Chatbot, travel guardian, instant feedback: Malaysia Airlines’ new digital offerings
Facebook may be facing a backlash due to the recent data scandal and the current movement to #deletefacebook. However, it has not deterred Malaysia Airlines from introducing a Facebook Messenger bot, MHchat, for flight booking.
The bot is one of the three latest digital initiatives (apps) the air [...]
AirAsia heads to Silicon Valley in search of travel startups
AirAsia is making its first foray into US Silicon Valley, home to many startup and global technology companies, to find “the best startups in the travel industry” as the airline puts it.
The low cost carrier is carrying out the search in partnership with Plug and Play Tech Center, a global in [...]
“Data is the new gold” has become “data is the new dirt”
What a week it’s been – first the Facebook data scandal and then the Grab-Uber deal in South-east Asia, and at the heart of it, our identities.
The former led to outrage that we could have been so manipulated by marketers targeting our social profiles (we always have been, it’s just the sca [...]
Hotelbeds Group sells its destination management business unit to TUI for €110m
Hotelbeds Group has announced the sale of its Destination Management division back to TUI, Europe’s largest tour operator, for €110 million (US$136 million), allowing it to focus fully on its bedbank business.
TUI, which sold Hotelbeds for €1.2 billion to UK investor Cinven Capital Manageme [...]
The Wrap: Expedia Inc. has a new name, and it’s Expedia Group Inc.
In the news: An assortment of travel tech news - a new brand identity for Expedia Inc., the possibility of visual recognition technology replacing QR codes, and using self-service technology at Beijing Capital
OTA: Expedia Inc. has a new name, and it’s Expedia Group Inc.
Expedia Inc. [...]
Malaysia Airlines to elevate travel into a ‘truly Malaysian experience’ with its rebranding campaign
Malaysia Airlines last week kicked off its new brand campaign themed ‘Malaysian Hospitality Begins With Us’, which aims to give its guests “a unique end to end experience with warm, genuine, and efficient service from the heart …”
“We are re-emphasising to the world that ‘Malaysian H [...]
Flight Centre picks Amadeus as distribution partner in EMEA and Asia
Australia's largest retail travel outlet, Flight Centre Travel Group, has chosen Amadeus as its technology partner for its distribution business in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Asia.
In a statement announcing the inking of the contract, Amadeus said it would be working with Flight Ce [...]
8 key takeaways from WIT Hospitality 2018: Cash flow and real estate may still rule but transform or be left behind
I am sure by now hoteliers must be tired of hearing people tell them they must change. But they do say if you say something often enough, it will happen sooner rather than later.
And It looks like something fundamental is shifting. It felt palpable at WIT Hospitality which took place in Hong Kong [...]
The Wrap: Tokyo Station now has an AI concierge to help travellers
In the news: Tokyo Station gets a chatbot helper; Ctrip and Royal Caribbean Cruises to end JV; Klook boosts its executive team to help with global expansion
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Tokyo Station now has an AI concierge to help travellers
Tokyo Station, the train hub of Japan’s capita [...]
Of travel fairs and Japan: A Malaysian love story
E-commerce, buying travel online, economic uncertainty and a weak ringgit (Malaysian currency) have not affected Malaysian's love for travel and thronging travel fairs to find the best deals and physically book their vacations.
A case in point – despite predictions that the annual travel fairs [...]
