The Hospitality Business: Where Human Touch Trumps Trends
As technology advances at an unprecedented rate, it's surprising to find that the hospitality industry remains steadfastly rooted in human creativity and connection. The latest 'Nightlife & Dining Power List' from Observer highlights a new wave of pioneers who are defying trends and embracing innovation with a focus on people, passion, and place.
JP Park and Ellia Park, owners of North America's highest-ranked restaurant, Atomix, exemplify this shift. Despite the challenges posed by AI and automation, they continue to build their culinary empires across multiple continents, returning to Seoul for key events and launching their first Korean restaurant in November. This human touch is what sets them apart from others, and it's a message that resonates throughout the list.
Las Vegas, long a hub for luxury dining and nightlife, has become a proving ground for curation and innovation. Mario Carbone's 'Rigatoni World Tour' opened restaurants in London, Dubai, and Las Vegas in quick succession, while Elizabeth Blau is working on developing global restaurant concepts for clients like Wynn. This trend of bringing top brands together to create immersive experiences is redefining the hospitality landscape.
Accessible dining has also taken center stage, with Scarr's Pizza and Din Tai Fung leading the charge. The latter, a Taiwanese soup-dumpling powerhouse since 1958, has adapted to changing times by maintaining open kitchens where guests can witness chefs hand-fold dumplings.
In Los Angeles, operators like Jerry Greenberg are cautiously growing their businesses amidst industry challenges. He's working on expanding Uovo and launching spinoff restaurant Cheesesteaks by MatΕ«, a testament to the enduring power of human connection.
The labor shortage remains a pressing issue, with leaders grappling for solutions that prioritize training, mentorship, and treating hospitality as a sustainable career path. JP Park believes that education, well-being, and collaboration are key frameworks for success, while Gavin Kaysen emphasizes empathy towards a new generation entering the profession.
Strategic Hospitality, MML Hospitality, and other top players are expanding their portfolios, creating multiple successful businesses that showcase the industry's resilience and adaptability.
New Orleans' E.J. Lagasse has taken his father Emeril's to new heights with his own two-Michelin-starred restaurant. The young chef's success is a prime example of finding the right person in the right place at the right time.
Beyond drink menus, consumers are seeking meaning and story behind their dining experiences. Lisa Limb notes that spirit-free drinks have opened up a new creative avenue, while Aaron Bludorn warns that adapting to this shift requires innovation and efficiency.
Ultimately, it's humanity that remains the most vital ingredient in hospitality β a lesson echoed by Dominique Crenn and Vijaya Kumar, who advocate for genuine storytelling, real flavors, and places that feel human.
As technology advances at an unprecedented rate, it's surprising to find that the hospitality industry remains steadfastly rooted in human creativity and connection. The latest 'Nightlife & Dining Power List' from Observer highlights a new wave of pioneers who are defying trends and embracing innovation with a focus on people, passion, and place.
JP Park and Ellia Park, owners of North America's highest-ranked restaurant, Atomix, exemplify this shift. Despite the challenges posed by AI and automation, they continue to build their culinary empires across multiple continents, returning to Seoul for key events and launching their first Korean restaurant in November. This human touch is what sets them apart from others, and it's a message that resonates throughout the list.
Las Vegas, long a hub for luxury dining and nightlife, has become a proving ground for curation and innovation. Mario Carbone's 'Rigatoni World Tour' opened restaurants in London, Dubai, and Las Vegas in quick succession, while Elizabeth Blau is working on developing global restaurant concepts for clients like Wynn. This trend of bringing top brands together to create immersive experiences is redefining the hospitality landscape.
Accessible dining has also taken center stage, with Scarr's Pizza and Din Tai Fung leading the charge. The latter, a Taiwanese soup-dumpling powerhouse since 1958, has adapted to changing times by maintaining open kitchens where guests can witness chefs hand-fold dumplings.
In Los Angeles, operators like Jerry Greenberg are cautiously growing their businesses amidst industry challenges. He's working on expanding Uovo and launching spinoff restaurant Cheesesteaks by MatΕ«, a testament to the enduring power of human connection.
The labor shortage remains a pressing issue, with leaders grappling for solutions that prioritize training, mentorship, and treating hospitality as a sustainable career path. JP Park believes that education, well-being, and collaboration are key frameworks for success, while Gavin Kaysen emphasizes empathy towards a new generation entering the profession.
Strategic Hospitality, MML Hospitality, and other top players are expanding their portfolios, creating multiple successful businesses that showcase the industry's resilience and adaptability.
New Orleans' E.J. Lagasse has taken his father Emeril's to new heights with his own two-Michelin-starred restaurant. The young chef's success is a prime example of finding the right person in the right place at the right time.
Beyond drink menus, consumers are seeking meaning and story behind their dining experiences. Lisa Limb notes that spirit-free drinks have opened up a new creative avenue, while Aaron Bludorn warns that adapting to this shift requires innovation and efficiency.
Ultimately, it's humanity that remains the most vital ingredient in hospitality β a lesson echoed by Dominique Crenn and Vijaya Kumar, who advocate for genuine storytelling, real flavors, and places that feel human.
[Image of Distracted Boyfriend meme] 
When restaurants have more than just AI to focus on 
#HumanTouchMatters 
! The way they're all about people, passion, and place is so refreshing. I love how Jp Park and Ellia Park are still killing it in the culinary game despite all the tech advancements 
I mean, no matter how fancy technology gets, there's just something special about a good human connection over a meal or in a bar setting. It's not just about the food or drinks, it's about the vibe and the people behind the business. These entrepreneurs like JP Park and Ellia Park are doing it right by focusing on passion and place, rather than just trying to keep up with trends.
! JP Park and Ellia Park are literally my idols 
, their passion and dedication to food is truly inspiring. And can we talk about Las Vegas for a sec? 
It's like the city that never sleeps has become the hub for all things culinary and nightlife. I'm so down for more "Rigatoni World Tour" style restaurants in my future 
you know what would be great though if we could have restaurants on the moon? like, can you imagine having a meal with a view of earth from space? 
it's crazy to think about how far technology is advancing and yet we're still just humans trying to figure out food. anyway, speaking of favorite foods, have you tried that new pizza place downtown? i heard it's pretty good 
accessibility matters too tho like elizabeth blau is creating global concepts thats so cool 
& u know what the most important thing is? empathy towards new ppl entering the industry 
. It's not just about serving food or drinks anymore, it's about creating experiences that make you feel something 
. And I love how there's a emphasis on education and training to help address the labor shortage 
And Gavin Kaysen is totally on point with his empathy towards newbies entering the industry.
Let's keep supporting these pioneers! 
they're not just about following trends, but about sharing a part of themselves with others. it makes sense why customers would keep coming back for that human touch 
din tai fung's open kitchen is genius 
and its not just about food, but about creating a sense of community around it.
and its awesome to see operators like Mario Carbone bringing different brands together to create unique experiences 
.
Like how JP Park & Ellia Park are bringing their passion and creativity to every new restaurant they open, no matter where it is in the world. That level of commitment and care is what sets them apart from other restaurants.
Anyway, I think it's awesome that people like JP Park and Gavin Kaysen are talking about the importance of education and empathy in the industry. We should be supporting each other more, not just as employees but also as people.