HotelQuickly to launch Blackberry app, sees spike in weekend bookings
HotelQuickly, the last minute booking app for Asia, will launch a Blackberry 10 version tomorrow at the Echelon conference in Singapore.The company, which is listed among the top 50 start-ups at the annual technology conference, hopes this will enable it to crack the corporate market and specific [...]
Imagine pop stars giving fans a virtual hug …
So in case you’re wondering more about the Ring-U project by Professor Adrian David Cheok and his team at Mixed Reality Lab at Keio Media University, Tokyo ... (article here)The project took about eight months to put together. It uses a Bluetooth 4.0 connection to smartphones, vibration motors [...]
The Wrap: Amadeus partners with Air Bagan, to support airline’s international expansion
In the news: Air Bagan partners with Amadeus, MAS' higher net loss for Q1 2013, Conrad Concierge app’s top requestsAmadeus partners with Air Bagan, to support airline’s international expansionAmadeus and Air Bagan, one of Myanmar’s leading airlines, have signed a global distribution agree [...]
The Barbell Effect: The rise of the consuming class in APAC
A new class of people – the “consuming class” – is making its appearance in the APAC region, and this will bring fundamental changes to both the upper and lower ends of the travel market.This Barbell Effect, the fourth factor identified in the Amadeus report,“Shaping the future of travel i [...]
Touch me, squeeze me, chat me – things you can do on the Internet
At last year’s WIT Conference in Singapore, Professor Adrian David Cheok spoke of being able to send senses over the Internet – smells, hugs and touches.Well, at WIT Japan, his students at the Mixed Reality Lab at Keio University demonstrated a prototype of a ring – called Ring U – that al [...]
Yatra claws out of ‘six months of shocks’ with new focus on hotels
For someone who says he’s been through “the toughest six months in our six-year history”, Dhruv Shringi, CEO & co-founder of Yatra, looked remarkably relaxed when I caught up with him in Shanghai.But then he is used to the hard knocks of life in an entrepreneur’s lane. And the last six [...]
Brand Karma University (BKU) launched in partnership with WIT
Remember Amy’s Baking Company Boutique & Bistro? After an unflattering portrayal on Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares TV show they were trolled and ridiculed by Reddit, Yelp, and Facebook altogether.But rather than responding with professionalism and grace they instead used their Facebook [...]
Ah, for ‘no more walls’ between Japan and foreign travellers – the time has come
I am sitting in a ryokan (Japanese inn) by the Pacific Ocean as I write this. The sun is just rising, the birds are flitting about in the early light of dawn, the beach is deserted, a contrast from yesterday afternoon when surfers were out riding the waves.Last night, we had an amazing dinner. In Ja [...]
Letter from Tokyo: Start-ups shaking up travel scene amid new optimism
I am writing this as I am listening to the start-ups pitching at our first WIT Japan Bootcamp in Tokyo while facilitating discussions – yes, we all have to multi-task these days.And I am amazed at the energy and enthusiasm in the room and among the entrepreneurs vying for the judges’ attention.I [...]
The Wrap: Singapore unbeaten as Asia’s top convention city for 11th year running.
In the news: Singapore’s top convention city, robust Q1 for AirAsia, Skyscanner partners Qyer, growth in international passengers for APAC airlinesSingapore unbeaten as Asia’s top convention city for 11th year runningDespite the rise of regional destinations offering the best state-of-the-sart [...]
