When you think of free breadsticks, unlimited salad, and pounds of pasta one name comes to mind — Olive Garden. But the Italian eatery, known for its $5 take home meal, has fallen on hard times as the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the restaurant industry. In response, the casual dining chain trimmed its menu, pivoted to take out, and cut costs. But are those changes enough for Olive Garden to survive the pandemic and offset the overall decline of the dine-in restaurant experience?
Category Archives: Hospitality
Travel & Lodging: ‘How AirBNB Rebounded During The Pandemic’ (Video)
Airbnb was bleeding cash earlier this year, making its plans to go public by the end of 2020 look bleak. But by adapting its business to the pandemic, Airbnb looks to have salvaged its IPO and possibly its future.
Photo illustration: Jacob Reynolds/WSJ
Dining: German Cooking School Delivers Meals To Motorhome Diners (Video)
A German cookery school gets creative amid lockdown by delivering high-class meals to diners in their own motorhomes.
Design Books: ‘MKV Design Alchemist’ (Assouline 2020)
Going deeper than mere decoration, London-based interior designer Maria Katsarou Vafiadis and her team have accomplished a broad range of exclusive projects around the world, from leading hotel groups to unique residential properties. MKV Design is distinguished by its distinct vision for exciting and intelligent designs that move people emotionally.
Showcasing the designer’s extensive understanding of the hospitality industry, this comprehensive volume explores MKV Design’s most prominent projects to date, highlighting the balance between commercial demands and artistic integrity. Design Alchemist brings together an impressive array of signature works, elegantly capturing the creative trajectory of an innovative and far-reaching design practice.
Dominic Bradbury is a writer, journalist, lecturer and consultant specializing in architecture and design, as well as property and travel. He has written over twenty books, including Mid-Century Modern Complete, The Iconic House and The Iconic Interior (Thames & Hudson) and Winch Design (Assouline). Bradbury is also a contributor to The Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph, House & Garden, World of Interiors, Wallpaper, Vogue Living, Architectural Digest and Elle Décor.
Top Hotel Video Tours: ‘Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo’ In Taormina, Sicily’
A tour of Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Sicily, Italy. Located beside an ancient Greek theater, the 71 room hotel is decorated in exquisite Italian baroque style and boasts breathtaking views of the Mount Etna.
A Sicilian hideaway that fuels the imagination. Set in the heart of Taormina, Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo serves up views that have enchanted for more than a century
The first hotel to be built in the city gazes out across the coast towards Mount Etna and beyond. Here you can breathe in the full spectacle of Sicily. Bask in manicured gardens, savour sensational cuisine and fuel your imagination with cocktails on the Literary Terrace—just like generations of celebrated guests before you. Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo is now open. Please click the link below to find out why we are trusted for travel.
World’s Top Small Hotels: ‘Tainaron Blue Retreat’, Mani Peninsula, Greece
Surrounded by a beautiful landscape and breathtaking views, Tainaron Blue Retreat welcomes its guests offering excellent cuisine combined with impeccable service and warm hospitality. Unwind and rejuvenate in the midst of nature with a glass of wine, enjoying the unobstructed view in one of the most exciting locations in Greece.
Our intimate restaurant offers guests an authentic Maniot culinary experience during their stay. The rich culture of our region serves as an inspiration for our culinary consultant Chef George Samoilis and awarded Chef de cuisine Stavriani Zervakakou to create a fine menu based on traditional recipes. They transform the inspiration into a magical gastronomical journey full of flavour, aromas and Greece.
Future Of Ecotourism: ‘Cocoon Hotel & Resort’ – Tulum, Mexico (Video)
The “Cocoon Hotel & resort”, Tulum, Mexico– a new concept of eco-tourism, and a great opportunity of connection with Nature, Community, Ourselves, inspired by the sea and the exotic forest. The project consists of 46.181 m2 offering 3 residential and 2 hotel buildings “COCOON” with 204 apartments and 167 rooms as well as 16 private villas.Every feature serves to give a unique experience and create a magical place for the guest, at the same time making him identify what is Mexico.
The complex offers luxury community spaces integrated into nature such as jungle gardens, magical outdoor living spaces-villas, multipurpose pavilion, indoor community spaces, leisure areas, restaurant, and a panoramic Nest with unrestricted and breath-taking views. All to achieve a wide vocabulary of visual elements to mutate into designing language, in materials and shapes, for a bio-mimicry architecture.
The idea was to create “Cenotes”- natural freshwater ponds, to which the Mayans gave a sacred use, thus allowing to experience the real Mayan´s rituals. The project makes an emphasis on sustainability concept respecting ecosystem and biodiversity, contributing to the usage of natural materials that minimizes the impact of building and generation of waste. The water collection concept is also respected and represents a recovery of rainwater for sewage treatment. The solar panels are implemented to achieve sustainable electricity.
Finally, the “dry” construction system is used, meaning no wet binders, shorter execution time, and increased safety and sustainability. Source by dna Barcelona.
A As Architecture – Discover Architecture http://aasarchitecture.com/
Interviews: 65-Year Old American Chef Thomas Keller On His Latest Book, Covid & His Restaurants
The 65-year old American chef Thomas Keller discusses his latest book, “The French Laundry, Per Se”. The restaurateur also discusses how his company has fared during the coronavirus pandemic.
Thomas Keller is an American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer. He and his landmark Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry in Yountville, California, have won multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, notably the Best California Chef in 1996, and the Best Chef in America in 1997.
Design: French Architect Jean Nouvel’s ‘Cave Resort’ In Saudi Arabia (Video)
French architect Jean Nouvel has revealed plans for a subterranean resort and hotel that would be hidden within the rock dwellings of AlUla, a natural region of north-west saudi arabia. located deep within the sharaan nature reserve, the project references the nearby hegra — a famous archaeological location that forms the country’s first UNESCO world heritage site. set to be completed by 2024, the development will include 40 guest suites and three villas. meanwhile, a retreat summit center nearby will feature 14 private pavilions.
Top Travel Podcasts: “Longitude 131” & “Mt. Mulligan” Lodges In “Outback” Australia
With bravery, optimism and often a wry smile, Australian entrepreneurs have forged a progressive and innovative tourism industry, that offers travelers unparalleled experiences from the ocean to the outback.
In this episode, meet some of the country’s best and brightest tourism minds, and learn how their vision and ambition have transformed what it means to holiday in Australia.
Boomers Daily 