Hospitality
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Arlington Heights bans short-term rentals, but could change if Bears come to townMar 03, 2026 6:34 pm - Arlington Heights will ban short-term rentals under 30 days starting July 1, though officials may reconsider amending the rules if the Bears build a stadium at the former Arlington Park site.
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‘It doesn’t belong’: Des Plaines officials want rules for short-term rentalsMar 03, 2026 1:07 pm - A crackdown on short-term rentals could be on the way in Des Plaines.
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‘Full cosmetic refresh’: Vacant Holiday Inn renovation to move forward to resolve eyesoreMar 02, 2026 2:29 pm - The Mount Prospect Holiday Inn, closed since late 2020, is getting ready for a full makeover focused on transforming what officials have considered an eyesore.
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Burger King is testing AI headsets that will know if employees say ‘welcome’ or ‘thank you’
Feb 26, 2026 4:08 pm - Burger King is testing AI-powered headsets that can recite recipes, alert managers when inventories are low and even track how friendly employees are to customers. The OpenAI-powered system collects data on restaurant operations and shares it via “Patty,” a voice that talks to employees through their headsets.
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McDonald’s says focus on value is bringing back customers
Feb 12, 2026 2:31 pm - McDonald’s focus on value is paying off.The fast food giant said Wednesday that its global same-store sales — or sales at locations open at least a year — jumped 5.7% in the October-December period. That's better than the 3.9% Wall Street was expecting, according to analysts polled by FactSet.
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The do’s and don’ts of sending food back to the kitchenJan 29, 2026 3:14 pm - Sending a restaurant meal back to the kitchen can be an uncomfortable experience, not only for you but also for the people in the kitchen. There’s a right time and a wrong time, a right way and a wrong way.
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Korean-inspired restaurant to offer ‘Kozy’ atmosphere and menuJan 19, 2026 2:45 pm - Kozy, a modern Korean-inspired restaurant and bar offering “approachable” comfort food and crafted cocktails, is coming to a familiar spot in downtown Libertyville.
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Why do we have bad times at restaurants?Jan 14, 2026 8:40 am - I have written many articles critical of restaurant owners and staff. It is important to understand that things happen, and it’s not always the restaurants’ fault.
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Brunchy’s opens in former Panera spot in Buffalo GroveDec 02, 2025 1:20 pm - A new brunch restaurant is helping fuel the revival of a Buffalo Grove strip center near Dundee and Arlington Heights roads. Brunchy’s Pancakes and Cafe, owned by Victor Manuel Soberanis, is serving up American breakfast classics and Mexican cuisine in the spot previously occupied by Panera in Strathmore Square.
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Captive consumers are paying way too muchNov 26, 2025 7:34 am - Even though their leases require airport businesses to charge prices that are competitive with downtown Chicago, it sure doesn’t seem that way. I took the time to look at many items for sale at an airport, and the typical markup is 100% to 300% over industry standards.