CASE STUDY 2 24-hour Cities Network by Mastercard In 2022, Mastercard launched the 24-Hour Cities Network in partnership with Bogotá and New York City. Driven by post- pandemic demands for more flexible solutions, the global initiative brought together city leaders and key stakeholders to exchange strategies for tackling night-time challenges and enabling city economies to thrive round the clock. Over a year of quarterly convenings, the network considered issues of transit, infrastructure, safety, mobility, racial equity, nightlife and economic development, among others. All in all, city leaders and planners, night-time experts and activists from more than 50 cities in 21 countries joined forces to develop new ways to make the night-time economy stronger, safer and more inclusive. Source: Mastercard City Possible (2022).10 Over the past decade, the rise of the 24-hour economy has unlocked fresh opportunities for growth, innovation and efficiency. Extended service hours and experiences enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI) are allowing businesses to diversify and better align with changing consumer behaviour. Companies can tap into underutilized labour pools – including students, caregivers and night-shift professionals – while also easing peak- time congestion and increasing asset utilization. Cities like Braga are already pioneering 24-hour childcare services,11 while Manila’s vibrant call centre culture has spurred a unique sunrise “happy hour,” illustrating how business models can adapt.12 As cities shift to more flexible, round-the-clock systems, businesses have a chance to lead, and leverage, this transformation. The convergence of remote work, shifting lifestyle patterns and technological change is redrawing the rhythms of urban time. The erosion of clear boundaries between work and personal life has introduced new demands on how cities and businesses structure services across the 24-hour cycle.13 While this presents coordination challenges, it also fuels demand for more adaptive, human- centred services across all hours. In parallel, advances in AI are reshaping knowledge- based roles, but sectors that drive the night-time economy, such as hospitality, healthcare, logistics and night-time retail, remain grounded in real-world presence and interpersonal connection. These industries are not only more resilient to automation, but are also uniquely positioned to benefit from smart tools that enhance, rather than replace, human work.14 In this evolving context, 24-hour cities offer a powerful laboratory for business innovation that is more inclusive, responsive and future-ready. 5 Unlocking the Potential of 24-Hour Economies

Unlocking the Value of-24-Hours Cities 2025