No contenders to fight big 3 anytime soon, and net zero by 2050 “a big lie”
Pundits make predictions at Phocuswright Europe
IT’S hard to see any challengers emerge in the post-pandemic landscape to take on the big three travel giants – Booking, Expedia and Trip – which control 75% of the global OTA market, predicted pundits at Phocuswright Europe in Amsterdam this [...]
Covid dampens Trip.com Group’s Q1 performance, global air bookings rise
THE COVID-19 resurgence in China impacted Trip.com Group’s operations for the first quarter of 2022, with net revenue remaining flat compared to the same period in 2021 and decreasing 12% quarter-over-quarter.
Meanwhile, air ticket bookings on global platforms – Trip.com Group brands include [...]
With $100m fund, 777 Partners eyes tech startups to “democratise” aviation
Top 1% control 75% of global aviation traffic – “we want to change that”, says Adam Weiss
AVIATION investment firm, 777 Partners, recently acquired two travel technology companies – AeroCRS and WorldTicket. The two companies join a growing portfolio of airlines and travel tech firms, includ [...]
Here’s the lowdown on Ovolo: From underground bars to peanut butter bourbon in Bali
Hotel group says the time is right to expand its brand across Asia
THERE is no question that Hong Kong hotel group Ovolo likes to do things, well, a bit differently. It likes to stand out from the crowd.
Take its latest venture in Melbourne: a near-secret, 45-seat underground meeting place – i [...]
With Bangkok launch, Go City banks on strong city passes to spur growth in APAC
AS part of its ramping up efforts in Asia, Go City launched its Bangkok pass last month. Senior vice president, commercial, APAC, Baidi Li speaks to WiT about its plans for Thailand as well as other markets in the region.
Q: Congratulations on the Bangkok launch. I understand it was a relaunc [...]
Metaverse could become equaliser for small, independent brands, says Accenture’s Tansey
With rising consumer interest in virtual experiences, Accenture highlights opportunities for travel and hospitality
ACCENTURE recently released its latest research on the impact of the growing use of immersive technologies such as augmented and virtual reality in the travel and hospitality sector. [...]
Letter from 5lasserre: Where time is as fluid as the wine and as silent as the cats
I AM writing this as I overlook the vineyards of St Emilion, a French medieval village in the heart of Bordeaux. Since I’ve been in France the past week, I’ve experienced a heatwave – two days of temperatures that made me think I was in Oman, instead of Brittany – and a hailstorm, with stone [...]
Not-so-fast: Travellers show caution as travel resumes
Booking.com survey finds that disruptions, cost and safety still holding back travellers, but not in India, China and Vietnam
IT’S called separation from travel anxiety. The desperate urge to get away after two years of Covid-enforced lockdown. Anywhere. Anytime.
A staycation. A short-haul t [...]
As recovery pace quickens, airlines cut losses to $9.7b
AS the pace of recovery quickens, the IInternational Air Transport Association (IATA) says the airline industry’s losses are expected to reduce to -$9.7 billion (improved from the October 2021 forecast for an $11.6 billion loss) for a net loss margin of -1.2%, an improvement from losses of $137.7 [...]
WebBeds’ Sun on rate parity, credit and distribution shifts
Bedbank sees strong recovery in both traditional and online channels
Just as its hotel partners had to pivot to domestic during the pandemic, so did WebBeds as it re-deployed resources towards domestic content, closed its Taiwan office and ramped up its domestic distribution network, working with l [...]
