Making work so fun you never want to leave and how not to kill creativity
Even though it was just 8am, the canteen at Facebook’s Singapore office was pretty packed with employees having breakfast. I was a bit surprised – I had this idea that kids working at these new tech companies were not early risers and preferred working late at night.
“Hey, maybe they never [...]
South Korea rising star for Hostelworld as it embarks on campaign to correct perceptions about hostel stays
Where previously Asia was more of an inbound destination for Hostelworld Group, today it has become a strong source market for travellers and South Korea, in particular, is taking the Dublin-based company by surprise.
The global marketplace for hostels now counts South Korea as its seventh la [...]
Oasis Collections expands to Asia on the back of AccorHotels’ investment
Parker Stanberry, co-founder of Oasis Collections, is the first to admit he was a bit surprised when approached by AccorHotels, the French-based hotel group that is aggressively making acquisitions in the technology and private accommodation spaces.
“They seemed an unlikely investor. At fir [...]
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.
[...]
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 [...]
