Let’s start with what we already know. The pandemic forced as to rethink the way in which we interact with one another and the world around us. This is evident in our personal lives as well as the world of business.

Something that we often forget to consider, however, is how the world of entertainment has changed. How the simple dinner date has had to change to meet the “new” world.

From the outside looking in, everything may appear to be the same. Friends and family gather around the table to enjoy a meal at their favourite restaurant. However, upon closer inspection, the differences are distinct.

Changes To Dining At Restaurants

When you first enter the establishment, you will more than likely need to go through a quick screening process. You’ll also be needing to wear a mask to enter, but have the freedom to take it off once inside. The table is then sanitised and you’re seated while maintaining a safe social distance. The dining experience is then able to commence, and instead of printed menus that the whole world has touched, you can simply scan a QR code to view the menu on your personal device.

Once all is done and bellies are filled, the check will come. And instead of using the buttons of a POS device, contactless payments are now the new normal. Whether your card has a tap and go functionality or if you’re using a digital card on your phone, the payment process is as germfree as it possibly can be.

Hospitality Has Changed

Something that boomed as a result of the pandemic has to be food delivery services. For individuals not interested in heading to a restaurant, Uber Eats and the likes have become a popular option. Contactless payment and no need to interact with the outside world, sounds pretty amazing.

As such, many eating establishments have had to create a takeout menu and join food delivery services in a bid to remain relevant.

This service has even extended to grocery shopping for the ultimate convenience. Of course, both technologies were available before the pandemic, however, they have become more popular as of late as a result.

These changes have assisted the hospitality industry in recovering after many businesses were forced to close their doors as a result of hard lockdowns. And while the world appears to be going back to the “old” ways of doing things, there’s no denying the impact it has had, and will continue to have, with how people choose to interact with the outside world.

Interesting Times Lie Ahead

Something that we’re anticipating seeing in future is a virtual dining experience that makes use of food delivery services and artificial intelligence to deliver unique culinary experiences. Imagine enjoying cheesy garlic snails with the Eifel Tower in the background? Or enjoying online betting NZ activities eating traditional Maori dishes while the waves lap the shore of a pristine beach. Of course, it’s not the real thing but it will make for quite the experience. And at the end of the day, that’s all we’re really after.