Cities in Asia Pacific dominate global top 10 travel destinations
Asia Pacific rules in the recently released MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index with five out of the top 10 destinations for international travellers from the region, up from four in the previous year.The five are Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Seoul are among the global 10.W [...]
Mobile bookings to account for quarter of corporate transactions by 2017
A new study by Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) reveals that mobile bookings are set to climb steeply over the next decade, reaching 25% of online transactions by 2017.CWT’s research also predicts that mobile bookings will more than double in the next two years.According to the study, it took up to e [...]
HotelQuickly raises another US$4.5m as mobile picks up pace
Last minute booking app, HotelQuickly, has raised US$4.5 million in a Series A-1 financing led by GREE, Inc., a global mobile social company with businesses that include social gaming, social media, advertising, licensing and merchandising, and venture capital.William E. Heinecke, CEO and chairman o [...]
Planning to step into China as a meta-search brand? Be ready for the grind
Established meta-search brands including KAYAK and Skyscanner are set to foray into China. TravelDaily.cn explores what to expect as these entities enter with contrasting market entry strategiesTravel meta-search continues to spread its tentacles as established players look beyond the US and Europe [...]
Gogobot rolls out mobile, stays personal
With its 4th birthday around the horizon, social travel site Gogobot has revealed its plans for the future. Based in San Francisco and founded by Travis Katz and Ori Zaltzman, the site for places-to-go currently has more than 16 million users within the 18 to 44 age range and more than 60,000 destin [...]
The Wrap: Jambo Kenya! Tune Hotels sets foot in East Africa
Making the news this week are Tune Hotels with its first hotel in Africa, Etihad Airways' partnership with Google Flight Search, Travelzoo China’s new lifestyle channel, TripAdvisor's offline feature for its mobile appJambo Kenya! Tune Hotels sets foot in East AfricaWith a “Jambo (Hi) Kenya!” [...]
WIT Start-Up: Packnada next time you travel to Singapore
Ever travelled to a place so frequently that you wish you had a set of clothes and stuff there and you didn’t have to lug along wherever you go? Well, if you are one of those frequent travellers, a new start-up in Singapore aims to ease your woes by providing a storage service for you for your tri [...]
Expedia to buy Wotif for A$703 million
There's definitely an appetite for acquisitions – Priceline buying Open Table last month and now Expedia Inc has weighed in with news that it's buying Wotif.com. The Australia-based online travel company has had a couple of challenging years on the homefront but particularly so in Asia where it ha [...]
Hold the date: WIT heads to Sydney June 21
Tapping into the growing interest in Asia in Australia, WIT will be holding a one-day conference in Sydney, Australia on June 21.Themed “Marketing To The New Traveller in Asia”, WIT Australia will be targeted at suppliers in Australia who are looking to the region for new customers, and engage w [...]
Hooray, porridge and prata for breakfast in Oz at last
Having breakfast at my Sydney hotel for the fourth day, I found myself hankering for chicken porridge and roti prata but there was none to be found. That’s because I realized I am not staying in one of those Accor hotels that have embraced the group’s newly-launched, fully accredited “Optimum [...]
