The Wrap: Ascott turns residences into smart homes with the Internet of Things
In the news: This week we focus on two hospitality companies – Ascott rolls out smart home technologies, and Starwood launches 10th brand - a portfolio of independent hotels and resorts
Ascott turns residences into smart homes with the Internet of Things
The Ascott Limited (Ascott) is [...]
Letter from Kuching: The time has come for Sarawak to be discovered, enjoyed and loved
I first visited Kuching when I was a young, bug-eyed reporter and was somehow lucky enough to land a writing assignment for a photography book on Sarawak.
I don’t know why I thought myself qualified to do the job but I’ve never been one to let ignorance stand in the way of endeavours.
Robe [...]
The Millennial Traveller: The Global Gastronome
These days, the world comes to us on a plate. But there’s nothing like eating the real thing in real places.
Some of us march on our stomachs (myself included). The idea of travelling to some of the world’s top ranking foodie destinations is enough to get me on Google, searching up how long w [...]
Lessons from building a tours & activities business from scratch
At WIT Middle East in Dubai earlier this month, Tao Tao, COO & co-founder of GetYourGuide, the tour and activities marketplace, sat down for a conversation with Yeoh Siew Hoon, founder of WIT, to talk about mistakes made, lessons learnt and how “the fine line between resolute persistence and u [...]
Postcard & Tag aims to revolutionise the online travel space
Postcard & Tag, a new visual social travel directory that allows users to discover and share photos of travel destinations around the world, will have its global launch in Jakarta, Indonesia tomorrow (21 April).
Using digital postcards, which are geo-mapped and categorised into a variety of [...]
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya to open WIT Indonesia, Bali
Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism, Arief Yahya, formerly the CEO of state-owned telecommunication company Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom), will open the third WIT Indonesia conference scheduled for Bali on April 30.
Arief was appointed minister late last year when Indonesia’s new president Joko [...]
Accor takes over FASTBOOKING, accelerating digital strategy
Accor has announced its take-over of FASTBOOKING, a digital services provider for the hotel industry.
A French company founded in 2000, FASTBOOKING provides daily support to nearly 4,000 global hotels. Hotel website development, distribution channel management solutions, digital marketing campai [...]
The online travel habits of Middle East Millennials
The rising wave of millennial travellers will change the face of travel in MENA and companies that fail to figure out a strategy risk getting left behind, said Google’s Head of Tourism & Hotels, Middle East and North Africa, Ali Hashmi (pictured left).
He defined them as those aged between [...]
The Wrap: Asia Pacific is the place to holiday in with drop in room prices
In the news: Drop in room rates in APAC cities, AirAsia’s new self service options, HRS’ properties on Travelport platform, Apple Watch app from TripAdvisor
APAC is the place to holiday in with drop in room prices
Holidaymakers looking to get more bang for their travel buck might wis [...]
No lightbulb till 9, now Destinia’s Amuda Goeli clearly sees the light
I suppose we are all a product of our background and experiences and Amuda Goeli, co-founder of Destinia, certainly comes across as an individual who’s very comfortable in his own skin.
Growing up in Aswan, Egypt, he did not see a light bulb till he was nine years old. He laughs at the noti [...]
