Aviation’s dual reality: Dreaming of the future, grounded in the now
At WiT Phocuswright Middle East, aviation leaders debated the next 10 years of travel distribution, payments, and digital transformation, and the balance between ambition and realism.
At a time when every industry panel seems to default to AI, it was refreshing to hear leaders in aviation and tech [...]
AI, multimodality & the human heart: Amy Wei on designing for the Golden Age of Travel
At WiT Japan & North Asia 2025, Amy Wei walked onto stage jet-lagged but charged – with fresh insights from Google I/O in California, her own AI panel at Trip’s Envision Summit in Shanghai, and now, Tokyo. Her global sprint mirrors the speed at which generative AI is transforming travel and [...]
Flying into the future: Willie Walsh calls for tech-first thinking at IATA AGM
In an address that oscillated between optimism and urgency, Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, took the stage at the 81st Annual General Meeting in Delhi to rally the aviation industry behind a future that is digital, data-driven and sustainably delivered or risk falling dangerously behind.
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The future is young, deep, and silver: Michael Dykes on the new demographics of APAC travel
At WiT Japan & North Asia, Michael Dykes of Expedia Group laid out a compelling picture of the shifting travel landscape in Asia Pacific. In a fast-evolving region shaped by cultural pride, youth influence, and ageing populations, Dykes identified three powerful demographic trends that are rewri [...]
Dubai plots its course to 2033 as a next-gen destination for global citizens
Dubai is doubling down on its ambition to become one of the world’s top three cities to live, work, invest and travel in – and tourism lies at the heart of that plan.
At WiT Phocuswright Middle East 2025, Hoor Al Khaja, Senior Vice President of International Operations at Dubai’s Department o [...]
Startups in the spotlight: Grit, growth, and a touch of magic
The Global Startup Pitch Showcase 2024, held at Phocuswright WiT Middle East, revealed not only cutting-edge ideas but the grit, grind, and gut instinct it takes to survive and scale in today’s turbulent funding climate.
If there was a common thread running through the Global Startup Pitch Show [...]
From Ryokans to Ray-Bans: Adrienne Enggist on how AI can enable Omotenashi for the digital age
From Ryokans to Ray-Bans: Booking.com’s Adrienne Enggist on AI breaking barriers and a world without screens
When Adrienne Enggist walks into a room, whether it’s a tech summit in Amsterdam or a ryokan in Arima Onsen, she brings the future with her.
At WiT Japan & North Asia 2025, which [...]
How AlUla is tackling seasonality and storytelling
“If you had told me a year ago that Banyan Tree and Habitas would be running 70-80% occupancy in April, I’d have laughed.”
That was Melanie de Souza, Executive Director of Destination Marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), reflecting on what she now sees as a turni [...]
What it takes to win in social: Be a pinball wizard, storyteller, experimenter
“If you think you know your customers, think again.”
That mic-drop moment came from Eason Zhang, TikTok’s Head of Strategic Apps, South-east Asia, during a spirited panel on how social media is redefining travel discovery, influence and commerce at the Preferred Global Conference 2025 in Sing [...]
From hashtag to hotel room: The evolution of the social food chain
What do a Saudi influencer-turned-travel agent, a Singaporean AI virtual girl named Rae, and a hashtag with 30 billion views have in common?
They are all living proof that the travel funnel is being flattened, and social media is the bulldozer.
In the session I ran on “Next Generation: Aspirat [...]
