Amadeus gives travel startups in Asia investment boost
Amadeus Ventures, an innovation vehicle to drive collaboration with the startup ecosystem, will launch in APAC in Q1 2020, investing in early-stage startups sitting at the crossroads of technology and travel, giving travel startups in Asia a shot in the arm.
According to Google’s e-Conomy SEA [...]
Immigration, inequality, inclusion – the themes occupying America
It is interesting the amount of soul-searching that’s going on in North America, both on the political and corporate front, as I discovered on this recent trip which started in Las Vegas, continued to New York and now headed for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for Phocuswright, which begins tomorrow. & [...]
AirAsia now sells flights on other airlines in digital transformation push
Malaysia’s low cost carrier AirAsia is selling flights on more than 100 other global airlines on its website and app as it transforms airasia.com into a travel and lifestyle platform and to boost revenue.
This is made possible through a strategic partnership the carrier signed with Prague-base [...]
Skyscanner starts selling flights, via mobile only
Skyscanner has now gone beyond being just a metasearch platform, announcing it will sell flights, albeit via its app and mobile web only in Australia, Singapore and the UK.
Bryan Dove, Skyscanner CEO said: “It’s not a secret that people are increasingly turning to thei [...]
“Airlines must overhaul practices at every level to become more sustainable”
At the Sustainology Summit held in New York last week, Max Knagge (General Manager Americas, Scandinavian Airlines – SAS) spoke of how the onus of improving the sustainability of air travel lies with individual airlines, before highlighting SAS’ efforts in the space.
Taking a bird’s eye vi [...]
Letter from Explore ’19: Persevere, respect, be mindful – and oh, get more sleep
If I had to sum up the first day of Expedia Group’s Explore ’19 conference in Las Vegas today in three words, they’d be “perseverance, respect and mindfulness”.
The morning opened with a talk by Colin O’Brady who, after nine years of having his legs burnt at a beach party in Thailand [...]
Expedia sets as its “Everest” – a frictionless travel experience
He got burnt badly at a beach party in Koh Tao, Thailand, was told he’d never walk again and ended up climbing several mountains including Everest and walking across the Antarctica. Colin O’Brady opened Expedia Group’s Explore ’19 conference in Las Vegas this morning by asking delegates, � [...]
The Wrap: Tourism Malaysia partners Mafengwo to tap China’s outbound tourism market
News Roundup: It’s Malaysia in the spotlight in the run-up to Visit Malaysia 2020 with two leading players spearheading the charge to drum up arrivals to the country – Tourism Malaysia’s partnership with Chinese travel-focused social network Mafengwo and Malaysia Airlines’ new promotional c [...]
APAC villa rental market continues to grow despite falling occupancy rates
According to the Asia Pacific Villa Rental Market Research 2019 report by Villa Finder, the total private accommodation market has increased by 12% in the past two years, reaching a value of US$441m.
Bali remains the top villa market (>4000 villas), having grown 18% since 2017. Despite being ov [...]
US aviation authority downgrades Malaysia’s status for air travel to Category 2
US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has downgraded Malaysia’s air safety rating from Category 1 to Category 2, which will not allow the country’s airlines to add new flights to the United States.
In a press statement issued on 11 November, the FAA said it “has found the Civil Aviation [...]
