Hospitality & F&B Activation
- Kylie Burton
- Oct 10, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 23, 2025
How food & beverage transforms assets into cultural anchors & value drivers.
Food & beverage is no longer just an amenity—it’s a strategic asset activation tool. Whether integrated into heritage properties, boutique hotels, or commercial towers, F&B has the power to:
Create cultural hubs that connect communities & guests.
Elevate tenant & visitor experience beyond traditional expectations.
Drive measurable financial performance through rent uplifts, cap rate improvements, & diversified revenue streams.
KaidCo has consistently leveraged F&B as a strategic differentiator across multiple asset types, from cafés & grocers, office amenities, to mezcal bars & hotel restaurants.
Kip Café — Vancouver
Artisan café as an asset uplift.
Created an espresso bar + café at the base of a commercial tower as part of a master repositioning.
Delivered $1/sf rent uplift, 4% cap rate improvement, $6.8M value-add, with 100% recovery of build costs in year one.
Introduced a reusable cup subscription program, advancing the building’s 80% waste reduction strategy & setting a mandate for industry sustainable practices in Vancouver.
Lesson: Amenity-driven F&B can reposition underutilized space into value-generating cultural hubs.
Cardero Abodes & Grocer — Vancouver
Heritage grocer reimagined.
Transformed a neighbourhood grocery into a vibrant café & breakfast hub alongside nine boutique suites.
Positioned as a modern community anchor inspired by the historical role of markets as gathering places.
Aligned with city planning to unlock heritage restoration funding & density concessions.
Lesson: F&B can act as a cultural & financial bridge—honouring heritage while driving new urban value.
Rose Hotel — Venice Beach
Beach house vibes through café culture.
Repositioned a historic residence into a boutique hotel with a café & gathering spaces at its core.
Activated the property for creatives, surfers, & locals, blending short-term stays with long-term community engagement.
Delivered 30% occupancy growth, 44% ADR lift, & a 14% equity yield, culminating in a successful sale.
Lesson: F&B-led social programming can transform heritage hospitality into lifestyle-driven destinations.
Drift — San Jose del Cabo
Mezcal bar as cultural anchor.
Converted a run-down apartment building into a boutique Airbnb hotel featuring a mezcal bar and communal spaces.
Hosted the “Thursday Night Locals” event series, spotlighting chefs and sustainable food systems.
Recognized by Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky and featured in 75+ international publications.
Lesson: F&B-driven community programming can elevate boutique hospitality into globally recognized cultural anchors.
Takeaway
Across projects, KaidCo’s F&B activation strategy delivers on both cultural & financial dimensions:
Cultural: Building authentic gathering places rooted in community, heritage, & local identity.
Commercial: Driving rent uplifts, cap rate improvements, diversified revenue, & investor resilience.
Sustainable: Introducing innovative programs like reusable cup models & food systems that align with broader ESG goals.
The Hospitality & F&B Activation Series illustrates KaidCo’s expertise in transforming F&B from a supporting amenity into a core value driver—repositioning assets into places of connection, culture, & enduring value.
