News
Marriott International pushes ahead with Asia growth plans
19/01/2021 by WiT
Some 100 properties expected to open this year MARRIOTT International is expecting to open 100 properties in Asia Pacific in 2021, after celebrating its 800th milestone hotel opening in the region with 75 properties added to its portfolio last year. Nearly 27,000 rooms were added to the regio [...]
Here’s looking at you, 2021, Part 3: Better prepared and investing to build back stronger
19/01/2021 by WiT
WE kick off the year with a gathering of views and opinions from our community of industry leaders on their outlook for 2021, from their level of optimism and their plans to get through the year.  Here’s the third collection. Michael Hobson, CEO, Lanson Place, Hong Kong Q: How woul [...]
Here’s looking at you, 2021, Part 2: Forwards, backwards; hang on in there for the “gigantic travel boom”
15/01/2021 by WiT
WE kick off the year with a gathering of views and opinions from our community of industry leaders on their outlook for 2021, from their level of optimism and their plans to get through the year.  Here’s the second collection. John Brown, CEO, Agoda Q: How would you describe the st [...]
Why events and travel are in the same boat: Testing protocols need to be fixed and facilitated while both wait for vaccine to work its “game changing” effects
15/01/2021 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
SINGAPORE showed its determination to bring back life to its business events sector this week when it played “Global Broadcast Centre” and hosted “Main Stage”, the physical component of PCMA Convening Leaders 2021, at Marina Bay Sands. For those not in the events industry, PCMA stands f [...]
Here’s looking at you, 2021, Part 1: Mixed start, “time to claw back lost ground”
14/01/2021 by WiT
WE kick off the year with a gathering of views and opinions from our community of industry leaders on their outlook for 2021, from their levels of optimism and their plans to get through the year. Here’s the first collection. Rajesh Magow, CEO and co-founder, MakeMyTrip Q: How would yo [...]
The Wrap: Middle East nations resume air connectivity with inking of new agreement, Malaysia Airlines launches new online shopping platform, and more
14/01/2021 by WiT
THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology industries, and to keep track of developments in these sectors as businesses adapt and reset to meet challenges in the era of coronavirus. IATA hails the resumption of air connectivity between nations in the Middle East With the end [...]
Brace yourself for “explosion of creative destruction”, says Friedman to business events professionals
13/01/2021 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
EXPECT an explosion of creative destruction AC (After Covid), said Tom Friedman, author and New York Times columnist at the opening of PCMA Convening Leaders 2021 today. Calling it “incredibly exciting and destabilising”, he said this would happen because “never have more people had availa [...]
A survivor’s guide to getting through 2021: Look how far we’ve come
08/01/2021 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
WELL, that’s 2020 done and dusted. But is it? Dusted for sure and leaving many of us in the dust, wondering what hit us and now wondering how we pick ourselves up from the rubble. Done it certainly is not. Even as many of us took a breather from work the last weeks of 2020 we couldn’t help [...]
What people want in 2021: Spending more quality time with loved ones and making a difference
07/01/2021 by WiT
WITH the Covid pandemic showing no sign of abating as we entered a new year, and while waiting the mass rollout of vaccines and travel to resume many people have different priorities in 2021 - spend more quality time with loved ones and make a difference.   This is revealed by Agoda in its [...]
The Wrap: IATA Travel Pass set for Q1 release, BIGLIFE introduces a new name and new look, and more …
06/01/2021 by WiT
THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology industries, and to keep track of developments in these sectors as businesses adapt and reset to meet challenges in the era of coronavirus. The IATA Travel Pass aims to reconnect the world safely The IATA Travel Pass will help travell [...]