News
Snapshot of Chinese outbound trends: Ctrip
15/03/2019 by WiT
China Tourism Academy and Ctrip have launched the 2018 Chinese outbound travel report.  Here’s a snapshot of the key points:  ● Chinese made 150 million outbound trips in 2018, representing a 14.7% growth over 2017 ● Among these, Chinese only made 71.25 million overse [...]
David Kong on the transformation of Best Western through quality, talent and technology
12/03/2019 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Ever since he took over as CEO of Best Western Hotels & Resorts in 2004, David Kong has been a man on a mission to transform the company, and the process continues with the recent acquisition of WorldHotels, which added 300 hotels to its global portfolio. In Singapore for the first time, the so [...]
The Wrap: Introducing ZIPAIR Tokyo – Japan Airlines’ new low cost, long haul carrier
12/03/2019 by WiT
In the news: Japan’s new low cost carrier ZIPAIR Tokyo, Agoda and Adyen partnership, Aeroméxico’s use of chatbot to trace baggage, Rod Cuthbert's nomination to VELTRA board Airlines: Introducing ZIPAIR Tokyo – Japan Airlines’ new low cost, long haul carrier New carrier by Japan Airl [...]
Air Black Box acquired by 777 Partners, will bring its solution to more airlines and beyond
12/03/2019 by WiT
Air Black Box, the first global travel technology company founded by a team of industry veterans to solve the complexities of cross-selling products and services within the aviation sector, has been acquired by investment firm 777 Partners. Air Black Box is built to efficiently connect inventory [...]
Amadeus and partners pick top tech trends that will impact travel consultants
12/03/2019 by WiT
As travel continues to grow, and travel expectations evolve, technology continues to impose itself in the travel booking process and also in the travel experience itself.  Amadeus and its travel partners have flagged these six tech trends as the ones travel consultants should watch.  1. Th [...]
Here are some of the ways the IATA NDC could transform air travel
11/03/2019 by WiT
At the CAPA Global LCC Summit held in Singapore recently, a panel of experts offered a primer on NDC (New Distribution Capability). Specifically, the panel discussed how the NDC API has the potential to transform digital distribution for air travel. To offer a brief overview, the NDC Program re [...]
What do Chinese female travellers want? Fun facts from Ctrip to mark International Women’s Day
08/03/2019 by WiT
Today being International Women’s Day, we thought it timely to share some data given to us by Ctrip on independent Chinese female travellers.  Here’s a quick summary. Six out of 10 Chinese independent outbound travellers are females Among solo travellers, the ratio is 57% fem [...]
Four Asian sustainable travel startups qualify for the 2019 Booking Booster Programme
07/03/2019 by WiT
Booking.com has announced its top ten entrants to its 2019 Booking Booster Accelerator Program, continuing its focus on sustainable tourism, and four of them come from Asia. Said Gillian Tans (president & CEO, Booking.com), “We’re seeing the calibre of innovative entrepreneurship in the [...]
The Wrap: Accor adds new midscale brand and a luxury hotel collection to portfolio
07/03/2019 by WiT
In the news: Accor’s new brands - Tribe and The House of Originals, TUI and Ctrip partnership, ADARA cloud suite launch Hotels: Accor adds new midscale brand and a luxury hotel collection to portfolio The Hyde Paradiso’s dining patio, first sbe-Accor joint brand property, opening in Austr [...]
WiT Japan & North Asia Startup Pitch 2019 issues call for entries amidst growing entrepreneurial mindset in region
07/03/2019 by WiT
As Japan and its surrounding North Asian neighbours grow its entrepreneurial mindset, WiT Japan & North Asia Startup Pitch 2019 has issued its call for entries for this year’s competition. Startups are urged to send in their pitches for the annual WiT Japan & North Asia Startup Pitch 2 [...]