Letter from Cempedak: Seven secrets to landing among the stars
It was exactly a year ago that I visited the private island of Cempedak in the Riau Archipelago of Indonesia and saw it in the making of stage. Piles of bamboo were strewn all over the white sand but there was a definite shape of a resort that resembled a sail unfurling out of the waters.
The isl [...]
The Wrap: WorldKoins lets AirAsia guests convert leftover currency into credits for shopping or good cause
In The News: WorldKoins partners with AirAsia in conversion of leftover currency; movable kiosks for fast check-in at Hong Kong airport; Maxim’s Travel's new branded mobile app
STARTUPS: WorldKoins lets AirAsia guests convert leftover currency into credits for shopping or good cause
Co [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: Focus on what a person can be instead of do in a destination, says STB’s Lynette Pang
In August, Singapore launched a new tourism brand, going from Your Singapore to Passion Made Possible. The marketing move was a first for the country, in that it is manifested through a joint effort by two statutory boards — the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Economic Development Board (EDB [...]
Duetto introduces new level of personalisation to booking process
Duetto has launched a new personalisation tool PlayMaker, claiming it now brings “true personalisation” to the booking process for hospitality companies.
“The lack of real personalisation in hospitality, despite all the data hotels and casinos have at hand, is a challenge as old as revenue [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: How Asian hotel groups keep their home advantage in a changing world
Home grown independent, owner-controlled hotel groups are mushrooming in Asia, and are competing not only among themselves but also in a world of scale, consolidation and distribution power. How do they fend off the global competition? By localisation, personalisation and doing things differently, s [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: YouTubers are prime customers of travel, shows Google survey
In Asia Pacific, the average traveller watches about two hours of videos a day, travels five times a year, and spends $3,657 on travel a year.
This was part of the findings from a new piece of research by Google presented by Ryan Ferguson, sector lead of travel, Asia Pacific, Google at day tw [...]
GuestReady receives additional US$3m funding, acquires Easy Rental Services
Activity in the alternative accommodation space is picking up pace with GuestReady, a short-term rental management service, receiving a new round of funding.
The relatively young industry is already beginning to see consolidation as GuestReady also announced its acquisition of Easy Rental Service [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: Traditional hotels can stay relevant in era of alternative accommodation – get local
While mature markets are seeing a shift in hospitality from traditional hotels to alternative accommodations, in younger markets such as Indonesia, there are people whose first trips are already with alternative hotels.
Graham Hills, chief commercial officer, BeMyGuest, said: “It’s not ne [...]
Klook to expand global footprint with US$60 million injection
Klook has completed a near US$60 million Series C funding which represents the largest deal ever for an in-destination service booking platform.
The proceeds of the funding will be used to finance global expansion and accelerate product growth and innovation, it said [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: Cruise panel highlights Asia growth, emerging markets, technology
As Asia looks set to become the largest cruise market in the world, sea and river cruises companies said they have their eyes set on secondary cities in the region’s emerging markets.
Sean Treacy (right), managing director, Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean Cruises, said the market he finds “ [...]
