Viral is cheap. Value takes time. Why indie influencers matter now more than ever
“We're not the big fish,” said Klook Kreator Amer Ridzuan, in a video promoting his speaking slot at WiT Indie. “We're the anchovies.”
Cue laughter, but the message was serious.
This wasn’t your typical influencer panel built on vanity metrics and polished promo reels. At WiT Indie, th [...]
Renaissance, luxury, freedom: The three faces of hospitality at WiT Indie
You couldn't find three more different hoteliers if you tried but Chris Ong, Doris Goh Nixon Chin, sharing their stories at WiT Indie in Penang, share one thing in common – they are each driven by a common mission to create spaces that matter to today’s travellers.
One wants to bring about a [...]
From Taiwan, with new dreams and aspirations
How a new wave of travel founders is reimagining Taiwan’s role in global travel
At WiT Indie in Penang, a heartfelt panel unfolded, not just about business, but about identity, optimism, and grit. Titled “From Taiwan, With New Dreams and Aspirations,” the session explored how a new generation [...]
Founders on fire: Indie spirit, big markets, bigger dreams
At WiT Indie, five startup founders took the stage, each tackling a different challenge in travel and tech. What they shared: courage, creativity, and a relentless drive to build from the ground up.
What do a lawyer-turned-AR entrepreneur, a molecular biologist-turned-cargo software builder, a th [...]
Tech, heart and hospitality: Three hoteliers, three roads to the future
From the polished corridors of a luxury hotel to the barefoot vibes of Potato Head Bali, and the brainy back-end of Lighthouse, three hoteliers – Christine Tan, Jack Tan, and Sharon Chen – embody different worlds of hospitality. But beneath the surface, they share a common goal: making sense o [...]
Rewriting travel: From anti-loyalty to creators’ power
At WiT Indie, where travel’s rebels and rule-breakers come to play, the conversation isn’t just about distribution channels or loyalty metrics – it’s about dismantling the old world of travel and building a new one grounded in community, creativity and traveller-centric thinking.
That’s [...]
Why the ‘Indie Edge’ matters to the OTA power players
While the major OTAs are largely driven by scale, their travellers are increasingly seeking indie travel experiences, which explains why almost all of them are entering the tours and activities space.
With the market inching closer to a projected US$279 billion market size by 2025, and only 30% o [...]
Between rush and reflection: The curse of technology and the promise of indie travel
When WiT Indie opened in Penang, it didn’t begin with bold predictions or shiny tech promises. It began with two voices – one steeped in history and thought, the other in curiosity and courage – inviting the audience to pause, reflect, and rethink what it means to travel in these times.
“ [...]
Crisis to calling: A son returns with hopes to rebuild family agency
When Allan Aung Khang Kyaw returned to Yangon in 2023 to take over his family’s travel agency, he never imagined he’d be doing so under the shadow of civil war.
“Talk about timing,” said Allan, who had spent six years studying business/management and working in the UK before deciding to joi [...]
Africa, Arabia, and algorithms: Travel tech’s new frontiers
At Phocuswright Europe 2025, a standout session hosted by WiT brought together three travel leaders with bold visions for three fast-evolving regions – Africa, the Middle East, and China. Bayo Adedeji, CEO of Wakanow; Ross Veitch, CEO and co-founder of Wego; and Gareth Matthews, CMO of Dida; share [...]
