Hello world, 

I caught up with Daniel Calderone, owner of 94 Productions. We went over the current news and ongoing trends in food, travel, and everything in between. I also changed the show's format — I hope you like it. For more content visit: www.christianalphonse.com

Show topic: 

In Food Segment --> First Class seats at the restaurant. From Betakit: https://betakit.com/tablz-closes-3-2-million-cad-to-bring-premium-seating-to-the-restaurant-industry/ "TABLZ CLOSES $3.2 MILLION CAD TO BRING PREMIUM SEATING TO THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY" *

*Interesting part:** ==*Unlike other restaurant reservation apps and table management systems like San Francisco-based OpenTable, Ottawa-founded Tablz wants to give diners the opportunity to pay an extra fee to book specific tables—enabling restaurants to monetize sought-after table space.*== 

In Travel Segment --> Passport wait time and Air Canada debacle. 

From New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/16/travel/passport-renewal-summer-travel.html "Another Pain Point in a Summer of Travel Woes: Getting a Passport" 

Interesting part: ==*Like the price of gas and groceries, passport fees have gone up across the board: As of January, a first-time adult passport now costs a total of $165, including the $35 acceptance fee; a renewed adult passport costs $130 and a passport for a minor costs a total of $135. Each is an increase of $20 over 2021 prices.*== 

From CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-air-canada-compensation-delay-1.6520962 "More Air Canada, WestJet passengers baffled by reasons for denied compensation" 

From CBC:https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-compensation-questions-loom-for-air-canada-customers-with-cancelled/ "Compensation questions loom for Air Canada customers with cancelled flights"

Interesting part: "While Rousseau apologized for flight cancellations and “customer service shortfalls,” the CEO also said in an email to travellers the schedule reduction stemmed from strains on the “global aviation system” — potentially outside Air Canada’s control — calling them “unprecedented and unforeseen. Under federal regulations, if passengers were informed more than two weeks in advance that their flight was cancelled or delayed by three hours or more for reasons within the carrier’s control, they are owed alternate travel arrangements or a refund — traveller’s choice. A rejected reservation yields $400 in compensation, on top of the refund.If the trip was cancelled within 14 days or less, passengers are owed $1,000 for a cancellation or delay of nine hours or more, and between $400 and $700 for delays of three to nine hours.

In Between Segment: Only Fans but for the office.

From New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/business/virtual-coworking-space-zoom.html

"Would You Pay $40 a Month to Have Strangers Watch You Work?"

**Interesting part:** ==*Often referred to as “virtual co-working” platforms, a slew of tech tools allow people to be seen working — but, crucially, not by bosses who might surveil their output, or co-workers who might want something from them. The platforms are especially popular with freelancers, entrepreneurs, students and people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who are seeking structure and accountability.*

"A Japanese cafe for writers struggling with deadlines provides a unique service: They'll pressure you to keep working and won't allow you to leave until you're done"

From Insider: "https://www.insider.com/japanese-cafe-for-writers-doesnt-let-you-leave-finish-manuscript-2022-4" *

*Interesting part:*According to one of the cafe's rules, customers are not supposed to leave the store until they accomplish their work goals. To further motivate them, the cafe also has a board that lists the names of everyone who left without completing their tasks.