Posts by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Expedia’s Peter Kern (and moose) looks forward to “rebirth” of travel, “we are all miserable”
10/12/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
At Expedia Explore this week, CEO Peter Kern spoke to me about the moose, his spirit animal; his “zero doubt” that travel will be back; the pain Expedia has gone through to simplify and focus; and his growth mindset despite being labelled “Mr Restructuring”. PETER Kern, CEO of Expedia Gr [...]
Singapore Tourism Accelerator hits sweet spot with Covid
09/12/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
THE Singapore Tourism Accelerator programme, along with other initiatives that support the industry in digital transformation, is starting to look more and more on point and timely as the post-pandemic travel reality will clearly be more high tech and low touch. “The current pandemic has under [...]
Google launches free “living” data tools for destinations and hoteliers in APAC
08/12/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
GOOGLE is leveraging the power of its search data to launch today Travel Insights with Google, two free real-time tools to help destinations and hoteliers understand live demand patterns and respond in an informed and tactical manner to customers. Destination Insights and Hotel Insights are bein [...]
Some hiccups at launch, the “monumental” making of SingapoRediscover Vouchers
04/12/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
What went on behind the scenes to make this happen and concerns remain over the fate of smaller agents and operators who may not be able to outlast Covid. ON midnight December 1, Singaporeans were able to redeem their SingapoRediscover Vouchers (SRV) through the five chosen platforms – Trip.c [...]
Invest now in future-proofing to recover faster, airlines urged
01/12/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
AIRLINES that are looking ahead and putting in place the right capabilities for a post-Covid world that will require a touchless journey, more personalised and dynamic information, and quick disruption recovery process, will have a good chance of coming out of this crisis strong. In an intervie [...]
In crisis, Singapore sees opportunity to “reset and revive”, reimagines tourism offerings
27/11/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
IN anticipation of the new type of traveller who will arrive on her shores once borders are fully opened, Singapore is already busying herself, reinventing her offerings. At a large hybrid media briefing yesterday, Singapore Tourism Board unveiled SingapoReimagine, the banner platform for initia [...]
Meet the OTAs investing their way out of crisis in Middle East
27/11/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
WEGO launches Shopcash, MakeMyTrip starts TripMoney, Seera enters alternative accommodation and car rentals, Cleartrip goes back to roots From top, clockwise, Stephan Ekbergh, Travelstart, moderating the OTA panel – Muzzammil Ahussain, Seera Group, Ross Veitch, Wego, Subramanya Sharma, Cleart [...]
Could I have attended this virtually? Events in the age of new protocols, cool tech and changed expectations
27/11/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
I had my first ART yesterday. I wished I could say this involved me splashing blobs of paint on a blank canvas like Pollock or Picasso; rather it was having cotton buds stuck up my nostrils. Honestly, the Antigen Rapid Test wasn’t as bad as I had feared, it felt more like the tingling you get fro [...]
JTB’s new chief sets end-to-end customer experience as key goal but for now, it’s survival and rapid digitalisation
26/11/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
EIJIRO Yamakita, who was appointed president of the 108-year-old company this year, is committed to continuing globalisation and digitalisation. In this wide-ranging conversation during WiT Japan & North Asia Virtual, the executive speaks about surviving Covid, reviving domestic tourism, gender [...]
From global to local hero: The Singapore fight to stay ahead of Covid and revive travel
19/11/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
SAFE bubbles; pilot events; partnerships with Klook, Airbnb, Expedia, Trip.com; domestic vouchers – you name it, Singapore Tourism Board is pulling out all the stops to buy time for local businesses until borders open or a vaccine arrives What happens when the world shuts down and your entire [...]