Velocity eyes $20m for travel fund, aims to match corporates with startups
COVID has given Velocity Ventures new impetus to forge ahead with its travel and hospitality fund, and the firm is targeting to raise US$20 million by December 2021.
Nicholas Cocks (pictured), founder and managing partner of Velocity Ventures, said, “When we thought about the kind of disruptio [...]
Tech adoption accelerates on cruises as safety takes top priority and customers go digital
Singapore, Taiwan good models for restarting as safe cruise bubbles
THE forced adoption of technology along the cruise customer journey – from pre-boarding to onboard – and the massive shift of consumers to digital booking channels during Covid will be trends that will underpin cruising lon [...]
Expedia’s Peter Kern (and moose) looks forward to “rebirth” of travel, “we are all miserable”
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 [...]
