Abacus to boost insurance sales with ACE
Sales of insurance is growing 14% year-on-year on the Abacus network and the company expects this number to jump further with its new partnership with ACE Travel Insurance.Under the partnership signed this week, the Singapore-based GDS will distribute ACE Travel products to all Abacus-connected trav [...]
AirAsia opens up New Skies for bookers
At first glance AirAsia’s booking website does not look any different than before its system upgrade. But I feel the difference when I start the booking process as it’s much faster and login is a breeze too despite the fact it was just a day after the new system was up and running.Perhaps the [...]
You may be able to serve, but can you lead?
You may know how to lay out the tables or work the computers but do you have what it takes to lead and listen and most of all, the curiosity and capacity to learn?If not, then you’d better work on the softer life skills because that’s what employers value in their staff.This was the message from [...]
Why I have to tread carefully with my iPad
It’s one thing to read about it or hear from other people how great it is and to listen and watch (often with envy) while other friends show it off to you.But it’s another to actually own one and use it. Only then do you realise what a transformational thing the iPad is.Yes, I finally got my han [...]
Be careful what you wish for, says O’Neil
Two years into his job in Asia and Gregory O’Neil, president Asia Pacific of BCD Travel, says he has aged 10 years.Last year, business tanked and he thought he would have the time to re-strategise, re-organise and generally review everything the company was doing.But business has come back with su [...]
Small Luxury Hotels and Bhutan make debut at ITB Asia
ITB Asia, taking place in Singapore from Oct 20-22, will feature several first-time exhibitors.Among them are Small Luxury Hotels of the World, whose CEO Paul Kerr (left) is scheduled to speak at the Web In Travel conference which takes place alongside ITB Asia, and LAN Airlines. Kerr will also be s [...]
Pennicott wants to reach out more on web
For Pennicott Wilderness Journeys of Tasmania, Australia, inspiration and conservation go hand in hand and so, just as it makes its livelihood out of nature, it gives back in fair measure.Owner Robert Pennicott (left), who grew up in the waters surrounding Bruny Island and worked as a professional [...]
Abacus, MSN set up Travel Channel in Taiwan
Abacus and MSN have teamed up to offer a new hub of travel information and products to customers via a ‘MSN-Abacus Travel Channel’ in Taiwan.The site introduces a number of leading travel agencies such as Lion Travel and Set Tour to provide a product-searching and price-comparing function thro [...]
Airline ancillary revenue worldwide to top US$49.9bil in 2014
The CarTrawler Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue forecasts a 17.2% increase in ancillary revenue worldwide above 2013 to US$49.9 billion for 2014, with $28.5 billion of the total composed of a la carte fee activity.Earlier this year CarTrawler, leading provider of online car rental distributio [...]
The ancillary opportunity in Asia: Think like a retailer but don’t annoy the customer
According to CarTrawler’s 2014 Ancillary Revenue Yearbook, ancillary revenues by the top 10 airlines last year were US$21.4 billion. The Americas took the lion share of this, comfortably over 50% at US$13.2 billion and transacting at a higher spend rate of $26 per passenger.In comparison, Europe a [...]
