Year of the Chat
“What are you doing?” I asked my 19-year-old god-daughter whose nose was buried in her smartphone.
She has an iPhone 4 and its screen is cracked and she complains about how slow it is. She’s looking forward to the new iPhone 5s she’s getting from her father as a reward for doing [...]
What went mainstream in 2013 and what kind of fish do you want to be?
Tis the day after Christmas and I love this time of the year because unlike everyone else, I am staying home. The streets are quiet, the breeze is cool, and I am taking long walks without having to bump into people and their bikes.
Seems the whole world’s gone bike-crazy – I was in Penang [...]
As 2013 nears, time to reflect on what lies ahead
In under a fortnight, we will usher in a new year. Time to wind down, take a break and reflect on what will unfold in 2013. For those wishing to pursue business opportunities in Asia, here's our take on what you have to heed. For now, happy holidays.
1. Low cost continues [...]
Tips for the new romance of 2014
So if you were to ask me what I will remember most about 2013, I’d say it’s the year Asia truly came of age. Sure, she's been noticed before. People have whispered about her attraction. The people who know her well already know that she's special. But I am now talking big-time, mass-scale, globa [...]
A world of diminishing space and privacy – like it or lump it
Two things happened on my last trip round the world worth commenting on.
One, the move by US authorities to allow mobiles to be used inflight during taxi, takeoff and landing. Delta Airlines was the first airline to allow this and on my flight from JFK to Fort Lauderdale, I experienced what [...]
Letter from Amsterdam: Canals, coffee shops and contradictions
As in Fort Lauderdale, my room overlooks the ocean – only this time, it’s the North Sea and the air is decidedly colder and blustery.
I am told this is Holland’s finest beach and I haven’t dared venture out to the sand yet. I do like the contradiction of Christmas trees and beach [...]
A week of dramas, online talk and rainbows
It’s the day after the PhoCusWright Conference in Fort Lauderdale. After the heavy rains of last night – thought I was back in Singapore with palm trees being lashed by heavy rainfall – there’s more bluster than breeze in the air and the waves are strong and choppy.
It’s been a ra [...]
Letter from Ft Lauderdale: Putting a 28-hour journey into context
Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale (right) and morning walk on Hollywood beach
Landed in Fort Lauderdale after 28 hours of journey time and have to say, not feeling as ragged as I thought I’d be.
I had had som [...]
Lessons from WIT Day 2: Of families, expectations and imperfections
One of the key messages I took away from Day 2 of the WIT Conference was – other than the fact that more than 60% of businesses in Asia are family-owned – was that we should be more okay with being imperfect.
Winnie Chiu (pictured left), president and executive director of Dorsett Hospit [...]
Start-ups, take a look at the meetings space
If there’s one industry that technology is disrupting, it’s the meetings and exhibitions sector. That thought was hammered home to me during the four days I spent at the ICCA conference in Shanghai.
Pictured: ICCA's CEO Martin Sirk with his Chinese hosts
This is one of the largest [...]
