A weekly curation of the most compelling stories across the leisure landscape, including insights on the philosophical implications of a post-work society.

My bold, audacious mission for Leisure Alchemy is to create “a world of leisure.” Imagine a world free from obligations, where we spend our time entirely on things of our own choosing. Some aspects of this goal are impossible. We may always be constrained, for example, by the need to attend to our own physiological needs (to eat, to sleep, to bathe, etc.) And to the extent that we raise families, we will always need to attend to the needs of our children and close family members.

But some elements of this goal are very achievable. The world of work is already changing, giving us more freedom to work from where we want to work, to pursue work that aligns with our passions, and to use technology to free us from the most burdensome, administrative, and soul-sucking tasks in favor of more preferable and meaningful endeavors that align with our values and interests.

This week’s Leisure Roundup helps us imagine a world without work. What would a world of leisure look like for you?

Jeremy

What would our lives look like if we no longer had to work?
The abundance that AI promises to deliver represents an enormous and radical opportunity to reconnect with the ancient project of how to live. In a post-scarcity society, dignity would not be found in work but in our actual personhood, offering a chance to flourish outside the bounds of capitalism. (The Guardian)

The Prosperous Society
This multi-part series explores the political economy of artificial intelligence, grounded in the liberal tradition of the Western canon. It argues that AI represents a progressive technological revolution that shifts the binding constraint on economic growth from production to distribution. (Mobile Dev Memo)

Unstructured Leisure Time Might Be the Best Thing You Give Your Kids This Summer
A growing body of evidence suggests that unstructured time and boredom are critical for childhood development, building resilience, problem-solving skills, and creativity. Constant stimulation suppresses the brain's default mode network, robbing kids of the cognitive space needed for divergent thinking. (Nurturing Tomorrow)

Unstructured Time is Good for Adults Too!
Neuroscience reveals that true productive boredom is the hidden engine of strategic creativity for business leaders. By protecting unstructured, minimally stimulating time, executives activate the brain's default mode network, generating non-obvious ideas and strategic insights. (SUCCESS)

Operator Guide to Unlocking Growth with Reviews
For tour, activity, and attraction operators, online reviews have become one of the most powerful — and underutilised — levers for revenue growth, with AI-powered search and OTA ranking algorithms now weighting them more heavily than ever. Arival's practical guide breaks down how to build a scalable review strategy that improves discoverability, drives bookings, and compounds over time. (Arival)

Leisure & hospitality shed 61,000 jobs in June
Despite the expected tourism boost from the World Cup, the leisure and hospitality sector unexpectedly shed 61,000 jobs in June. Economists note that the labor market appears stuck in second gear, with job growth slowing down and wages continuing to lag behind inflation. (Fox 17)

The Myth Of High-Tech Experiences
An analysis of nearly 1,000 immersive experiences challenges the assumption that more technology equals a better experience. The strongest work is defined not by technological sophistication, but by how deliberately every design decision serves the participant and deepens emotional engagement. (WXO)

The Connected Hotel: What HITEC 2026 Revealed About AI and Hotel Maintenance
At HITEC 2026 in San Antonio, the conversation shifted from AI curiosity to a harder question: where is the measurable ROI? Hospitality technology consultant Tim Thilleman reports that the operators generating real returns are investing in invisible, back-of-house AI — predictive maintenance, automated work orders, and integrated asset management — rather than guest-facing chatbots. (ServiceChannel)

Top Summer Travel Trends for 2026
Despite high costs and global instability, summer getaways remain a priority, with a noticeable shift toward domestic travel and cooler climes. Travelers are seeking out value-driven destinations, longer trips, and experience-led cultural spots, while bookings for Nordic cities and Canada are on the rise. (TravelAge West)

Featuring exciting updates from Leisure Alchemy clients and partners.

Technogym’s Run X World Treadmill Championship takes indoor running to a whole new level
Run X invites runners of all ages and levels to join a race against the entire world. In what could be the largest event ever held for the global running community, competitors can log in to compete from anywhere in the world via their connected Technogym treadmill. Qualifications begin October 2026. Technogym is making treadmill running fun again. (RunX)