News in Brief:

 

Korean chefs turn to farming for authentic ingredients   Perilla leaves (Smoke/Getty Images) Faced with the challenge of sourcing authentic Korean ingredients in New York, a group of acclaimed Korean chefs including Chang-ho Shin of Joo Ok, Hoyoung Kim of Jua and JP and Ellia Park of Atomix, have launched First Hand Farm in the Hudson Valley. The one-acre farm grows essential Korean crops such as perilla leaves and various namul, and serves as a space for fermentation and preservation, integral to Korean cuisine. The chefs aim to educate younger cooks about the connection between nature and cooking, preserving Korean culinary traditions and exploring the broader meaning of hospitality. Full Story: Bon Appetit (5/8)

US travel spending may reach record $1.42T by 2027 US travel spending is estimated to reach record levels through 2027, driven mainly by domestic leisure travel, according to a report from U.S. Travel Association. The study forecasts spending to reach $1.37 trillion this year and $1.42 trillion in 2027. International travel is recovering slowly, with inbound visitation expected to rise by 3.4% in 2026, although pre-pandemic levels are not expected until 2029. “Travel continues to be one of the most resilient and essential sectors of the U.S. economy," said Joshua Friedlander, U.S. Travel Association's vice president, research, in a statement. "Even with inflation and broader economic pressures, Americans are continuing to invest in experiences, reunions and business connections that happen through travel." Full Story: Recommend Magazine (5/8), Hotel Management online (5/8)

	2026 Travel Trends Guide Travel booking app behavior can offer brands a more nuanced view of summer demand than booking intent alone. Download the guide for a sharper understanding of how travel intent is taking shape. Download now »

Why Industry Leaders Prioritize IPW

Kim Priez (New Orleans & Company) The week that shapes years of international travel: IPW is a vital event for the global travel industry, bringing together thousands of buyers, suppliers, and media each year for over 100,000 prescheduled meetings that drive billions in future travel spending. According to Kim Priez, senior vice president of tourism at New Orleans & Company, the event is unmatched in its ability to foster relationships that shape years of international business. Missing IPW means missing critical face-to-face connections and opportunities that would be difficult and costly to replicate elsewhere. Full Story: SmartBrief/Travel (5/7)

	Most of your team is struggling. Here's why. 78% of hourly workers feel financially strained before payday. New data reveals how earned wage access reduces turnover — at zero cost to employers. See the research.

NYC gets a new farm-to-table fine-dining restaurant Chef Hasung Lee partnered with Hand Hospitality to bring his first solo fine-dining concept, Oyatte, to life after five years of planning and multiple location setbacks. The restaurant opened this month on 39th Street in NYC, in a space formerly occupied by a Michelin-starred restaurant, and centers its eight-course tasting menu on a farm-to-table philosophy, with vegetables sourced exclusively from Crown Daisy Farm outside the city. The menu shifts frequently based on seasonal availability, featuring dishes such as radish salad with rhubarb, fava shoot desserts and spring-focused protein courses. Full Story: Women's Wear Daily (5/7)

Daniel Patterson makes his comeback to fine dining in L.A. Daniel Patterson, acclaimed for his Michelin-starred tenure at Coi, has made a notable return to fine dining with the recent opening of Jacaranda in Los Angeles, alongside his wife, Sarah Lewitinn. After stepping away from the scene following Coi's closure in 2022, Patterson brings his culinary expertise back to the forefront with a 10-course tasting menu highlighting modern California cuisine, featuring dishes like soft tofu with fresh seaweeds and caviar, stuffed morels with new potatoes and spruce tips, and grilled and raw vegetables with a green juice of yerba santa, nopales, and lime.