The Americas
Tilman Fertitta to add Caesars Entertainment to hospitality empire in deal valued at $17.6bn
Tilman Fertitta is about to add a plethora of casinos, hotels and restaurants to his hospitality empire in a deal valued at $17.6bn, comprised of $5.7bn in cash and $11.9bn in assumed debt. Caesars, based in Las Vegas, operates over 50 US resorts and casinos, including Caesars Palace, Harrah’s and Paris Las Vegas, and runs restaurants in those venues including concepts by Gordon Ramsay and Bobby Flay, all of which will join Fertitta’s portfolio of more than 550 dining and entertainment venues, including seven Golden Nugget casinos and restaurants like Rainforest Cafe, Del Frisco’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and dozens of other brands under the Landry’s umbrella.
North America’s 50 Best Restaurants names winner and sees 18 new entries across 20 cities
In its second year, the celebrations of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants saw 18 new entries across 20 cities in the region, from Atlanta to Whistler, with new restaurants including Semma in New York City joining the list alongside the city’s iconic spots such as Gramercy Tavern. Smyth in Chicago took the top spot as The Best Restaurant in North America 2026, having climbed from its position in fourth place in 2025.
Asia Pacific
APAC leads global QSR market growth amid rapid urbanization and digital engagement
China and India are currently leading the global QSR market, with APAC accounting for 36% of global market share, according to a new study by Persistence Market Research. Growth in the region is said to be driven by rapid urbanization and growing digital engagement in China and India, with East Asia, South Asia and Oceania also among the fastest-growing regions, due to rising disposable incomes and expanding middle-class populations accelerating market expansion.
Radisson Hotel Group opens Shanghai Stadium hotel
Radisson Hotel Group has opened the Radisson Blu Hotel, Shanghai Stadium in the Xujiahui Sports Park area of Shanghai, close to key transportation links, shopping and dining venues. The property occupies floors 6 to 12 of Shanghai Stadium and offers 208 rooms and suites ranging from 38 to 200sqm. The hotel features rooms facing the stadium, providing direct views of sporting events and performances, as well as park-facing rooms overlooking Xujiahui Sports Park, with accommodation options available for guests attending performances or events, or visiting for business or leisure.
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Nigeria’s foodservice industry sees highest growth in six years since pandemic
Nigeria’s foodservice industry peaked to its highest level in at least six years in 2026, driven by rapid delivery platform expansion, as consumers increasingly embrace convenience-led dining and digital ordering from platforms such as Glovo and Chowdeck. BusinessDay reports that, according to its exclusive access to a Consumer Foodservice by Euromonitor International, the value of the formal foodservice market in Africa’s most populous nation rose by 19.1% to $5.56bn from $4.67bn a year earlier, marking the strongest growth since the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the industry in 2020.
Biggest annual fast-food conference for QSR leaders to be held in London
Industry executives from across the UK QSR and fast-casual industry will come together for a one-day event on 22 June at Park Plaza Victoria London for the QSR Media UK Redcat Conference and Awards 2026, with profitability, loyalty, and brand-led growth at the center of the day’s agenda. The program will bring together operators, founders, and marketers to address key challenges impacting the UK quick-service industry, ‘protecting profitability without defaulting to discounting, building loyalty in a price-aware market, and scaling without losing brand identity,’ said QSR Media.
Lauren Hurrell
