Six Senses purchases a Hudson Valley farm for $13.7 million, Diddy enters the U.S. cannabis market, and HDAC to host happy hour at BDNY. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Diddy to create the world’s largest Black-owned cannabis company
Photo by Richard Burdett via Wikimedia Commons
A deal worth approximately $185 million sets Sean “Diddy” Combs up to be the owner of the largest Black-owned cannabis company in the world, reports Gothamist. The rapper and record producer plans to purchase several production facilities and dispensaries in New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois from Cresco and Columbia Care, two major players in the cannabis industry that recently came together for a $2 billion deal in March. “Owning the entire process—from growing and manufacturing to marketing, retail, and wholesale distribution—is a historic win for the culture that will allow us to empower diverse leaders throughout the ecosystem and be bold advocates for inclusion,” Combs, chairman and CEO of Combs Enterprises, said in a statement.
A luxe, high-tech port-a-potty hits the market
Photo courtesy of Jupe
Prefab glamping company Jupe has launched a brand-new offering that goes far beyond a standard port-a-potty. According to Architectural Digest, the Portal’s design takes cues from two Bjarke Ingels Group projects (CopenHill and Sluishuis), as well as the work of artist Donald Judd. The trapezoidal structure features a skylight, recessed lighting, full-length window, and three times the interior volume of typical port-a-potties. Internal ventilation technology instantly removes odors and it’s powered by solar panels and a 200-amp-hour battery, so the Portal, which has a price tag of $8,995, easily adapts to work in remote locations. “The thought of a normal port-a-potty can be pretty disgusting and given there aren’t really any affordable and aspirational portable toilets on the market, we decided to design and build something ourselves,” says Jupe CEO and chief designer Jeff Wilson.
Six Senses sets its sights on New York’s Hudson Valley
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Luxury resort brand Six Senses may finally add a U.S. property to its portfolio. While not confirmed by the hospitality company, The Real Deal reports that Six Senses purchased a biodynamic farm in Rhinebeck, New York for $13.7 million from entrepreneur couple Chid and Georgie Badiel Liberty. The Libertys purchased the property—which spans more than 230 acres and multiple structures, including a 3,600-square-foot stone house constructed in 1768—for $8.5 million just last year with the plan of turning it into a family compound. The couple, reportedly, was not looking to sell, but were swayed by the substantial offer, $5.2 million more than their original purchase price.
Is the restaurant industry ready to enter the metaverse?
A recent Forbes article penned by tech entrepreneur Anna Belova delves into how restaurant owners can make use of augmented reality (AR) across their business. While Belova points out that the metaverse and its many facets can be dizzying, there are a variety of apps that can help bolster the hospitality industry in this new age. For instance, AR menus and even nutritionists are inventive tools for patrons to engage with. “We often tend to forget an important thing—the future is already here,” Belova writes. “Be inventive. Be smart. Be daring. Let the new technology help you find new ways and solutions.” (Read more: The Hotel Industry Enters the Metaverse)
RSVP Now: Raise a glass with HDAC during BDNY
HDAC board members Dyonne Fashina and Paris Swann at HD Expo + Conference 2022; photo by PWP Studio
Headed to BDNY? Don’t miss the chance to mix and mingle with Hospitality Diversity Action Council (HDAC) board members during a happy hour hosted at Booth 300 on Monday, November 14th from 3 to 5 p.m. Established in 2021, HDAC strives to be a catalyst for addressing the issues of systemic and institutionalized racism that have contributed to a lack of diversity within the hospitality industry. Reserve your spot now! (And ICYMI: Check out can’t-miss products launching at the tradeshow.)
