The Wrap: Passengers love mobile, touchless tech, Ascott expands, Air India transforms
Passengers going all in for mobile and touchless tech, SITA Insights show
ITA’s 2022 Passenger IT Insights research highlights pent-up demand for both business and leisure travel emerging from the pandemic, with passengers further embracing mobile and touchless technologies.
The survey revea [...]
No contenders to fight big 3 anytime soon, and net zero by 2050 “a big lie”
Pundits make predictions at Phocuswright Europe
IT’S hard to see any challengers emerge in the post-pandemic landscape to take on the big three travel giants – Booking, Expedia and Trip – which control 75% of the global OTA market, predicted pundits at Phocuswright Europe in Amsterdam this [...]
Covid dampens Trip.com Group’s Q1 performance, global air bookings rise
THE COVID-19 resurgence in China impacted Trip.com Group’s operations for the first quarter of 2022, with net revenue remaining flat compared to the same period in 2021 and decreasing 12% quarter-over-quarter.
Meanwhile, air ticket bookings on global platforms – Trip.com Group brands include [...]
With $100m fund, 777 Partners eyes tech startups to “democratise” aviation
Top 1% control 75% of global aviation traffic – “we want to change that”, says Adam Weiss
AVIATION investment firm, 777 Partners, recently acquired two travel technology companies – AeroCRS and WorldTicket. The two companies join a growing portfolio of airlines and travel tech firms, includ [...]
With Bangkok launch, Go City banks on strong city passes to spur growth in APAC
AS part of its ramping up efforts in Asia, Go City launched its Bangkok pass last month. Senior vice president, commercial, APAC, Baidi Li speaks to WiT about its plans for Thailand as well as other markets in the region.
Q: Congratulations on the Bangkok launch. I understand it was a relaunc [...]
Omio raises $80m to fuel global expansion
GROUND transportation platform Omio has raised $80 million that it will use to create “a globally unified transportation network on a single digital platform.”
The funding comes from new investors Lazard Asset Management and Stack Capital Group as well as existing investors NEA, Temasek and f [...]
WebBeds’ Sun on rate parity, credit and distribution shifts
Bedbank sees strong recovery in both traditional and online channels
Just as its hotel partners had to pivot to domestic during the pandemic, so did WebBeds as it re-deployed resources towards domestic content, closed its Taiwan office and ramped up its domestic distribution network, working with l [...]
Yanolja Cloud names David Peller as EVP, launches into f&b with Gusto X
YANOLJA Cloud, the Software-as-a-Service company owned by South Korea’s Yanolja, continues its expansion with the appointment of a global senior leader and a joint venture in the f&b sector.
It has appointed David Peller, formerly managing director, travel and hospitality, Amazon Web Servic [...]
With $70m and fourth acquisition in hand, Bookaway set to take next leap forward
How a honeymoon idea started in Asia, and grew during the pandemic
HAVING raised a total of $70 million in the last 12 months, and finalised a fourth acquisition, Bookaway Group, which wants to be the Booking.com of buses, rail and ferries, is ready to scale its business for the next leap forward. [...]
Agoda launches Eco Deals, inks pact with WWF Singapore
Agoda is launching Eco Deals with accommodation partners in five countries – Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore – to offer travellers between 5% and 15% discounts on their bookings.
For each booking, Agoda will contribute to WWF-Singapore’s marine conservation and fl [...]
