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Restaurants: 4 Hosting Trends On The Rise In 2025

Why is the topic trending?

  • Anticipating Future Trends: The article focuses on emerging trends in home entertaining for 2025, which is relevant for individuals planning events and for businesses in the hospitality and home goods sectors.

  • Expert Insights: The article features tips and trends shared by an interiors and lifestyle writer, providing expert perspective on the future of hosting.

  • Shifting Social Scene: The trends highlighted reflect a shift towards more intentional and creative at-home gatherings, moving beyond traditional dinner parties.

Overview:

The article outlines four key hosting trends expected to rise in 2025, according to interiors and lifestyle writer Sarah Ridley Burman, in collaboration with Westinghouse. These trends emphasize creating memorable at-home gatherings with a focus on setting the scene, bringing the fun, and making memories. The trends include the revival of retro styling, the emergence of cookbook clubs, the elevation of statement cocktails, and the embrace of Italo-Disco inspired tablescapes.

Detailed Findings:

  • Retro Is Back (And It’s Bringing The Fun):

    • Revival of classic party dishes like devilled eggs, prawn cocktails, vol-au-vents, bombe Alaska, and trifle.

    • Emphasis on a laidback, effortlessly cool vibe with playful details.

    • Retro styling includes 70s-style printed tablecloths, colored glassware, and boldly patterned servingware.

    • Suggestion of serving Champagne in coupe glasses for a retro touch.

  • Cook Book Clubs Are The New Dinner Parties:

    • Shift towards gatherings with a purpose, such as learning new skills.

    • Introduction of the "Cook Book Club" concept: guests choose and bring a dish from a selected cookbook.

    • This format encourages culinary exploration, skill development, and reduces host stress.1

  • Cocktails With A Twist:

    • Statement cocktails are becoming even more significant.

    • Having a signature drink sets the mood and simplifies drink service.

    • Matching the cocktail to the event's vibe is key.

    • Inspiration for cocktails can come from the theme, glassware, or current trends (e.g., Manhattans are in, dirty martinis are out).

    • Preparation is crucial for cocktail success: having ingredients ready, knowing the method, and chilling glasses.

  • Italo-Disco Tablescapes:

    • Blending Italian food, music, and fashion into the tablescape.

    • Pairing music with decor is a way to create a memorable dinner party.

    • Focus on bright, bold colors, glossy finishes, and mirror accents.

    • Decorating involves mixing metallics, using golden glassware, and incorporating disco balls or mirror centerpieces (adhesive mirror mosaics are suggested as a budget-friendly option).

    • Menu includes simple but effective Italian classics like antipasto platters, Caprese salad, pasta, and cannolis, displayed on bright colored glass cake stands and ceramic serving trays.

    • Playlists should include danceable music mixed with classic tunes or remixes (examples: Abba, Troye Sivan, Bee Gees).

Key Takeaway:

Hosting in 2025 is trending towards more intentional, creative, and fun gatherings at home, characterized by retro-inspired elements, purposeful activities like cookbook clubs, signature cocktails with a twist, and vibrant, themed tablescapes like Italo-Disco.

Main Trend:

The Intentional and Experiential Glow-Up of At-Home Hosting

Description of the Trend (The Intentional and Experiential Glow-Up of At-Home Hosting):

This trend describes a shift in home entertaining where the focus is on creating more than just a casual get-together. Hosts are becoming more intentional about the details, curating specific vibes, incorporating interactive elements, and aiming to provide guests with memorable experiences that go beyond the traditional dinner party format. This "glow-up" of hosting emphasizes creativity, theme integration, and a desire to make staying in feel like a special occasion.

What is Consumer Motivation?

Consumers are motivated by:

  • Desire for Meaningful Connections: Seeking deeper engagement with friends and family during gatherings.

  • Creating Memorable Experiences: Wanting to host events that are unique and leave a lasting impression on guests.

  • Expressing Creativity and Personal Style: Using hosting as an outlet to showcase their individual taste in decor, food, and drink.

  • Seeking Alternatives to Going Out: Finding enjoyable and convenient ways to socialize at home.

  • Reducing Stress and Effort: Trends like cookbook clubs help to distribute the effort of hosting.

  • Having Fun and Being Playful: Incorporating fun themes and activities into their gatherings.

What is Driving the Trend?

  • "Staying In" Culture: A growing preference for spending quality time at home.

  • Social Media Influence: Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest inspire creative hosting ideas and aesthetics.

  • Desire for Unique and Personalized Experiences: Consumers are increasingly seeking out customized and memorable events.

  • Focus on Well-being and Connection: Home gatherings provide a comfortable and intimate setting for fostering relationships.

  • Evolution of Entertaining Norms: A move away from more formal or traditional hosting expectations towards more relaxed and themed events.

What is Motivation Beyond the Trend?

Beyond the immediate drivers, motivations might include:

  • Building Stronger Relationships: Creating opportunities for deeper connections with loved ones.

  • Establishing a Welcoming Home Environment: Enjoying the role of a gracious and creative host.

Description of Consumers Article is Referring To:

The article refers to individuals who enjoy hosting gatherings at home and are looking for new and creative ways to entertain their friends and family in 2025. This likely includes:

  • Age: While not strictly defined, the mention of trends like retro (appealing to various generations) and a focus on creating fun experiences suggests a broad age range of adults who enjoy entertaining.

  • Gender: Not specifically defined, implying an appeal across genders who take on hosting responsibilities.

  • Income: Likely a range, as the trends include both budget-friendly DIY elements (like adhesive mirror mosaics) and potentially more significant investments in appliances and decor.

  • Lifestyle: Individuals who value social connections, enjoy creating inviting home environments, and are interested in current trends in food, decor, and entertaining.

Conclusions:

Hosting in 2025 is evolving beyond the basics, with a focus on intentionality, creativity, and experiential elements. The trends highlighted suggest a move towards more themed, interactive, and memorable at-home gatherings that emphasize fun and connection.

Implications for Brands:

  • Home Goods Retailers: Can cater to the retro trend with vintage-inspired tableware, linens, and decor.2

  • Cookbook Publishers: Should promote cookbooks that would be suitable for cookbook club formats.

  • Beverage Companies: Can market signature cocktail ideas and pre-mixed options for easier hosting.

  • Appliance Manufacturers (like Westinghouse): Can highlight features in their products that simplify cooking and entertaining.

  • Party Supply Stores: Should stock items for themed tablescapes like Italo-Disco, including bold colors, metallics, and disco-related decorations.

Implication for Society:

  • Revitalized Home Entertainment: A renewed focus on the joy of hosting and gathering with loved ones at home.

  • Strengthened Social Connections: Encouraging more meaningful and interactive social experiences.

Implications for Consumers:

  • More Creative and Engaging Social Gatherings: Guests can expect more themed and interactive experiences when attending home parties.

  • Opportunities to Learn New Skills and Share Interests: Trends like cookbook clubs offer opportunities for personal growth and shared culinary adventures.

  • More Fun and Memorable Nights In: Staying in will be less about routine and more about creating special occasions.

Implication for Future:

Home entertaining will likely continue to evolve, with a greater emphasis on creating unique and memorable experiences for guests. Expect to see more themed parties, interactive activities, and creative approaches to food, drink, and decor.

Consumer Trend:

Purposeful and Themed Home Gatherings

Description of the Trend (Purposeful and Themed Home Gatherings):

This trend involves hosting events at home that go beyond simple socializing, often incorporating a specific purpose or theme to enhance engagement and create a more memorable experience for guests. Examples include learning new skills together (crafternoons), focusing on personal development (goal-setting parties), shared culinary explorations (cookbook clubs), or immersive themed parties (Italo-Disco).

Consumer Sub Trend:

Nostalgia-Driven Entertainment

Description of the Trend (Nostalgia-Driven Entertainment):

The resurgence of retro styling and classic party dishes in hosting reflects a broader consumer trend of embracing nostalgia and finding comfort and fun in elements from the past.

Big Social Trend:

Prioritizing Quality Time and Meaningful Connections

Description of the Trend (Prioritizing Quality Time and Meaningful Connections):

In an increasingly busy and digital world, people are placing a higher value on spending quality time with loved ones and creating meaningful in-person connections.

Worldwide Social Trend:

Global Interest in Home-Based Entertainment

Description of the Trend (Global Interest in Home-Based Entertainment):

Across the globe, there is a growing appreciation for the comfort and intimacy of entertaining at home, leading to a rise in creative approaches to home gatherings.

Social Drive:

Seeking Connection, Learning, and Fun Through Shared Experiences

Description of the Trend (Seeking Connection, Learning, and Fun Through Shared Experiences):

Individuals are driven by a desire to connect with others, learn new things, and have fun through shared experiences, which are all facilitated by the hosting trends highlighted in the article.

Learnings for Brands to Use in 2025:

  • Support Themed Entertainment: Offer products and resources that align with popular hosting themes.

  • Facilitate Shared Experiences: Provide tools and ideas that encourage interaction and participation among guests.

  • Highlight Convenience and Enjoyment of Staying In: Position your products as enhancing the experience of entertaining at home.

Strategy Recommendations for Brands to Follow in 2025:

  • Food and Beverage Brands: Develop recipes and product pairings that fit the retro, Italian, or themed party ideas.

  • Home Goods Retailers: Create curated collections of decor and tableware that align with trends like Italo-Disco or 70s retro.

  • Appliance Manufacturers: Showcase how their products can simplify and elevate the hosting experience.

Final Sentence (key concept) describing main trend from article:

Hosting in 2025 is characterized by an intentional "glow-up" focusing on creating themed, experiential, and fun gatherings at home as a preferred way to connect with loved ones.

What brands & companies should do in 2025 to benefit from trend and how to do it:

In 2025, brands and companies in the food, beverage, home goods, and appliance sectors should align their products and marketing efforts with the trend of intentional and experiential at-home hosting. This involves understanding the growing desire for themed parties, interactive activities, and memorable experiences shared with loved ones in the comfort of home. By offering products, recipes, decor, and appliances that facilitate trends like retro parties, cookbook clubs, signature cocktails, and themed tablescapes, brands can position themselves as valuable resources for consumers looking to elevate their home entertaining and create lasting memories.

Final Note:

  • Core Trend:

    • Name: The Elevated Home Gathering

    • Detailed Description: At-home hosting in 2025 is marked by a deliberate effort to create unique, themed, and experiential gatherings.

  • Core Strategy:

    • Name: Cater to Intentional and Themed Entertainment

    • Detailed Description: Brands should offer products and resources that support specific hosting themes and encourage interactive experiences for guests.

  • Core Industry Trend:

    • Name: Focus on Enhancing the "Staying In" Experience

    • Detailed Description: Industries related to home and entertainment are increasingly focused on providing products and services that make staying in a more enjoyable and engaging experience.

  • Core Consumer Motivation:

    • Name: Seeking Meaningful Connection and Memorable Experiences at Home

    • Detailed Description: Consumers are motivated by the desire to spend quality time with loved ones and create lasting memories through thoughtfully planned home gatherings.

Core Trend Detailed:

The Intentional and Experiential Glow-Up of At-Home Hosting: This core trend signifies a deliberate move away from the more casual and spontaneous get-togethers of the past towards a more curated and engaging approach to home entertaining. In 2025, hosting is becoming an opportunity for individuals to express their creativity, connect with their guests on a deeper level, and craft memorable experiences that rival going out. This "glow-up" is characterized by intentionality in setting the scene, whether through themed decor like the retro or Italo-Disco trends, or by incorporating purposeful activities like cookbook clubs that encourage shared experiences and learning. The focus is on making every gathering feel special, moving beyond the routine of a simple dinner party. This trend is fueled by a combination of a desire to embrace the comfort and intimacy of staying in, the inspiration found on social media for creative hosting ideas, and a growing value placed on quality time and meaningful connections with friends and family. As a result, home entertaining is becoming less about obligation and more about the joy of creating unique and personalized experiences for loved ones.

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