Hotel Brands Make Moves in F&B

INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Globally, hotels are revamping F&B with new menus, deals and restaurants. Here’s more on the new eats coming to the industry:

New Menu Options Come to Hilton Garden Inn

Three new items are being added to the dining menu this fall at Hilton Garden Inn. Earlier this summer, consumers were asked to vote on 11 contenders in the “Sophisticated Bites” contest in the categories of small plates, handcrafted cocktails and sweet treats. The winning fan favorites include the following:

  • Sticky Finger Ribs: With whiskey-soy barbecue sauce, crispy onion and scallions (Small Plates category)
  • Cherry Blossom: A blend of Hornitos Reposado Tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice and grenadine (Handcrafted Cocktails category)
  • Mason Jar Chocolate Fudge Cake: Layers of chocolate cake and chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce (Sweet Treats category)

Award-winning actor, director and Hilton Garden Inn spokesperson Judy Greer, along with celebrity chef Dan Churchill, host of Genius Kitchen’s “Feast with Friends,” revealed the food and beverage winners at a menu tasting event at Hilton Garden Inn Burbank Downtown.

“The voters made three outstanding menu choices that reflect the culinary trends and options that are important to today’s modern traveler,” said Chef Churchill. “I know guests will find the new menu items to be delightful additions to the brand’s eclectic menu, which continues to resonate with consumers.”

The online Sophisticated Bites contest was part of an ongoing evolution of the Hilton Garden Inn menu, an extension of its 2017 global brand refresh focusing on dining updates, new regional hotel prototypes and brand culture enhancements.

PepsiCo and Marriott Expand Agreement

PepsiCo and Marriott International have signed a multi-year agreement, naming PepsiCo as the beverage provider for Marriott International’s legacy brands, as well as Starwood brands acquired in 2016. The new deal is incremental to the 25-plus year relationship between PepsiCo and Marriott.

PepsiCo will continue to support Marriott’s strategic growth priorities by unlocking the food and beverage company’s design and content capabilities, as well as its cultural insights, culinary innovation and technology to elevate the overall guest experience. In addition, the arrangement will advance the companies’ shared vision for leaving a positive imprint on the environment through sustainability initiatives.

The expanded agreement allows for PepsiCo to align strategically with Marriott’s loyalty program and provide access to global sports and entertainment experiences to Marriott’s loyalty members.

In addition to curating and making a broad beverage portfolio available to meet guest needs throughout the day—including brands such as Pepsi, Aquafina, LIFEWTR, Mountain Dew, bubly, Starbucks ready-to-drink coffee, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea and Gatorade —the agreement will present opportunities for additional guest access to PepsiCo’s food brands, such as Quaker Oats and Frito-Lay snacks, which are already found at Marriott properties.

PepsiCo has been the carbonated beverage provider for Marriott International since 1992, providing beverages at lobby markets, restaurants and bars and via in-room dining, across 4,000 properties in North America and more than 850 hotels globally. PepsiCo’s expanded reach will now include an additional 1,500 existing hotels, as well as hotels joining the Marriott portfolio during the term of the agreement.

Rebranded Florida Restaurant Opens at the WaterColor Inn

St. Joe Resort Operations, a subsidiary of The St. Joe Company, debuts FOOW at the WaterColor Inn, located in Santa Rosa Beach on Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast. Following a renovation and rebranding, the restaurant previously known as Fish Out of Water embodies the WaterColor spirit: coastal and fun design with Gulf views.

The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry has reimagined the space with a streamlined open-air kitchen, an expanded Gulf view bar that wraps around from the interior to exterior, as well as updated decor.

For groups and special events, The FOOWroom creates a private space surrounded by a wine cellar. Downstairs from the restaurant, FOOW has opened a retail store, FOOWshoppe, with FOOW spices and sauces as well as adults and kids apparel. Executive Sous Chef Preetam Pardeshi oversees all culinary programming, creating locally sourced southern cuisine.