Luxury Hoteliers Magazine 2nd Quarter 2017 | Page 74

traveling. If a guest eats meals made with local produce and other foods while at home, they’ll search for something similar while on vacation or away on business. It’s important for hotels to provide these food options or they’ll lose their culinary customers. “When it comes to beer, if you can do local, go local!” said Simon Taylor, Head of Business Development & International Restaurants for Condé Nast. The importance of offering guests locally-sourced food extends into the wellness trend among hotels, another buzzing topic at this year’s conference. “Think about nutrition. Is your food local? Organic? Today’s guest has higher expectations when it comes to wellness,” said Roger Allen, Group CEO at Resources for Leisure Assets. Keeping to the theme of authenticity and local influence, the conference came to an end with an elegant 3-course dinner, featuring local delicacies and a live band serenading guests. If you didn’t get a chance to join the ILHA in Croatia – don’t fret! The North American Conference will be hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami, September 18-19, 2017. Tickets are now on sale at www.luxuryconference.org. About the author Iris is a former freelance journalist who’s transitioned into public relations and social media management. She grew up in the Dominican Republic and moved to Canada to pursue her Bachelor’s in Journalism and International Development Studies. She now lives in South Florida and is currently the Marketing & Communications Coordinator for the International Luxury Hotel Association and a regular contributor to Luxury Hoteliers Magazine. 74 ILHA