The changing face of start-ups in APAC
The fourth annual WIT Bootcamp was so overflowing they had to change venues at the last minute to accommodate the additional people attending. As WIT is now celebrating its 10th birthday it is relevant to reflect on the changing face of start-ups in travel in Asia.Speaking with several of the attend [...]
Northstar Travel Media relaunches Travel Weekly Asia
Northstar Travel Media announced the relaunch of Travel Weekly Asia on 27 Octobber as a fully-integrated media platform for the Asia-Pacific travel market. Among the new initiatives in the relaunch are Travel Weekly Asia, a monthly print publication, a redesigned website and a responsive e-newslette [...]
The Millennial Traveller: The Grid
All around the world, it seems that I have the same routine for every restaurant I sit in. I’d thank our waiter for the menu then immediately request the Wi-Fi password. It’s not I’m that desperate to check my Facebook notifications. It’s more the feeling that I needed to reassure my family [...]
Good response to trippiece’s English website
trippiece, the Japanese website that was founded in Tokyo in 2011 to introduce the idea of “social travelling” to young inbound travellers, has seen success with its English website set up in April 2014.Since the English site’s launch, the online “social travelling” company has focused on [...]
Letter from the road: The differences between Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and Dubai
At Hong Kong airport, a PA announcement warns us about two viruses – one that sounds like a beer and one that rhymes with beer (Corona-something and MERS) – and advises us to refrain from touching “poultry, birds and camels” on our travels.Having just zipped through Abu Dhabi and Dubai, wher [...]
Social media use intense among APAC travellers, instant chats winning
Travellers now spend almost as much time exploring online as off:• China, Vietnam and Indonesia most addicted; Australia, New Zealand and Japan the least• Indonesians, Malaysians and Thais spend 4 hours/day online during travels• WeChat overtakes Sina-Weibo in China with 74% vs 38% regul [...]
The Wrap: Air passengers to top 7 billion in 20 years, IATA forecasts
In the news: IATA passenger growth forecast, Accor’s Q3 financial results, HRS hotels in Sabre travel marketplaceAir passengers to top 7 billion in 20 years, IATA forecastsThe number air passengers is expected to reach 7.3 billion by 2034, revealed the International Air Transport Association (IATA [...]
Tennis stars can cook too – the heady mix of sports and tourism
What do you get when you mix a cocktail of the best ingredients in tourism and sports?This week, Singapore is seeing the results of this heady concoction first hand as it plays host to the largest tennis event in the women’s professional tour after the four grand slams.Eight players are in town to [...]
We’re the last of the Mohicans, says MISA’s new chief
After a two-and-a-half year hiatus away from the industry, Wee Hee Ling, the new CEO of MISA Travel, Singapore, knows she has her work cut out for her but as always, the petite, soft-spoken executive is up for the challenge.Taking over from Kenny Chew, who retired after the acquisition of the agency [...]
Brett Henry on ‘OTAs: The Coming Wave’ – why globals could win the race and what locals have to do
A week before the WIT Conference (Oct 27-29) opens in Singapore, Brett Henry, Abacus’ vice president-commercial who’s spent the last 12 years in Asia watching the online travel space, shares his observations with Yeoh Siew Hoon. ‘OTAs: The Coming Wave’ is one of the 10 trends that will be di [...]
