APAC leads global airline demand growth as industry eyes $30.5b in profits for 2024
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released a positive forecast for the global airline industry's profitability in 2024, which also marks an improvement compared to the predictions made in June and December of 2023.
However, the report also emphasises that the industry is st [...]
‘Air conditioning’ no.1 must-have vacation amenity for 83% of Singaporeans
A recent study by Booking.com highlights some pretty interesting travel preferences among Singaporean families, such as a whopping 83% of surveyees consider air conditioning the most essential amenity when booking accommodations.
Booking.com explains that this finding underscores a broader tren [...]
Asia-Pacific charts 32.1% surge in airline demand, despite China and Japan slump
According to The International Air Transport Association (IATA), in April 2024, total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), increased by 11.0% compared to April 2023. The total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), rose by 9.6% year-on-year, resulting in [...]
Letter from Shanghai: Of Mona Lisa, Gravitational Arena and Innovationism
The last time I was in Shanghai was in October 2019, when I attended Trip.com Group’s 20th anniversary party. I recall it felt like a rock concert, almost like a coming out party as the group declared its ambitions to grow into a global giant as well as be the champion for Chinese inbound.
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Emirates flies with Spotnana. Expedia powers Cathay. Swiipr eases disruption. SITA goes swimming. More.
Heading out to the best real-life experiences
Headout has acquired the team behind start-up Dabble to help build a generation of AI-powered travel experiences for Headout users.
Dabble, founded by Neil Mathew, Prasenjit Mukherjee and Yan Ma, “sits at the intersection of AI, computer vision and [...]
With “innovationism” as its new philosophy, Trip.com Group comes roaring back
Goal to be No 1 flight OTA in five years; robust growth driven by higher-tier members and youths
Trip.com Group is back and if you ever had any doubts about its resurgence and ambitions, well, those were swept away by the mighty and impressive show of force it put on for its Envision 2024 Global Pa [...]
42% travellers in Asia and Middle East say sustainable choices can’t reverse damage, 30% downplay climate change
Hong Kong recognised as a sustainable getaway destination for 2024
Booking.com has published its annual sustainable travel report, offering insights from over 31,000 travellers across 34 countries and territories, including Hong Kong. The findings reveal that while 83% of travellers consider sustai [...]
As JTB returns to profit, Eijiro Yamakita talks about emotion in age of AI and investments in future
It was interesting that when asked which human quality they’d like to improve on as we hurtle into the age of Generative AI, travel leaders at WiT Japan & North Asia cited “emotional intelligence”, “empathy”, “listening” and “patience” among their answers.
Eijiro Yamakita, P [...]
Latin America’s largest fintech bank launches travel portal powered by HTS
Nubank Ultravioleta, the largest fintech bank in Latin America, has announced the official launch of NuViagens, a travel portal powered by Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS). The platform is set to provide Nubank’s 100 million customers with the ability to book air tickets, hotels, and access trave [...]
Why Melanie de Souza finds AIUla fulfilling and what’s behind “Forever Revitalising”
First brand campaign to showcase Saudi’s luxury heritage destination to the world
Nearly five years into her role as Executive Director Destination Marketing, at the Royal Commission of AlUla, and Melanie de Souza says “it’s been the most fulfilling chapter in my career”.
De Souza, who s [...]
