuse Downtown named Oliver director of sales and marketing. Oliver brings a decade of leadership experience into her new position. She has served the same position at Crowne Plaza Syracuse. Prior to that, she held the position of general manager at Lake Placid Summit Hotel Resorts & Suites in Lake Placid, New York.

Chelsea Monroe

Houston-based Wolfgang Puck Catering named Monroe Catering Sales Manager. She recently served on the board in Houston for National Association of Catering and Events as director of programs.

Wendy Norgren

Monterey County CVB (MCCVB) appointed Norgren regional sales executive. She will serve MCCVB in the Northeast of the United States, Eastern Canada and Europe. Before this appointment, she was regional sales manager for Fairmont Mayakoba in Riviera Maya, Mexico, for the East Coast. Norgren has spent 12 years in the hospitality and tourism industry, including roles as meeting planner and resort sales manager.

Austin Watkins

Timbers Resorts welcomes Watkins as global director of sales and marketing–hospitality. He brings 25 years of experience in luxury hospitality. Prior to this, Watkins was regional director of sales and marketing at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Kona, Hawaii.

Marletta Smith

Smith is the new regional director of sales at Spire Hospitality, in Chicago. She most recently served as corporate director of sales for NewcrestImage and Pillar Hotels and Resorts. Prior to that, Smith has also held the position of task force director for Prism Hotels and Resorts.

Kelly Brown

The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel appointed Brown general manager. Her career began with Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, having held positions at Nine Zero Hotel, Hotel Marlowe, Hotel Palomar and Hotel Monaco. Her prior position was general manager at the Inn at Diamond Cove in New England.

More: 7 Smart Moves at Hilton Quebec & Velas Resorts

Marinette Dorkhom Giaquinta

Marinette Dorkhom Giaquinta was announced as director of sales and marketing at Las Ventanas Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. She joins the hotel following eight years at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, where she served as director of global sales.

Sebastien Pisano

Conrad Bora Bora Nui announced that Sebastien Pisano is general manager of the resort, located in French Polynesia. He brings plenty of international experience, having previously served at Conrad and Hilton properties. He has held plenty of leadership positions, including director of operations at Conrad Bangkok and director of human resources at Hilton Maldives Iru Fushi Resort & Spa.

Jenny Waller

Jenny Waller was appointed senior account manager at the Barbican in London. She will be responsible for guiding clients through the event process and managing key clients of the venue. Waller previously served at Park Plaza Hotels, where she oversaw all event processes.

Lauren Carr

Following 19 years in the hospitality industry, Lauren Carr was named area director of sales and marketing for Chileno Bay Resort & Residences in Los Cabos and Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Cabo San Lucas. She will be responsible for overseeing these two Mexico properties. Carr most recently served as director of sales and marketing at Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos.

Coming soon to an airport near you: Travelers will now have to place their iPads, tablets, Kindles, portable game consoles and any other electronic gadget bigger than a cellphone on a conveyor belt, heading for X-ray.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been piloting this increased level of security at 10 airports, and has now decided to roll out the requirement nationwide.

TSA cited “an increased threat” as the reason for the move.

“Whether you’re flying to, from or within the United States, TSA is committed to raising the baseline for aviation security by strengthening the overall security of our commercial aviation network to keep flying as a safe option for everyone,” said Huban Gowadia, TSA acting administrator, in a statement.

As the new procedure is phased in, TSA officers will ask passengers to take out their small electronics and place them in a bin, with nothing on top or below—as they have for laptops for years, the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.

The new rules apply only to standard screening lanes and not to TSA pre-check fliers.

Officials banned carry-on laptops on flights connecting to eight countries in the Middle East and Africa in March. But earlier this month, U.S. officials resumed allowing laptops inside the cabin for passengers coming from those countries, saying they had complied with new Homeland Security standards.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts unveiled a 24-day Private Jet experience that will transport participants to some of the world’s most intriguing locations.

Participants in World of Adventures, slated for Oct. 19–Nov. 11, 2018, will gather in Seattle, and proceed on to Kyoto, Japan, where they will study sword fighting and enjoy a private dinner at famous Kenninji Temple. They then will fly to Bali, Indonesia, where they will visit pristine beaches, followed by a visit to the jungles of Seychelles archipelago, off of Africa.

The next stop will be Rwanda Volcanoes National Park, where a naturalist will lead them on a trek. They then will fly to Marrakesh, Morocco, for a private shopping excursion and an afternoon in the fabled Majorelle Garden. The group then will enjoy the art, design and gastronomy of Bogota before cruising to the Galapagos Islands, where participants will buddy-up to extraordinary sea creatures. The group then will fly to Orlando to conclude the trip.

Sound intriguing? Well, it’s not in everyone’s price range. The excursion cost begins at $138,000 for double-occupancy and an extra $12,000 for single-occupancy accommodations.

World of Adventures is part of the Four Seasons Private Jet program, which also includes a sold-out global excursion in September 2017 and two more journeys in 2018.

“The new World of Adventures itinerary marks an exciting extension of our program, creating a unique opportunity for guests to enjoy an end-to-end Four Seasons experience in destinations where we don’t have a presence,” said J. Allen Smith, president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

One of the program’s other 2018 journeys, Timeless Encounters, will take place March 1–24. It will begin in Kona on Hawaii Island, and proceed to Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Sydney; Bali; Chiang-Mai and Chiang Rai, China; Agra, India; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Prague before ending in London. It has a $135,000 minimum price tag, with $12,000 for single rooms.

The other offering, International Intrigue, will start in Seattle and then travel to Kyoto; Hoi An, Vietnam; The Maldives islands; Serengeti, Tanzania; Marrakech; Budapest; and St. Petersburg, Russia before ending in London. The minimum cost is $135,000, plus an additional $12,000 for single-room occupancy.

The cost of each journey covers air travel, ground transportation, scheduled visits at all locations, all meals and beverages, and luxurious accommodations at Four Seasons properties. At two of the remote locations on the World of Adventures journey, participants stay at other accommodations chosen by Four Seasons.

Photo courtesy of The Maven Hotel in Denver

A hotel opening is always exciting news. What designs will it showcase? How will it change a destination? This is especially true for meeting planners, who at times can feel like their entire lives are spent in hotel rooms (or on flights). And being one of the first to book the newest property can definitely earn you brownie points at your next meeting or event. The following hotels are freshly opened and sure to dazzle.

Photo courtesy of 21c Museum Hotel Nashville

21c Museum Hotel Nashville

Where: Nashville

Opened: May 2017

The 21c Museum Hotel isn’t only a boutique hotel—it’s a multi-venue museum as well. The property showcases contemporary art through continuously changing exhibits. Plus, museum admission is free of charge to the public. 21c Museum Hotel offers 124 rooms and more than 10,500 sq. ft. of exhibit or event space.

Photo courtesy of Detroit Foundation Hotel

Detroit Foundation Hotel

Where: Detroit

Opened: May 2017

Detroit Foundation Hotel showcases the industrious spirit Detroit is historically known for. The property was once a firehouse, but now offers 100 guest rooms. Its restaurant, the Apparatus Room, was created by Michelin-starred Chef Thomas Lets and supplies 4,600 sq. ft. of event space.

Holiday House

Where: Palm Springs, California

Renovated: April 2017

This tiny boutique hotel originally opened in 1951. Following the completion of a major redesign, the property is now offers midcentury design, communal accommodations and renowned artwork such as wall hangings and garden statues. In keeping with its rustic, “get-away-from-it-all” spirit, there are no televisions in any of the 28 rooms.

Four Season Hotel at The Surf Club

Where: Surfside, Florida

Opened: March 2017

The new luxury property exhibits old Miami glamour. Calming beaches combined with luxurious amenities provide an experience of authentic and peaceful seclusion. There are 77 guest rooms, all featuring sizable windows and, in many cases, spectacular ocean views. Oceanfront pools, non-motorized watersports, a full-service spa and business facilities can accommodate a wide variety of groups. Meetings can be held in the 531-square-foot board room.

Photo courtesy of the Life Hotel

Life Hotel

Where: New York City

Opened: April 2017

Situated in the center of New York City (four minute walk from the Empire State Building), Life Hotel once housed the iconic LIFE magazine. Although its design is quite modern, it still has a history dating back to 1893. So its brass fixtures and iron bed frames are not there simply to appease retro enthusiasts. Life Hotel offers 98 guestrooms and private meeting or event space that can accommodate up to 60 people.

Photo courtesy of Sagamore Pendry Baltimore

Sagamore Pendry Baltimore

Where: Baltimore

Opened: March 2017

The new Sagamore Pendry Baltimore is located in Fell’s Point, a lively waterfront neighborhood. The hotel draws inspiration from the historic boardwalk area. It holds 128 guest rooms and 10,000 sq. ft. of indoor/outdoor event space.

Photo courtesy of The Maven Hotel in Denver

The Maven Hotel in Denver

Where: Denver

Opened: March 2017

The independent hotel sits in the Dairy Block, Denver’s new micro-district. The Maven provides 2,100 sq. ft. of meeting space and accommodates a variety of events. There are 172 guest rooms.

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

Where: Beverly Hills

Renovated: June 2017

The long-awaited renovation of this legendary hotel has finally been completed. Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills has 6,300 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space, including a rooftop lounge deck with panoramic views. The muted hues, glossy finishes and marble fixtures contribute to its upscale ambiance. Not to mention, each of the 170 rooms has floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious balconies.

Because of millennial influence, American Airlines won its first Airline Brand of the Year honor in the Harris Poll’s 29th annual EquiTrend Study. The study, which measures brand health over time, found that American adults born after 1980 gave a big boost to travel brands—most notably airlines and cruise lines.

American Airlines has a higher equity rating in the full-service category among millennials than Delta Airlines and Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air, both of which came out on top in previous years.

In the cruise industry, millennials returned Royal Caribbean Cruises to Cruise Line Brand of the Year. Royal Caribbean captured the top spot in 2012 and 2015. The cruise line boasts an equity score of 70 among millennials, compared to an equity rating of 63 among consumers overall.

“When we consider where millennials are in their lives, we can understand why they are having such a positive impact on brand health in the travel industry,” said Joan Sinopoli, vice president of brand solutions at Harris Poll. “The oldest millennials are approaching 40 years old, with their prime earnings years still ahead of them. They have the disposable income to indulge their desire to experience the world while exploring their aspirations for luxury.”

In other findings, millennials also helped to raise equity scores in sharing economy brands—most notably Uber (15 points higher among millennials than baby boomers overall) and Airbnb (17 points higher among millennials).

Other Harris Poll EquiTrend Travel Brands of the Year:

Value Airline: Southwest Airlines

Luxury Hotel: JW Marriott

Premium Hotel: Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Marriott Hotels (tied)

Upscale Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott

Midscale Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites

Economy Hotel: Microtel Inn & Suites

Extended Stay Hotel: Homewood Suites by Hilton

Online Travel Service:TripAdvisor

Rental Car: Enterprise Rent-a-Car