MakeMyTrip raises $2.6B to buy back stake from Trip.com Group
India-based online travel agency MakeMyTrip (MMT) is raising more than $2.6 billion as it looks to buy back a stake owned by Trip.com Group.
MMT said it is raising the funds through a primary equity offering as well as convertible senior notes, following Trip.com Group's announcement last week [...]
Deep Kalra on surviving the fires, changing the rules and dreaming of travel 2045 | Conversations On Turning 20
When you get to the ripe young age of 20, you’re bound to collect lots of stories – not only about the past but lessons for the future.
As WiT marks its 20th year in 2025, we turn the spotlight on our community, our tribe pioneers and leaders, to tell their stories and share their views on th [...]
Redefining luxury: COMO’s Doris Goh on the rise of experiential, aspirational, and purposeful travel
From truffle hunting in Tuscany to charting weather ships in the Arctic, COMO’s commercial head shares why the future of luxury isn’t about opulence, it’s about intention.
When Doris Goh talks about luxury, it’s not about chandeliers or thread counts – it’s about truffle grounds in Tus [...]
Staging the Local: How CloudJoi Powers the Arts with Tech, Data—and Heart
“It’s not just about ticketing. We built CloudJoi to make the entire arts ecosystem visible, discoverable, and sellable.” – Kevin Teh, COO.
CloudJoi’s rise is a case study in how local event tech can become destination infrastructure. As showcased at Travel Tech Thursdays KL Volume 4, t [...]
Letter from Barcelona: Rebalancing tourism in the age of protest
On the weekend after Phocuswright Europe, thousands of protestors across southern Europe took to the streets to demonstrate their unhappiness over overtourism. “Your holidays, my misery,” they chanted in Barcelona, as they held up slogans such as “mass tourism kills the city” and “their gr [...]
80% of hotels still spend days on manual reports, says global benchmark report
Manual work still dominates despite the buzz around AI - highlighting both the tech gap and operational reality
The NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and its Hospitality Innovation Hub (HI Hub), in collaboration with RateGain Travel Technologies Li [...]
Not first but fast followers: Michael Cawley on Ryanair’s tech playbook, OTA rapprochement & regulatory realities
Michael Cawley may be best known for his long tenure as Deputy CEO and COO of Ryanair, but his thinking continues to influence not just aviation, but also how we see technology, regulation, and the distribution battleground in Europe.
In a wide-ranging interview at Phocuswright Europe, Cawley lai [...]
Attractions lag in tech. Dorsett x TA Network. Stay22 taps Agoda. Cruise fairs still work. AI tops Google.
New report reveals digital lag among big attractions, missed opportunities
A new report from Arival, in partnership with GetYourGuide, reveals a surprising tech gap among the world's top 50 visitor attractions, which collectively generate an estimated $20 billion annually. Despite their scale, ma [...]
UAE hits 94.8% safety score and 24% tourist growth from Asia
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is asserting its influence as a global tourism leader, marked by the historic election of Shaikha Al Nowais as the first female Secretary-General of UN Tourism. As the region garners international attention, data from Mabrian, the global travel intelligence company par [...]
Beyond the selfie queue: Japan’s overtourism challenge calls for data, dialogue, and decentralisation
As Japan races toward its goal of welcoming 60 million tourists annually, it faces a mounting dilemma – how to remain a dream destination without becoming a nightmare for its residents. At WiT Japan & North Asia 2025, a spirited panel moderated by Morris Sim of Montara Hospitality tackled the [...]
