Private equity firm Creador acquires hospitality marketplace MG Group
B2B hospitality marketplace MG Group has been acquired by Creador, a Southeast Asia-based private equity firm for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition sets up Indonesia-based MG Group, which claims to have a network of 350,000 accommodation suppliers and 8,000 buyers, for global expansion, a [...]
“Overtourism needs to be fixed, we’re so over with metaverse”: More predictions for 2025
Year In Review 2024, Looking Ahead To 2025, Part 3
New years always begin with such anticipation while we end each year with a tinge of nostalgia, a mood of reflection and sometimes, a sigh of relief that another year is over. Well, this is it – we’re coming to the end of 2024 and as we wind do [...]
Fail Fast, Succeed Sooner: Inside Booking.com’s experimentation strategy with Adrienne Enggist
Imagine this: you’re digging in search of treasure, only to realise after hours of toil that the map you’ve been following is upside down. For Adrienne Enggist, Senior Director of Product - Customer Experience & Platforms at Booking.com, this “Indiana Jones moment” is a metaphor for inno [...]
Beyond IPO success: The untapped potential of 400 million Indian travellers
ixigo's journey to becoming a travel-tech powerhouse reached a major milestone with its successful IPO, a testament to the company's approach and deep understanding of India's travel landscape. At the helm of ixigo’s innovation is Aloke Bajpai, Chairman, Managing Director, and Group CEO, who has n [...]
Rise of Silent Travel and Micro-Sabbaticals: More predictions for 2025
Year In Review 2024, Looking Ahead To 2025, Part 2
New years always begin with such anticipation while we end each year with a tinge of nostalgia, a mood of reflection and sometimes, a sigh of relief that another year is over. Well, this is it – we’re coming to the end of 2024 and as we wind do [...]
Hindsight is 2024 | Our top 12 stories of the year
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on a year filled with innovation, challenges, and pivotal moments in the Asia Pacific travel tech scene. From the rapid evolution of AI-driven travel tools to shifts in traveller behavior and emerging trends shaping the way we experience the world; th [...]
Letter from Penang: Some repetitive tasks should not be replaced by AI
When Eric Chong of Green Acres, Penang, suggested we spend a morning harvesting cloves, I jumped at the chance to detach from the wired world – if only for a little while. It wasn’t just for me, though. I was also looking for something to get two Gen Alpha kids out of their YouTube bubble and in [...]
Ready for UK’s ETA? Find a basketball court worldwide. Tokyo’s Taxis without drivers. More.
UK’s ETA just weeks away
Most overseas visitors to the UK will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from 8 January 2025. Without one, there is a risk that passengers heading for the UK could be denied boarding. This includes infants and children.
To receive an ETA, travellers must [...]
Kayak’s Steve Hafner likens travel search to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Twenty years after founding Kayak with Paul English, Steve Hafner remains resolute that there is a future for travel search, even while acknowledging the growth limitations due to the dominance of Google in search and traffic acquisition.“People need a place to compare prices,” he said in an exe [...]
Takaya Shinozuka: Disrupting Japan’s travel tech with punk rock spirit
In the world of Japanese travel startups, Takaya Shinozuka stands out. The founder and CEO of Reiwa Travel, Shinozuka is not only reshaping the travel tech landscape in Japan but also embodying a spirit of rebellion and innovation inspired by his punk rock roots.
Speaking at WiT Seoul, the entrep [...]
