Say goodbye to the free hotel breakfast, Los Angeles’ independent restaurants unite for survival, and Boom Supersonic eyes a new era of air travel. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Herzog & de Meuron reimagine a New York icon for Sotheby’s
A rendering of the Herzog & de Meuron-designed Sotheby’s in New York; rendering courtesy of Sotheby’s
Switzerland-based Herzog & de Meuron is revamping one of New York’s most recognizable structures: the Breuer Building on Madison Avenue. Originally designed in 1966 by Marcel Breuer and Associates as the Whitney Museum of American Art, this Brutalist landmark was later home to the Met Breuer and more recently the Frick Madison. As reported by Wallpaper, the architecture firm is currently reimagining the space as the new global headquarters for Sotheby’s auction house. Although the majority of alterations will be subtle, some significant updates are planned including additional exhibition spaces, mechanical and lighting system upgrades, as well as the transformation of the lobby’s built-in benches and seating into display cases for art and objects. The reopening is scheduled for fall 2025.
Hotels reconsider free breakfast
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Some well-known hotel brands are reconsidering and replacing complimentary breakfast with alternative benefits such as discounts and extra loyalty points, writes Fortune. For example, Hyatt Place—which launched a pilot program with more than 40 U.S. properties back in November—has been discreetly phasing out this popular perk at several properties. Notably, the St. Regis Macao has also been testing out the trend. Experiments with these new models are being driven by rising costs as well as guest preferences for flexibility. However, for now, free breakfast will continue to be a staple for several hotel brands since many travelers still consider the amenity desirable when selecting where to stay.
Boom Supersonic aims to halve transatlantic flight times
A rendering of Boom Overture; photo courtesy of Boom Supersonic
Decades after the Concorde’s final flight, supersonic air travel may be poised for a comeback. As The Wall Street Journal reports, Boom Supersonic—led by CEO Blake Scholl—is racing to bring faster-than-sound jets back to the skies. In fact, Boom’s Overture jet aims to cut transatlantic flight times in half, with a goal of test flights projected to take off toward the end of this decade. The engine’s manufacturing prototype is underway and the jet will be built in a recently constructed factory in Greensboro, North Carolina. Despite doubters, like Delta CEO Ed Bastian, who believe cost and traveler capacity are significant issues, Scholl is still backed by industry visionaries including OpenAI founder Sam Altman and former United CEO Oscar Munoz. Preliminary orders for future planes have been made by United, American, and Japan Airlines. If successful, these jets could reignite the dream of reaching London from New York in under four hours.
LA restaurants band together for industry reform
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Facing rising costs, shrinking margins, staffing struggles, natural disasters, and a challenging political landscape, a group of Los Angeles restaurateurs has joined forces to form the Independent Hospitality Coalition. According to The New York Times, the grassroots organization strives to provide small, independent restaurants a powerful collective voice. Their mission: to advocate for industry-friendly policies, from tax relief to better labor laws, while also advancing peer support and resource sharing. The coalition arrives at a crucial moment as the hospitality industry faces mounting pressure from inflation and shifting consumer habits. By organizing, these restaurant owners hope to create longterm resilience not just for themselves, but for the LA’s dining culture as a whole.
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Tokyo’s Museum Tower Kyobashi lobby lounge, designed by I IN Studio; photo by Tomooki Kengaku
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