For many years, hotel barbecues followed a simple formula: grilled sausages, a few salads, and predictable sauces. But today’s guests expect much more. Around the world, hotels and restaurants are reinventing the art of outdoor cooking — transforming casual grilling into immersive experiences that combine culinary creativity, cultural inspiration, and interactive guest engagement.
When thoughtfully executed, a curated grilling event can become a signature hospitality moment — building loyalty, generating additional revenue, and creating content that resonates across social media channels.
Grilling as a Cultural Experience
Across different cultures, grilling traditions provide a wealth of inspiration for modern hospitality concepts.
In South America, Argentina and Chile’s Asado culture celebrates slow-cooked meats prepared over open fire — often performed as a live culinary experience in full view of guests. In Mediterranean regions, wood-fired ovens and hot stones produce aromatic dishes where seafood, vegetables, and flatbreads take center stage.
In Asia, Korean barbecue invites guests to grill their own selections at the table, encouraging shared moments and interaction. Japanese Robatayaki offers a refined grilling style that highlights ingredient simplicity and quality.
Meanwhile, in Scandinavia, the growing trend of Live Fire Dining embraces open-air cooking with foraged ingredients, wild herbs, and seasonal produce — transforming outdoor meals into multi-sensory events.
By drawing inspiration from these diverse traditions, hotels can create unique culinary identities that engage both local and international guests.
Embracing Plant-Based and Flexitarian Options
While grilled meats remain popular, today’s barbecue menus reflect a wider range of dietary preferences. Plant-based and flexitarian choices are now central to the experience.
Grilled vegetables, marinated tofu, jackfruit skewers, and fruit-based dishes bring color and variety to the table — while offering photogenic moments that enhance the visual appeal of outdoor dining. Catering to modern dietary trends strengthens guest satisfaction and broadens the event’s appeal.
Interactive Dining and Guest Participation
The modern hotel barbecue is no longer a passive dining experience. Increasingly, hotels are incorporating interactive elements that invite guests to participate in the preparation process.
From DIY skewer stations to outdoor pizza ovens and hands-on grilling workshops, these participatory touches turn mealtime into an engaging event. Guests become active participants — learning new skills, connecting with chefs, and creating personalized dishes — which deepens emotional engagement with the property.
Creating a Family-Friendly Atmosphere
Grilling events offer excellent opportunities for multigenerational appeal. By including child-friendly options, such as milder sauces, kid-sized portions, and playful condiments, hotels can ensure young guests feel welcome.
Casual picnic-style layouts, group-friendly tables, and interactive stations encourage family interaction while allowing parents to relax, knowing their children are entertained. For properties seeking to broaden their culinary programming, this family-friendly approach adds significant value.
Sustainability and Storytelling at the Grill
As with all modern hospitality concepts, sustainability is central to today’s outdoor dining experiences. Hotels are increasingly adopting practices such as sourcing local meats and produce, utilizing reusable tableware, implementing zero-waste principles, and sharing the provenance of their ingredients with guests.
This transparency not only enhances the sustainability of the event but also enriches the storytelling aspect — giving guests a deeper understanding of regional traditions and local producers. For environmentally conscious travelers, such efforts build trust and loyalty.
From Barbecue to Signature Experience
Ultimately, a great hotel barbecue is no longer just about food — it is about creating atmosphere, authenticity, and shared experience. Whether inspired by South American fire pits, Asian table grills, Scandinavian open-air cooking, or Mediterranean seafood feasts, today’s outdoor culinary events offer endless creative potential.
By embracing global influences and aligning them with their brand identity, hotels can transform grilling into a distinctive hospitality event — one that not only elevates guest satisfaction but leaves them eager to return.
At Hogahero, we believe that outdoor culinary experiences remain one of the most dynamic and engaging ways for hotels to connect with their guests — through taste, storytelling, and the shared joy of cooking.