Marriott's in the Metaverse: Will More Hotel Brands Take the Virtual Plunge?

Interest in the metaverse has exploded during the pandemic, as the mix of virtual worlds and other internet technologies rapidly gains consumer uptake and investor interest. What exactly the metaverse is remains a bit of a moving -- and growing -- target, but it already includes non-fungible tokens (NFT), like the digital art sold for millions by artists like Banksy, and surging platforms like Sandbox where users interact with each other while living in complex virtual realities that include buying virtual real estate. The proprietor of a worldwide brand of very real real estate recruited three popular digital artists to create travel-themed NFT pieces that were unveiled and presented to lucky winners at the Art Basel Miami Beach show.