Hospitality
WiT Podcast: Expedia’s Bolda stays focused on traveller happiness amidst tech noise
24/11/2023 by WiT
Technology has come a long way in the last 20 years and Expedia has always evolved its tech platform to stay on the forefront of change. Now, travel and hospitality are at an inflection point driven by decentralised tech like Generative AI. As the Senior Vice President of Product & Technology at [...]
Phocuswright Conference: Get excited for Saudi’s ‘new oil’, Trip.com’s Genie and Despegar learning from the best
24/11/2023 by Ian Jarrett
“Mega budgets come with mega responsibilities” Saudi Arabia may have bucketfuls of money to spend on the development of tourism in the kingdom, but those riches come with a responsibility that the money is wisely spent, and Saudi intends to do exactly that, chief executive of the Saudi Tourism [...]
WiT Seoul: AI, social experiences, and next-gen OTAs are driving travel forward
23/11/2023 by WiT
Key insights from WiT Seoul 2023 This article originally appeared on Tidesquare.com As the travel and tourism industry continues its recovery post-pandemic, this year's WiT Seoul 2023 shed light on valuable insights and emerging trends shaping the landscape. Hosted by WiT and Tidesquare annually  [...]
Klook leverages Google Cloud to enhance customer engagement via advanced Generative AI
23/11/2023 by WiT
In a collaboration aimed at expanding customer engagement and the scope of digital experiences on its platform, travel services and bookings platform Klook has joined forces with Google Cloud. This partnership leverages the capabilities of Google Cloud's advanced generative AI to upgrade Klook's act [...]
Trambellir evolves into tours and wellness bookings platform for USEN Next Holdings
23/11/2023 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
Trambellir garnered interest from USEN reps at WiT Japan 2023, where Trambellir was featured in a startup showcase. When we spoke to So Iizuka, founder and CEO of Trambellir, last year, his goal was to focus on growing his wellness platform in markets like Malaysia (HQ), Indonesia, Thailand, Japan [...]
Sustainable travel: Big gap in what consumers believe and what they actually do
22/11/2023 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Consumers do not often do what they say they want to do when it comes to sustainable travel. In fact, the average traveller has a poor understanding of what sustainable travel means, and a lot of education is needed to encourage better behaviour. These were the key findings of a new piece of res [...]
Calling all digital nomads: Malaysia wants you
22/11/2023 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
DE Rantau, a one-stop hub for immigration and accommodation Malaysia wants to become a premier digital nomad hub, using Greece as a role model for the DE-Rantau programme rolled out by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). Arifah Sharifuddin, Head of Digital Tourism at MDEC, said that [...]
An online trailblazer goes offline: Donggun Lee on his journey, the future, and physical stores
21/11/2023 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
During a session titled ‘From Startup to Scaleup’ at WiT Seoul, Donggun Lee, CEO and founder of MyRealTrip, was invited to break his story down into its own ‘hero’s journey’. Popularised by author and mythologist Joseph Campbell in the 1940s, the Hero’s Journey concept suggests that ever [...]
Letter from Fort Lauderdale: Pongy pooches inflight, and an underdog at his best
21/11/2023 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Hopper to reach profitability next year, doubling down on B2B and lodging I am writing this on Delta Airlines from Fort Lauderdale to New York where I will catch that epic 18-hour flight back to Singapore. It’s been quite a week. In New York, it was unseasonably warm, and I was able to spend a lo [...]
Velocity Ventures invests in BYHOURS to support Asian expansion
20/11/2023 by WiT
The rising demand for microstays, particularly the unique 3-hour pack, indicates a trend in consumer expectations in the hospitality sector. Velocity Ventures, a hospitality and travel-focused venture capital firm headquartered in Singapore with a focus on the Hospitality and Travel industry in Sou [...]