Customer retention a priority, as key players adopt “price freezing” in a recovering market
THERE’S been so much talk of collaboration in the travel and hospitality scene lately, which is much needed as the industry continues to grow in the next year. As major brands and platforms discover new segments and demographics entering this space, one key factor to think about is customer retent [...]
How experiences will drive trip planning in 3 charts
The broad consumer shift toward experiences has been well known and well documented over the past half-decade.
In the most recent research from Arival and Phocuswright, a forthcoming consumer study of more than 8,000 travelers worldwide, 58% of Gen Z and millennial travelers say they are prioriti [...]
How an early nomad’s life shaped Steve Hafner, and how he sees talent, tech and human imagination
“With five mouths to feed, I got to stick around”
From references to Hugh Hefner to learning from his five daughters and how to ace media interviews, this interview with Steve Hafner, CEO and co-founder of KAYAK, covers it all. That, plus how the charismatic travel leader views the new world of [...]
Riding the Covid wave: Americas slowing down, Asia’s still in “sugar rush”
Key takeaways from Phocuswright – worlds apart but some similarities stand out
IN a week’s time, we will enter the last month of 2022. At Scottsdale Quarters, a shopping precinct in Arizona, the malls are already playing Christmas songs. At hotels, both in Phoenix and Tucson, you can see prepar [...]
Japan, Land of Bargains, beckons while outbound remains muted
Weak yen, absence of China – “an opportunity to change focus”
GIVEN the weakened Japanese yen, the land of the rising sun has become the land of bargains and this will give a further impetus to inbound travel to this most popular of destinations, the audience at WiT Seoul 2022 heard.
Quoti [...]
Want to be a K-artist? South Korea ramps up for recovery with fresh ideas, new products and eye on tech
K-wave, longtail experiences, NDC, Urban Air Mobility – Seoul all out to bring back travel
FROM Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) considering visas for fans wanting to enrol in K-pop training classes to global attraction pass company, Go City launching its first city pass in Seoul since the pandem [...]
Rebranding Cambodia: Focusing on sustainability to boost tourism in the kingdom
IF you were to come up with a two-week stay in Cambodia, what would your itinerary look like? Would you be able to name five places to visit off the top of your head? Unless you’ve spent a considerable amount of time there, Cambodia is probably defined by its most touristy destinations. According [...]
As Japan reopens fully, Trip.com reports surges in bookings
THE big news of the week is the full reopening of Japan effective October 11, after two-and-a-half years of restrictions. The pent-up demand for both inbound and outbound is being experienced by travel brands across the world.
Trip.com, which started looking at booking data for trips to Japan fro [...]
From Hotel California to no room at the inn – the change in fortunes for one Singapore hotel
Farm, CoComelon, Razer gaming suites – “this is what we joined the industry for – to make people happy, to create experiences”
THE last time I interviewed Marcus Hanna, general manager of the Fairmont and Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore, we were both masked, his hotels were like ghost tow [...]
Tech in Travel: Hotel security, preparing for Japanese travel, bye-bye Misterfly, and More
Be ready for the return of the Japanese traveller
Wolfgang Emperger, senior vice president for Europe, Africa and the UK & Ireland at the Shiji Group, has been talking about the steps companies need to take as Japan cautiously opens its borders to travel. Shiji Group provides technological sol [...]
