Letter from Karuizawa: Of domestic sausages, chowa and online battles
Karuizawa is an hour’s train ride from Tokyo. The hill resort is a popular summer retreat for Tokyo folks looking to escape the heat and stress of city life. At WIT Japan & North Asia, there was a lot of talk about the need to disperse tourism beyond the main centres of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto [...]
Deal sealed: Tourico is now part of Hotelbeds
US-based Tourico Holidays officially became part of global bedbank and B2B provider of services, Hotelbeds Group, on June 8 following the closure of regulatory and legal procedures.
This completes the deal following announcement by Hotelbeds Group last February to acquire Tourico Holidays and mer [...]
The Wrap: LUXE City Guides introduces directory for agents and hotel concierges
In the news: New directory from LUXE City Guides, Travelport’s new managing director for Greater China, Agoda’s ‘travel smart’ study
TRAVEL PRODUCTS: LUXE CITY GUIDES INTRODUCES DIRECTORY FOR AGENTS AND HOTEL CONCIERGES
LUXE City Guides has launched LUXE Directory, a new tool for h [...]
The Future of Hotel Distribution in Asia: The Opportunities
The second annual WIT Hospitality Think Tank took place last March in Hong Kong. Powered by Expedia and TravelClick, this year’s edition drew its attention to “The Future of Hotel Distribution in Asia: The Opportunities”.
Its purpose was to build on last year’s Think Tank, wherein it was [...]
Concerns over Google and what “cockroach” startup Rome2rio is doing to make buses, boats and trains bookable
Yeoh Siew Hoon catches up with Rome2rio executive chairman Rod Cuthbert over breakfast at a café in Amsterdam where he frets about the growing power of Google and talks about the evolution of multi-modal travel as well as how the Melbourne-based “cockroach” startup intends to compete in a world [...]
Mobile shopping spend in Asia Pacific to surge this year, research reveals
‘Shop till you drop’ is a common phrase among most Asians as shopping is a favourite past time and, for some, an indispensable part of their life.
With the ‘invasion’ of technology into so many aspects of our lives and the proliferation of mobile gadgets, shopping online has become very p [...]
Goodbye MISA Travel, “last of the Mohicans”
The revocation of the travel agency licence of MISA Travel on May 30 is indicative of the growing challenges facing traditional travel agencies in Singapore.
In its advisory, the Singapore Tourism Board stated that the notice was served “as it has ceased to carry on the business of a travel age [...]
Letter from Amsterdam Part 2: Fear of ghosts and bikes, and trends that rock in Asia
In Amsterdam, I stayed at the Grand Amrath Hotel. It’s reputed to be haunted. I didn’t know it because unlike 80% of travellers who read reviews before they book a hotel, I didn’t do any research.
I stayed there because it was the hotel of choice for the Phocuswright team. It’s a very [...]
Letter from Amsterdam: Fretting over Google, obsessing about data and customers and lessons from Lola
At Schiphol these days, they still give you free WiFi for an hour, but on the condition that you have to complete a survey. If you don’t wish to do that, then you can pay for premium access.
It’s a fair exchange, I reckon. You shouldn’t get something for nothing and it is clear that travel [...]
Amadeus uses big data to help destinations in marketing
Amadeus is extending a helping hand to destination marketing organisations (DMOs) to improve their marketing campaigns with analysis of up-to-date travel data through Destination insight.
This latest product from Amadeus’ Travel Intelligence division equips DMOs with timely insights into the co [...]
