Online Travel In Asia: The Untold Story (Chapters 9 – Epilogue)
The online travel industry is entering its “third wave” – a new era shaped by AI, cloud, social commerce, and a traveller who expects everything seamlessly connected. Unlike the early days, when companies specialised in flights, hotels, or tours, today’s focus is on the “connected trip” [...]
TikTok books hotels. Risky GPT. Trip.com’s AI planner. Google grows AI Mode.
Book hotels on TikTok
TikTok is expanding its push into e-commerce with a new integration that lets users book hotels directly through the app via Booking.com. Travellers in the US can now browse hotel landing pages featuring room rates, amenities, reviews, and nearby attractions, alongside TikTok [...]
From antelope to evolutionary explorer: Ho Kwon Ping on 30 years of Banyan and the next chapter in travel | Conversations On Turning 20
When you get to the ripe young age of 20, you’re bound to collect lots of stories – not only about the past but lessons for the future.
As WiT marks its 20th year in 2025, we turn the spotlight on our community, our tribe pioneers and leaders, to tell their stories and share their views on th [...]
Klook’s IPO. AI sharpens Agoda. United sues Kiwi. Gathern gets $72M. Yatra’s new AI.
Klook eyes $500M U.S. IPO amid market rebound
Klook has hired Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan to work on a potential U.S. initial public offering that could raise about $500 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The Hong Kong-based travel booking platform, backed by Sof [...]
Online Travel In Asia: The Untold Story (Chapters 5 – 8)
The next chapters of Online Travel in Asia: The Untold Story dive into the defining “moonshot moments” that changed the course of the travel tech industry. From Agoda’s acquisition by Priceline in 2007 to MakeMyTrip’s IPO in 2010, and Qunar’s $306 million sale to Baidu the following year, [...]
From Bengkulu to the boardroom: Caesar Indra on Traveloka’s start, resets and future impact | Conversations On Turning 20
Editor's note:
The interview was conducted while Caesar Indra was still serving as Traveloka president. The company confirmed that he stepped down on Aug 1. The leadership team, led by Founder and CEO Ferry Unardi, will remain focused on driving Traveloka's growth as the leading travel platfo [...]
Premiere | Online Travel in Asia: The Untold Story (Chapters 1 – 4)
Reflecting on the history of online travel while celebrating the future of things to come.
As the world counted down to the year 2000, headlines warned of Y2K chaos — crashing computers, frozen clocks, a world on pause. For Yeoh Siew Hoon, Founder of WiT, David Bowie’s Changes became the soundt [...]
Google’s AI flights. Airbnb’s ‘Reserve Now, Pay Later’. Agoda’s new AI bot. Klook tackles Muslim-friendly travel.
Google’s new AI flight deals aims to find cheaper trips
Google has launched Flight Deals, an AI-powered search tool that lets travellers describe their ideal trip in plain language without rigid dates, origins, or destinations required. Using advanced AI to interpret user preferences, the feature [...]
Tokyo named world’s best ‘workcation’ city; Singapore ranks fourth in Asia
Tokyo has been named the world’s best workcation city for 2025 in International Workplace Group’s (IWG) third annual Work from Anywhere Barometer, with Singapore ranking among Asia’s top cities where flexible working enables professionals to stay productive while travelling.
The ranking sees [...]
Fora buys Legends. RedDoorz for nomads. AirAsia’s new universe. TourRadar funds adventures. Wellness and walkability.
Fora acquires AI startup Legends
Fora, a tech-powered travel agency, has acquired AI-focused data platform Legends for an undisclosed amount. Both companies, founded in 2021, share a focus on combining technology with the human touch in travel. Legends, winner of the 2023 Phocuswright/Web in Travel [...]
