Inside the mind of Trip’s Xing Xiong: A technologist reflects on the AI age
AI cannot replace passion: Make safe decisions with limited resources, collaborate to put travellers first, focus on problems, not tech.
In a rare public appearance, Trip.com Group’s Chief Operating Officer Xing Xiong stepped out of his “engine room” to speak at WiT’s 20th anniversary con [...]
From intelligence to well-being: Inside JTB’s Eijiro Yamakita’s vision to enrich global tourism
In Japan, there is a saying, 縁は異なもの味なもの」(En wa i na mono, aji na mono) – which means literally, “Fate is a strange thing, and a flavourful thing” – meaning “the ties and encounters in life are unexpected and mysterious, but they bring richness and delight”.
It [...]
From spreadsheet to sky: How Skyscanner took flight
Three coders, one spreadsheet, and a restless idea that refused to stay grounded.
When Barry Smith, Gareth Williams, and Bonamy Grimes decided to start a business together, they had no idea what shape it would take. All they knew was that they wanted to build something – and that whatever it wa [...]
Individuality takes center stage in 2026, among other new trends
The 10th edition of Booking.com’s Travel Predictions reveals that APAC travellers are embracing ultra-personalized journeys that reflect their quirks, goals, and passions in 2026.
Key takeaways:
86% of APAC travellers are open to booking a robotic-enhanced home, with nearly half (48%) say [...]
Letter from Vietnam – wait, strike that, Phuket: Travellers have more power than ever
Putting travellers’ interests first is in our best interests.
It’s a long story how our motley crew of five travellers, spanning three generations, ended up in Phuket instead of Vietnam. Let’s just say visas were involved.
But as I sit here in the lap of luxury at Trisara, one of the isla [...]
Whose order? Or, why everyone wants to own your trip (and make you pay for it)
A few weeks ago, as I planned my trip to join WIT’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, my inbox was littered with the usual barrage: multiple confirmation emails for each trip element and no single journey umbrella document. Each came from a different brand, with a different reference number, in a diff [...]
Prosus to invest $146 million in ixigo for 10.1% stake
Fresh from Aloke Bajpai’s appearance at WiT Singapore this week speaking about the massive opportunity in the Indian travel market where under 5% of Indians fly, inbound arrivals are only at 11-12 million visitors, and out of 800 million internet users, only 150 million buy travel online, ixigo is [...]
Expedia Group launches new AI-powered trip planner and multiple APIs
During its EXPLORE Connect B2B event for APAC partners, Expedia Group unveiled a new suite of AI and machine learning-powered tools designed to help partners drive speed, scale and personalisation. Highlights include Smart Trip AI, a new trip planning tool that provides hotel and activity inspiratio [...]
RAKTA’s air taxis. AirAsia signs DerbySoft. Paying for AI. ‘Complete’ travel expenses.
First air taxi service to launch in Ras Al Khaimah by 2027
Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA) has signed a strategic agreement with Joby Aviation and Skyports to roll out the UAE’s first electric air taxi network by 2027. The collaboration will deploy Joby’s zero-emission eVTOL aircraft [...]
PassiveBolt and Replyr.ai win Global Startup Pitch People’s Choice Awards at WiT Singapore 2025
The Global Startup Pitch People’s Choice Awards were announced today at WiT Singapore: The Next 20, celebrating the most innovative Seedup and Scaleup startups from around the world, as voted by the audience.
The awards spotlighted two rising stars of travel and technology – Replyr.ai in the [...]
