Flocations beefs up to take meta-search battle into a new area
Along with its pivot to becoming a meta-search for travel packages,Flocations is hoping that its appointment of a heavyweight board of directors will help it get the traction it requires to scale.This week, the Singapore-based start-up which started life as a meta-search for air fares, using a cool [...]
WIT Start-Up Pitch 2013: Call For Entries
At WIT Indonesia in March, a hotel meta-search, lagisatu.com with a halal filter, won our start-up competition. In Tokyo in May, Relux, a “satisfaction-guaranteed” online marketplace for Japanese inns – ryokans – walked away with the first prize. Who will win this October?Well, the answer [...]
The Wrap: Tiger Airways Australia becomes Tigerair
In the news: Tiger Airways Australia rebrands, China and Russia booking travel online, TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Attractions awards, travellers and airport featuresTiger Airways Australia becomes TigerairLow cost airline, Tiger Airways Australia, on July 3 announced a major rebranding as T [...]
Same-day booking apps offer hotels another channel, ease of use critical
So will same-day booking apps disappear in three years? The statement made by HRS’ Tobias Ragge in this article has stirred a debate over the longterm viability of these models that allow travellers to book their accommodation within 24 hours.Douglas Quinby, senior director of research, PhoCusWr [...]
Consumer confidence in APAC on the rise, largest improvements in Japan, Taiwan, Korea
Stable economic growth in Asia Pacific has led to a rise in consumer confidence across the region, with the emerging markets of Myanmar, India, Indonesia and the Philippines in the lead, according to the latest MasterCard Index of Consumer Confidence.Ten out of the 16 markets recorded positive imp [...]
Three perspectives on women as customers
At the WITX event in Bangkok – Women Redefining Travel – much was discussed about the growing role and influence of women as customers. In this article, Minh Bui catches up with three industry personalities - Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, Executive Vice President Sukosol Hotels; Craig Fong, Chie [...]
Visa-free travel for Malaysians, Thais visiting Japan from July
As part of its move to boost inbound tourism and to enhance ASEAN-Japan friendship, Japan on June 26 announced that Malaysian and Thai nationals on short-term holiday of not more than 15 days to the country need not apply for visas from July 1.However, visitors from these two countries who wish to [...]
Same-day booking apps will disappear in 3 years, says HRS’ Ragge
After social, same-day booking apps are the most over-hyped subject in travel and Tobias Ragge, CEO of HRS, the hotel portal, believes most of them will not be around in three years.Here in Singapore to stake the claim of his company, founded by his father, to be the world’s number one in the man [...]
AirAsia ends ties with Japan’s ANA
Malaysia-based AirAsia signed the termination agreement with Ail Nippon Airways (ANA) today (June 25), confirming earlier reporter it was ending the partnership and exiting the joint venture, AirAsia Japan, due to a difference of opinion in management and on ways to operate the business. (read [...]
Wego closes US$17m in latest funding round
Wego.com, the leading travel search engine in Asia Pacific and Middle East, has secured US$17 million in growth capital through the completion of a Series C Preferred Share Offering.The investment round was led by Crescent Point with contributions from Victoria Capital and existing shareholder Tiger [...]
