Kiong: Stop steroids, challenge convention
Last year was easy. Demand plunged, so hoteliers chopped rates. This year, it’s a mixed outlook with uneven patches of recovery. What’s a marketer to do? Yeoh Siew Hoon catches up with Banyan Tree’s marketing chief Arthur Kiong.Arthur Kiong, senior vice president and managing director of sales [...]
Phone, Play, Love, Fight
Warning: This article is not an April Fool’s joke unlike the one titled “Match, Meet, Love” which we sent out on April 1. Incidentally, quite a few of you believed in the iPhone travel application we dreamt up – which perhaps proves that it is either possible or desired. One news organiza [...]
200,000 fans and more, AirAsia leads in social media
As AirAsia marks another milestone in its social media efforts, Kathleen Tan, the low cost airline's marketing chief, says huge commitment and internal resources are needed to manage the channel “or it may backfire” AirAsia charts another milestone in its efforts on the social media front w [...]
Banyan Tree’s XTC to make agents “virus-resistant”
At a time when more suppliers are wanting to go direct, Banyan Tree has launched its XTC programme which aims to make extraordinary travel consultants out of its top influencers by arming them with the knowledge and incentives to sell Banyan Tree to their clients.Under the programme, Banyan Tree i [...]
1000 Lonely Planet Ultimate Experiences on iPad
Hot on the heels of the first sales of the Apple iPad, Lonely Planet’s 1000 Ultimate Experiences App is now available.The 1000 Ultimate Experiences App allows iPad users to experience Lonely Planet’s top 1000 recommended experiences through beautiful images, ideo and insights from its leadin [...]
Stronger buyer programme for ITB Asia
Messe Berlin (Singapore) has announced details of its enhanced hosted buyers’ programme for ITB Asia 2010. New filtering techniques are being introduced.The aim is to ensure that only high quality buyers will enter the pre-scheduled appointment system to meet exhibitors. ITB Asia takes place in Si [...]
Workshop to examine CSR and sustainability
ITB Berlin is taking the lead on the role of CSR and sustainability in the tourism supply chain and is endorsing a symposium taking place in November, called “Sustainability all along the line –CSR in tourism supply chains”.It is partnering GATE e.V in the two-day conference that will be held [...]
Frommer’s and NileGuide team up
Combining customized online trip planning functionality with their trusted travel guidebook content, Frommer’s and NileGuideannounced a major content and technology-sharing partnership this week.With the launch of the new “Itineraries” section on Frommers.com, users can now drag and drop cu [...]
No beer, just laughter at this Happy Hour
I have moderated many sessions in my career – some are more fun than others. But I have to say that I’ve never laughed as much as I did during a recent session at ITB Berlin.The session was called “Happy Hour of Humour, Laughter and Optimism”. At first, I thought they would be serving some [...]
“I have no life. I need sex”
What happens when one of your staff tweet, “I have no life. I need sex.” With social media being so much a part of AirAsia's corporate culture, the airline shares some stories of how it recruits as well as how it stays in touch with its employees.Last year, AirAsia decided to use its blog to rec [...]
