9 -min. read In a hyper-connected world where people are reportedly lonelier than ever, Lisa Davidson looks to technology, AI and the rise of the co-living and co-working movements for inspiration on how the travel industry can tap into the basic human need for relationships.
6 -min. read The jury’s out on artificial intelligence, with as many travel brands battling against it as they are incorporating it. Like it or not, AI is reshaping the way we travel – but it doesn’t (and shouldn’t) replace the human touch, writes Jen Murphy.
5 -min. read Born in Japan, the concept of ikigai is spreading much further afield as transformational experiences become luxury’s new mantra. Ana Andjelic considers why humans need purpose – and what the travel industry should be doing about it.
5 -min. read Have you met the new face of high fashion, Lil Miquela? (FYI: she’s a super-cool Instagram influencer who, well, doesn’t really exist.) Find out how evolving virtual ‘avatars’ like her could impact the way travel brands behave online.
6 -min. read Five years after Sheryl Sandberg first told women to Lean In, the gender pay gap is still a gaping chasm and one half of the human race remains noticeably absent from top-tier positions – even in the otherwise female-dominated travel industry. So, asks Melissa Twigg, what’s to be done?
3 -min. read In an always-on age where technology is evolving to mimic and even surpass human capabilities, the notion of a ‘connected’ experience is changing rapidly. As these insights from Ministry of Ideas prove, smart brands are embracing this shift and cashing in on the plentiful opportunities on offer…
3 -min. read We’ve been tapping into the key trends coming out of Ministry of Ideas 2018. Read today’s Top 4 Takeaways on the importance of purpose-driven experiences in luxury travel.
5 -min. read Dan Clay introduces the customer of the not-so-distant future and outlines six ways brands can future-proof their offering in a world where digital and reality converge.
5 -min. read Inspired by the surrounding waterfalls, mountains and fjords, it’s no surprise every other Icelander is a budding creative in the making. Kate Hamilton checks out the capital’s scene and seeks out its up-and-coming hotspots.
4 -min. read Dig in and discover the three hotel brands in China who’re enticing in locals by going to town on their foodie offerings.
5 -min. read A happy beneficiary from many creatives’ exodus from hubs like San Fran and New York, New Orleans is emerging as a melting pot for all things jazz-, street food– and art-related. Kate Hamilton checks out the highlights.
4 -min. read Get stuck into Instagram’s best online visual archives – accounts cum personal moodboards that document everything from fashion to film to push their own aesthetic agenda. Find out why hotel brands should be swapping conventional hotel photography for historical visuals to Insta-paint their own story.
6 -min. read What do Netflix and the mile-high club have in common? Not what you’d think. Surf Air’s VP Brand Partnerships and Events, Louise O’Riordan, tells Katie Palmer why subscription models will disrupt the future of travel.
< 1 -min. read Rebels, earphones in and “Tune In” for a series of playlists spotlighting the most groundbreaking musical shifts from past to present, and from present to future. Introducing the rebellious icons of rock and pop – paired with their modern reincarnations, who’ve taken inspiration from these greats’ badass musical stylings.
7 -min. read Before you ask: no, this doesn’t have anything to do with She-EOs. With more reach (and girl power!) than you could possibly imagine, Lisa Davidson introduces the industry to the original – and subsequent – #girlbosses who’re using social media as a tool to empower and inspire women all over the world.
2 -min. read Here’s to culture putting destinations under the spotlight: Sara D’Souza looks into how and why museums are transforming cities worldwide.
6 -min. read Bleisure is bludgeoned, TED is dead and Burning Man is in the ashes. Olivia Squire investigates how the latest breed of ‘thinking festivals’ are taking the merging of work and play a step further by going under the radar.
6 -min. read From virtual chatbots programmed to surprise and delight to sci-fi novelties working the lobby, Ana Andjelic navigates the right (and wrong) way to emulate the Japanese spirit of hospitality and service with the help of AI.
8 -min. read From plastic cactus coat stands to inflatable swans, kitschness is enjoying a renaissance. James Davidson investigates what, to us, is so beautiful about bad taste, and how hospitality brands could harness this to their advantage.
6 -min. read Creative Class 2.0 is here: China’s ‘new hedonists’ are sophisticated self-optimisers, both at home and away. Beijing-based CHAO co-founder, Maurice Li, tells Katie Palmer how this psychographic is prompting China’s homegrown contemporary hotels to disrupt the future of travel.
7 -min. read Ana Andjelic explores how, far from being the enemy of high-end hospitality, the sharing economy’s tech upstarts are prompting the next generation of rebellious travel brands to reinvent themselves and emerge stronger than ever.
5 -min. read Travel maestros, fasten your Fitbits – from mindfulness to moringa, get ready for Alice Tate to pace you through eight wellness trends forecasted to hit the big time in 2018.
7 -min. read Creating a sense of place: far from following the emerging trend of generically revamping old buildings, in today’s market, a hotel’s architecture and design must live and breathe their own story and style, and ignite real passion in us. Because when it comes to people, it’s all about integrity.
5 -min. read Innovative startups may have caused a storm in a lot of areas in the travel industry, but until recently few have thought to rethink suitcases. Meet the five who are working to fill this potential goldmine of a gap in the market, and to make schlepping our stuff from A to B that little bit easier.