250593029 671b312fd1 mYou read it right, Schipol Airport has opened a “goldfish hotel”. Now I know I’m the first to complain about the lack of innovation in airport retail offerings so I suppose I should applaud the creativity in this concept, but I’m afraid I’m left scratching my head on the commerciality of it. Are goldfish really that big in Amsterdam?

Anyway, onto the offer. The hotel is operated by “D-Travel”. When passengers book through them (they are a travel booking firm) they can use the facility for free. No word on whether or not the hotel accepts guests from passengers who didn’t book with D-Travel yet.

Upon arrival at Schiphol, passengers hand over their precious goldfish at the goldfish check-in desk (no I’m not kidding) and each fish will be placed in its own little fish tank.

Not much apparently in the way of ammenities at this hotel – you get a tank & room service & thats about it. No capacity to have friends over & the flat screen tv’s are noticably absent.

In other goldfish news, the Turkish Riviera at Hillside Su on the shores of the Antalya – a favourite resort for honeymooners – not only greets visitors with strawberries & Prosecco but gives you a personal goldfish in a little tank, on arrival, to take care of. Why???? Wonder how many honeymoon couples have taken them for a swim in their private whirlpool jacuzzi?

Image : protographer23/Flickr

The Psychology of Retail: What Cows and Casinos Reveal About Customer Behaviour

The Psychology of Retail: What Cows and Casinos Reveal About Customer Behaviour

What do dairy cows and casinos have in common with supermarkets, airports, and resorts? More than most retailers realise. This article explores the behavioural systems that shape customer flow, reduce friction, influence time perception, and drive sustainable yield. From routine and reinforcement to stress and throughput, the mechanics behind milk production and gambling floors reveal powerful lessons for retail strategy, customer experience design, and revenue optimisation.

The Politics of Time

The Politics of Time

What if many of our biggest crises are temporal? This article explores how modern assumptions about time quietly shape aged care, climate policy and governance.

The Cost of Performing Rest

The Cost of Performing Rest

Modern systems have turned rest into something we perform rather than something that restores us. This essay explores why holidays often fail to renew people, how work and the holiday industry reinforce the problem, and what real restoration actually requires.