Need to Know
30 : 01 : 23

UK – The Bao restaurant chain, which grew from an East London market stall, now has its own digital universe.

The Baoverse was created by design studio Hato and drawn by Marcelo Colmenero, and is a tiny bustling pixel city where everyone starts as a Tourist and gradually levels up to Resident, Citizen and finally Family, depending on how many Bao destinations they’ve visited in real life. Users earn digital currency, Baocoin, when they spend money at Bao, which unlocks digital and physical rewards, including the ability to skip restaurant queues or get free cocktails.

Baoverse is the first venture from Not In Game, a new hospitality tech platform that co-founder Ken Kirton says is an attempt to disrupt the loyalty app industry by creating a more seamless experience between the customer and restaurant. The app hopes to bridge the gap between online and offline purchases – a T-shirt bought at a Bao restaurant would also mean a digital version for your app avatar.

In Betterverse Bites we’ve seen how food brands move to virtual realms to educate consumers but these spaces can also be used to connect playfully and build loyalty through having fun.

Europe­ – How are Generation Z and Millennials in Europe planning to travel in 2023? A new report on travel intentions suggests a return of Bleisure and digital nomadism.

UK-based accommodation provider Edyn has partnered with the Centre for Economics and Business on a survey of new traveller priorities that reveals how the hospitality sector can adapt to accommodate them. The research suggests that young Europeans are planning to take more trips and increasing the length of stays by 26% compared to 2019 bookings.

Blended travel is driving this shift, as younger workers are taking advantage of remote working policies to opt for extended stays overseas – over half of Gen Z and Millennials aspire to live in multiple cities throughout the year. These Bleisure travellers are looking for stays that offer a profusion of facilities and functional features. Remote working and co-working spaces top the list, but Wandering Workers will increasingly seek wellness and fitness facilities, membership schemes and extended stay options in 2023.