Kathleen Tan returns to AirAsia: North Asia, here she comes
There’s a Chinese saying, ‘A good rest will enable you to take on a longer journey’. Today, Kathleen Tan returns to AirAsia as CEO North Asia, saying, “I feel fully rested, physically and mentally ready, for this next journey.” In this interview with Yeoh Siew Hoon, she talks about her new [...]
Peach, China, minpaku, mobile – welcome to the changing world of North Asia
WIT Japan & North Asia closed on a high note last Friday in Tokyo with its biggest and most diverse gathering yet, with the 555 registered delegates coming from 250 companies and 11 countries, reflecting the evolution of the North Asian travel market.
North Asia has become its own centre [...]
Letter from Matsumoto: Post-WIT, the struggles of Japan’s family businesses amid boom in private accommodation and inbound
A three-hour ride on the Super Azusa Limited Express from Shinjuku Station takes you to the historic town of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefrecture. It’s a quiet little place where the air is fresh and the spring water so clear and cool that ice cubes look like crystals.
I am staying at Hotel Matsumot [...]
Letter from Tokyo: Subtle changes speak of a deeper shift
For the last eight years, I’ve been visiting Tokyo pretty regularly – more so after visa restrictions for Malaysians (and the rest of South-east Asia) were lifted a couple of years ago. But it’s only this year that I am noticing discernible changes in the visitor experience for foreigners.
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Letter from Macau: Will they still come? Taking a bet on the future
My first impression on entering Macau after two years away is it’s still being built – it was exactly the same impression I had from the last visit as well. The airport is being built, Cotai Strip is still being built, there are cranes everywhere and you wonder how in a small place like this for [...]
“Wildlife, not entertainers” campaign targets TripAdvisor and online travel companies
The World Animal Protection organisation is on a mission to get online travel companies behind its “Wildlife, not entertainers” campaign, specifically the battle to stop elephant rides for tourists around the world.
Its website currently carries a petition, saying “TripAdvisor Inc. profits [...]
Why the older guy-meet-young techies thing worked for Rome2rio
Interviewing Rod Cuthbert, CEO of Rome2rio, and Michael Cameron, one of the two co-founders of the multi-modal search site is like watching a ping pong match in action – Cuthbert incidentally was a table tennis coach in his hometown of Tasmania.
There’s a sense of camaderie and mutual respect [...]
Dreamers may still win the day in online travel as brands go “upper funnel”
Ten years ago, we struggled to get the word “inspiration” mentioned at online travel conferences. Everyone was more interested in clicks, conversions and transactions.
I remember a debate we had at the WIT Conference over “Inspiration vs Transaction” and the dreamers among us voted with o [...]
Art in hotels, and the role it can play in the grey space
This was my third stay at The Gibson in Dublin. I like this hotel. It has the right touch of creativity without being too contrived. Its staff are friendly without trying to be too cool. Its rooms are contemporary in design but functional and comfortable.
Themed around music – it’s located ri [...]
The intent behind Air Black Box and how it got to power Value Alliance
The technology powering the just-announced Value Alliance, which sees eight low cost airlines partnering on a sales and distribution platform allowing customers to book on all of them, including ancillaries in a single booking, was developed by UK-based startup, Air Black Box.
ABB was set up by c [...]
