As JTB returns to profit, Eijiro Yamakita talks about emotion in age of AI and investments in future
It was interesting that when asked which human quality they’d like to improve on as we hurtle into the age of Generative AI, travel leaders at WiT Japan & North Asia cited “emotional intelligence”, “empathy”, “listening” and “patience” among their answers.
Eijiro Yamakita, P [...]
APAC amusement industry forecasts $16.8B in visitor spending in 2024
At the upcoming IAAPA Expo Asia 2024, running 27 to 30 May, the global amusement industry will converge in Bangkok to learn about the latest innovations and trends in the market as well as take a sneak peek into its future.
From rides to robotics, safety features to AI experiences, the three-day [...]
The luxuries of human interaction in travel and hospitality
Anyone who’s been on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, any given podcast platform or any bookstore in the last decade has heard or seen the works of Simon Sinek. He’s a leadership coach, motivational speaker, podcaster and bestselling author of several books including ‘The Infinite Game’, and he r [...]
Emotional marketing, speedy AI-powered searches and creator content top highlights at EXPLORE 24
“AI does not create magic; you need human intelligence to know where to use it and how to use it,” says new CEO
EXPLORE, Expedia’s annual partner conference, reached a milestone this year with its 25th installment. It was also Expedia’s first flagship event in two years, albeit having held [...]
BTN Group to launch Business Travel Show Asia Pacific
BTN Group announced today it will launch Business Travel Show Asia Pacific next April, co-locating the inaugural event with the new Meetings Show Asia Pacific Apr. 16-17, 2025, at the Sands Expo and Convention Center at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
The Meetings Show held its first event last mo [...]
People are the metric in new Perfect Somewheres awards, spotlighting top hotels worldwide
Expedia's Mel Fish on tackling 'choice paralysis' and balancing quality with affordability
Expedia Group's Hotels.com introduced the 'Perfect Somewheres' 2024 at EXPLORE 24, a program that awards the top 1% of hotels available on the Hotels.com app, with hotels like Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo and Hotel [...]
Expedia launches AI travel assistant and creator shops in 40+ spring product slate
At EXPLORE, Expedia’s annual partner conference held in Las Vegas, the company announced the launch of 40+ new products and features across its tech ecosystem - chief of all being the introduction of Romie, an AI-powered travel assistant.
Romie is designed to assist travellers at every step of [...]
The Symphony of Humans and Machines: A travel CTO’s balancing act
At the Phocuswright WiT Middle East summit in Dubai, held May 3, 2024, a panel of four senior CTOs discussed the critical issue of AI’s interface to humans. Timothy O’Neil-Dunne provides this summary.
In the ever-evolving world of travel technology, CTOs stand at the precipice of a [...]
Global Startup Pitch returns with new format
The Global Startup Pitch, by WiT, Phocuswright and PhocusWire, is back for the third year running in its quest to unearth the brightest stars on the gleaming edge of travel tech.
Welcoming both travel and non-travel startups who believe their businesses have application in the industry, the compe [...]
I met a Black Hat and it led to this revelation
I was standing in a long queue at the café at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre and wondering why it doesn’t have a robotic barista because the human ones were looking rather frazzled when I spotted the man next to me, wearing a delegate badge that says “Black Hat Asia”.
Intrigued bec [...]
