Brits just want a pint at the pub
Dining out the most-missed experience during the COVID-19 lockdowns, finds new poll
Fish and chips and a pint at the pub are top of mind as pandemic-walloped Britons cautiously return to a reopened society.
A poll of 4,500 adults commissioned by tourism body VisitEngland found dining out to be the most-missed travel experience since lockdowns began more than a year ago. A majority of those polled said food and drink experiences were what they were most anticipating this summer. In particular, 51 per cent cited going out for a traditional fish fry, while 47 per cent said they were chafing for a cold beer at the pub as COVID-19 curbs are eased by the Boris Johnson administration.
VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said food and drink options are an “exciting” and “integral” part of exploring British destinations. “From our coast and countryside to our city streets, England offers a huge diversity of sensory experiences and we encourage Brits to responsibly explore both their old favourites and discover our hidden gems this summer.” Britons also said they were looking forward to bumble bees buzzing, sitting on a grassy plain, and the sight and smell of flowers in bloom as they make plans for postpandemic life.
Airline joins `NFT' craze
An eastern European airline is joining the craze for “nonfungible tokens” — or digital certificates of authenticity
— as it plots a course out of a health crisis that has wrought untold devastation on the aviation sector. AirBaltic, based in Latvia, says it will make history when it releases limited collector NFTs showcasing an individual Airbus A220-300 with its registration. It will also include a piece of art described as “one of the most beloved Latvian cities” to promote tourism. The carrier's chief executive, Martin Gauss, said the blockchain technology that underpins NFTs and cryptocurrencies is here to stay and it is important that airlines tap its potential. “After being the first airline to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment, it is the next step for us in blockchain technology to offer nonfungible tokens,” he said. “NFTs are not only used for digital art transactions but may as well be expanded to tickets for concerts and other unique onetime pieces, including airline tickets.” Gauss said the sale of NFTs will also boost tourism efforts for cities in Latvia, “certainly still an undiscovered destination for many.”
The airline will be connecting the Latvian capital, Riga, with sun destinations in the Mediterranean this summer as it prepares for an upswing in demand as the pandemic abates amid widespread vaccine rollouts.
Aussie hoteliers add smart toilets
There's a new king on the throne at luxury Australian hotels — the intelligent toilet. The high-tech lavatories from Japan are now finding favour in the pricey suites of Sydney inns as hoteliers look to placate germaphobic guests rattled by the coronavirus. The Japanese manufacturer Toto has sold more than 50 million of its toilets, including more than 2,000 in Australia last year, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Dominic Polito, who manages a shop in Melbourne that specializes in luxe bathroom gear, said: “We've noticed a big shift in perception among Australians. They understand and recognize their worth beyond the novelty-value factor.” Among the loos at retrofitted Aussie bathrooms are the Japanese-made Toto Neorest toilets, now installed at the Crown Towers Sydney hotel. Its features include a night light beside the bowl, a dryer, several modes of washing, a pre-mist spray, heated seat and electrolyzed water. You'll need to be flush with cash to take a seat at some of these water closets. At Polito's shop, Sirius Designs, the top-end toilet comes with a gold-plated remote control and retails for $31,000.