News and Insights
Turning Tables on Hotel Hospitality
November 21, 2024
More and more, dining is becoming the central feature of hotel stays.
“As we step into 2024, the trend of transforming culinary offerings continues to gain momentum,” observed Paul Coury, founder and CEO of Coury Hospitality, who ought to know. Key to the growth of the Dallas-based hospitality management firm’s portfolio has been its focus on dining innovation, with offerings at 14 lifestyle hotel properties and 29 restaurants and bars across the Midwest including secretive speakeasies, lime-lit jazz clubs, and a European-style food hall with eight chef-driven restaurants serving scratch-made global cuisine.
The result? A remarkable surge in local patronage, with over 80% of diners at Coury Hospitality properties arriving from nearby. “Just as with our hotel guests, they’re seeking an elevated atmosphere and culinary excellence they can trust,” said Coury, noting that flipping the model to lead with culinary experiences can breathe new life into hotels. “People don’t just join us to dine and depart. They’re everywhere onsite, doing everything.”
“When it comes to food and beverage, hotels are wise to swim against the sea of sameness, as travelers and media are no longer impressed by the welcome cocktail alone,” said Cesaley Hill, associate vice president, who oversees the Coury Hospitality account for Maverick Creative. “People are looking for thoughtful and memorable experiences that become stories they share with friends, and there’s nothing more personal than a dining recommendation.” Hill also noted the importance of thinking big and staying true to location to grab attention. “Not just big, but bigger: It takes boldness and being a little out there to break through.”
Among the many culinary experiences offered by the Santo Collection on the sun-drenched island of Santorini is incredible outdoor dining. “Now more than ever, we see travelers looking to connect with the location when they indulge in local cuisine,” said Christos Seizis, Santo general manager, who points to the success of three al fresco dining concepts at Santo Pure and a strong outdoor culinary element to be featured at Santo Collection’s newest property, Santo Mine, which opened this past spring.
The Tryall Club in Jamaica is putting clever spins on local ingredients at its first-ever spa. Newly opened, The Spa at Tryall plans to serve an array of dining offerings that include juice shots made from seasonal island fruits, cacao drinks mixed with the finest ceremonial cacao from Jamaica’s famed Blue Mountains, and teas infused with local ginger, lemongrass and lime. Also, with an uptick in requests to bring the beauty of nature into dining, The Tryall Club offers floating breakfasts in the pool, private lunches in the garden, and scenic picnics at a secret river.
For something entirely different at mealtime, onefinestay, a leading hospitality brand offering the world’s finest homes and service, is affording guests access to full-blown theatrical productions from the London-based private theatre group Revels in Hand. Founded by Cambridge-educated grads of London-based schools of dramatic arts, Revels in Hand delivers onefinestay guests the magic of private, customized theatre in the comfort of their vacation space. Michele Bayens, director of concierge at onefinestay, shares, “Whether guests are requesting out-of-the-box entertainment or private bartenders who can conduct a cocktail class while a chef creates a pairing menu, the demand for experiential dining while on vacation continues to trend.”
Looking for more travel trends? Get access to the full 2024 TrendHawk report here:
