WASHINGTON, D.C.—In 2025, personal and planetary well-being, coupled with a deeper exploration of Southeast Asian cuisines, are the leading trends in the 2025 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast. This year’s What’s Hot Culinary Forecast draws on the expertise of industry professionals who were asked to rank 71 items in 7 categories: Dishes Ingredients Flavors Condiments Beverages Alcohol Beverages Macro Trends Topping the list Sustainability with industry professionals saying a restaurant’s commitment to sustainability will influence customers’ choice of where to eat out. Generationally, we can expect that customers’ support of businesses that support environmental stewardship—through local sourcing, reduced waste cooking, sustainable ingredients—will continue to...

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—The recently unveiled white paper “Decarbonizing Hotel Food Systems” provides a roadmap for the global hospitality industry to cut food-related emissions by 30 percent by 2030, potentially reducing up to 70 million tons of CO2 annually. The paper was produced by the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, the Sustainable Markets Initiative, and Systemiq. It underscores that hotels, representing 1 percent of all food production emissions and generating 3 percent of global food waste, can significantly influence the global food system by optimizing energy use and leveraging their procurement power. The white paper presents innovative solutions, such...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Highlighting the restaurant industry’s role as a beacon of career opportunity and advancement, more than 300 post-secondary students from 130 colleges and universities and 44 states have been selected to receive a scholarship from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) during the 2024-2025 academic year. In total, the NRAEF is awarding more than $1 million to invest in post-secondary education for future restaurant workers. This year's scholars highlight the depth and breadth of industry careers for people of all walks of life. Recipients range in age from high school students to those nearly 60 years old, and 65 percent indicate they...

BEACON FALLS, CONN.—When looking at tourism business statistics in the United States, California, Florida and New York usually are at the top for attracting the most visitors in any given year. Places like Chicago and Washington D.C. also rank high, as do destinations in warm weather states such as Arizona and Texas, especially in the wintertime. One state that recently broke its tourism record and posted a 31 percent increase in travelers the past decade is Colorado. Mesmerized by its all-seasons beauty, 93.3 million people visited the state in 2023 and spent $28.3 billion, with the metro Denver area generating...

TORONTO—Four Seasons, the leading luxury hospitality company, is embracing its culture of care and personalized service by placing food at the heart of its global celebration of kindness. Beginning on World Kindness Day, November 13, and throughout the festive season, Four Seasons is sparking acts of kindness and inspiring communities to connect and give back. Guided by the Golden Rule and the company's Four Seasons for Good program, Four Seasons remains committed to fostering meaningful connections while actively supporting local communities. Building on the success of last year’s World Kindness Day initiative, which raised over $350,000 for more than 50 charities worldwide, this year’s theme, Food...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced a revamped Hotel Kitchen platform that will help hoteliers around the country prevent food waste, protect the environment by diverting food from landfills, and reduce operating costs. The revamped Hotel Kitchen platform will make it easier to reach the goal of cutting U.S. food waste in half by 2030. Improvements include: Guidelines and best practices for hotel employees at all levels, including corporate leadership and owners, hotel operators, and staff who run meetings and events and food & beverage operations. Faster access to Hotel Kitchen’s most popular resources, including the 16-Week Champion’s...

VICTORIA, B.C.—Pendray Inn and Tea House, a boutique establishment known for its historic charm, daily breakfast offerings, and traditional afternoon tea service, announced its historic achievement as the first restaurant in Canada to be certified by The PLEDGE on Food Waste. With an impressive score of 93 percent, Pendray Tea House has earned the Gold Level certification, highlighting its commitment to sustainability and reducing food waste. The PLEDGE on Food Waste is a globally recognized, third-party audited certification and benchmarking system designed to fight food waste, reduce costs, and nurture the local ecosystem of solution providers. The PLEDGE offers a comprehensive methodology for food...

DENVER—Populus, the urban hotel that blends nature-inspired design with environmentally conscious hospitality to put the health of the planet first, is now open in downtown Denver. Developed by Urban Villages, a leading real estate developer and environmental steward, and managed by Aparium Hotel Group, a pioneer in the lifestyle hotel industry, Populus crafts an inspired and exciting guest experience centered on mindful hospitality through its 265 guestrooms; flexible meeting and event spaces; two distinct restaurants—Pasque, an all-day dining destination and Stellar Jay, a lively rooftop restaurant and bar; and iconic Aspen tree-inspired design by AD100 architecture firm, Studio Gang. Not only are all...

TRENTON, N.J.—TerraCycle now offers convenient and sustainable solutions for recycling coffee packaging, ensuring it doesn’t end up in landfills or incinerators. Researchers estimate coffee capsules contribute around 576,000 metric tons of waste globally, while more than 16 billion disposable coffee cups are used and discarded worldwide each year. Curbside recyclers don’t accept this waste stream because it’s unprofitable for them to recycle. The small size and complex material composition of coffee packaging make it costly to process. “Most coffee packaging, such as pods, disposable cups and lids, and foil-lined bags, usually ends up in the trash, but it doesn’t have to be that way,” said Tom...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN—Vingcard, an ASSA ABLOY company and provider of advanced technologies for the hospitality industry, announced the adoption of several of its cutting-edge door lock solutions by Hjortviken Country Club in Hindas, Sweden. Managed by ESS Group, the soon-to-be-opened Hjortviken Country Club, together with the support of Vingcard and BRA Bygg construction company, is setting its sights on delivering a refined guest stay experience that also prioritizes its commitment to protecting the environment. Opening its doors in January 2025, Hjortviken Country Club is considered Sweden’s first authentic country club. By partnering with BRA Bygg to renovate and expand the Country Club’s...