The Wrap: Expedia Inc. has a new name, and it’s Expedia Group Inc.
In the news: An assortment of travel tech news - a new brand identity for Expedia Inc., the possibility of visual recognition technology replacing QR codes, and using self-service technology at Beijing Capital
OTA: Expedia Inc. has a new name, and it’s Expedia Group Inc.
Expedia Inc. [...]
Flight Centre picks Amadeus as distribution partner in EMEA and Asia
Australia's largest retail travel outlet, Flight Centre Travel Group, has chosen Amadeus as its technology partner for its distribution business in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Asia.
In a statement announcing the inking of the contract, Amadeus said it would be working with Flight Ce [...]
8 key takeaways from WIT Hospitality 2018: Cash flow and real estate may still rule but transform or be left behind
I am sure by now hoteliers must be tired of hearing people tell them they must change. But they do say if you say something often enough, it will happen sooner rather than later.
And It looks like something fundamental is shifting. It felt palpable at WIT Hospitality which took place in Hong Kong [...]
Melon, Magic, Money: The blurring of sci-fi and reality and the changing world of content creation
From editing DNA in mice so as to learn how to make humans more space-faring to the continued search of habitable other worlds, to deep algorithm learning to make machines smarter and growing human organs in animals for future transplant, it was a day of mind-blowing inspiration for the 150 or so of [...]
Ctrip ends 2017 on financial high, promises ambitions only just starting
China’s largest online travel company, Ctrip, posted net revenue gains of 39% in 2017 to $4.1 billion.
In its full year 2017 financial report, the company says it expects net revenue growth to continue at a rate of 9% to 11% for the first quarter of 2018.
Jane Sun (pictured left), CEO of Ctr [...]
Low cost and private accommodation changing travel in North Asia – WIT Japan & North Asia to home in on topical trends in June
Low cost airlines, private accommodation and the dispersal of tourism beyond the main hot spots will take the spotlight at the seventh edition of WIT Japan & North Asia which returns to Tokyo on June 28-29.
At the recent CAPA (Centre For Aviation) Global Low Cost Carrier (LCC) Summit [...]
Airbnb, Booking.com and the Battle for Hearts – and Homes
It's shaping up to become one of travel's great competitive rivalries: Airbnb vs. Booking.com. One has achieved global dominance in online hotel distribution, the other in private accommodation. But as Phocuswright Research has been forecasting for several years, the silos and segments within accomm [...]
The Wrap: ‘We Were Built’ – The story of how a Singapore icon came to be
In the news: A journey down memory lane to discover the beginning of Raffles Hotel Singapore; Amadeus’ invests in automated pedestrian analytics and insights company CrowdVision; Alipay adds four more SEA countries to its platform.
HOTELS: ‘We Were Built’ – The story of how a Singapore [...]
Travelstart introduces Travelstart Live, new service to cater for complex bookings
Travelstart, the Cape Town-based online travel agency, has relaunched its internal travel consultancy, Travelbar, as Travelstart Live.
The OTA said in a statement with Travelstart Live the company would “focus on improving their expert ‘human’ service and being better equipped to assist cu [...]
Airlines told, look east as China and South-east Asia drive distribution changes
Airlines, particularly, those in the West should start looking east, specifically, to China to understand where mobile, ecommerce and payments are headed. That was the message from Hugh Aiken, senior director of strategic partnerships, Skyscanner, at the recent CAPA Global LCC Summit, when asked abo [...]
