There are many stressors associated with air travel – the rush to the gate, the fear of losing baggage, and the long lines at security to name a few. Travelmate aims to ease at least one concern with its smart, trackable suitcase that follows you around. But do people really want robotic luggage?

Brick-and-mortar travel agents were among the first casualties of the internet age. But considering the stress involved in finding the right seat for the best price, the old ways of arranging a trip now seem simple. With its new app, Virgin America aims to make booking flights as easy as it once was.

Activity drinking used to involve a game of pool at a bar or a few pints at the bowling alley. But venues and event organisers are now offering good value and a full evening of entertainment by combining food, booze and social games of bingo, ping pong and crazy golf – all in one location.

Secret Cinema and Punchdrunk brought immersive theatre and cinema to the masses – and food is now getting the same treatment. Nearly three-quarters of Gen Yers want to increase their spending on experiences, but in a competitive restaurant industry, what gets people lining up to buy tickets?

From socialising on Snapchat to getting gourmet dishes delivered to your door to binge-watching the latest Netflix series, digital leisure is having a profound effect on the way Gen Yers spend their downtime. Is staying in really the new going out? And what will prise people from their sofas?

With the average UK commute lasting 38 minutes, communications that provide convenience, entertainment or a simple distraction can make the time spent travelling feel shorter. But what do people read, play or buy going from A to B? And how are brands engaging this captive audience?

House parties are a cornerstone of Western adolescence, defined by kitchen congregations and red plastic cups. But in Japan, where homes are small and hosting comes with high stakes, they’re an alien concept. The Home Party Association aims to change that with its courses on throwing a party.

More people are reading nonfiction books than ever before, but they’re being savvier about who they choose to read and what they read about. How are hobby guides, self-help books and biographies changing to fit with contemporary readers’ interests? And what’s drawing people away from fiction?