Don’t be a sitting duck, join us in a deep dive into hospitality
In between evening walks, painting and writing, I’ve been preparing the content for our first WIT Hospitality conference in Hong Kong on March 22.It’s our first hospitality-focused event and we really want to do a deep dive into the issues that are holding back hoteliers from fully embracing dig [...]
The Wrap: From digging fossils to train rides – what children want on their holidays
In the news: InterContinental’s new traveller app for children, biggest ibis hotel for GCC, Wing On Travel’s extended partnership with SabreFrom digging fossils to train rides – what children want on their holidays Standing in two countries at the same time, walking over an inactive volcano, c [...]
VR is going to need a woman’s touch to make it real in travel
There’s a by-now famous photo that’s been making the rounds in the digital world – it shows Mark Zuckerberg striding very confidently down an aisle in a room full of people wearing Virtual Reality headsets.What struck me in the photo was not that Zuckerberg looked inordinately pleased with him [...]
HotelQuickly enters Japan with purchase of Tonight
Last-minute hotel booking app, HotelQuickly, has acquired Japan’s domestic booking app, Tonight, paving its entry into the “Land of the Rising Sun”.With this acquisition, HotelQuickly adds its 16th country and another 400 hotels to its roster.HotelQuickly said the addition of Japan to the app� [...]
Digital insurance Hepstar gets US$2m funding
Capetown-based digital insurance distributor Hepstar has received US$2 million in funding from UK-based technology investor Amadeus Capital Partners. With the new funding the company will build on its momentum including expanding its global reach, accelerating technology development and growing its [...]
Predictions and challenges for the hotel industry: an analysis by BookLogic
The hotel industry is consolidating as multi-product businesses incorporate and acquire single-solution based companies; hotel chains continue to merge to grab a wider share of the market, while hoteliers focus on building marketing strategies for customer acquisition and direct bookings.These are a [...]
Skyscanner’s focus on product, APAC and diversification pays off
Global travel search engine Skyscanner’s investments into mobile, Asia Pacific and diversification including a booking platform are paying off, giving a double digit fillip to both revenues and gross bookings for the year ending December 31, 2015.Revenues were £120 million ($183 million), up 28% [...]
Stop Clicking Around, Hilton tells online bookers
Hilton Worldwide is asking customers to “stop clicking around” in a move to encourage direct bookings through its own channels.Its new “Stop Clicking Around” campaign – the largest ever launched in the company’s 97 year history – emphasises the benefits of booking direct and being an [...]
Amid food & beverage disruption, Accor launches Table Plus
All part of its digital transformation, Accor Hotels launched Accor Marketplace, a platform to distribute not only its own branded hotels but independent properties. It was clearly a move to regain control of its own inventory and to counter the growing power of the global OTAs.This January, it laun [...]
The Wrap: Accor to plant Sofitel So flag in Kuala Lumpur
In the news: A Sofitel So in Kuala Lumpur, Cathay Pacific's partnership with Travelport, Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s 2015 financial resultsAccor to plant Sofitel So flag in Kuala LumpurMalaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, will be the site of AccorHotels’ chic So Sofitel brand with a hotel and [...]
