Hotel CEOs on AI, distribution, and the next battle for direct
For years, hotel CEOs have talked about the power struggle between brands and online travel agencies (OTAs). But now, a new force is reshaping that battleground – Artificial Intelligence.
During the “Views from the Boardroom” panel at the HICAP conference held in Singapore in October, leader [...]
The Next 20: What will shape travel’s new era?
Global Travel Tech Thinktank identifies trust among 3 key battlegrounds - here's a summary
If the past 20 years were about putting travel online, the next 20 will be about rebuilding travel entirely — powered by AI, reshaped by demographics, and tested by global risks we can no longer ignore.
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The future isn’t about channels, it’s about guests
At WiT Singapore, hotels and OTAs find common ground in a new battleground: trust, experience, and emotion.
Twenty years on, the old debate between direct versus indirect bookings still echoes through hotel conference halls. But at WiT Singapore 2025, the message was clear: the future of hospitali [...]
Scaling luxury without losing soul, with The Luxe Nomad’s Stephanie Chai | WiT Studio
Dropping by the WiT Studio (filmed during WiT Singapore: The Next 20), Stephanie Chai, CEO and founder of The Luxe Nomad, offered an insightful look into the complex dynamics of scaling a high-end travel company in the Asia Pacific region. As The Luxe Nomad continues its ambitious expansion into mar [...]
Main character energy: The qualities tomorrow’s travel leaders need to succeed
As we learned in the recent WiT documentary ‘Online Travel in Asia: The Untold Story’, the travel leaders who made it to 2025 did so by navigating some game-changing hurdles – and in the case of the COVID pandemic, laboured through challenges that nothing could have prepared them for.
Admit [...]
Agoda’s Next 20: From price powerhouse to proactive travel assistant
What CEO Omri Morgenshtern and CTO Idan Zalzberg say comes next: exponential change, trust-by-design, and a connected trip that finally feels…connected.
The pivot: from “search & save” to “anticipate & serve”
Turning 20 is a moment for reinvention. Omri Morgenshtern frame [...]
GHA reports solid Q3 performance as growth momentum continues through summer months
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, has reported another quarter of robust performance, building on its strong first half and cementing summer 2025 as a resounding success.
Here are some key takeaways:
Total hotel revenues grow 18% year [...]
The next generation of travel: Trust, vibe and the coming AI wave
At the Next Generation Leaders event yesterday morning, held as part of WiT Singapore, four voices from across Asia’s travel ecosystem – Laura Houldsworth (Booking.com), Timothy Hughes (Agoda), Morris Sim (Montara Hospitality) and Jacinta Lim (Seek Sophie) – examined how the new travel [...]
A birthday gift like no other: Leah Lee’s Connoisseur exit to CapitaLand
When Leah Lee, CEO of Trinity D&C, sat down for our conversation, she was just about to celebrate her birthday. A small party was about to start at her home – a dozen friends gathering for food, laughter and music. But this year, she had more than cake and candles to celebrate.
On October 1 [...]
Raffles blends heritage and innovation for a new chapter in Sentosa
Just six months after opening its doors, Raffles Sentosa Singapore has already positioned itself as one of the world’s most distinctive luxury destinations. The country’s first and only all-villa resort has gathered international accolades - Prix Versailles, Architectural Digest, and Oprah Daily [...]
