Latest news with #WatermelonSlice
Time Out
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This over-the-top U.S. Open activation lets you breakfast-in-bed right on the tennis court
The U.S. Open already delivers high-stakes drama, envious fits and more celebrity sightings than a SoHo brunch spot. But this year, IHG Hotels & Resorts is serving an entirely new kind of courtside fantasy. As the tournament's official hotel and loyalty program partner, IHG is offering tennis lovers the chance to win "Bed on the Baseline," which is exactly what it sounds like: breakfast in bed—right on the court. Think: Louis Armstrong Stadium, the crowd's roars replaced by serene quiet, the air still humming from the earlier match. A private car whisks you there, where you're greeted by your own concierge and led to a bed parked where tennis greats were volleying just minutes earlier. Get cozy in a plush IHG robe and slippers while you watch highlights from matches on the massive stadium screen as you indulge in a room service–style breakfast. This isn't just a luxe escape; it's a bucket-list item. Don't worry, IHG didn't forget everyone's favorite part of the U.S. Open. Forget the Honey Deuce; IHG is debuting its own tournament cocktail, the Watermelon Slice, a delicious mix of Moët & Chandon, watermelon juice, elderflower liqueur and lime, garnished with an actual wedge of watermelon and poured into a tennis-themed collectible cup. But don't worry, IHG would never deny non-attendees the chance to feel like they're basking in the summer sun, wearing all white with their heads swiveling from player to player. The Watermelon Slice will also be available at the IHG Racquet Bar on site and at select IHG hotels around NYC. Bed on the Baseline will be held on September 17. IHG loyalty members have until September 7 to enter for a chance to win the 'Bed on the Baseline' package at IHG One Rewards Access. (Non-members can register for free at This is, essentially, the U.S. Open as a five-star bed rot: a love letter to both hospitality and hardcourt magic. Sure, not everyone will score the Bed on the Baseline experience, but just knowing it exists makes the tournament feel a little more decadent. Because if there's one thing New Yorkers understand, it's that the best seat in the house is sometimes an actual bed. The 2025 U.S. Open Tennis Championships run from August 18 through September 7 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
Forbes
21 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
From Paris To Perth: IHG Celebrates A Milestone Moment- A Million Rooms Worldwide
In 1777, William Bass opened a brewery in the English town of Burton upon Trent—probably never guessing it would, centuries later, have anything to do with hotels. Yet that modest start became the first chapter in a story that would eventually span continents. The business moved beyond beer, picking up hospitality brands along the way, and in 1988 made a pivotal leap with the purchase of Holiday Inn. By 2003, a corporate split created InterContinental Hotels Group, the parent company we know today. Since then, IHG has quietly but steadily expanded into more than 100 countries. And this year? It hit a milestone that even Bass himself might have paused to raise a glass to: the opening of its one-millionth guest room. Malthouses, Bass Old Brewery, Friars' Walk, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, 1960-1974. Artist Eileen Deste. Getty Images 'Reaching one million rooms reflects the deep trust and confidence our guests, owners and investors place in IHG and our brands,' said Elie Maalouf, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts. 'But more than that, it's a celebration of our colleagues, who help millions of guests live their best lives every single day… If it matters in life, it happens in our hotels.' Elie Maalouf, chief executive officer of Intercontinental Hotels Group, during a Bloomberg Television interview in London, UK, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. © 2025 Bloomberg Finance LP In the first half of 2025 alone, IHG opened more than 207 hotels, adding over 31,000 rooms—the biggest six-month growth spurt in the company's history. The milestone wasn't tied to one single property but rather the combined momentum of openings worldwide, from the Kimpton Mas Olas Resort & Spa in Todos Santos, Mexico, to the Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo in Japan, voco Malta, and Hotel Indigo Hainan Clear Water Bay in China. THe latest opening for IHG is the Kimpton Mas Olas Resort and Spa. IHG Today, IHG sits among the five largest hotel groups in the world, with more than 6,600 properties under its umbrella—sharing the stage with giants like Hilton Worldwide, Jin Jiang International, and H World. Marriott International still leads as the largest hospitality brand in the world with over 1.6 million rooms globally. A big part of IHG's staying power comes from IHG One Rewards, its global loyalty program linking all 20 of its brands. Members rack up points not only for stays, but for dining and partner experiences—redeemable for everything from room upgrades to those 'tell-me-again-how-you-scored-this?' moments. This year, it's offering something close to my heart: a 'grand slam' at one of my favorite events, the US Open Tennis Championships. Guests can get VIP access and even vie for the coveted 'Bed on the Baseline' courtside breakfast. And, with a partnership worth toasting, Moët & Chandon will be pouring its signature Watermelon Slice cocktail in a collectable cup at the IHG Racquet Bar and select New York hotels—a nice symmetry for a company whose beginnings were, quite literally, brewed. In addition, IHG is expanding the celebration through its 'One in a Million Moments' marketing campaign, highlighting memorable IHG rewards members stays and the stories that give those million rooms their meaning. Six Senses Resort, Koh Yao Noi, Phang Nga Bay, Thailand, Asia. Waiter with a candles in the restaurant near the swimming pool called The Hilltop Reserve in front of the sea. Six Senses Yao Noi sets the highest benchmark for island resort living in Asia. (Photo by: Sergi Reboredo/VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Universal Images Group via Getty Images The portfolio covers nearly every travel mood: ultra-luxury escapes such as Six Senses, Regent, and InterContinental; style-forward lifestyle names like Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, voco, Vignette Collection, and HUALUXE; upscale brands including Crowne Plaza, EVEN Hotels, and Iberostar Beachfront Resorts; and the ever-familiar Holiday Inn family. For longer stays, there's Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites, and avid hotels and Atwell Suites that cater to more value-driven travelers. Voco Dubai, an IHG Hotel getty With travel demand surging and guest expectations constantly shifting, IHG's one-million-room moment feels less like a finish line and more like a mile marker.
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
Meet the Watermelon Slice, the $39 cocktail that's about to dominate the U.S. Open
For almost 20 years, the Honey Deuce cocktail has reigned as the undisputed drink champion of the U.S. Open. But this year, a challenger is stepping onto the court, and it's serving up a competitive dose of summer refreshment. Behold, the Watermelon Slice. The Watermelon Slice is a limited-edition beverage designed by IHG Hotels & Resorts. It will be available at the U.S. Open's venue, New York City's Arthur Ashe stadium, starting at the beginning of the tournament on August 18. Attendees will be able to grab the fruity cocktail for a head-turning $39 onsite at IHG's Racquet Bar, as well as at select IHG hotel properties in NYC. [Photo: courtesy IHG] For IHG, this isn't any old cocktail. Selling a custom beverage at the U.S. Open represents a coveted advertising opportunity, given that the branded cups are sure to be captured on the big screen and on countless Instagram accounts throughout the tournament. This year, Grey Goose vodka will be returning for the 19th consecutive year as the U.S. Open's official vodka sponsor, a title that comes with the privilege of serving the tournament's signature cocktail, the $23 Honey Deuce. Subscribe to the Design newsletter. The latest innovations in design brought to you every weekday Privacy Policy | Fast Company Newsletters The Honey Deuce—which combines Grey Goose vodka, lemonade, and a touch of Chambord raspberry liqueur, topped with tennis ball-esque scoops of honeydew melon—has been pictured in the hands of such stars as Taylor Swift, Serena Williams, and Travis Kelce. It's a billboard in drink form, which raked in more than $10 million in total sales last year before the tennis matches were even finished, and has inspired its own line of merch. To go racquet-to-racquet with such an iconic beverage, the Watermelon Slice will have to give a truly outstanding performance. The Honey Deuce at the 2023 US Open. [Photo: Grey Goose] Battle of the two beverages The Watermelon Slice is described by a press release as 'a refreshing blend of Moët & Chandon, watermelon juice, elderflower liqueur, and lime,' garnished with a 'signature watermelon wedge.' 'Fans are looking for something vibrant and easy to enjoy between points—nothing too heavy, but packed with just the right flavors. The Watermelon Slice delivers that,' says Connor Smith, VP of masterbrand strategy at IHG. [Photo: courtesy IHG] Like the Honey Deuce, which is named for the 'deuce' point when players are tied at 40-40, the Watermelon Slice also got its name through a tennis reference. A 'slice,' in the tennis world, is a shot that uses a sharp slashing movement to give the ball a difficult-to-hit backspin or sidespin. However, the Watermelon Slice stands apart in its unique collectible cup design (which may, in part, provide the justification behind its hefty price tag). It's served in a stem glass—branded with the IHG Hotels & Resort logo, of course—designed to resemble a tennis ball. In essence, it's the much classier version of eating ice cream out of a helmet cup at a baseball game. 'We started with a clear vision: the glass should be as instantly recognizable as a tennis ball but still feel premium and functional for service,' Smith explains. 'The biggest challenge was achieving that perfect pop of neon yellow (or green depending on what color you think a tennis ball is) without compromising the feel of the glass in your hand. We worked closely with our partners to get the shape, color, and tactile finish just right.' A large part of the intrigue surrounding both the Honey Deuce and the Watermelon Slice are their exclusivity: Both cocktails are strictly available during the course of the tournament. As to whether the Watermelon Slice will be returning in years to come, Smith says, 'You'll just have to wait and see.'
