The Wrap: Seera Group and Klook partner to transform Saudi tourism, Etihad launches ‘Verified to Fly’ initiative, and more …
THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology industries, and an update on how businesses in these sectors are adapting and resetting as they prepare for post-pandemic travel.
Seera Group, Klook team up to drive digital transformation of Saudi tourism
Seera Group’s Majed Al [...]
Putting Mixed Reality to the road test
How WiT and Marina Bay Sands teamed up to co-create a story
IN the absence of real travel, one has to use the powers of imagination,
aided by technology, to travel with the mind.
I recently had the opportunity to put to the road-test the new Mixed
Reality capability at the Marina Bay Sands� [...]
As restrictions tighten in Asia, let’s keep our eye on the horizon
Travel recovery reflected in Booking and Expedia Group results, European Commission proposes easing of travel restrictions using Digital Certificate – could this be a model for Asia?
I’VE never
been a good sailor which is why the best piece of advice I ever got from a
friend when out sailing [...]
What travellers want and need as they start to travel again
DATA from Expedia Group Media Solutions’ inaugural Q1 Travel Recovery Trend Report indicates growing confidence among travellers, with a message for brands it is time to capture and drive demand.
Wendy Olson Killion, senior vice president, Media Solutions at Expedia, said the latest data and [...]
Global OTAs face being squeezed by twin forces in South-east Asia
Asia Partners’ Rippel on trends accelerated by Covid and the building of unicorns in the region
IN March this year, Singapore-based growth equity investment firm Asia Partners closed its inaugural fund at US$384 million in commitments. During the WiT Travel Roadshow, Episode 2, we sat down wi [...]
The multi-pivots of an urban hotel on a small island during Covid
From e-commerce vending to farming and hybrid studio, the things Fairmont and Swissotel The Stamford did to keep going through a pandemic
THE story of how Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford (combined 2,030 rooms) with the Raffles City Convention Centre (70,000 square feet of event sp [...]
Global or local, the future of travel looks bright
IN December 2020, international arrivals were down 74% from a year prior. The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) predicted the pandemic would set international travel back to the levels of 30 years ago. On the day of WiT’s second travel roadshow Singapore experienced 16 locally transmitted Covid- [...]
Amid the constant setbacks, the good that came out of Covid
“DO you
think this thing will ever end?” asked my niece this week as Singapore
announced a tightening of Covid restrictions – groups of eight to five,
workforce in office back to 50%, events down from 750 pax to 250 pax (with
pre-event testing), three-week quarantine for travellers from “hi [...]
AC, Which Way Forward? The different roads that have diverged in travel
“TW0 roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less travelled by,And that has made all the difference.”So penned Robert Frost in “The Road Not Taken”.
Well, it seems that on the long, long road to recovery AC (After Covid),
more than two roads have diverged in travel and all [...]
Skyscanner identifies eight trends that will emerge in travel’s return
Trip planning rises, travellers hedging their bets
GLOBAL travel marketplace Skyscanner has released an in-depth report exploring the new and emerging trends in travel in 2021.
‘Skyscanner Horizons – The Return of Travel’ reveals the emergence
of new travel behaviours. Increa [...]
