The bar at The Charter Hotel in Seattle , in consultation with Streetsense . Photo : Charter Hotel |
this convinced them to not just add F & B , but make it the anchor of the project . “ We decided to add a communityserving restaurant and bar that happens to have a small hotel attached to it , rather than a small hotel with a traditional hotel restaurant ,” Bader said . “ We wanted to celebrate life in the neighborhood , which includes a half dozen health care facilities , including those serving children .” |
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Entrance at The Riggsby in the Kimpton Carlyle Hotel , in Washington D . C ., a Streetsense project . Photo : Greg Powers
owned and operated by South Carolina ’ s OTO Development . Andrew James , regional director of food & beverage at OTO Development , said the naming convention mattered and drew from an early pioneer of the area . The Beal House name honors the legacy of Dr . James Hartley Beal , a distinguished pharmacist and a creative thinker who helped cultivate and nourish the Florida Panhandle ’ s early tourism industry . The Remedy Coastal Kitchen + Bar was named as a nod to Dr . Beal ’ s eminence in the field of pharmacology .
“ Our goal is always an F & B experience that visitors and
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locals can all enjoy ,” James said . “ We want to design and build something that creates a sense of place , something fun and inviting not only for hotel guests but also for people who live in the market . Something different from the stereotypical hotel restaurant .”
The approach is similar at hotels under The Doyle Collection , which extend from the U . K . to D . C . Nicole Favish , director of marketing – loyalty , CRM & London hotels , said hotels within The Doyle Collection are closely connected with the local community and are encouraged to bring in 80 % of their F & B business from walk-ins .
Favish cited F & B at The Bloomsbury in London , which , she said , “ speak to the local area with its bohemian culture , theatreland and literary connections that are central to
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the thriving community .” The Cocktail Diviner menu at The Bloomsbury Club draws inspiration from a special set of Tarot cards dating back to 1910 , homing in on the local area ’ s culture of spirituality . There is also the quintessential British Afternoon Tea at Dalloway Terrace , named after “ Mrs . Dalloway ,” a novel written by Virginia Woolf , who was part of the Bloomsbury Set , a group of associated English writers , intellectuals , philosophers and artists in the first half of the 20th century .
At the Elwood Hotel & Suites in Lexington , Ky ., coowner David Bader said that the original plan for the hotel didn ’ t even include a restaurant or a bar . But in doing more research , Bader and his partner , Hilda Delgado , realized that the area was “ a bit of a food desert ,” he said . Discovering
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MANAGING WITH HEART A solid , targeted F & B program , with a strong team to manage labor , food and beverage costs and other expense lines , adds value to the hotel and helps drive profitability in an area that used be a loss or break-even center .
“ When F & B outlets are seen as a necessity rather than a heartfelt endeavor , they may lack the creativity , innovation and sincere service that truly captivates diners ,” said Roberto Sablayrolles , managing principal for continental Europe and creative director at consultancy Streetsense . “ Passion and a wholehearted approach to F & B involve putting one ' s heart and soul into every aspect of the dining experience .”
As an example , Sablayrolles cites a restaurant at a luxury hotel in Fort Lauderdale , Fla ., which originally , he said , was “ a
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Savio Volpe by Ste . Marie is a restaurant styled after the classic Italian osteria in Vancouver ’ s Fraserhood neighborhood . |
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88 hotelsmag . com Jul / Aug 2023 |
Chef Counter at The Botanist , designed by Ste . Marie , in the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver ’ s Coal Harbour neighborhood . |