GlobalTix aims to be the ultimate ticketing platform for attractions, tours and activities
Tours, attractions and activities vary so wildly in size and type, the segment has faced more than a fair share of struggles in its attempts to enter the online travel game.
An estimated 82% of bookings in the segment are still handled via manual processes, according to Phocuswright. On top of th [...]
Priceline-Momondo deal raises question – will consolidation move to Asia with two major independents remaining?
It is interesting to see this latest wave of consolidation in the travel metasearch space move to Europe with the announcement that the Priceline Group has signed an agreement to acquire UK and Denmark-based metasearch site Momondo Group for $550 million in cash.
With this following on the heels [...]
Give me the God of Wealth anytime over the God of Wrath
I am feeling particularly good about this Lunar New Year. That’s because I was given an “ang pow” (red packet with money) by the God of Wealth personally.
I ran into him at a new year’s party hosted by George Town Heritage + Hotels in Penang and that red packet he gave me, I will keep [...]
The Millennial Traveller: The Customer Strikes Back
Donald Trump made another vile move over the last few days. Shocker!
Trump’s political moves are so extreme; it’s beginning to almost feel predictable… comical, in the same way some try to laugh through gritted teeth when in agony.
Gag rule on abortion? Sounds about right. Weaken Obamaca [...]
RedDoorz: Lessons on how to build a business on the ground, not on the portal
The Chinese believe red is a lucky colour and it seems to be working in RedDoorz’ favour, although it’s also taken a lot of hard work to get to where it is.
The startup that pivoted from a B2B tech player focused on India to becoming a new generation budget hotel chain focused on Indonesia is [...]
The Millennial Traveller: Be familiar, but never the same
Setting up an entire operation like St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival bears surprisingly many similarities to the travel industry, as I discovered after a brief chat with the festival’s operations director, Matthew Lazarus-Hall (managing director, Uncommon Cord).
It involves the conversion of a s [...]
Letter from KK and Penang: A new world of travel, a new class of accommodation
I hardly recognise Kota Kinabalu (KK) these days. It’s been just over a year since I’ve visited this East Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, and the developments blew me away.
KK is an example of a destination transformed by low cost airlines and the rise of the middle class traveller a [...]
No to compromise, yes to control – the paradoxes of today’s traveller
Human behaviour may be predictable but it would be a mistake to assume it is consistent. Our needs and preferences are in a perpetual state of flux. We often even confuse the two, resulting in far too much of what we thought we wanted and too little of what we truly need.
The same goes for the on [...]
A thought for the Rooster year – can fortune tellers be replaced by AI?
The bad jokes have started. The first press release arrived last week with a headline that used words like “crowing” and “strutting” and phrases like “feather in our cap”.
Yes, right after we’ve just said goodbye to the new year, it’s time to greet the Fire Rooster as he comes fly [...]
Reflections on 2016 and Predictions for 2017 (Part III)
It’s that time of the year when we ask industry leaders for their thoughts on what happened in 2016 and what they forsee will happen in the new year. Here’s Part 3.
Guillaume De Marcillac, Co-CEO, FASTBOOKING
3 Top Things That Happened and That Mattered in 2016
1. Is bigger [...]
