Spherical ’s Post

As I reflect on my recent experience participating in the Hospitality 3.0 Symposium conference that META Foundation held this week, I'm filled with inspiration. The profound insights shared has left a lasting impact on me. It's clear that hospitality transcends mere service—it's about fostering connectivity and understanding. The diverse range of topics covered shed light on the transformative power of Hospitality. By bringing together thought leaders and innovators from diverse industries, they emphasized the importance of redefining hospitality on a global scale. Here are a few key takeaways from the event resonated deeply with me: - Prioritize integration over disruption - View AI as a tool for positive impact that is rooted in empathy - Harness wonder to enact meaningful change - Recognize the fundamental human need for belonging - Reframe sustainability as "hospitalability" - Renew sensitivity and live authentically in the present - Nurture communities where everyone feels valued and supported - Understand the pivotal role of community in shaping our world - Balance data-driven insights with the power of human stories - Build culture and tourism while honoring existing cultural identities - Create and preserve authentic brand cultures - Acknowledge that humanity's crises are fundamentally crises of hospitality It was lovely meeting all the wonderful participants. I'm feeling energized and ready to drive positive change in the world! Shout outs to: Markus Schreyer Savinien Caracostea Evan Tzeng 💗 Ebenezer Bond Urvashi Bhatnagar, DPT, MBA Suchi Reddy Manuela Montagnana Alona Lisa Andrea Lerdo de Tejada Josh Horowitz Leora Halpern Lanz, ISHC

How to make our world more hospitable?   This vision has been the driving force of META Foundation, a non-profit think tank at the intersection of innovation, technology, and culture: I co-founded 4 years ago. I was grateful for the opportunity to share the foundation’s mission at the United Nations in New York this week at a forum hosted by The World Bank and RO NEW YORK. We believe that hospitality will play a critical role in fostering ecological, social, and cultural #sustainability .   Here are 3 of our current initiatives for sustainable growth enabled by emerging technologies: 🌐 Incubate Destinations: We help preserve social and cultural fabric by building #ai models that enable local communities to benefit from global tourism.   🌐 Decentralize Travel: We democratize travel through #web3 frameworks, offering new ways for communities to collaborate and earn without the pitfalls of overtourism.   🌐 Provide Access: We integrate hospitality as a human interface in #spatialcomputing, enhancing engagement for users across industries and providing equal access to travel experiences.   All our projects are open source, inviting collaboration and innovation. If our mission resonates with you, please chime in. Together, we can make a significant impact in making the world a more hospitable place for all. #innovation #technology #sustainabletourism  

🚀"Collaboration is the new competition."🌍🚀.Keep reading to get context💡⚡ ✨I've been getting a lot of compliments and awe from my audience about all the events I go to. P.S-Highly appreciate the positive impact and inspiration it has on most people.💛 ✨ Some might wonder why I do it, and what I get out of it. Well, let me shed some light. It's more than just the events,it's the people I meet. They catapult me to the next and next level. Even if some of the opportunities don't manifest into job offers, that's not the end goal. The end goal is the exchange of stories, ideas, experiences, skill tips, networks. That's what fulfills me.🙏🏽 ✨In the past few weeks, I've enjoyed immersing myself in spaces that discuss Digital skills, Innovation, Enterprise development,the Metaverse, Women in tech, business and incubation. They're all interconnected. They all rely on each other. It's a journey of learning and I'm happy to share what I gain whenever I can. And I get to learn from your feedback too. The powerful quote above that stuck with me was said by the founder, Mathew Munyao at the Africa metaverse summit hosted by the African Meta Club .He took us through the journey of the African Meta Club, how it was a collaboration of people he met at events. He noticed they do similar things on seeing each other one too many times. Instead of competing to achieve a probably similar thing, they decided to collaborate, synergize ideas and create magic. Since one has what the other doesn't. That's the spirit I want to embody and encourage. Collaboration over competition. Synergy over silos. Magic over mediocrity. My creativity journey gets better through the power of community and interaction. I'd encourage you to do the same. Join me in these events, connect with me, let's learn from each other, let's grow together. Africa is on its way to revolutionize tech, innovation, creativity. Based on how 'woke' and aware we are becoming to building together. The future is bright. Africa to the world! 🚀🚀 #Metaverse #DigitalSkills #WomenInTech #BusinessAndIncubation #enterprisedevelopment #Innovation #CollaborationIsTheNewCompetition African Meta Club Riara University Zetech University Women Techmakers BIC Africa Latitude59 Tech Safari Africa's Talking Hindsight Ventures Google Developer Groups (GDG) UK-Kenya Tech Hub CryptoHuBKE Mara Circle Kiboko DAO DEV REPUBLIC Kenyan NFT Club Kushite ICP.Hub East Africa DFINITY HiiL Innovation Hub East Africa HiiL | User-friendly Justice

Are you working in hospitality? 📢 Your voice matters! Have you ever considered the potential impact of the Metaverse on the work environment within the 🏨 hospitality industry? There are many use cases revolving around the Metaverse technology, crafted to be seamlessly integrated in hospitality work environments. Take your chance now to participate in the FutureHotel 📝 survey on the use potential of the Metaverse for hotel employees. The survey is presented by FutureHotel Innovation Network from Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 🏆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔: ◻️ One night… ◽️ at Schani Hotels Vienna Central Station, incl. breakfast ◽️ at Basecamp Student Hotel in Dortmund ◻️ A lovely sleeping monkey (plush toy) from 25hours Hotels There is no need to be an expert in the area of Metaverse. We simply ask for your honest opinion and whether or not you consider the use cases to be relevant. Join us and be part of our research journey by completing the 15-minute survey. Your opinions are incredibly important to us, and we deeply appreciate your participation. Access the link in the comments and let us pave together the way for innovation and progress! 👇 👇 Vanessa Borkmann I Constanze Heydkamp I Katharina Dienes I Ronja Gaulinger #futurehotel #fraunhoferiao #survey #metaverse #innovation #hotel #employee #futureofowork

Did you have any incredible, life-changing event experiences in 2023? ✨ I mean, yikes. I sure did. There were notable chills. Reviewing industry trends is a hobby, passion, my career. #Purposeful, elevated meetings are near or at the top of the list. Providing guests and stakeholders with the best possible experience. Putting humanity back into events. From there, all the other heavy-hitting themes come into play like: ✈ Prioritizing ESG (#Enviornmental, #Social, and #Governance) through the incorporation of #sustainability, #DEI, and #health & #wellness ✈ Leveraging the destination with local & legendary experiences, elevating the available intellectual capital, and redefining blended travel ✈ Being mindful of budgets, access, and technology like #AI, #VR, #AR In 2023, I witnessed breathing-taking innovation in #oceantech, #robotics, and #automation. I was immersed in incredible and diverse #nature and #cultural experiences. I connected with inspiring, passionate people who are leading the way and saving the world. Whether you visit us in #Canada or wherever you are in the world, these are important considerations. The irony is not lost on me, being an actual Destination promoter, but seriously - Life is about the journey and not the destination. Let's continue to grow, learn, connect and make the very most of it. Please enjoy this article by Skift Meetings, which examines how to turn a good event into a transformative one. (Includes a Poll. Love a Poll!) 👇

🗽 Want to know why we chose NY for this year's World Experience Summit? 5. It's full of experiences. New York is an experience, and it’s bursting with so many new, different, random, wild, weird, interesting, experiences to check out. So if you come, it’s a research trip at the same time. 4. It's full of wild creators. You’ll instantly plug in to the New York experience scene, make connections and kickstart collaborations that’ll inform and infuse your work for the months and years ahead. 3. It's a research trip. This is serious fun, and work at the same time. You can expense it. It’s tax-deductible. 2. It's easy to get to. New York is one of the world’s easiest places to fly to, with direct flights from, like, everywhere. 1. It's cheap?!. Haha, oh dear, no. That’s obviously a joke. Everything is crazy expensive in NY. But so is life! Extraordinary, memorable, turning point moments in life run from entirely free to very expensive – but also incredibly valuable. But if you value your time on this planet, if you value your career in experiences, sometimes you have to invest. Brands including Walt Disney Imagineering, Sphere Entertainment Co., BRC Imagination Arts, Meow Wolf, Industrial Light & Magic, Google, & AREA15 have already got their tickets. Come join us all in the Big Apple.

Social Interaction and Community Building in the Metaverse: The Future of #Tourism 🌐🤝 Tourism has always been about more than just destinations; it's about experiences, connections, and memories. In the digital age, the metaverse is redefining these concepts, placing Social Interaction and Community Building at the forefront of virtual tourism. 🌍💬 Why Social Interaction Matters in Virtual Tourism 🧐 Human Connection: Even in a virtual setting, the essence of travel remains the same - connecting with others. The metaverse allows for real-time interactions, bridging gaps and fostering global friendships. Shared Experiences: Whether it's a virtual concert, a digital art exhibit, or a historical reenactment, shared experiences in the metaverse amplify the joy of discovery. 🎉 Learning & Growth: Interacting with diverse virtual communities offers insights into cultures, traditions, and histories, enriching the virtual travel experience. Community Building: The Heartbeat of Virtual Tourism ❤️ Collaborative Exploration: Virtual travel groups can embark on guided tours, treasure hunts, or even collaborative content creation. Networking Opportunities: Professionals can attend virtual conferences, workshops, and seminars, expanding their global network without the need for physical travel. Support & Safety: Virtual communities provide platforms for travelers to share tips, reviews, and recommendations, ensuring a safe and informed journey. 📊 A study by Metaverse Times indicates that 68% of virtual travelers value the social interaction aspect as much as the destinations themselves. Realism: The Key to Genuine Connections 🖼️ For social interactions in the metaverse to feel genuine, the environment must be lifelike. High-quality graphics play a pivotal role in this. A realistic representation of landscapes, architecture, and even facial expressions can make virtual interactions feel as authentic as face-to-face conversations. 🌠 The metaverse is not just a technological marvel; it's a social revolution. By emphasizing social interaction and community building, virtual tourism can offer experiences that are as emotionally rewarding as they are visually stunning. It's a new dawn for the tourism industry, where connections are made without borders, and communities are built without boundaries. Join the Conversation 🎙️ How do you see social interaction shaping the future of virtual tourism? Can virtual communities ever replicate the warmth of real-world connections? Share your thoughts and insights below! 👇 #BusinessMetaverse #MetaverseForBusiness BizzTech

🌟 Greetings, Futurists in Training and Foresight Enthusiasts! 🌟 The latest issue of #FutureVision is here, and this week, we’re diving into a tantalizing topic: Coffee and Coffee Shops… in the Future! ☕️ 🌐 Starbucks Breaks Ground: Inclusivity Meets Innovation 🌐 Starbucks has just unveiled its groundbreaking vision for the future. Their first inclusive cafe is a testament to their commitment to accessibility. Picture this: upgraded point-of-sale technology, power-operated doors, wider passageways, and an ambiance optimized for acoustics and lighting. This isn’t just about coffee; it’s about creating a space where everyone feels welcome, regardless of abilities. 🌈 But that’s not all! By 2030, Starbucks aims to open 1,000 Starbucks Community Stores worldwide. These aren’t your typical coffee joints. They’re vibrant hubs where Starbucks partners and employees connect with, engage, and represent the very communities they serve. It’s a bold step toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and waste-conscious future. ♻️ 📚 The Rise of the Third Place: Libraries Reimagined 📚 Hold onto your bookmarks, because here’s a fascinating twist: Gen Z and millennials are rekindling their love affair with public libraries! 📖 These community sanctuaries aren’t just for quiet reading anymore. They’re the third place — a haven between home and school. Imagine cozy corners for studying, yes, but also spaces for music, games, and creative expression. And guess what? They’re more budget-friendly than your average coffee shop! ☕️💡 🌆 Where Will We Gather Tomorrow? 🌆 As futurists, let’s ponder: How will our sociability evolve? Where will we meet and hang out? The role of coffee shops, libraries, and community centers is shifting. Let’s dream together of coffee shops as remote work hubs, learning centers, expanded libraries, cultural hubs, temples to coffee tasting, mixed-reality places, models for circularity, five-sense immersive experiences…! 🔮 Artifacts of the Future: A Futurist’s Essential Toolkit 🔮 And speaking of tools, we introduce one of our favorite tools of futurists: artifacts of the future. 🗺️ Whether it’s a holographic bookmark or a biometric-enhanced coffee cup, these artifacts enable us to imagine and shape our future world! 🌠 Join the Conversation! 🌠 What’s your vision? How do you see our gathering places evolving? Let’s ignite discussions, share insights, and brew up a future that’s as rich as our favorite cup of joe. ☕️🌏 👉 Subscribe to #FutureVision: https://lnkd.in/gWfkwJxy

Weekend work SUCKS… …if you don’t like your job! But then again if that’s the case, Weekdays pretty much stink too. While you were out with your family and friends this weekend, So was I - With my work family! So I guess you can call me the Work Familyman - Good friend and alter ego of my pal The Woke Salaryman 😂 I just spent one of my best weekends, working with Kay Vasey and her amazing team At the ArtScience Museum Singapore. As a longtime partner of MeshMinds: It’s heartening to see how far they’ve come since my man Gregory Ang and I first reached out to them in 2019 to forge a friendship. I still remember our very first meeting at the IMDA Pixel Studios launchpad. Our friendship blossomed into a full-on partnership in recent years, And we’ve since worked together on driving actionable content with UNEP-WCMC, in the areas of sustainability and ending plastic waste. Despite the leaps and bounds in clientele and opportunity, One thing that remains consistent is Meshminds’s hopeful optimism towards climate change. It’s really heartening to meet so many passionate people in one place, driving the climate conversation in varying ways. I met teenagers half my age who knows more about the topic than I do! As a capitalistic culture: It’s easy to dismiss climate change as a “political tool” or “someone else’s business”. Except, as a citizen of this one and only Earth, climate change is not something we can simply outsource to anyone else. With tech products like “Skyfarm Island” on Roblox, And the “Aquasia” VR experience, MeshMinds and their amazing partners have made sustainability accessible to even 3 year olds. NOTHING gives me more meaning than creating such virtuous cycles. Heartened to see more collaborations like this - towards a more climate-aware community! #partnerships #meshminds #gramvideos #artscience #techforgood ——— P.S. Big thank you to my team Jing Ri Lim Panisara Sutisukon and the ASM team for the awesome support!