Top of the WiT 25: Indie travel returns, new booking trends, and the joys of working with AI
Top Of The WiT is a grab of the trendiest news in travel, tech and Asia - all condensed into a nugget-sized podcast.
In this episode, we're joined by optimists, experimentalists, and innovators Dawn Jeremiah (GoCity), Chan Chee Chong (GlobalTix), and Jason Chan (Cinewav) to discuss the return [...]
Millennials and Gen Z ready to spend twice their average salary on travel
Social media becomes top inspirational tool as travellers opt for intentional exploration
It’s not a new notion, but a study called Travel Pulse, Klook’s first regional trend report, further proves that a shift is underway in the travel preferences of Millennials and Gen Zs across the Asia Pa [...]
How the pandemic made Katsumi Sakakura retell “The Life of Hokusai” with love
The world needs art and travel now more than ever, says Japanese “Samurai cool” performer who will open WiT Singapore 2023
The day before he was due to open WiT Japan & North Asia with his “Samurai cool” performance, Katsumi Sakakura, award-winning Samurai performer, had just landed in [...]
Business travellers want AI. Airport selfies are risky. Travelport+ includes Deem, British NDC.
Travelport integrates Deem to create corporate travel solution within Travelport+ ecosystem
Following its acquisition of Deem, Travelport has integrated the corporate travel management platform into its Travelport+ ecosystem, including access to multi-source content like NDC. By merging Deem's inte [...]
Spotnana partners with Lufthansa Group to drive direct NDC integrations and Green Fares
Spotnana says adaptable data model and microservices infrastructure are strategically aligned to facilitate the dissemination of innovative offers.
Fresh from news that it has been picked to power Qantas Business Rewards programme, Spotnana has made another breakthrough by partnering with Lufthans [...]
Behold the GranWhale – A metaverse globetrotter that aims to be a lifestyle platform
ANA NEO is reaching out to Gen Z consumers first, with big ambitions in the pipeline.
“It’s more to have fun, to enjoy yourself in the metaverse.” That was the response I got when I asked Masaru Watanabe, Board Member & COO of ANA NEO Inc. about the gap in the market ANA NEO’s GranWhale [...]
Qantas picks Spotnana to power Business Rewards programme
The platform is touted as "new architecture for connecting suppliers directly to the travellers that's available off-the-shelf".
Qantas is expanding the travel management capabilities of its Qantas Business Rewards programme, including offering businesses the ability to book flights, hotels and car [...]
How Nikoi and Cempedak execute on the 4Cs of sustainability
At WiT Indie, Andrew Dixon, owner of the private islands of Nikoi and Cempedak, off Bintan, Indonesia, shared how he pursues the four Cs – Community, Culture, Conservation, Commerce – prescribed by The Long Run organisation, to which his islands belong.
Q: Let’s start at the beginning. [...]
18 startups to compete in GSP Semi-Finals on August 24
The Semi-Finals of the Global Startup Pitch, organised by WiT and Phocuswright, will be held on August 24 with a total of 18 startups vying for the title of Global Startup of the Year. The virtual event will run from 7:30pm to 10:40pm Singapore time on August 24.
A new “Wildcard 2” category h [...]
YADO, ryokan alliance, ready to increase international mindshare
Having dusted off the aftermath of the pandemic, Nihon Aji no YADO, an alliance of 35 ryokans is ready to step up its efforts to increase their share of international travellers, as well as promote the “real ryokan experience” to foreign guests.
Head of the alliance, Kyohei Yamamoto, thir [...]
