Hoteliers must think “beyond real estate” and drive direct bookings
Hoteliers have to reboot their mindset and “think beyond real estate”, said Colman Ho, VP Group Marketing of Century City Holdings, in the opening session at WIT Hospitality held in Hong Kong yesterday.Ho said that as online travel brands such as Priceline and Expedia were making investments bey [...]
The Wrap: How airlines use email to sell you the extras after booking
In the news: IdeaWorksCompany’s report on airlines’ email marketing, Ascott’s JV with Tujia.com, Artyzen Hospitality Group’s new hotels in ShanghaiHow airlines use email to sell you the extras after bookingChecked bags, hotel and car hire bookings, and assigned seating are the most frequentl [...]
Marriott & Starwood union back on the cards
Starwood must feel like the most-wanted girl at a dance right now. First she was all ready to accept Marriott’s suit, then Anbang came along and made her a better offer. Then over the weekend, Marriott upped its offer and now, barring any further dramas, the two should walk down the aisle.Arne Sor [...]
Singapore startup Bolt aims to become Asia’s content marketplace
As more brands and companies lean towards content marketing as a way of customer acquisition, one Singapore-based startup is positioning itself to be “Asia’s Content Marketplace”.Bolt, founded by journalist Chan Yi Wen and launched in July 2015, aims to match companies with the right content c [...]
Tripfez wants to be a TripAdvisor-Viator for Muslim travellers
Lagisatu, which started life three years as a metasearch for Muslim-friendly hotels using MuslimStars rating, has relaunched as Tripfez.At ITB Berlin, co-founders, Malaysia-based Faeez Fadhlillah and Juergen Gallistl, introduced Tripfez which goes beyond metasearch to become a marketplace for hotels [...]
The Wrap: California dreaming or French cuddle? Find out in KAYAK’s bed guide
In the news: KAYAK’s bed guide, multiple languages on SiteMinder, 150 airlines using Travelport’s rich content tool, key appointments in SojernCalifornia dreaming or French cuddle? Find out in KAYAK’s bed guide Sleepless in Seattle, London, Shanghai, Singapore or wherever you travel to? Apart [...]
Keen on Korea? Come learn about local market tactics at WIT Seoul
If there’s one market that’s managed to export its pop and fashion culture better than Hollywood in Asia, it’s South Korea.K-pop stars pack concert halls faster and quicker than Western acts. When Exo Planet #2 staged its concert in Singapore late last year, hordes of teen girls started queuin [...]
The Millennial Traveller: Girl Code or the Lack Of
With feminism to the fore this week following International Women’s Day, Expedia held a private screening of Code: Debugging the Gender Gap, a documentary which served to portray how gender issues are evolving as we delve deeper into the world of technology.
Both the film and the panel discussio [...]
Seamless travel experience for air passengers with IoT
The ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) is coming to travel, and over the next three years passenger will be enjoying seamless self-service at airlines and airports worldwide.This is according to The Future is Connected, the latest industry report from SITA, a leading global IT provider to the air transp [...]
The Wrap: Roomorama, Tujia team up to tap China’s large outbound travel market
In the news: Roomorama’s new partnership with Tuija, TripAdvisor’s news sites for Hong Kong, white paper on APAC hospitality industryRoomorama, Tujia team up to tap China's large outbound travel market There were 120 million outbound tourists from China in 2015 who spent a total of US$104.5 bil [...]
