The invisibility of tech and the silence of sound – transforming tours and cinemas
PERHAPS it’s revenge cinema-going but lately I’ve been catching a lot of movies. After two years of watching on the small screen, it’s go big or stay home.
I’ve gone back to the cinemas where I am always freezing – I bring beanies and puffer jackets along and pretend I am in Iceland – [...]
State of travel startups 2022: Investors betting on full recovery
TRAVEL startups, like the rest of the industry, took a heavy hit in 2020, with annual funding dropping 45% to just $4.5 billion in the first year of the pandemic.
In 2021, annual funding to travel startups bounced back impressively – notching $12.5 billion, exceeding the previous high of $8.3 b [...]
Three men and a restaurant payments app called Spades
How a summer holiday in France led to “Scan, Split, Tip, Pay” and expansion beyond Dubai
IT was during a summer holiday in France when Sameer Poonja and his two mates used the Sunday app, the French payments app for restaurants, and a light bulb came on.
The Dubai-based Poonja, who formerly [...]
Study: Two in five travel managers cite technology as top pain point
A new study from GBTA and FCM reveals the latest tech trends and changing role in how travel managers can serve their companies and business travellers.
Business travel and the role of the travel manager changed significantly during the pandemic. As business travel returns, many are que [...]
Inbound to SEA soars, Japan trending high in flight searches, Expedia to double down on B2B
“When Japan opens up, we will see another wave,” says Expedia’s new APAC head, Michael Dykes
INBOUND travel demand for SEA grew four times yoy in the first six months of 2022, indicating a strong return of travel in the region, according to Expedia flight data.
The top inbound travellers c [...]
Are you okay? The mobile app that monitors young travellers when they’re away
Global platform helps families of missing travellers to locate their loved ones
THERE were times when Veronica Hey was solo backpacking around the world that she would have benefitted from having the technology available that is now embedded into her safe-travel app, Ok Away.
The Ok Away Saa [...]
Villa rental market in APAC growing along with travel recovery
How has travel behaviour changed over the past two years, and how can villa owners stay on top of the trend?
Travellers are ready to fly again
According to a research by American Express, 74% of travellers are more willing to book a trip, even if they have to change or cancel it later on. Masterca [...]
Singapore students win Accor’s Take Off! Challenge with metaverse idea
THREE university students from Singapore and their metaverse idea won Accor Group’s Take Off!
Challenge this year, an annual worldwide student competition designed to attract young talent to the global hotel group.
The winning team, Meta Trio, comprised Phuan Shi Yun, Ng Min Feng and Chia Pe [...]
Kiwi.com moves beyond price to offer customers peace of mind around disruption
“I'd love to be wrong but volatility is here to stay,” says Dlouhy
IT’s been 10 years since Oliver Dlouhy founded Kiwi.com and took the flight world by storm by making virtual interlining its forte. But with the last two “feeling like 10”, the Czech entrepreneur, based in Brno, seems a lo [...]
Airbus A380 recapturing the skies as demand soars
It looks like the Airbus A380 is bouncing back from semi-retirement and is being spruced up to resume its reputation as the passenger-friendly giant of the skies.
British Airways is revamping its entire fleet of A380s, Qantas is returning the superjumbo on routes to Los Angeles and Lon [...]
