Hospitality & Leisure

San Francisco – September 22, 2026 -- Hotel Nikko San Francisco has partnered with guest technology provider SONIFI to install a new in-room interactive TV system across the Union Square property, deepening the hotel's push toward integrated luxury tech.

SONIFI's casting technology removes need for extra in-room hardware

The system embeds SONIFI's patented casting solution directly into guest room TVs, giving access to more than 5,000 streaming apps without additional devices. The platform also delivers international programming, premium sports packages, and still-in-theater and early-release movies on demand.

Sheffield, England – September 22, 2026 -- Visit London, the capital's official visitor guide, has appointed digital growth agency The SEO Works to lead a new Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) strategy aimed at increasing citations in AI-driven search platforms.

Visit London targets AI referrals to drive ticket sales

The tourism board sought an agency partner to adapt to zero-click search environments as more travelers use AI platforms to plan trips. The SEO Works was selected based on its expertise in AI search and prior experience in the travel sector.

Paul Tatman-Madsen, Head of Growth for Visit London, said AI is transforming how consumers research and plan trips, and the partnership will ensure the organization's digital assets are optimized for AI search.

Dallas-Plano, Texas – September 22, 2026 -- Sportball is opening its first corporate-operated location in the United States in Dallas-Plano this fall, marking a shift from a two-decade-old franchise-only U.S. model to direct company operations. The Canadian youth sports company will also add a new franchise in Frisco-McKinney, expected to open in early 2027.

Austin, Texas – September 22, 2026 -- Mendocino Farms opened its 102nd restaurant nationwide on September 22, marking its third Austin location at 1100 South Lamar Boulevard, Suite 1125, and expanding its Texas footprint to 14 restaurants statewide.

Chain expands Austin presence following two prior openings

The South Lamar site follows earlier debuts at Arbor Trails and West 38th Street, building out the fast-casual chain's third foothold in the Austin market since entering the city in 2025.

Chief Marketing Officer cites sustained local demand since 2025 entry

"Ever since we opened our first Austin location in 2025, the community has embraced Mendocino Farms and showed us incredible support," said Alicia Mowder, Chief Marketing Officer of Mendocino Farms, noting the new opening reflects continued customer traction in the region.

LONDON – September 22, 2026 -- QubicaAMF and ROLLER have entered a long-term strategic partnership and launched Conqueror ROLLER, an all-in-one management platform already operating at bowling and entertainment centers worldwide. The tool merges QubicaAMF's Conqueror X lane management technology with ROLLER's venue management platform, targeting a $10 billion global bowling industry that draws more than 100 million players annually across 125 countries.

Joint customers report measurable revenue and efficiency gains from the unified system

Lumos in Texas increased its share of revenue generated online by 5.5 times after adopting the joint platform. Queens in London lifted multi-activity bookings by 64%. NIKITO, headquartered in Paris, deployed the system in under three months, with 100% of staff preferring it over previous tools.

Québec – September 22, 2026 -- Strøm Old Quebec has been named Canada's Best Day Spa at the World Spa Awards for the third consecutive year, STROM Group announced.

STROM Group's 10-destination portfolio underpins repeat award recognition

The award reflects standards applied across STROM Group's 10 wellness destinations, spanning brands including Strøm Nordic Spa, Nord restaurants, the BORÉAL skincare line, AWŪ urban sanctuary, Förena Cité thermale, Sibéria Spa, and Spa Nordic Station. Founded in 2009 in Québec, the Group's network draws nearly one million visitors annually and operates its own media channels, including a magazine and podcast, alongside signature retail collections under the Strøm and AWŪ brands.

Las Vegas – September 22, 2026 -- TCSJOHNHUXLEY and entertainment figure Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson will unveil 50 Cent HeadcrackTM, a licensed live casino dice game adapting the century-old street game Cee-Lo, at G2E Las Vegas 2026. The game debuts at Booth #4439 inside The Venetian Expo from September 29 to October 1, 2026.

Live casino dice game debuts at G2E with a published pay table and licensed rules

50 Cent HeadcrackTM pits the Bank against the Shooter on every hand, with a Tie bet and multiple side wagers on the table: 5-5-6, HEADCRACKTM itself, Any Trips, 1-2-3 Natural Bust, a bundled Cover All wager, and a standalone Four or Better bet. The game retains the classic rules and vocabulary of Cee-Lo, also known as Four-Five-Six, a name derived from the Chinese term for the unbeatable 4-5-6 roll that has anchored the game for more than a hundred years.

The Woodlands, Texas – September 22, 2026 -- Astound Ventures, a collaborative investment fund founded by hoteliers Burt Cabañas, Alex Cabañas and Kirk Jones, has raised more than $8 million toward a $30 million target aimed at boosting net unit margin across hotel real estate operations.

Fund targets $30 million entirely from industry "smart money"

Unlike traditional venture funds backed by institutional allocations, Astound is raising its entire pool from operators, owners and brands within the hospitality sector. Chairman Burt Cabañas is founder of Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and co-chairman of Pyramid Global Hospitality; CEO Alex Cabañas is Pyramid's executive chairman and a Convene Hospitality Group board member; CFO Kirk Jones previously served as CFO of Benchmark and Capella Hotels.

Denver – September 22, 2026 -- Tres Picosos has launched its Tres Locos Mexican food brand in a self-service kiosk at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) Terminal 1, Concourse G, marking a new automated-retail partnership with airport vending operator Evolvending.

Kiosk delivers hot burritos and tacos around the clock at MSP

The Tres Locos kiosk at MSP, which serves the Delta Air Lines concourse, offers Bacon Breakfast, Chicken Fajita, Picadillo Beef and Pork Carnitas burritos alongside street-style tacos, giving travelers hot food access outside standard concession hours.

U.S. hot food vending market set to nearly double by 2036

Vending Times projects the U.S. and Canada hot food vending machine industry will grow to $9.6 billion by 2036, up from $5.5 billion in early 2026, a trend Tres Picosos says it intends to capture through additional airport placements planned in coming months.

Miami – September 22, 2026 -- The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will convene its 20th-anniversary conference November 10-13 at Angsana Laguna Phuket in Thailand, spotlighting a shift the organizers say will redefine competitive advantage across the $6.8 trillion global wellness economy.

Author Joe Pine argues memorable experiences no longer retain customers

B. Joseph Pine II, who co-created the influential "experience economy" framework with James H. Gilmore in 1999, will present findings from his new book, The Transformation Economy: Guiding Customers to Achieve Their Aspirations. Pine contends that goods, services and even curated experiences are now commoditized, and that consumers instead seek measurable transformation across four aspirations: health and wellbeing, prosperity, knowledge and wisdom, and purpose.