“It’s still bad out there but sentiment’s better”
The last time I caught up with Hans Lerch (left) was last October when we were still in the centre of the financial storm although Asia was clambering out of the ruins and Europe was still clinging to the wreckage.Eight months later, it seems Europe is still clinging to the wreckage and you could ar [...]
15% more space sold to date
Early indications are that ITB Asia will grow strongly this year. Around 15% more floor space has been sold so far this year.Exhibitors that have greatly increased, or doubled, their space this year include: the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Nepal Tourism Board, the Indonesian Ministry of Culture [...]
WORLDHOTELS soars first quarter, scoops Hotel Fort Canning
On the back of strong sales in the first four months of the year, WORLDHOTELS also announced its fourth hotel in Singapore – Hotel Fort Canning, Singapore’s first boutique heritage hotel set in a park. The 86-room hotel, due to open August, has been pursued by several marketing and reservations [...]
Wanted: Standards to support shopping, ancillary services, across channels
The industry’s leading travel management companies, online agencies, and global distribution systems (GDSs) today announced their support for plans to implement recently developed, industry-wide technology standards which enable shopping, booking, payment, and reporting of ancillary services. Th [...]
Natural Search, Google and all that, Part 1
I have long believed that the Achilles Heel of the travel industry was its insistence that search and shopping for product required too much of the user.The EXPLICIT nature of a dumb search in travel contrasted – badly - with a conventional search in both web search and regular human interaction, [...]
Sound of Data equals ancillary revenues
What does data sound like? Well, to one company, The Sound of Data represents opportunities for players such as online travel agencies and travel management companies to earn money in ancillary services such as SMS flight notification alerts to customers.The Netherlands-based company, which describe [...]
Want to be a hosted buyer? Register now
Registration is now open for hosted buyers to ITB Asia 2010.Hosted buyers will have the opportunity to meet over 700 international exhibitions in one location, source for new destinations, travel products and services, learn and network with industry peers and take advantage of seminars and work [...]
Tipping point in hotel bookings, Amadeus also reports strong airline data
Two sets of figures from Pegasus View and Amadeus confirm an industry on the mend.The March edition of The Pegasus View from Pegasus Solutions indicates a tipping point in booking confidence, especially in business travel. Based on data drawn from billions of global distribution system (GDS) and alt [...]
Got a great idea? Then go for it
Got a great idea? Then go for it – what do you have to lose?That was what the more than 100 students who gathered for the first WIT*e – Inspiration & Mentoring held at the Fairmont Singapore last week heard during the “Inspiration for Entrepreneurs” panel. Said Morris Sim (left), co-fou [...]
Lessons on the road
There's no better education than travel and lessons can come late or early in life, as Yeoh Siew Hoon found out at last week's WIT*e. What’s a sure sign that it’s a good party? When people don’t want to leave …Well, at last week’s WIT*e – Inspiration & Mentoring held at the Fairmont [...]
