Aperture

🎄 Christmas 2024 sees a new trend with 21% of events being alcohol-free, particularly among Generation Z, who prioritize health, inclusivity, and unique experiences. 74% of Gen Z cite health as a reason to reduce alcohol consumption. Despite this, 44% of companies hold traditional parties with over 100 guests, focusing on memorable, social media-worthy experiences. Companies choose unconventional venues like industrial warehouses, with 13% of 2023 bookings for such spaces and 65% of parties favoring standing or mixed arrangements. Additionally, 39% plan their holiday events before the peak season, showing early preparation trends. Alcohol budgets, however, are up by 9.4%, indicating a balance between non-alcoholic options and quality alcoholic offerings.

📍 Paola Coccarelli, Chief Product Officer at Gruppo Nicolaus, announced new summer programming in Sardinia, including new entries in Budoni and Castiadas. The company has developed a strategic transportation plan, offering flights to Cagliari and Olbia from main Italian airports and ferries from Civitavecchia, Genova, and Livorno. The addition includes Nicolaus Club Li Cucutti in North Sardinia and Nicolaus Prime Villas Resort in the South.

🏕 Hyatt brand debuted in Spain in April with a Barcelona facility. The Grand Hyatt Deer Valley opened in Utah, featuring 436 rooms, ski-in/ski-out access, and one of the U.S.'s largest mountain event spaces. The Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Resort & Spa will open near Seven Mile Beach in 2025, offering 382 rooms. By the end of 2025, the Grand Hyatt The Red Sea in Saudi Arabia will launch, providing 430 rooms. The Grand Hyatt Cancun Beach Resort is set to open in Mexico in 2026 with 500 rooms, 11 restaurants, and event facilities. Further openings in 2026 include the Grand Hyatt Jaipur in Rajasthan, India, Grand Hyatt Los Cabos, and Grand Hyatt St. Lucia.

🎢 Star Clippers' themed cruise season starts in the Caribbean and Costa Rica with professional teacher-led classes aboard. Photography workshops by Danielle Desnoyers on Star Flyer start January 11 from St. Maarten. Marcy Clark and Kori Burkholder join for a February 8 departure. Early booking reductions for Mediterranean summer cruises available until January 31, with new departures from Nice, including a four-night mini-cruise in September 2025. Star Clipper's new home port in Grenada for winter 2025-26 has booking perks until April 30.

🏕 Mama Shelter Lake Como, a French hotel brand, will make its debut in Como, Italy, by mid-2026. Ennismore, in partnership with joint venture partners Zanklon Capital and Extendam, announced the project featuring 150 rooms across five categories, including 21 suites. Located two minutes from Como San Giovanni station and 35 minutes from Milan Malpensa Airport, the hotel will offer four restaurants and bars, a rooftop bar, a poolside informal restaurant, a Cafe Gelato, and a wellness area. The Como site, long unused, is being developed by studio A+B2 architettura.

☕ Bologna-based Essse Caffè, founded in 1979, opens a new commercial branch with a training room in Bari on November 5, highlighting the firm’s focus on horeca sector education. The inauguration featured masterclasses by Paolo Staccoli and festive creations by Francesco Lorusso. With over 45 years of experience, Essse Caffè reiterates its commitment to quality, tradition, and market expansion, led by the fourth-generation family member Agata Segafredo.

🍴 Roadhouse, part of Gruppo Cremonini and a leader in casual dining, launched Roadhouse Express at "I Petali" Shopping Centre in Reggio Emilia. This new restaurant concept is designed for high-traffic areas such as shopping centers, offering speedy service with a fresh and affordable menu. The first location features a revamped layout with polychromatic decorations. Nicolas Bigard, CEO, emphasizes the quick dining experience at a good price, with a menu including classic meat dishes, Italian specialties, stuffed focaccias and burgers. Roadhouse Restaurant has over 20 years of success with more than 11 million customers served annually across 177 outlets in Italy. The company employs 3,600 people and has over 2 million loyalty club members.

🍸 Jigger, originally opened near five years ago in Appio Latino, Rome, has launched a new location at Via Mamiani n.10 in Frascati. Roman Popovici and Claudia Orsini lead the project, aiming to become a mixology hub. The Frascati bar's menu features bao, tacos, gyoza, and the signature sferamisù, with a €10 aperitivo offer including a drink. The drink list boasts over 20 signatures and 30 classics, with unique creations like Lobo verde and Pink Poppy. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 18:00 to 2:00 at Via Mamiani, 8/8a/10 – Frascati. Contact: infojigger@libero.it, 349 7015698.

🏦 Oberoi Hotels & Resorts is set to debut in the UK with the luxury Oberoi Mayfair hotel in London's Mayfair district, expected to open by the end of 2027. The development on South Molton Street will also include offices, residences, shops, restaurants, and public facilities. Construction began in the previous year. Oberoi, with 21 properties across Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East, marks this expansion as a key milestone in its international growth.

☕ On November 17-18, the Futura Festival - The New Era of Drinking, an independent festival dedicated to specialty coffee, kombucha, and no/low drinks, will be held at Officine Farneto in Rome. Viva la Vite is hosting the event, which features emerging beverage cultures. PulyCAFF, a sponsor led by administrative head Gianfranco Carubelli, emphasizes the importance of clean equipment for quality coffee. Cleaning expert Andrea Antonelli will hold 30-minute workshops on maintaining coffee equipment. PulyCAFF products will be available for exhibitors at the roaster village, and Puly Day offers free 4-hour courses on equipment maintenance across Italy.