The Commander and the Hawk: Sometimes it’s good to let go
KAYAK and Open Table chief on entry into hospitality and changes to work habits
THIS week, KAYAK announced two more hotels in New Mexico, in addition to its existing one in Miami. Steve Hafner talks about what this expansion into hospitality means plus how he’s been managing through the pandem [...]
Cambodia celebrates full reopening of borders
“Incredible achievement” in handling Covid, industry players say
CAMBODIA’s travel trade, which had been waiting eagerly for borders to reopen, is in jubilant spirits following the government’s sudden decision to lift quarantine for all vaccinated travellers with immediate effect.
On [...]
Letter from Miami: Take a deep breath, dive in, viva la vida
WHEN I told my friends in New York I was headed to Miami next, their first reaction was, “Be careful. It’s crazy there.”Coming from Singapore, with its restrictions on social life and crowds, New York is already crazy enough – to be back with humanity again, to be breathing the same air wit [...]
Silversea expects pick-up in Asia from revenge spending
SIMON Yip, vice president sales, Asia for Silversea Cruises believes high end cruising will benefit from revenge spending as travellers in Asia come out of their enforced hibernation and seek a slower, more luxurious pace of travel.
“We are encouraged to see parts of
Asia opening up,” said [...]
Letter from 41,000 feet: Crying over satay and The Father
I NEVER thought I’d feel emotional at the sight of satay but I am told that at 41,000 feet, cabin pressure does something to your senses so you cry more easily over movies (The Father is best watched when alone) and, in this case, familiar skewers of chicken coated with spicy peanut sauce.
Sa [...]
WiT Experience Singapore: On-site speakers share their perspectives
A TOTAL of six overseas speakers flew from the US and Europe into Singapore under specially-facilitated Safe Travel Passes to take part in WiT Experience. Three of them share their comments on the hybrid experience, and their views on virtual vs hybrid vs physical.
Frederic Barou (extreme right [...]
Case study of WiT Experience: From bedsheets in Luang Prabang to giant drop-down panels at Marina Bay Sands
Business events have come a long way, and there’s a long way more to go
I RECALL once having to host a conference in Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos, and when we arrived at the venue – which was a government’s meeting hall – we realised there was no projector screen in sight. [...]
As Thailand reopens, it looks to better days with new bio, circular, green tourism model
“Covid has taught Thailand a huge lesson in balance,” says deputy governor Numfhon Boonyawat
WITH Thailand reopening to vaccinated travellers from all countries on November 1, the country is certainly looking forward to better days. But one woman is determined it also builds back better. Dur [...]
WiT raises more than US$50,000 for Phare scholarships
Performance by Phare, The Cambodian Circus enthralls audience
WiT for Good, the fund-raising activity of WiT Experience Singapore 2021, raised more than US$50,000 for Phare Ponleu Selpak, the 30-year-old Cambodian NGO that supports arts and youths in Cambodia.
The funds
raised will go towards [...]
From fighting to reopen to leading the way in tech innovation, Asia travel puts its best foot forward
Key takeaways from WiT Experience Singapore 2021
IT’S been a tradition of past WiTs that a group of us would escape to a remote location or island somewhere to mark the end of yet another event. Over the years, we’ve been to Siem Reap, Bali, Phuket, Samui, Penang, Kuching with Nikoi and Cemp [...]
