China Arising: Six trends to heed to capture the emerging Chinese traveller
Since the reopening of China on January 8, there have been numerous surveys published on what to expect from this most consequential of travel markets and how the world should prepare for it.
But nothing beats hearing first hand from those who are in-market or at the coal face of what is possibly [...]
APAC key to Expedia’s global growth, destinations shift to urban, B2B focus in South-east Asia
Dykes to “farm” SEA for deeper partnerships to drive membership programme
Increasing loyalty members and app users and doubling down on its B2B will be the key thrusts of Expedia’s strategy in Asia Pacific as it rebuilds its business in the region post-pandemic.
Specifically in South-east [...]
Trip.com: New real-time travel guide, using GPT tech, isn’t frazzled by vague questions
TripGen offers travel tips and itinerary suggestions through real-time communication
Trip.com has launched TripGen, a chatbot designed to provide travellers with live assistance through Artificial Intelligence technology. Trip.com implemented this technology to enable users to receive tailored trav [...]
Jigger ready to take on jumbo task of connectivity and integration in tours, activities and attractions
Go City’s Abendano on lessons learnt in Singapore and solving localisation pain points
He was nearly named Jumbo because he was an 11-pound baby. But thankfully, because his father was at a bar, having whiskey with friends, while he was entering the world, his parents decided to name him Jigger ( [...]
What’s Next for Travel in Asia?
Northstar Travel Group thought leaders discuss the reopening of China, travel tech developments and more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23bQZWGfMT8
From China’s full reopening to growing interest in long-distance destinations by U.S. travelers, Asia is at the center of som [...]
New world meets old as an ambitious FREED acquires Connexus Travel
Digital and smart merchandising solutions company, FREED GROUP, has acquired Hong Kong’s oldest travel agency, Connexus Travel (formerly Swire Travel), to expand and extends its reach into travel.
The acquisition, details of which were not disclosed, blends the technology expertise of FREED, wh [...]
Travellers go local when booking with OTAs
The big three OTAs – Booking.com, Agoda and Traveloka – topped the STAAH Booking Engine’s list as the top online booking channels worldwide that brought the highest booking revenue to hotels in 2022.
The top 10 online booking channels across the world are ranked as above, by STAAH.
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Mobile acceleration changing everything in Asia – stay alert, “the wolves are coming”
Hospitality tech still “messed up”, opportunities abound for chat, social commerce and innovative bundling
The step change in mobile adoption, social, chat as well as the surge in low cost airline activity in the region will drive changes in the Asia Pacific travel market for years to come, a p [...]
How an early nomad’s life shaped Steve Hafner, and how he sees talent, tech and human imagination
“With five mouths to feed, I got to stick around”
From references to Hugh Hefner to learning from his five daughters and how to ace media interviews, this interview with Steve Hafner, CEO and co-founder of KAYAK, covers it all. That, plus how the charismatic travel leader views the new world of [...]
Riding the Covid wave: Americas slowing down, Asia’s still in “sugar rush”
Key takeaways from Phocuswright – worlds apart but some similarities stand out
IN a week’s time, we will enter the last month of 2022. At Scottsdale Quarters, a shopping precinct in Arizona, the malls are already playing Christmas songs. At hotels, both in Phoenix and Tucson, you can see prepar [...]
