Virtual Cuddling, Dark Stores, the INC 5000 Conference and an Interview with Dan Pink

How Some Travel Brands Are Adapting For Today (And How Some Aren't)

Despite the fact that the travel industry is seeing record declines, smart travel brands continue to work hard to inspire people to dream of travel. This week I was reminded of the importance of making sure this inspiration is delivered alongside an acknowledgement of the state of the world today. For example, many destinations are cleverly promoting themselves as being remote work friendly. To engage their customers, Singapore Airlines turned an A380 into a passenger restaurant.

Marriott also released another season of their beautifully filmed Storybooked documentary series, and it could have been brilliant too ... but the latest season includes videos clearly shot before the pandemic and ends up offering a sad reminder of all the travel experiences we are all missing right now instead of the uplifting celebration of wanderlust it could have been. Yes, it's a perfect moment for travel brands to help us dream of tomorrow. But without acknowledging the world today, it just feels incomplete.

What is the Future For Professional Cuddling In a Pandemic?

This story needs to start with a quick explanation. There is a profession called cuddling, and it's exactly what it sounds like. Someone who gets paid hourly to provide hugs and touch therapy, in a strictly non-sexual service. There is also a site and service, the Cuddlist, that trains professional cuddlers. Clearly the world needs this. And in a pandemic, these cuddle sessions have gone virtual ... which seems like it would defeat the point. Yet cuddlers are essentially professional empaths. They are used to calming people down and reducing human loneliness. When I first read this, it did seem strange that people would pay for a virtual cuddling session. But then I went on Twitter for five minutes and it made a lot more sense.

The Tenants Who Evicted Their Landlord

This weekend's New York Times had a powerful story about a tenant-led co-op group that managed to band together and win the right in court to purchase their own building. This story has just about every theme you would want in a Hollywood film. It's the little guys versus the big guys. An impossible challenge. And a victory that could have wide reaching implications for the real estate industry, urban living and perhaps capitalism itself. I imagine a lot of people are unhappy this story is even getting publicized. That alone seems like a good reason to read the whole thing.

Can a New "COVID Passport" Help Reopen Global Travel?

One potential future for reopening global travel involves rapid testing and some way to track whether people have a recent negative test. We soon may be getting documents like a "COVID Passport." On the surface, this seems like great news. The challenge is who will own the data and whether it will be secured in a way that can give people faith in the system. At this point, the airlines and airports have a chance to make lasting changes. This could be one of them.

Why Some Retailers Might Operate "Dark Stores" This Holiday Season

According to many retail industry analysts, this week may be the start of the first holiday season since the pandemic and plenty of people are nervous. You can expect plenty of reporting in the weeks to come about retail consumer behavior, how brands are adapting and what consumers really want. One strategy some retailers may turn to is operating "dark stores" - physical locations that only handle online orders and are not open to the public. Macy's is one of the first brands to try this, but it has big implications for malls and the rest of the industry. Particularly if it works.

Book Summary:

How can you be one of the "good guys" in business - helping to further the cause of equality and helping to promote and champion the women around you? This has become a newly urgent question and one that should certainly be asked (and answered) more often. There are many men who want to do something, but lack the knowledge on what to do. Most books on this topic are not written by men or for men. This one is different, co-authored by two Gender-in-the-workplace experts and filled with actionable advice on a topic every man must become better at.

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