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Web3 and NFTs to Revolutionize F&B Industry

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The Integrator had an interview with Mr. Sharad Agarwal, Chief Metaverse Officer at Cyber Gear, to learn more about the company’s approach to Web3 and the future of the F&B industry in metaverse.

Can you provide a little background of your company, Cyber Gear?

Cyber Gear is a leading technology company that specializes in creating digital twins, providing immersive shopping experiences with avatars, offering phygital workshops, and helping brands transition from Web2 to Web3. Cyber Gear was the first digital agency in the Middle East region, established in 1996. The company has now started to focus on Web3 and Metaverse services, providing these solutions to global clients.

How do you envision Web3 and Metaverse transforming the entire F&B industry?

Web3 represents the next stage in the evolution of the internet. Although it is still in its early stages, many brands have begun to experiment with this medium, and it is only a matter of time before mass adoption takes place. It is an ideal time for hospitality brands to begin building communities because, without a community in Web3, success is difficult to achieve. Additionally, it is essential to note that in Web2, we have consumers, while in Web3, we must create “fansumers,” who are loyal fans of your brand, similar to brand ambassadors. They will promote your brand even when you are not actively promoting yourself. Thus, it is crucial to use your community as brand ambassadors, and the ideal time to start building that is now.

Which are some of the Brands in the F&B Industry that are Pioneers in this space?

Several international franchises are leaders in using the Metaverse and NFTs to increase their brand presence:

Burger King – ‘Keep it Real Meals’

McDonalds – Virtual Landgrab

Wendys – Virtual Hangout Space in Fortnite

Panera Bread – Online Café & Restaurant

Flyfish Club – Gary Vee’s private dining club

Pizza Hut – Food NFTs

Budweiser – NFT Heritage Collection

The Bored Breakfast Club – Direct-to-Consumer coffee subscription service

Starbucks – Odyssey Loyalty Program

When do you think mass adoption will happen for the Metaverse?

When the internet was first introduced around 1995, people connected with dial-up modems. Today, we can stream movies on Netflix with zero buffering. However, it has taken 28 years to get here, and the Metaverse is still new, so we need to be patient and allow it to evolve. According to Citibank, around 5 million people will be spending a couple of hours in the Metaverse by 2030.

What are your plans for 2023?

We are working on digital twin projects that involve creating virtual cities in the metaverse with full functionality. This means that you can get a trade license, rent an office, and hire people in the Metaverse. This is the future, and it is starting to happen now. We are at the forefront of technology and leaders in the space, but we are still learning because there are no experts.

What is your final advice to organisations in the region?

“If you have seen the Metaverse Bandwagon, you have missed it. You have to be on it!”

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Hospitality

VELAA PRIVATE ISLAND LAUNCHES KIDS WEEK WITH SHARKY + GEORGE AND FREESTYLE FOOTBALL CHAMPION TOBIAS BECS

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Velaa Private Island in the Maldives will host Kids Week from 3rd – 9th August, a week-long family programme delivered in partnership with international children’s entertainment specialists Sharky + George. The programme is designed to help children unlock individual “superpowers,” including curiosity, creativity, focus, energy, rhythm and strategy, through island-inspired games, outdoor adventures and collaborative challenges.

A highlight of the week is a series of interactive football sessions led by Tobias Becs, a world champion freestyle footballer, built around confidence, teamwork and creativity. The week concludes with a grand finale featuring obstacle courses and team challenges celebrating teamwork, confidence and achievement.

Kids Week sits within Lha Velaa Kids Club, one of the Maldives’ most comprehensive children’s facilities, giving parents a genuine reason to bring the whole family. The Club spans an energy studio for active play, sensory spaces, cooking and experiment classes, indoor climbing and quiet reading nooks, alongside outdoor water play, island quests and treasure hunts. Regular additions, from Maldivian baseball on the sand to a talent show under the stars, are led by the Club’s mascot, Tokey the Turtle, so no two visits look the same.

Validated by Worldwide Kids and the Luxury Childcare Association, the Club’s team pairs professional childcare standards with imaginative, hands-on care – reinforcing Velaa’s position as a leading destination for multi-generational luxury travel.

Details Below:

What: Velaa Kids Week

When: 3rd – 9th August

Where: Lha Velaa Kids Club, Velaa Private Island

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Hospitality

HOW SUN SIYAM VILU REEF KEEPS MALDIVIAN ROOTS ALIVE THROUGH RICH TRADITIONS

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How Sun Siyam Vilu Reef Is Keeping Maldivian Culture Alive: The smell reaches you before anything else: warm coconut oil, faintly sweet, drifting from a low-roofed  beach house. Inside, a woman works patiently with her hands, pressing, turning and drawing the oil slowly from the flesh, just as it has been done for generations on these islands. Standing on a tiny coral island in the South Nilandhe Atoll, time seems to lose its importance.

This is Athireege, the cultural heart of Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Privé Collection within Sun Siyam. It is not a museum, nor a demonstration staged for the camera. It is a living sanctuary where the crafts, rituals and flavours of traditional  Maldivian life are practised by hand, by voice and by fire. Here, an immersive cultural journey invites guests to discover the traditions, flavours and stories that continue to shape island life, offering a deeper connection to the Maldives beyond its postcard-perfect beaches.

Once a week, guests are invited to experience Maldivian Roots Day, a journey that reveals the customs, skills and traditions that have shaped island life for generations. Visitors leave with more than memories of turquoise waters they leave with a deeper understanding of the place they have called home, even if only for a few days.

The experience begins with a hands-on coconut oil making class, uncovering traditional crafting techniques first-hand at Athireege. Authenticity is the soul of this space, where traditional island living is brought to life using real, handcrafted tools. Guests can run their fingers over the very techniques that Maldivians have used to sustain island life for centuries whether witnessing the intricate art of palm weaving known as Fangi Vinun, trying their hand at coir rope making, known in Dhivehi as Roanu Veshun or playing traditional mancala style games like Ohvalhu Gondi Kulhun.

As the afternoon softens into evening, pandan-infused tea is served alongside sweet and savoury local delicacies. As daylight fades, stories take their place. History of Maldives, real experiences with island tales and memories of life before tourism are shared aloud, reviving a tradition that once passed history from one generation to the next.

The centre of this cultural journey is the Malaafaih, a magnificent, traditional Maldivian banquet. Translating roughly to “abundance,” the Malaafaih was historically prepared for grand celebrations, weddings, and community gatherings. This carefully curated feast invites guests to gather, share, and experience authentic local flavours in a deeply communal setting, honouring the true spirit of island hospitality.

At Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, the Malaafaih is celebrated both at sunrise, as a traditional breakfast, and beneath the stars as an evening feast. The menu changes with the season and the day’s catch, but its spirit remains the same, dishes are shared, conversations unfold naturally, and strangers often leave the table feeling like friends. Whether beginning the day with a traditional breakfast or gathering beneath the stars for an evening feast, guests can completely immerse themselves in this rare culinary ritual, tailored exclusively to their stay.

At a time when travellers increasingly seek meaningful connections with the places they visit, Athireege offers something becoming increasingly rare: traditions that are still lived rather than performed. Long after the final stories have been told and the feast has ended, it is often these moments not simply the beaches or the villas that guests remember most. At Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, space has always been made for the culture that made these islands worth travelling to in the first place.

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NEW SIGNATURE BRUNCH EXPERIENCE LAUNCHES ACROSS DUBAI AND ABU DHABI

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Society UAE, the premier lifestyle dining destination, is thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated new Brunch offer, going live across both its Dubai and Abu Dhabi locations on August 15th.

Society Unveils A Signature Brunch Across Dubai And Abu Dhabi

Served exclusively on Society’s signature wooden brunch board, the new offering is a meticulously curated feast crafted from the finest, freshest ingredients. Each board is designed to deliver a complete and balanced culinary experience, featuring one hearty main course, one freshly baked pastry, one savoury side dish, and one indulgent dessert. The selections of main dishes include a creamy roasted chicken and mushroom pie, truffle soft scramble on a warm croffle, and huevos rancheros. Desserts include a range of Society’s classic French Toast, Syrniki and creamy dessert cups by MAD Hospitality’s nostaligc dessert concept, HAZE. Fresh pastries include mini garlic bread, mini shio pan and almond croissant while guests can indulge in their favorite side dishes including french fries, chicken sausage or arugula salad. To complement the meal, guests can select one classic beverage of their choice, featuring premium coffee or fresh juice to savour throughout the brunch.

The wooden board concept is designed to be the ultimate centerpiece for social gatherings. Whether it is a relaxed weekend morning with the family or a long catch-up with friends, Society’ Brunch offers a communal, high-quality dining experience tailored for sharing and savoring.

Offer Details:

  • Launch Date: August 15, 2026
  • Locations: Society Dubai, Jumeirah 1 and Society Abu Dhabi, Al Mamsha, Al Saadiyat
  • The Menu: The signature wooden brunch board includes 1 Main, 1 Pastry, 1 Side Dish, 1 Dessert, plus 1 Classic Drink.
  • Pricing: AED 120 per board (including drink)
  • Availability:  Saturday and Sunday from 8:00AM until 2:00PM
  • For reservations and more information, please call: +971 56 408  7099 for Society Abu Dhabi, and +97150 210 0096 for Society Dubai.
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