“Mountain Kid” Le Masurier wants to build Dek Doi resort for those seeking “new era of community”
From renting one room on Airbnb to building a brand
FROM helping his mother rent out the top floor of their holiday home in Chiang Dao on Airbnb six years ago, William Le Masurier now has plans to develop a resort that will capture the essence of his “Dek Doi” (which means mountain kid) brand. [...]
No contenders to fight big 3 anytime soon, and net zero by 2050 “a big lie”
Pundits make predictions at Phocuswright Europe
IT’S hard to see any challengers emerge in the post-pandemic landscape to take on the big three travel giants – Booking, Expedia and Trip – which control 75% of the global OTA market, predicted pundits at Phocuswright Europe in Amsterdam this [...]
Covid dampens Trip.com Group’s Q1 performance, global air bookings rise
THE COVID-19 resurgence in China impacted Trip.com Group’s operations for the first quarter of 2022, with net revenue remaining flat compared to the same period in 2021 and decreasing 12% quarter-over-quarter.
Meanwhile, air ticket bookings on global platforms – Trip.com Group brands include [...]
With $100m fund, 777 Partners eyes tech startups to “democratise” aviation
Top 1% control 75% of global aviation traffic – “we want to change that”, says Adam Weiss
AVIATION investment firm, 777 Partners, recently acquired two travel technology companies – AeroCRS and WorldTicket. The two companies join a growing portfolio of airlines and travel tech firms, includ [...]
Here’s the lowdown on Ovolo: From underground bars to peanut butter bourbon in Bali
Hotel group says the time is right to expand its brand across Asia
THERE is no question that Hong Kong hotel group Ovolo likes to do things, well, a bit differently. It likes to stand out from the crowd.
Take its latest venture in Melbourne: a near-secret, 45-seat underground meeting place – i [...]
With Bangkok launch, Go City banks on strong city passes to spur growth in APAC
AS part of its ramping up efforts in Asia, Go City launched its Bangkok pass last month. Senior vice president, commercial, APAC, Baidi Li speaks to WiT about its plans for Thailand as well as other markets in the region.
Q: Congratulations on the Bangkok launch. I understand it was a relaunc [...]
Metaverse could become equaliser for small, independent brands, says Accenture’s Tansey
With rising consumer interest in virtual experiences, Accenture highlights opportunities for travel and hospitality
ACCENTURE recently released its latest research on the impact of the growing use of immersive technologies such as augmented and virtual reality in the travel and hospitality sector. [...]
Letter from 5lasserre: Where time is as fluid as the wine and as silent as the cats
I AM writing this as I overlook the vineyards of St Emilion, a French medieval village in the heart of Bordeaux. Since I’ve been in France the past week, I’ve experienced a heatwave – two days of temperatures that made me think I was in Oman, instead of Brittany – and a hailstorm, with stone [...]
Not-so-fast: Travellers show caution as travel resumes
Booking.com survey finds that disruptions, cost and safety still holding back travellers, but not in India, China and Vietnam
IT’S called separation from travel anxiety. The desperate urge to get away after two years of Covid-enforced lockdown. Anywhere. Anytime.
A staycation. A short-haul t [...]
Omio raises $80m to fuel global expansion
GROUND transportation platform Omio has raised $80 million that it will use to create “a globally unified transportation network on a single digital platform.”
The funding comes from new investors Lazard Asset Management and Stack Capital Group as well as existing investors NEA, Temasek and f [...]
