AAPA responds: Hong Kong Needs a New Runway
The AAPA (Association of Asia Pacific Airlines) responds to an article in WSJ's Business Asia.The opinions expressed by your columnist Joseph Sternberg ("Runway Inflation in Hong Kong,"Business Asia, July 14) questioning the need for Hong Kong to invest in expanding its aviation infrastructure, are [...]
Better quality searches, shift to online boost profit at Venture Republic
Despite the tourism crisis which descended upon Japan after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Venture Republic, which owns Travel.jp and Hotel.jp, managed to show a doubling of profit in its second quarter financial report.CEO Kei Shibata said the continuous uptrend of traffic for Travel.jp ( [...]
Beware of the Content Groove – Is Content Really the King?
The expression 'Content is King' is much bandied about. Sometimes I wonder if people just use it in the same way that some use the word, 'Holistic.' Sort of sounds good doesn’t it but, at the same time, it’s a bit empty of meaning in some cases.I don’t know about you but I think there’s [...]
Brand Karma introduces free analytics tool as social media becomes mainstream
Circos Brand Karma, which launched its social media analytics tool for hospitality at the WIT Conference in 2008, will launch a free tool, Brand Karma Express, this morning (October 18).The free tool is available to all hoteliers who wish to monitor and manage what anyone is saying about their prope [...]
Business travellers prefer to book direct on hotel website, says Accor survey
The majority of business travellers prefer to book their business travel accommodation directly online with the hotel brand (57%), followed by the secretary in the company (40%), while usage of offline travel agents is in the minority (16%).This was one of the findings of the Accor Asia Pacific Bu [...]
Calling nominations for the first WITovation Awards
Think you are a Social Groover, Mobile Mover, Specialista or Customer Lover? If so, enter the inaugural WITovation Awards 2011.Now open for nominations, the awards, presented by Amadeus Asia, aims to recognize companies or individuals which have made a difference in a chosen field, either through [...]
A young entrepreneur’s view: Lessons from WIT*e
Brett Henry of Abacus and Mohan Belani (left) of e27 started off the April 28 WIT*e session with valuable insights for entrepreneurs, like myself, on high potential and investable opportunities in the travel industry.Henry’s six HOT categories for business opportunities were things many could re [...]
A touch of Korea on AirAsia X
Tasty airline food, previously the domain of legacy airlines with the (mis)conception that their low-cost counterparts can’t offer passengers much beyond the usual dry sandwiches, muffins, buns and canned drinks or the 3-in-one beverages.Photo: Food tasting with AirAsia X's Azran Osman-Rani (2nd r [...]
‘Fill the Floor’ of a Bali hotel with 20 friends
Hotels.com® has launched its “Fill the Floor” competition. The competition gives travelers from 10 Asia Pacific countries the chance to win the ultimate holiday worth up to S$20,000, with up to 19 friends or family members.For the lucky winner from Singapore, the once-in-a-lifetime prize includ [...]
Wotif, Thien Minh team up to make iViVu leading OTA in Vietnam
Wotif Group has sealed its first joint venture deal in Asia with the inking of a 50:50 partnership in Vietnam with the Thien Minh Travel Group that owns Buffalo Tours and Victoria Hotels & Resorts.Group CEO Robbie Cooke, passing through Singapore on his return from Ho Chi Minh City, did not disc [...]
