Distribution
Asia Pacific airlines pledge greater collaboration with governments to reopen borders (UPDATED)
17/11/2020 by WiT
THE Asia Pacific aviation industry has made a commitment to work with governments to reopen borders, ensure the continued safety of aviation, as well as revive air travel. This affirmation was made in a joint declaration issued at the end of 64th  Assembly of Presidents of the Associa [...]
The WiT Podcast – Episode 26: Scott Peterson, Assistant Vice President, Entertainment, Resorts World Sentosa
13/11/2020 by WiT
SGUnited, in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board Entertainment, defined as “an event performance, or activity designed to entertain others”. Well, it has certainly not been able to do that for most of 2020 with the pandemic shutting down live entertainment around the world. In Singa [...]
Covid has made online travel a game of millimetres, and he who solves testing wins big
12/11/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Covid has turned online travel from a game of inches to one of millimetres, said Timothy Hughes, vice president corporate development of Agoda, paraphrasing an oft-quoted phrase of former Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Speaking during WiT Seoul, Hughes said, “A lot of the breakout tech is jus [...]
“Hello, I am Zooming in while cruising” – and best news of all, a vaccine which sends travel stocks soaring
12/11/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
From cruises and conferences, to Tokyo Olympics and Expo2020 Dubai, slow and steady steps are being taken to revive economies. I can’t believe I am saying this in 2020 but I had a Zoom meeting this week in which someone was calling in while she was on a cruise. Okay, albeit that it was to [...]
US$100 billion transacted online by SEA’s 400 million Internet users in 2020
10/11/2020 by WiT
Southeast Asia’s digital economy has not just stayed afloat in these tough times, but has seen accelerated growth. Google, Temasek and Bain & Company’s recent e-Conomy SEA 2020 report said 40 million people came online for the first time this year, bringing the total number of Internet [...]
“What Travel Recovery Will Look Like For Asia”: McKinsey’s Saxon lays out a slow and cautious roadmap
10/11/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Not surprising, as of September, the first three markets in Asia that have recovered the fastest are those with domestic markets. Sharing “Reboot: What Travel Recovery Will Look Like for Asia” at WiT Seoul earlier this month, Steve Saxon, partner with McKinsey, who leads the travel practice [...]
Tourplus, armed with $1m fund raise, moves from transactions to content to survive Covid
05/11/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Rickson Goh (centre) and his team: Sticking together through Covid. Goh said there has been no layoffs but the team agreed on pay cuts and unpaid leave to get through this period. Malaysia-based Tourplus, which matches travellers with driver/guides and personalized itineraries, was on the road t [...]
The Wrap: Marriott and Grab form ‘integrated” partnership, LIVE for Trip campaign raises millions for travel recovery, and more …
04/11/2020 by WiT
The Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology industries, and to keep track of developments in these sectors as businesses adapt and reset to meet challenges in the era of coronavirus. Marriott brings its hospitality experience to South-east Asia through partnership with Grab Bo [...]
No quick recovery to pre-Covid levels for APAC tourist destinations, says GlobalData
03/11/2020 by WiT
Despite some countries across Asia Pacific (APAC) negotiating travel bubble pacts with their “safe” counterparts in a move to revive the tourism sector, recovery to pre- pandemic levels may take time even after all restrictions are withdrawn. According to data and analytics company GlobalDa [...]
The WiT Podcast – Episode 25: Ong Wee Min, Vice President, MICE, Marina Bay Sands
02/11/2020 by WiT
SGUnited, in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board “Stressful but strangely exciting” is how Ong Wee Min, who leads the MICE business at Marina Bay Sands, describes this period. As Covid devastated the lucrative sector the executive, who’s been in the industry for more than 20 years [...]