News
See You Soon: Destination experiences for the Next Generation
11/11/2024 by Luke Clark
How Mandai, AlUlA and Queenstown are transforming to face the future From a manmade attraction in urban Singapore to an ancient kingdom in the Saudi Arabian desert to how the tourism town of Queenstown is being transformed into a technology hub, destinations are rethinking how they face the future. [...]
How a Third Generation Hotelier is Transforming Dusit: From Wonderfruit to a Flagship Revival
11/11/2024 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
For Siradej, sustainability, serenity and spirituality are the three new S’s     When Siradej “Champ” Donavanik, a third-generation member of Thailand’s Dusit family, was given the opportunity to develop a plot of land in Chonburi, the path he opted for was surprising. [...]
To Infinity and Beyond: Travel’s New Frontiers are beyond sky-high
08/11/2024 by Luke Clark
Editor's note: From extending your longevity potential through health tourism, to exploring the outer limits of existence with a journey to space, the travel industry is back in the business of pushing its new frontiers out ever further, as Luke Clark explores. Higher, faster, further and deeper [...]
Tech vs bed bugs. Rail Europe expansion on track. Plain sailing with SITA. More
08/11/2024 by Ian Jarrett
Tech takes on bed bugs Helsinki-based Valpas, which claims to be the only travel platform for bed bug safe and non-toxic stays, is tackling an itchy problem for hotels and their guests. The company has unveiled plans to grow the number of beds in hotels using the Valpas ‘hospitality standard� [...]
Dreamers, Gamblers, Promoters and Makers: Imagining the Future of Travel Tech
07/11/2024 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
In Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, Stevie Nicks sings, “Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions, I keep my visions to myself, It's only me who wants to wrap around your dreams, And have you any dreams you'd like to sell? Dreams of loneliness …” You get the drift. Well, in travel, it’s [...]
Gambler, Promoter or Maker? How Klook’s Ethan Lin Defines the Next Era of Travel Entrepreneurship
07/11/2024 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
When you look at Ethan Lin, CEO and co-founder of Klook, you might wonder: is he a gambler, a promoter, or a maker – the three archetypes described by Thayer Ventures’ Chris Hemmeter in this article, when describing the evolution of the travel entrepreneur over the last two decades. (See related [...]
From Gamblers to Makers: How entrepreneurship in travel has evolved over two decades
07/11/2024 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
"Someone's always playing corporation games… we just want to dance here, someone stole the stage." Starship's iconic line from We Built This City could be an anthem for the travel industry, which has faced its own corporate games, disruptions, and rebirths over the last two decades. The industr [...]
Profitability push in Southeast Asia’s digital economy delivers 2.5X profits in two years as businesses focus on monetisation
05/11/2024 by WiT
Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company released the 9th edition of the e-Conomy SEA repot - Profits on the Rise, Harnessing SEA’s Advantage today. For the first time, the report examines the health of the digital economy through the lens of profit. Key players made significant strides towards pro [...]
Airlines demand up 18.5% in APAC, reaches September all-time high globally
04/11/2024 by WiT
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for September 2024 global passenger demand with the following highlights: Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 7.1% compared to September 2023, an all-time high for September. Total capacity, measu [...]
Booking Holdings’ connected trip transactions jump 40% year over year in Q3
04/11/2024 by Morgan Hines
Booking Holdings is locked in on its mission to create the connected trip - something it has been talking about for more than five years - and artificial intelligence will be a critical part of that continued journey, CEO Glenn Fogel shared on the company’s third quarter earnings call. “We [...]