Why the European Commission’s fine on Google matters to hotels
Google has been hit with a hefty 2.42 billion euro fine by the European Commission after the regulator ruled that the search giant was employing unfair practices by promoting its own shopping comparison service at the top of search results. According to the Commission, "Google has abused its market [...]
Who is upfront? Woman, Man, Mouse or Machine?
This is a guest blog by Timothy O'Neil-Dunne, managing partner at T2Impact and co-founder of Air Black Box.
We all know there is supposed to be someone competent upfront when we fly. A lot of what I do is about travel technology, and I spend a lot of time looking at the issues of how technol [...]
Letter from Porto: Jewels of the Duoro and gold in the silver market
I am on my first river cruise. As I write this, our ship, Queen Isabel, has just crossed the deepest lock in Europe, the Carrapatelo Dam, at 35 metres. It’s quite an amazing experience, watching your boat rise to meet the other side of the river, and you marvel at the engineering feats that have m [...]
Investors give tips to startups: Think big but keep it real as well
What a dream it would be, to unravel the complex, multi-layered decision processes that shape how and where investors devote their attention and, more importantly, funds.
At WIT Japan & North Asia 2017 Bootcamp, five investors shared their observations on the state of startups in Asia, key le [...]
When in Japan, do as Japanese do – how to maintain “chowa” as Japan opens door to “minpaku” accommodation
As Japan gears up for inbound growth – 40m visitors by 2020 – one growing concern is the maintaining of “chowa” (harmony) between tourists and residents as a previously-closed country opens its doors wide to tourism.
After all, across the globe, there is a trend of destinations fighting [...]
Next Story reimagines urban spaces with Kafnu, the vertical village
Next Story Group, formerly Silver Needle Hospitality, will be launching two spaces in Taipei and Hong Kong under a new brand, Kafnu, by year end. Seeking to reimagine urban spaces through technology and story, the company says the new spaces will synthesise “the best aspects of co-working, co-livi [...]
Letter from Tokyo Station: Japan serious about rail, AirAsia about China and Watson about augmenting
Something unexpected happened on my travels in Japan last week. The train service from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka ran three minutes late. You should have seen the look of consternation on passengers’ faces and my Japanese friend said to me, “So sorry, this is very unusual.”
Where I come from, thre [...]
The Millennial Traveller: Peatix’s Emi Takemura on life beyond your startup
The road to success always looks smooth from space. However, every self-made entrepreneur knows that if you look closely enough, pitfalls, dead ends, misleading loops and seemingly insurmountable hurdles invariably riddle the path to eventual success.
At WIT Japan & North Asia 2017 last week, [...]
How Katsumi Sakakura conquered himself to bring Japanese cool to the world
It was two days before Katsumi Sakakura was due to perform at the opening of WIT Japan & North Asia 2017 in Tokyo and I was curious to meet the artist who had captured my imagination with his performances which blend, as he calls it, “screen power with human power”.
In dress and look, h [...]
Insatiable appetite for acquisitions in Asia as Recruit Holdings buys TrustYou and Tiket joins Blibli
At WIT Japan & North Asia 2017, the mood among investors was pretty bullish. Those attending were clear that the climate was hotter than average for investments and acquisitions throughout Asia.
Recruit Holdings, in particular, whose corporate director of global development, Aya Yamato, was o [...]
