KKday raises Series B+ funding, co-led by LINE Ventures and Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund
Continuing to build momentum, Taiwan tours and activities startup KKday has just raised Series B+ funding, co-led by LINE Ventures and the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund.
Existing investors, including CDIB Capital and Monk’s Hill Ventures, also participated with follow-on investments, following KKd [...]
As Accor hits 1,000 in APAC, Issenberg ponders China softening, tech impact and talent
What does it take to grow a hotel group to 1,000 properties in Asia Pacific? Well, if you ask Michael Issenberg, CEO, AccorHotels APAC, it takes time and investing in people on the ground, helped of course by a handful of acquisitions.
“When I joined Accor 24 years ago, we had fewer than 50 [...]
The Wrap: Longer trips and closer to home this December for travellers, study finds
In the news: Survey on holiday trends for Q3, Travelport’s commercial team strengthened, SITA's purchase of MEXIA Interactive
Travel: Longer trips and closer to home this December for travellers, study finds
Christmas and New Year holidays fall mid-week this year, on a Tuesday, and thi [...]
Guest Blog: The Success of Travel Tech Consolidation Relies on Integration
The big are getting bigger. That sums up what’s been happening in Asia and looks all but certain to continue. Whether in the OTA space or in the hotels' space, buying sprees, mergers and acquisitions are all the rage.
Meanwhile, hoteliers may be wondering what their play is in all this, and how [...]
WiT Singapore 2018: Genting gears up for a changing and growing cruise market
The writing was on the wall already when Genting Cruise Lines decided to create the first-ever Asian luxury cruise line. Dream Cruises was built on the evidence that cruising among Asians was on the rise and the belief that it would continue to do so and become a market too large to ignore.
Gent [...]
Applications now open for the 2019 Booking Booster programme, focused on sustainable tourism and social enterprise startups
Applications are now open for the third annual Booking Booster accelerator programme for travel technology startups in sustainable tourism; deadline: December 2, 2018.
Up to 10 social enterprise startups will be selected and invited to the Booking Booster three-week accelerator programme in Amste [...]
The story of Mary Li: From ASLAN to Mystifly, from China to India, and truths in between
I first met Mary Li when she was introduced to me as the co-CEO of Mystifly, the India-based global airfares marketplace. My curiosity stirred, I did some research on her and found her back story. With no background in travel, she founded ASLAN, China's first data-driven travel technology company, c [...]
Facebook releases “travel marketing playbook”, identifying top trends for 2019
At its APAC Travel Summit, Facebook released its Measure What Matters Travel Marketing Playbook – a guide for Asia Pacific travel marketers, to help them navigate the complexities of the travel industry’s digital ecosystem.
It comes at a critical time as just last year, Asia Pacific overtook [...]
Can you enjoy a luxury cruise while still conserving the environment? Rascal Voyages wants to make it happen
Pairing luxury with the growing demand for sustainable travel, Rascal Voyages has partnered with Conservation International Indonesia (CI Indonesia) to create the “Exploration Series” – a collection of eight research-driven, luxury sailing expeditions across Asia.
The series is an active ef [...]
WiT Singapore 2018: Unravelling the Power Paradox in China where behemoths fight to be all things in travel
At WiT Singapore 2018, Maggie Rauch, senior director of research at Phocuswright spoke of the different worlds emerging between Asia and the rest of the world, or specifically how China is creating its own post-mobile ecosystem.
Addressing the ‘Power Paradox’, which is also the theme of the [...]
