Flight Seats Going Social

We have all had one of those awkward flight boarding moments where we had thoughts such as "hope I don't sit next to …..". Well Dutch Airline KLM is now making flying more social and hopefully preventing these awkward moments for travellers.

KLM has launched the "Meet & Seat" program where travellers can select their "seatmate" by evaluating Facebook and LinkedIn profiles prior to take off.

The service is available to travellers who have confirmed their flight reservation and who have opted-in to the service by connecting their social profiles to their booking. After deciding on the amount of social profile information they wish to share, travellers are presented with seat maps showing where others that have shared their social profiles are seated. Travellers can then select a seat if available, next to someone they find interesting and in turn the other person receives a message with the other travellers profile details.

Currently the service is only available on flights between Amsterdam and New York and San Francisco and Sao Paolo.

With 500 million active Facebook users and possibly 8 million of those flying daily, there is a potential high take up rate for these types of social services. Great concept to explore for other types of markets where social media can provide a value add to customers.

Hotel Rooms By The Hour

The hospitality industry is getting very creative in coming up with new niche markets in an already saturated market. The hotel accommodation segment is really standing out in this regard. On Valentines Day 2012, we tweeted and spotted hotel packages for threesome getaways on wish.co.uk for the open-minded. This week we find another contender Day Use Hotels hitting a niche market, offering a guide to boutique hotels that sell rooms by the hour.

Targeting business people and lovers, Day Use Hotels has 200 hotels spread across Europe offering rooms by the hour. The rates vary based on time slots ranging from 3hrs to 7hrs and offer 30% to 70% off the standard full day room rate.

Discreetness is exercised with reservation confirmations made via SMS opposed to credit cards while payments are made at the hotels.

Day Use Hotels also have a iPad and iPhone app for the more mobile clientele.

Proving that even in the most saturated markets such as the hotel accommodation segment have definite niche opportunities. Ideal concept to introduce into other markets and areas of the globe.

52 Jobs In 52 Weeks

We all struggle with the question "What do I want to do with my life" at one point in our lives. Well Paul Seymour has decided to take a 12 month journey to discover his true passion by working 52 jobs in 52 weeks in Australia.

Working under the concept "One Week Job" Project, anyone can offer Paul a job for one week. Any money he earns is donated by the employer to the  Big Brother Big Sister charity. 

Mastermind and founder behind the One Week Job, is Canadian resident and University graduate Sean Aiken. In 2008, Sean completed his quest where he completed 52 jobs, covered 75,000km and slept on 55 couches throughout North America and raised over US$20,000.

Great concept for business and charities to affiliate with or initiate a similar concept and at the same time doing some greater good for the world.

High Tech Recycling Bins

The London 2012 Olympics are fast approaching, London City is busy preparing to welcome the world. One interesting project has been hitting the streets of London this month in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. City of London is replacing its old cast iron bins with smart high tech recycling bins, "Renew bins".

These sleek designed bins are equipped with Wifi and two LCD screens which provide up to date and location based "On The Go" content such as latest news, stock market stats, weather, sport news and latest trends just to name a few. The bins have also been designed to be less susceptible to terror plots than the older and more simpler bins to the point that they will withstand bomb blasts.

Currently 25 bins have been installed in the city streets as part of a phase 1 rollout. The bins don't come cheap, each bin costs $US47,400 to build and install and will require another $US790,000 for upkeep over 21 years. London city plans to install a total of 100 bins by July 2012.

Maybe one to partner with for advertising or even introduce to the streets of your corner of the world.

Fold Your Car The New Urban Commute

We have all exeprienced the frustration with driving in the city where parking spots are often hard to find, tight and come at a price. With population growth increasing rapidly this problem is only going to get worse. To try and resolve this everyday problem, we are finding more and more car manufacturers entering into the micromobility market.

In September 2011, we posted an article "The Future Of Urban Commute" where we featured the Volkswagen NILs a single seater electric car which was aimed at this new niche market. Well, we now have another entrant in the micromobility space, meet The Hiriko Citycar. Think of the Citycar as a child stroller, of course it's a lot more complex than that but the concept is very similar in that you fold it up so its manageable and compact. 

The idea for the electric Hiriko Citycar started out at Boston's MIT-Media Lab before being picked up by Hiriko Driving Mobilty. It's small, fits two people and can travel approximately 121 kilometers before you have to charge it. Hiriko Driving Mobilty plans to start selling the Hiriko CityCar in mid 2013 with an asking price of about US$16,000.

Sustainable and eco friendly, micromobilty is showing no signs of slowing down!