SURAT THANI, THAILAND—Lodge manager and chef, George Newling-Ward, has once again transformed the food and beverage offering at a popular southern Thai ecolodge—Anurak Community Lodge beside Khao Sok national park in southern Thailand. His aim is to make food and drink at Anurak Lodge a reason to visit as much as hiking, biking, kayaking and planting trees in one of the most visually spectacular nature settings in southeast Asia. After a previous stint as manager at the ecolodge between 2018 and 2022, Newling-Ward, an acclaimed chef from the British Virgin Islands, returned to Anurak Community Lodge in October 2024. His motivation, second...

KOHALA COAST, HAWAII—Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an Autograph Collection property on Hawaii’s Kohala Coast, has completed the first phase of its $200 million renovation and unveiled its on-property garden, created to redefine coastal dining with a transformative culinary experience. By blending the island’s abundant variety of fresh local vegetables, herbs, and fruit with innovative culinary techniques at Manta restaurant, the newly reinvigorated oceanfront venue introduces a new concept: a hyper-farm-to-table menu sourced directly from the resort’s “Ulu Garden.” This results in bold interpretations of classic Hawaiian cuisine. Nestled within the resort, the Ulu Garden is a testament to Mauna Kea Beach Hotel’s commitment to...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Dometic’s minibars have been recognized as the Most Efficient of Energy Star for the fourth consecutive year, maintaining their position as industry leaders in energy efficiency. The company has achieved recognition for 11 minibar models in 2025, demonstrating continued commitment to sustainability and innovation in hospitality solutions. Energy Star is the U.S. government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing credible and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. The Energy Star Most Efficient mark is a distinction that recognizes products that deliver cutting-edge energy efficiency along with the latest technological innovation. The recognized models include various...

MADEIRA, PORTUGAL—Savoy Signature has transformed five thousand square meters of land in the west of Madeira into cultivated areas, where various vegetables and aromatic herbs are now grown for use in the restaurants of its hotel units. This is just one of the initiatives that form part of the brand’s sustainability project. Under the slogan “Hosting the Future Together”, which has just been launched as a reinforcement of this commitment, the hotel collection promotes various actions that benefit not only guests and employees but also the local community and Madeira’s natural heritage. Sílvia Dias, Head of Marketing and Sustainability at Savoy Signature,...

BALTIMORE, MD.—Vulcan, a division of ITW Food Equipment Group and a best-in-class supplier of top-quality, energy efficient equipment, introduces its new Chef’sCombi combi oven—an innovative addition to its highly-reputable product offering that is powerful, intuitive and customizable. “We are thrilled to introduce the Chef’sCombi to the market. Vulcan developed our new combi oven with chefs in mind. We wanted to create an oven that’s customizable with unique features so chefs can have everything they need, and nothing they don’t for their operation. Price was a focus too. It’s important to us that Chef’sCombi is an affordable and profitable piece of...

CAM RANH, VIETNAM—Alma Resort Cam Ranh is encouraging the young and the young at heart to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty in the name of the environment. From Monday to Sunday between 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., the award-winning resort’s Kid’s Club offers its “Green Hands, Green Future Tree Planting Activity”. Green thumbs choose between planting three different trees; a Golden Bell, a Bauhinia variegata or a coconut Tree. Participants receive a personalised name tag for their tree as well as regular photo updates of its progress. “Leave your mark on our resort by selecting from three tree...

NATIONAL REPORT—Are you ready to dive into F&B planning and wonder about new menu trends for 2025? This year marks a pivotal moment for the restaurant and hospitality industry, where menu innovation meets diners’ ever-evolving expectations. Restaurants are adapting and embracing new menu trends that redefine the dining experience. Let’s delve into the exciting food trends that will shape the landscape of restaurants and hospitality this year. 1. Hyperlocal & Regenerative Focus Consumers are increasingly interested in where their food comes from, and this trend is pushing for even more localized and fresh options. Look out for restaurants and markets that...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. and RLH Properties announced the planned transformation and rebranding of Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya to Alila Mayakoba, which will mark the Alila brand’s entry into Latin America and the Caribbean. Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya is expected to suspend operations on March 2, 2025, and debut as Alila Mayakoba later this year. Alila is a luxury brand that has received substantial recognition for its place at the forefront of transformational travel. Hotels and resorts in the global brand portfolio are known for their awe-inspiring experiences that allow guests to create a sense of connection to...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Alto-Shaam has partnered with The Burnt Chef Project to raise mental health awareness in the hospitality industry, contributing $15,000 to support the cause. The Burnt Chef Project’s research suggests that as many as four out of five professionals working within the industry experience mental health challenges during their career. In response, the charity was set up in 2019 to raise awareness and challenge attitudes towards mental health, providing support, training and delivering tailored educational programs across the hospitality industry. Alto-Shaam is supporting the Project through a $15,000 global partnership that will begin at the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM)...

MIAMI—Amerikooler, a global leader in commercial refrigeration solutions, announces the launch of the FlexiCool ProBox, an innovative portable cooling unit designed to meet the diverse refrigeration needs of various industries. This versatile solution is engineered to enhance both temporary and permanent refrigeration setups, providing key features that deliver significant benefits for businesses. The FlexiCool ProBox boasts a pre-built, all-in-one design with a specially reinforced structure that ensures durability and facilitates transport. Delivered fully assembled, the unit minimizes setup time and labor, allowing for rapid deployment. A small crew can complete the entire setup in just one day, making it ideal...