This week we shine the spotlight on how hospitality is helping the plight of Ukrainian refugees and is coming together to create a global vision for sustainability. On a lighter note, we go off piste with the UK’s first après ski themed bar launch and celebrate a Sheffield pub brewing up plans to create a social enterprise for women.
#HospitalityHelps launches to support Ukrainian refugees
Once again hospitality is showing its strength as it unites to help the suffering in Ukraine. One such initiative is #HospitalityHelps. Created by a group of hospitality industry veterans, the initiative is bringing together hotel operators from across Europe to provide temporary hotel accommodation to Ukrainian residents who have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the war. Many families have already sought refuge through #HospitalityHelps and hundreds are expected to be accommodated in the coming days. To date 89 hotels have signed up in 16 countries and this number is growing daily.
Hospitality sector sets ambitious global vision for sustainability
The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, the leading global network in responsible hospitality, has launched the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality for the Planet. The vision of the Pathway is that every hotel around the world can, and must, aim for net positive environmental impacts, whatever their starting point. To achieve this goal, the Pathway provides a practical, four-stage guidance framework as a free resource and includes detailed action guidance for hotel operators, brands and asset owners, applicable to both single or multi-unit organisations. Federico J González, President & CEO Radisson Hotel Group, said: “The Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality for the Planet provides an excellent framework going forward. The hotel industry needs to come together to define a clear and common framework for basic hotel sustainability, in all transparency to the traveller and suitable for hotels just getting started on the journey.”
UK’s first Heidi’s Bier Bar opens
Cardiff is the first city in the UK to welcome après ski inspired Heidi’s Bier Bar. REKOM, which also happens to be a Food Alert client, has invested £2m in the venue and created 70 full and part-time jobs. Operating over three floors, Heidi’s is all about theatre, complete with a huge selection of draught beers served in traditional 1 pint dimpled glasses and 4 pint drink towers, Jägertrains, shots served in a pair of skis and table packages served in a sled. Venue manager, James Mead, said: “As part of my training I went to Heidi’s in Oslo and I’ve never experienced anything like it. There were people of all ages having the best time – just a sea of happy people, dancing and singing to the live music.” We can’t wait to get to give it a try!
Secrets of success in hospitality
This week was International Women’s Day and there were so many inspirational stories from the hospitality sector, but this one caught our eye. Three leading figures from Birmingham city centre’s entertainment district, which itself has seen a string of new venues open recently, shared their stories of striving to get to the top of their game. These women include Vic Platt who is managing independent wine merchants, Wine Freedom; Laura Orrell who is sales director at the very grand, Grand Hotel; and Ellesse Holness who has landed her dream job as entertainment curator at the recently launched Albert’s Schloss.