The only way into this airport lounge? A flight delay
Tucked inside John F. Kennedy Airport's iconic TWA Hotel, which boasts a retro aesthetic reminiscent of the golden age of air travel, a temporary lounge by Cayman Jack is set up. The catch? Only unlucky passengers experiencing travel disruptions are allowed in.
Its no surprise that flight disruptions are becoming increasingly common in U.S. travel. Almost 1 in 4 passengers experience a flight delay or a cancellation within American airports, totaling in 236 million people affected.
Disturbances can oftentimes affect just a few flights, but sometimes its widespread. Last year, the CrowdStrike IT outage led to nationwide disruptions, and earlier this year, a 90-second loss of communication from tower control at Newark led to a series of local cancellations.
'We've all experienced these moments first-hand and wanted to make life's most unexpected detours an opportunity to flip vacation mode,' Stately Jukes, Director of Brand Commercialization for Cayman Jack told Fast Company.
Open July 16 and 17, the Cayman Club operates as a 'missed-flight lounge,' offering visitors above 21 years old ice-cold Cayman Jack Margaritas, bites curated by Chef Aarón Sanchez, and complimentary massages.
'We wanted to flip the script on the traditional lounge experience,' Juke says. 'Forget elite status and instead make the lounge something to reward people who are in need of a little levity in their travels.'
For those struggling with summer travel outside of JFK, Cayman Jack is extending online opportunities to passengers nationwide through Sept. 1. On their website, travelers are able to upload their travel mishaps for the chance to earn anything from a cold margarita, to gift cards and spa services.
'You know how some of the best vacation memories come from unplanned moments?,' Juke added. 'When plans go sideways, everyone deserves to enjoy a margarita.'
The super-early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, July 25, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
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Travel + Leisure
a minute ago
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Amazon Is Treating Prime Members to Exclusive End-of-summer Deals on Travel Clothes, Luggage, and More—From $6
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Don't sweat it—all you have to do is sign up for a 30-day free trial in order to snag these exclusive deals. Once you've set up your account, come back to this page and score my favorite top markdowns, up to 90 percent off. 90% off: Huifu Wireless Earbuds, $20 (originally $200) Huifu Wireless Earbuds, $20 (originally $200) Scratch-resistant carry-on: Samsonite Omni PC Hardside 20-inch Carry-on, $87 (originally $106) Samsonite Omni PC Hardside 20-inch Carry-on, $87 (originally $106) Looks like a $70 version: Uniankiya Women's Spaghetti Strap Jumpsuit, $20 (originally $30) Uniankiya Women's Spaghetti Strap Jumpsuit, $20 (originally $30) 1K+ shoppers just bought: Tarse Women's Linen Wide-leg Pants, $29 (originally $34) Tarse Women's Linen Wide-leg Pants, $29 (originally $34) Designer lookalike: Project Cloud Women's Cork Footbed Sandals, $30 (originally $40) Project Cloud Women's Cork Footbed Sandals, $30 (originally $40) Best for international travel: Travelpro Maxlite Hardside 28-inch Checked Luggage, $179 (originally $250) Travelpro Maxlite Hardside 28-inch Checked Luggage, $179 (originally $250) T+L Editor-approved: Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Hardside 20-inch Carry-on, $201 (originally $330) Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Hardside 20-inch Carry-on, $201 (originally $330) Genius toiletry bag: Bagsmart Hanging Toiletry Bag, $16 (originally $28) Bagsmart Hanging Toiletry Bag, $16 (originally $28) $12 travel pillow: Cloudbliss Memory Foam Travel Pillow, $12 (originally $15) Cloudbliss Memory Foam Travel Pillow, $12 (originally $15) Travel must-have: Atickyaid Mini First Aid Kit, $10 (originally $13) You don't have to splurge in order to snag all the travel must-haves on your list. Amazon is full of under-$50 travel deals this weekend for Prime members, including impressive price drops on wireless earbuds, portable chargers, travel bags, and more. Plus, stay comfy in the Ododos Women's High-waisted Yoga Leggings that have earned over 15,000 perfect ratings. The best travel clothes can be worn right off the plane and don't require an outfit change before you jump into your itinerary. Amazon is overflowing with members-only discounts on stylish options that are comfortable enough for long-haul flights, including the Lepunuo Women's 2-piece Matching Set and the Tarse Women's Linen Wide-leg Pants. Shop even more top deals from just $15, ahead. Whether you're shopping for sneakers, cork footbed sandals, or slip-on loafers, Amazon makes it easy to refresh your shoe collection ahead of summer's last trips. I've cut through hundreds of women's shoe discounts to deliver the very best deals worth shopping this weekend—all rated highly for comfort, fit, and style. 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Fast Company
a minute ago
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Why State Bags went stealth about its philanthropy
Scot and Jacqueline Tatelman never planned on launching a backpack startup—much less a cult brand that now generates $100 million a year in revenue. Each of them had spent their childhood summers going to idyllic places for sleep-away camp, and they wanted kids from under-resourced communities to have this life-changing experience. In 2009, when they were in their early twenties, they started a nonprofit that brought students from Brooklyn and the Bronx to the wilderness, where they could eat s'mores around a campfire. But every year, their hearts broke to see how the children toted their stuff. 'Many brought all their things in trash bags or plastic Duane Reade bags,' says Scot. 'One time, when we were catching a train, a girl's bag ripped, so all her things were on the platform. These were kids who lived less than two miles from us in New York.' The kids needed better bags, the Tatelmans agreed. At the time, Jacqueline was pregnant, but since her family had been in the fashion industry, she felt she had the skills to start a buy one, give one backpack business. In 2013, they cofounded State, which sells high-end backpacks and uses the proceeds to donate backpacks (and other resources) to kids in need. 'We made the deliberate decision to focus on the premium end of the market so we would have enough margin to donate to the philanthropic efforts,' Scot says. Jacqueline focused on the business, first as chief creative officer. In 2020, she decided to take on the role of CEO as State faced financial challenges, and has since increased revenues by 1,000%, rocketing the company to eight figures in revenue. Scot, meanwhile, has been laser focused on the nonprofit. Every year, Jacqueline apportions hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Scot's work, from donating backpacks to organizing summer camps. During the pandemic, Scot pivoted to focus on one-on-one tutoring to kids in New York who were falling behind academically. If the company exceeds its financial targets, it pours more money into the philanthropic work the following year. Scot says that it has always been tricky being a mission-driven brand. This is particularly true now, when the Trump Administration is attacking companies that engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. But he's found that even when social justice was fashionable, it was still hard to communicate about the brand's work. 'There was a time when every brand said it was mission-driven,' says Scot. 'Consumers began to see it as a cheap marketing ploy. And now, when you're committed to social justice you have a target on your back. You just can't win.' Now, Scot believes that the best approach to corporate philanthropy is to under-communicate, but over-deliver. After all, the evidence suggests that most consumers don't make purchases based on a brand's social mission—and the small number that do will be on the lookout for these efforts, and hold a brand's feet to the fire if they don't follow through. The pendulum of corporate philanthropy When the Tatelmans launched State, it was the norm for startups to describe themselves as mission-driven. Millennials seemed to care more about brands' ethics than previous generations did and in the mid-2010s, a wave of direct-to-consumer startups positioned themselves as brands that made money while also doing good. Warby Parker and Bombas gave away products for each one they sold. Everlane vowed to eradicate virgin plastic from the supply chain. Allbirds and Reformation made eco-friendly sneakers and clothes. Over time, larger companies from Nike to Coca-Cola also aligned themselves with good causes. In 2020, in the wake of George Floyd's murder at the hands of the police, even more companies began supporting DEI. Scot felt ambivalent about this shift toward corporate activism. On the one hand, it validated his thesis that 'business for good' was possible. But on the other, it was so ubiquitous that consumers became skeptical when a brand touted its good deeds. This is when State made the decision to communicate less about its mission. 'The conversations on social media around mission felt opportunistic,' he says. 'I didn't want to add to the noise.' Just a few years later, the corporate landscape is unrecognizable. The Trump administration and right-wing shareholders have demanded that companies abandon their DEI initiatives, and many have complied. Companies once seen as beacons of progressive values—like Target and Google —have pulled back from their DEI programs. As James Surowiecki argues in a Fast Company article, shedding social justice and philanthropy efforts was also a way to cut losses. And on the surface, State also seems primarily focused on selling products. There are clues about the brand's philanthropic efforts, including the company's 'about' page and an occasional Instagram post. 'We've found that the best and most authentic way for people to learn about the mission is organically, as opposed to shoving it down their throat,' he says. 'If they want to know more, they'll dig deeper. But many will not, and we're okay with that.' While consumers report that corporate ethics matter to them, this hasn't been borne out in their buying behavior. In 2024, scholars from the University of Chicago and New York University tracked the spending habits of 24,000 consumers. While most stated a moderate preference for ethical companies, it ultimately had no impact on what they bought. And this was before the mood in the country shifted. So what's the point of corporate philanthropy? All of this surfaces the question of whether it is worth launching a mission-driven business at all. Does it make more sense for nonprofits and companies to stay separate? Scot doesn't think so. For one thing, he believes a social mission is a good way to keep employees engaged. At State, staff can devote part of their time to working on philanthropic projects, from back-to-school backpack drops to helping to plan camps. Jacqueline says the brand's mission has also helped her stay focused as CEO. 'Running a business is hard,' she says. 'We have been through very difficult times as a business, but having larger goals—and people we don't want to let down—really helps us stay motivated.' Jacqueline also believes that some consumers are more loyal to mission-driven brand. While they make the initial purchase because they like the backpack's design and quality, they may learn more about State's philanthropic efforts over time. And if they feel good about their purchase, they are more likely to buy another backpack in the future. Utimately, Scot hasn't given up on the idea that a business can be force for good in the world. Some companies were clearly serious about their mission, given how quickly they abandoned their philanthropic efforts. But others have stayed the course regardless of the political climate, including Patagonia, Levi's, Ben & Jerry's, and Costco. And these companies can continue have a positive impact on many people at a time when many nonprofits are dealing with cuts to their funding. 'Many communities that are struggling because companies offered to help them but are now retreating,' he says. 'We really need more companies to step up and fill in the gaps.'
Fox News
24 minutes ago
- Fox News
Humanoid robot turns heads at NYC sneaker store
Think you've seen it all in New York City? Shoppers on Fifth Avenue froze when a humanoid robot walked into the Hoka store and tried on sneakers. The sleek Unitree R1 wasn't just out for a stroll. It starred in a high-profile stunt promoting KraneShares' new artificial intelligence and robotics ETF. Passersby watched in disbelief as the KOID-branded robot posed for selfies, grabbed a hot dog and browsed the shoe racks. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my The KOID robot is built by Chinese robotics firm Unitree, with software from Stanford's OpenMind. Supplied by Long Island-based RoboStore, the robot had already made headlines earlier in the week by ringing the Nasdaq opening bell. Although it was remote-controlled during this Manhattan stroll, the R1 is fully programmable and already used in research labs and universities. The Hoka sneaker trial was all part of a larger rollout for the KraneShares Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF, which launched in June and has already pulled in $28 million in investments. Humanoids like the R1 are more than viral photo ops. They represent a shift toward machines that can move, interact and adapt in human environments. The Morgan Stanley Global Humanoid Model predicts there could be 1 billion humanoid robots generating $5 trillion in annual revenue by 2050. That future may seem far away, but moments like this show just how close we might be. Seeing a robot casually shopping in Manhattan is a preview of the technology that could be serving customers, assisting in retail or even running errands in the near future. Companies are investing heavily in humanoid robotics, and the line between novelty and necessity is getting thinner. If robots like the Unitree R1 can handle real-world environments today, imagine what they'll be capable of in a few short years. A sneaker-shopping robot may sound like a publicity stunt, and it is, but it's also a snapshot of how AI-powered machines are stepping into everyday life. The big question isn't if you'll encounter a humanoid robot in your neighborhood, but when. Would you feel excited or uneasy if a robot strolled into your favorite store? Let us know by writing to us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
