Tag: Food & Beverage

“Comfort Is the New Luxury”: Marriott Forecasts Asia-Pacific’s Next Food Trends

14 October 2025

Forget white tablecloths — Asia-Pacific’s hotel kitchens are trading formality for feel-good flavours.

Marriott International has just released its Future of Food 2026 report for the Asia-Pacific region, and the takeaway is clear: travellers want dining that feels good as much as it tastes good. Drawing insights from chefs, mixologists, and food-and-beverage directors across more than 270 hotels in 20 markets, the report charts a shift toward warmth, familiarity, and storytelling.

Gone are the days when fine dining meant hushed tones and starched linens. Today, “comfort is the new luxury,” says the report, as hotels across Asia-Pacific reimagine indulgence through approachable yet elevated experiences. Think truffle-infused noodles instead of foie gras, or caviar-topped fried chicken in place of a ten-course tasting menu. Diners crave dishes that surprise without intimidating — a sign that culinary confidence now comes from authenticity, not extravagance.

Another headline trend: immersion. Nearly half of Marriott’s F&B teams say guests are seeking interactive dining moments — the kind where you meet the chef, watch something sizzle tableside, or take part in the plating yourself. The report also highlights a strong pull toward local and indigenous ingredients, with 85% of hotel restaurants incorporating them as a defining element of their menus rather than a token garnish.

Technology is also quietly joining the kitchen brigade. AI-driven menu design and real-time guest feedback are helping chefs fine-tune dishes while keeping the personal touch front and centre. And geographically, expect to see Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines emerge as the next culinary powerhouses, where a new generation of chefs is blending deep tradition with bold creativity.

The message? Asia-Pacific’s hotel dining scene is having a renaissance — one rooted in comfort, connection, and a sense of place. Because in 2026, the most memorable meals won’t just be the fanciest. They’ll be the ones that make you feel at home, wherever you are.

Grand Hyatt is Unveiling Bold New Culinary Experiences Across Asia Pacific

15 September 2025

When people think of hotel dining, they often picture breakfast buffets or copy-paste menus. Grand Hyatt wants to change that. Across Asia Pacific, the brand has rolled out a series of initiatives that put food — innovative, sustainable, conversation-starting food — at the centre of the guest experience.

At the Grand Hyatt Singapore, the kitchen is leading the charge with menus designed not just by chefs but also by nutritionists. The result? Meals that are indulgent without being heavy, celebratory yet balanced. What diners won’t necessarily see is the hotel’s closed-loop aquaponics system working behind the scenes: kitchen scraps are transformed into compost that nourishes herbs and vegetables, while tilapia raised in the system find their way to the table. It’s sustainability and flavor working in tandem.

Grand Hyatt Singapore

In China, the brand recently staged one of its most ambitious collaborations yet: the “10-hands Black Pearl Signature Dishes Experience.” Ten chefs from across the Hyatt portfolio came together to design a single wedding banquet, turning what might have been a standard reception meal into a once-in-a-lifetime culinary spectacle. Guests weren’t just fed; they were treated to a narrative of regional Chinese cuisines woven into a celebratory feast.

Sustainability is becoming a defining thread in Hyatt’s approach to food. In Taipei, the Cha Lounge at Grand Hyatt became the first restaurant in Taiwan to earn a three-star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. That accolade signals serious commitments: sourcing local and responsible ingredients, minimizing waste, and building transparency into operations. For a global brand, it’s a powerful example of how scale and sustainability can go hand in hand.

The message is clear: Grand Hyatt doesn’t want its food and beverage programs to be an afterthought. Weddings, conferences, and social gatherings are being reimagined as opportunities for culinary creativity — whether through hyper-local sourcing, blockbuster chef collaborations, or operational systems that quietly but effectively reshape the footprint of the kitchen.