F & B : Bar Business
Alongside elite mixologists from around the world , Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is creating innovative twists on traditional cocktails .
Cheers to creativity
Hotels are innovating beverage programs to meet guests ’ demands for uniqueness and originality .
by Brittany FarB , associate editor
Grabbing a drink at the hotel bar has become a bit more complicated in recent years – and for good reason . Now more than ever , guests are expecting customized , experiential adventures when ordering a beverage , whether it ’ s a craft beer from a nearby brewery , a cocktail made from local ingredients or coffee from a specialty roaster . As a result , hotels around the world are continuously developing unique programs that provide a “ wow ” factor to a wide range of travelers .
“ Beverage is going through a shift similar to what occurred with food 15 years ago with organic ingredients and attention to detail that leading chefs gave to their creations ,” says Clay Spencer , senior vice president of operations at Chicago-based hotel management firm Kokua Hospitality . “ Mixologists are truly searching the globe to find the freshest ingredients and garnishes , incorporating items that most people have rarely had the opportunity to be exposed to .”
In the following pages , HOTELS details several new beverage concepts , ranging from specialty cocktails , craft beer , local coffee and even booze-infused tea .
38 HOTELS January / February 2016 www . hotelsmag . com