The hottest Hospitality Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Travel Topics

The Monday Media Diet with Crista Luedtke

Why is this interesting? • 844 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🍲 Food & Drink Hospitality
  1. She’s a self-taught chef who turned Midwest supper-club roots and a varied career path into a successful hospitality business with hotels, restaurants, and TV appearances.
  2. Her media diet is visual and bite-sized—music, Instagram stories, streaming shows, and lots of cookbooks—and she believes cookbooks are cultural love letters that inspire and teach.
  3. She’s an obsessive travel planner who prefers planes for speed but treasures epic train rides, and she highly recommends visiting the Basque region for its food, landscape, and people.

What are fancy hotels selling?

Residual Thoughts • 158 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🏝 Travel Hospitality
  1. Fancy hotels offer more than just a room; they sell experiences like secrecy and discretion for their guests. This is important for guests who might want privacy for personal reasons.
  2. Higher-priced hotels tend to be rated better, with guests valuing service and clean spaces. As prices go up, the experience becomes more about luxury and exceptional service.
  3. Different price ranges for hotels attract different types of customers. Low-end hotels focus on cleanliness, while luxury hotels focus on providing beauty, fine dining, and top-notch service.

The Players Championship: How The PGA Tour Turned A $1 Swamp Into A $150 Million Real Estate Business

Huddle Up • 158 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
💼 Business Hospitality
  1. The PGA Tour bought cheap Florida swampland to build a public flagship course, giving it control of a major event venue instead of depending on private clubs.
  2. By owning and operating TPC Sawgrass and a network of TPC courses, the Tour diversified income with greens fees, tickets, merchandise, and concessions, creating a business that now makes over $150 million a year.
  3. Developing the course as an anchor project boosted nearby real estate values and turned a $1 land deal into a scalable real-estate and events business.

The Luxury Ice Cube Edition

Why is this interesting? • 723 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Hospitality
  1. High-end ice is made by very slow, agitated freezing to exclude impurities and air, producing clear, hard cubes that melt slowly.
  2. Ice is usually an overlooked part of a drink, but choosing carefully made or imported ice can be a deliberate luxury that changes the tasting experience and still surprises people.
  3. Paying attention to small details like premium ice reflects dedication to craft and can create quiet, memorable moments—like watching a perfect cube melt in your glass.

The Sphere's $4B Business, explained

SatPost by Trung Phan • 143 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
💼 Business Hospitality
  1. The Sphere is a one-of-a-kind engineering and audio-visual marvel — a colossal LED exosphere and an enormous internal wraparound screen with thousands of speakers create an immersive, cinema-meets-concert experience.
  2. Its business relies on owning and repeatedly monetizing content: high-margin bespoke films and residencies, huge F&B and merchandise markups, and exterior ad/sponsorship revenue have driven rapid ticket sales and a soaring market cap.
  3. The concept can scale through licensing mini-Spheres and exporting IP, but it’s capital intensive and tied to Las Vegas tourism and changing audience habits, so long-term success depends on keeping the venue full year-round and landing must-see content.
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Privatize Ollantaytambo

Bet On It • 241 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🏝 Travel Hospitality
  1. Machu Picchu and its transfer logistics are badly managed, with confusing booking, underpriced tickets, and excessive passport checks that make visiting needlessly painful.
  2. Privatizing Ollantaytambo—auctioning the main and satellite sites plus the road from the train station—could quickly fund better marketing, easy payments, bag checks, and a frequent luxury tram, boosting visitor satisfaction and local tourism income.
  3. Making Ollantaytambo a privatization showcase is politically easier than selling Machu Picchu and could prove the case for wider private management by delivering fast economic and infrastructural wins.

The NFL’s Super Bowl Demands Are Crazier Than You Think

Huddle Up • 215 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🎾 Sports Hospitality
  1. The NFL takes tight control of the Super Bowl experience, including long rent-free stadium use, exclusive suite and ticket allocations, and the power to swap sponsors and concessions.
  2. Host cities must meet many specific, costly demands — large (often domed) stadiums or heating systems, sales-tax exemptions, free amenities like golf courses and bowling alleys, and to pay for NFL inspection trips.
  3. The financial deal is heavily lopsided: the league keeps most revenue and tax breaks while cities and local businesses shoulder big costs and provide services for free.

Did Las Vegas get too greedy?

Silver Bulletin • 740 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
💼 Business Hospitality
  1. Visitor numbers and room revenues are falling even with discounted prices, marking the biggest year-over-year drop since COVID and lower average daily rates after inflation.
  2. High-roller gaming like baccarat is holding up, but middle-class gambling and spending are down as blackjack, roulette and slots see lower play and customers wager less.
  3. Casinos have tightened odds and monetized many services to boost short-term profits, but those data-driven tactics risk alienating ordinary visitors and eroding repeat business over time.

The Curious Case of the Beano Cafes

Vittles • 379 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Hospitality
  1. A cluster of Beano cafes in Kent traces back to an original Beano Cafe started by a Turkish family in London and then spread as relatives and friends opened similar shops rather than as a formal franchised or trademarked brand.
  2. These family-run cafes serve cheap, classic British comfort food and act as local institutions with loyal, multi-generational customers, more focused on community than on social-media-driven foodie trends.
  3. Their future is uncertain because younger generations often don’t want to take over, yet the cafes quietly preserve a slice of British cafe culture and show how immigrant families have sustained local traditions.

A Man Should Know: How to Host

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 301 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Hospitality
  1. Hosting is a valuable skill every man should practice, not just a feminine pursuit. Taking responsibility for social life stops it from becoming a series of passive arrangements by others.
  2. Small acts of hospitality have real, quiet power to lift and connect people, and simple gestures can make guests feel cared for and remembered.
  3. Some cultures treat hospitality as a moral duty that can include offering sanctuary at great risk, so treating hosting as a serious commitment elevates it beyond mere entertaining.

Illegally Yours, Keith McNally

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 417 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🍲 Food & Drink Hospitality
  1. Ambition and boldness can open doors in America; charm and nerve often beat class or pedigree, and hard work can lead to success without privilege.
  2. Many immigrants start with almost nothing and build lives through restaurant and service work, where caring for staff creates strong loyalty and mutual respect.
  3. New York’s nonstop streets and late-night life symbolize freedom and possibility, and movies and images of the city inspire people to come and chase those opportunities.

The Monday Media Diet with Caroline McKay

Why is this interesting? • 1206 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Hospitality
  1. It's important to listen to your instincts, especially when it comes to personal safety. The book 'The Gift of Fear' teaches how being aware of subtle cues can help you avoid danger.
  2. Travel should be personal and challenging. Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to the most memorable experiences and new perspectives.
  3. Reading is a mix of fun and learning. Choosing books that are entertaining yet insightful can bring joy and comfort to your life.

Transcript - America This Week, July 17, 2025: "The Reverse Struggle Session, and NPR's Greatest Hits"

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 956 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Hospitality
  1. Colleges are using new methods to judge students based on traits like empathy and curiosity. This involves students rating each other during group discussions online.
  2. Public media funding is facing challenges, with a recent vote impacting the future of organizations like PBS and NPR.
  3. There seems to be a collapse in customer service in the hospitality industry, as staff focus more on following corporate scripts rather than solving actual problems for guests.

On Martinis 🍸

From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy • 1533 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🍲 Food & Drink Hospitality
  1. Martini preferences are personal and should be respected by bartenders and significant others.
  2. A good martini tells you about the bar, the person making it, and how they perceive you.
  3. Martinis are timeless, chic cocktails that offer a sense of sophistication and perception.

Something's Happening at Foxtrot

Snaxshot • 459 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
💼 Business Hospitality
  1. There's something happening at Foxtrot, related to Dom's Market and Outfox Hospitality.
  2. The post discusses insider messages and signals about potential changes.
  3. To access more details, readers may need to subscribe to Snaxshot for a 7-day free trial.

The Myth of Sisyphus

Vittles • 189 implied HN points • 19 Nov 25
🍲 Food & Drink Hospitality
  1. People often romanticize being a chef and assume it’s a calling, but many cooks don’t actually love cooking and do it primarily to earn a paycheck.
  2. Professional kitchens are often harsh and unglamorous workplaces with stress, rough behavior, and pragmatic shortcuts rather than constant culinary passion.
  3. Outsiders expect vocational passion, but inside the industry practical reasons like survival, visas, or steady work usually explain why people join and stay in kitchens.

The Anti-Airbnb-Space

Culture Study • 5104 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Hospitality
  1. The concept of 'airspace' refers to a trendy design style popular in the past but now considered outdated and replaced by more unique and diverse aesthetics.
  2. The rise of Airbnb has led to a shift in the hospitality industry towards standardized, 'cool' interiors, sometimes at the expense of personal touch and uniqueness in spaces.
  3. Creating a truly comfortable and inviting space goes beyond trendy decor and requires a personal touch that reflects individuality and a sense of being lived in.

The Monday Media Diet with Nadine Choe

Why is this interesting? • 1387 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Hospitality
  1. Podcasts are great for learning and understanding different perspectives. They let you hear from interesting people in a simple and engaging way.
  2. Reading various newsletters can keep you updated on current trends, especially in hospitality and fashion. Finding unique voices in journalism makes the stories more enjoyable.
  3. Exploring your inner self, like through psychedelics, can help you understand your thoughts and reactions better. This understanding can improve your life and relationships.

The fabric Nightclub Book Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1266 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Hospitality
  1. The fabric nightclub in London is unique because it has maintained a strong focus on music and guest experience for many years. Many nightclubs chase nightlife trends and greed, but fabric stays true to its roots.
  2. The book about the nightclub captures its rich history and the passion of its community, including famous DJs and emerging artists. It highlights how important these connections are to the club's identity.
  3. Hospitality is essential for a great night out. At fabric, every detail, from security to coat checks, is handled carefully to create a welcoming experience where guests feel safe and taken care of.

Ómós Digest: A new chapter begins at Ómós.

Ómós Digest • 530 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Hospitality
  1. Ómós is opening a restaurant, guesthouse, and 4-acre farm in Ireland.
  2. The space is planned to be authentic and welcoming, more like a modern Irish home than a luxury hotel.
  3. The team behind Ómós is focused on building the business with a deep connection to the local community and supporting regional producers.

Case Study: Feÿtopia

Supernuclear • 659 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🏝 Travel Hospitality
  1. Feÿtopia is a seasonal community in a French castle that operates as a coliving space and venue for rent.
  2. The community at Feÿtopia consists of diverse individuals who come together to experiment with different ways of living and foster a sense of intellectual and emotional engagement.
  3. Feÿtopia's inner workings involve communal responsibilities, varied activities, and a focus on contributing to the local community and economy beyond the castle.

The Family Hotel Edition

Why is this interesting? • 422 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🏝 Travel Hospitality
  1. Many big hotel chains have made luxury experiences feel like a factory production, losing the personal touch. This can make stays feel more like a standard process than a unique experience.
  2. There is a growing movement toward family-owned hotels that focus on personal service and unique experiences. These hotels offer a more thoughtful and warm atmosphere for guests.
  3. The contrast between corporate hospitality and family-run hotels highlights the importance of genuine care and attention in the hospitality industry. People are looking for more than just standard comforts; they want a human touch.

The Colin Field's Hemingway Bar Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1689 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🍲 Food & Drink Hospitality
  1. Colin Field was a legendary bartender at the Hemingway Bar in the Ritz Paris for 30 years.
  2. Field's approach focused on impeccable service, personal touch, and customer-centricity in crafting cocktails.
  3. Persistence was a key characteristic of Field, who worked hard to establish himself at the Ritz and create a lasting legacy.

Welcoming the stranger

Wrong Side of History • 346 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Hospitality
  1. Hospitality is an important tradition found in many cultures. It often means treating guests well but can also highlight a divide between insiders and outsiders.
  2. While we often think of hospitality as a warm welcome, it doesn’t always mean accepting newcomers as part of the community. Many guests are seen as temporary, not true members.
  3. Changes in how immigrants are viewed over time can lead to hostility. Initially welcomed, immigrants may later feel rejected if locals sense they are staying and not fully integrating.

Case Study: Windhover

Supernuclear • 139 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🏝 Travel Hospitality
  1. Case Study: Windhover is a community living project that started with a tiny house and expanded to include multiple dwellings and land.
  2. The founders prioritize hospitality, justice, and community living, leasing out parts of the property to small-scale farmers at subsidized rates.
  3. Transitioning from tiny house living to being landlords brought challenges of responsibility and upkeep, but also opportunities for hosting larger gatherings and accommodating family members.

Sonder’s Sudden Collapse: What Went Wrong?

Gad’s Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
💼 Business Hospitality
  1. Sonder expanded too quickly without a solid plan. They treated their hospitality business like a tech startup, which led to high costs and financial problems.
  2. Sonder struggled to make money because their fixed costs were too high. Even when occupancy rates were good, they still lost money due to ongoing expenses that kept piling up.
  3. Partnerships can fail if companies are not aligned. Sonder's deal with Marriott seemed good, but their different customer expectations and technology issues hurt both businesses.

Paid conent: Tove K's guide to hotels

Wood From Eden • 288 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🏝 Travel Hospitality
  1. The guide offers exclusive insights about hotels from someone who used to work as a chambermaid. It's meant to help travelers make better choices when booking their stays.
  2. The content is only available for paid subscribers, which means you have to pay to access the full guide and its tips.
  3. Tove K shares personal experiences and knowledge, giving a unique perspective on what to expect in hotels. This can be really helpful for anyone planning a trip.

What the hell is going on in Las Vegas?

Huddle Up • 59 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
💼 Business Hospitality
  1. Las Vegas is experiencing a big drop in tourism. Fewer people are visiting, leading to many empty hotel rooms and less money for casinos.
  2. In the first half of 2025, about 1.5 million less tourists came compared to the previous year. This decline is significant and has caused hotel occupancy rates to plummet.
  3. Many people believe the downturn might be linked to negative press and economic concerns. Also, Las Vegas may have overcharged visitors during its peak post-COVID times, hurting its long-term appeal.

Elevating Client Experience in the Commercial Real Estate Industry Requires More than Just Technology

PropTech Future • 137 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
💼 Business Hospitality
  1. Technology is important, but not the only solution to elevate client experience in commercial real estate.
  2. Real estate owners and managers need to focus on creating a compelling reason for employees to return to offices.
  3. Investing in human-oriented initiatives and hospitality training can set new industry standards for client experience.

How to be a better guest

elle’s substack • 137 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🎭️ Culture Hospitality
  1. Never ask what you can bring as a guest, instead consider bringing flowers or an after-dinner game.
  2. Engage with loners at a party and facilitate introductions to ensure everyone has a good time.
  3. Arrive at the right time for a party, generally two minutes later for each additional guest to alleviate pressure on the host.

What Hotelier Ari Heckman thinks about building brand worlds IRL

the case for brand 💼 • 137 implied HN points • 28 Feb 25
💼 Business Hospitality
  1. Ari Heckman focuses on creating unique brand worlds for his hotel projects, blending art and commerce. This approach helps make each hotel feel special and connected to the local culture.
  2. He emphasizes the importance of being involved in both the creative and operational sides of business. Balancing creative ideas with sound business practices can lead to better results.
  3. The idea of evolving beyond just being a hotel brand is key for Ash. They want to be seen as a lifestyle brand, offering more than just lodging, like products and experiences that connect with their brand story.

no. 56: picture book creatures

let them eat cake • 319 implied HN points • 23 Jul 22
🎭️ Culture Hospitality
  1. Hospitality thrives on equality and reciprocity between guests and staff at a restaurant.
  2. Restaurants are increasingly becoming exclusive like private clubs, reflecting society's evolving dynamics.
  3. The concept of community in restaurants is evolving into a stratified system based on income and location.

A Burger Story

Venture Prose • 599 implied HN points • 28 Jul 21
🍲 Food & Drink Hospitality
  1. Simple acts of kindness, like waiting to finish one's own meal before getting another for someone else, can show genuine care and humility.
  2. Genuine intentions are reflected not just in actions but also in the way they are delivered - with care and humility.
  3. Humility and kindness are valuable qualities that can elevate a person to great heights in life.

Popsicle Moments

The Odin Times • 58 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Hospitality
  1. Magic Castle Hotel stands out by creating defining moments like the Popsicle Hotline
  2. Significant increase in companies mentioning AI leads to competition for who will succeed
  3. Loneliness is a growing issue in society that needs attention and potential solutions

Europe India Trip - Day 18-19: snow day in Fjellstova & Fjellstova to Kristiansund via Atlantic Ocean Road [Apr 30 - May 1, 2023]

Pocha Life's Learnings • 58 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🏝 Travel Hospitality
  1. The author had a memorable experience of receiving help from strangers during their Europe-India trip
  2. Despite encountering snow, the author made the most of the situation, from trying to ride in it to changing a tire
  3. The day included coffee breaks, encounters with closed businesses on Labour Day, and getting expert help with a new front tire in Kristiansund

❄️ How Deer Valley turns $329 lift tickets into a love letter to skiers and the romance of the West ⛷️

the case for brand 💼 • 58 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💼 Business Hospitality
  1. Deer Valley Ski Resort focuses on providing a luxury experience by offering premium services and a limited number of tickets. This makes their skiing experience feel exclusive.
  2. Their marketing emphasizes storytelling and nostalgia, which helps them connect with their guests on a deeper level. They want visitors to feel like they're part of a special tradition.
  3. Deer Valley stays true to its unique identity by avoiding snowboards and promoting an image of an independent, family-owned resort, even though it's part of a larger corporation.