Seek Sophie wants to be the “Patagonia” of travel
Co-founders say no plans to raise funds, aims to reach target of $100m sales by 2028
Just as a trip to Uganda changed her life, Jacinta Lim wants to do the same for other travellers, which is the reason why she and co-founder Lina Gedvilaite, decided to start Seek Sophie, a travel marketplace that [...]
What’s your theme? If you’re dreaming of your own “Mousehole”, read on
Last week, I went into the studio to record an interview with Klook’s two co-founders Ethan Lin and Eric Gnock Fah, who are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their startup.
We talked about the last 10 years and what the next 10 will bring, and in the process, the two friends and business part [...]
One founder’s bid to reduce dependence on Google amid drop in traffic
Reeling from the drops in organic traffic his two websites, Travel.jp, a Japanese travel metasearch and guide site, and Trip101, a travel guide promoting unique stays and experiences, have sustained as a result of the updates made by Google search since the third quarter last year, Kei Shibata is re [...]
Sanjay Sharma’s mission at Orascom: Transforming commercial capabilities, reinventing guest experience with AI
Three AI themes that will change hospitality – context window, Agentic AI and text-to-action
Back in January, in the first weeks of his new role as Chief Technology Officer of Orascom Hotels Management, Sanjay Sharma. was still uncertain about what lay ahead in this new opportunit [...]
Four markets, four approaches – lessons on how to unlock opportunities in Africa, North Asia, ASEAN and Middle East
WiT Europe puts spotlight on four regions investing in travel and tech
Four markets with growth promise and opportunities – how do you choose between them? Well, during the WiT Europe track at Phocuswright, the audience was taken on a tour of Africa, North Asia, South-east Asia, Middle East and A [...]
TV shopping giant Japanet acquires senior travel specialist Yuko Yuko
“Considerable synergy” between the two companies, says Yuko Yuko's Wakako Tokuda
Japan’s largest home shopping company, Japanet Holdings, has acquired Yuko Yuko Holdings and Yuko Yuko Net, a travel company specialising in the senior ryokan and onsen market, in a deal [...]
Singapore’s heritage champion honoured; Prime Minister says “better story telling” needed
Mrs Pamelia Lee (second left) flanked by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Melissa Ow, CEO of Singapore Tourism Board. With them is chairman of the STB, Olivier Lim.
In accepting the Lifetime Achievement For Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award at the Singapore Tourism Awards last week, [...]
Wine was the lure; “hotels without strangers” is the vision for Howard Ho
How Japan’s Section L uses tech and talent to create “fellowship among guests” at its apartment-hotels
When Howard Ho was 18 and deciding which university to apply to, he chose hotel school “because I learned that I could take a wines course and drink wine in class e [...]
Letter from Burrator: A slice of Sarawak in Dartmoor, and where AI does not mean what we think it does
As my friend and I were walking down a quiet country lane in Sheepstor, in West Dartmoor, England, a man stopped and asked us, “Would you two ladies happen to be from Sarawak?”
We smiled and said, “No, but we are from Malaysia.”
Listen to the article here:
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Expedia’s growth focus while giants play the long game in AI
The divide between big and small – will it grow bigger in age of AI?
After 19 years with Expedia Group, sporting a new role as chief commercial officer and president of travel partners and media since February and relocating from the US to London, Greg Schulze, speaking at Phocuswright Europe, sa [...]
