They may not be able to operate business as usual, but hotels and restaurants around the country are finding ways to connect with patrons at home during the COVID-19 crisis.
From sharing favorite food and cocktail recipes to hosting weekly virtual cooking classes and wine tastings, these are some of the ways hotels and restaurants have been entertaining their guests at home. Advisors looking for creative ways to engage with clients can share these options, and perhaps suggest joining clients in a private tasting or cooking class.
Bring the Restaurant Experience Home
- Executive Silvia Grossi of Il Salviatino resort in Florence is inviting guests into her home by offering cooking lessons via Instagram.
- Noble House Hotels & Resorts’ new digital campaign “From Our House to Yours” will share its popular food and cocktail recipes across its social media channels, honoring Noble House’s properties and regions. The recipes will be easy to make while homebound, and will include selections from The Edgewater Hotel in Seattle and Kona Kai Resort & Spa in San Diego, Calif.
- The team at Sandals is spearheading a #SandalsStateofMind and #BeachesStateOfMind campaign, aiming to bring the luxury resort experience to their guests at home with a series of short videos across its social media channels, including favorite cocktail recipes.
- Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort has announced its #HiltonLosCabosAtHome series which includes simple and authentic Mexican recipes from executive chef Mauricio Lopez.
- Caputo Market & Deli in Salt Lake City is offering virtual tasting classes featuring cheeses and chocolates that they will ship to interested participants.
www.caputos.com
- UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa in Trancoso, Brazil, is utilizing Instagram TV to host weekly cooking classes with chef Juliana Pedrosa. The lessons will include snacks, main courses and sides and will air live on Thursdays (sessions will be saved on UXUA’s Instagram profile to view later). Tune in to the classes for instruction on how to recreate UXUA’s best known dishes such as aquafaba mousse, traditional Bahian Moqueca (a fish stew) and tapioca breadsticks.
Virtual Wine Tasting
For wannabe sommeliers, many wineries are also offering virtual classes including virtual wine tastings.
- Round Pond Estate in Napa Valley, Calif., will offer virtual classes that will include both wine tastings and cooking lessons. Examples of classes range from private one-on-one sessions with the sommelier to virtual cooking classes with winery chefs using the estate’s in-house products.
www.roundpond.com
- B Cellars Vineyards and Winery in Napa, Calif., is also launching a series of virtual tastings led by Curtis Strohl, general manager of the winery. Interested participants can purchase wine on the vineyard’s website and then book a one-on-one tasting via Zoom to ask questions live. Recipes for food-and-wine pairings will be shared so participants can prepare in advance.
www.bcellars.com
Giving Back
A number of restaurants and food organizations across the country have also came together to offer meals to healthcare workers and support their own employees. Consider sharing these initiatives with clients who are looking to support the hospitality industry.
- The Restaurant Workers Relief Program has transformed restaurants around the country into centers staffed by local chefs. At the centers, affected restaurant workers — those who have been laid off or seen a significant reduction in work hours or pay — can pick up meals to take home. The meals are offered seven days a week until further notice and operating in cities including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans and more.
www.leeinitiative.org
- World Central Kitchen, the brainchild of renowned chef Jose Andres, has made headlines for its efforts during the COVID-19 crisis. The organization, which has stationed volunteers in areas such as New York City, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Barcelona, is serving and delivering meals to first responders, hospitals, senior homes, schools and those in need of meals during this time.
www.wck.org
- APL Restaurant in Los Angeles’ Hollywood neighborhood has started a number of initiatives during the crisis. The restaurant has teamed up with nighttime talk show host Jimmy Kimmel to supply meals at nonprofit St. Joseph Center in Venice, Calif. For every order placed, the restaurant will donate a meal to one of St. Joseph Center’s families in need.
www.aplrestaurant.com
- Australian-inspired coffee chain Bluestone Lane has launched a program called “Fuel for Heroes,” where they’ll donate coffee care packages to local healthcare workers.
- Several NYC restaurants have been raising money and preparing food to those working during the crisis. The Migrant Kitchen has been serving about 1,000 meals a day to the city’s healthcare workers.
www.gofundme.com
- Another L.A. based initiative, L.A. Bodega on Wheels, is a temporary mobile bodega delivering products from local city favorites including 101 Coffee Shop, Coolhaus ice cream sandwiches, Vervet canned cocktails and MiniBar Hollywood. Goods include a variety of prepared food, beverages, alcohol, desserts, produce and pantry staples, and 10% of all proceeds will go to charity.
www.labodegaonwheels.com
Read more from TravelAge West about the COVID-19 outbreak.