HotelTonight stays focused on product as same-day competition heats up
From India to Korea, same-day mobile booking apps are appearing across Asia, hoping to make it big in the market that was really pioneered by HotelTonight in December 2010. And last week, news that the leader in the Asia market, HotelQuickly, has raised another US$4.5 million funding, led by Japane [...]
Letter from Bangalore: The India story is just beginning
Each time I return to India, I am reminded anew of the wonderful hospitality of the country’s luxury hotels. There’s really no beating that willingness to be of service that’s the hallmark of Taj hotels.Our event, the first WIT India, co-organised with the Singapore Tourism Board, was held at [...]
HomeAway’s Sharples on future of sharing, AliBaba and specialisation
When I met Brian Sharples, the CEO and co-founder of HomeAway, one rainy morning in Singapore last week, he was due to fly to Bali that afternoon for a week’s vacation with his family.His first time in Bali and indeed, also in Singapore beyond a transit stop. It’s fitting he should choose Bali f [...]
Google+. Huh? You what?
Do you use Google+? I do, or perhaps I should say, I have an account and I’ve added some people to some circles and had myself added to some circles by some some other people ‘friends’? ‘circle-owners’? Apparently the ‘Circles’ bit is critical in as much as it helps differentiate its [...]
Now, it’s much easier to fly with family and friends
I love shopping online at Amazon as it’s such a hassle-free process, from search to the completion of the order. As a regular customer all my personal details, from my address to my credit card, are stored with Amazon. All I have to do is click a few times and my purchases are confirmed with date [...]
Feeling overwhelmed in Rabat in a different kind of way
Just read a survey that one in three of us are overwhelmed by technology. I am surprised it’s not more. Where are the two people in this equation who are not overwhelmed? I’d like to meet them.I think they are either living in Rabat or Ladakh. To be factual – yes, even in today’s world of i [...]
“Little Big 10” things I wished I had known then
This October, we will mark the 10th edition of the WIT conference. Yes, in November 2005, we held our very first event at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront which was to become our home for the next three years.Much water under the Anderson Bridge, as you might say – did you know that this bridge, whi [...]
Letter to Mr UP and a date with Google Glass
Dear Mr UP, I hope you don’t mind me calling you a Mr because somehow I like to think of you as a man wrapped around my little wrist.I am also writing this letter because you’re kinda special to me. You are my first wearable device and although it’s only been a week and counting, I am beginn [...]
How Tripping tripped upon the idea of metasearch for vacation homes
It’s being called the “Kayak of vacation rentals” and it got even more attention recently when it secured Series A financing led by Recruit Holdings’ RGIP Fund and Quest Venture Partners.
But San Francisco-based Tripping.com wasn’t always about meta-search for vacation homes. It starte [...]
Ex-MMT executives launch Commeasure to give independent hotels more direct bookings
Two former MakeMyTrip executives, Amit Saberwal and Kunwar Asheesh Saxena, have teamed up to launch Commeasure, a plug and play platform for independent hotel owners in APAC designed to help them generate more direct bookings.
Drawing from their own experience in hotel sales, Online Travel [...]
