Regions
Travelogix eyes APAC and South Africa in bid for international expansion
17/02/2020 by WiT
Travel data management company, Travelogix has announced plans to expand in APAC and South Africa over the course of the next few months. This move follows its recent management buyout from Sweden-based Safeture AB last September. It aims to increase its international market share of its Analytix p [...]
“Unbloating” Expedia: Diller and Kern to breathe new life into group even though it will mean less life, more work for staff
14/02/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
For someone who excused himself in advance for being “raggy” (informal) because “I haven’t done this in a while”, Expedia Group chairman Barry Diller certainly knew how to capture attention with his comments in the company’s earning calls yesterday. Most of what he and his handp [...]
Amid cancellations and chaos, be brave, adjust to the new normal and take lessons from free diving
13/02/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Other than makers of face masks, hand sanitisers, toilet paper and instant noodles, it is hard to think of anyone who’s not been affected adversely by this global virus scare. Every day, my inbox is filled with news of events being cancelled or postponed – the biggest one of which was the M [...]
WiT Middle East Watch: Tunisian bike taxi startup gains momentum, Radisson sees RED in Middle East, Arab countries show strong demand for ITB Berlin
13/02/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Tunisian bike taxi startup gains momentum Tunisian bike taxi startup IntiGo has picked up momentum, having raised over $300,000 in funding from angel investors, reported MENAbytes. The startup had raised $300,000 three months ago when it launched. Founded by serial entrepreneur an [...]
MakeMyTrip reports strong earnings, management role changes and discusses coronavirus impact
13/02/2020 by WiT
MakeMyTrip, India’s largest online travel agency, announced a strong double-digit year-on-year increase in adjusted revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 to $206.7 million. During the company’s third quarter earnings call, it also announced that founder Deep Kalra has handed ove [...]
WiT South Korea Watch: Strong growth in online shopping, first Avani property in Busan, traditional heritage on show at Incheon airport
13/02/2020 by WiT
Highlights: Growing popularity of online shopping boost to retail e-commerce in wired South Korea, debut of Thailand-based Avani brand in Busan, Incheon Airport set to be showcase of Korean traditional heritage South Koreans’ love for online shopping behind retail e-commerce's robust growth [...]
2020 touted as a “year in recovery” for Singapore tourism in face of Corona virus scares
11/02/2020 by WiT
Riding off the back of four years of consecutive growth, the Singapore Tourism Board is bracing itself for a rough year, and has estimated that visitor arrivals could drop by 25 to 30%. In the midst of the Corona virus (2019-nCoV) crisis, multiple countries have released advisories dissuading t [...]
The Wrap: Cooperation not ‘arbitrary restrictions and blanket travel bans’ to deal with coronavirus: AAPA
10/02/2020 by WiT
News Roundup: Call by AAPA for cooperation and assurance of safe air travel over Covid-19 fears, JTB's-Agoda collaboration in powering new websites, AirAsia’s implementation of digital solutions to reduce carbon footprint;  Cooperation not ‘arbitrary restrictions and blanket travel ban [...]
It’s action-packed time in Middle East as Saudi opens up, consumers move to mobile, WorldExpo 2020 gets set to open
06/02/2020 by WiT
As WiT Middle East prepares to return to Dubai on April 7, it is clear the winds of change blowing through the region’s travel market have intensified with the opening up of Saudi Arabia in full swing, the continuing migration of consumers to mobile and, of course, the building up to WorldExpo 20 [...]
The positive outcomes to look forward to for travel, post-Wuhan
06/02/2020 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
As someone who tries to look at the bright side of life, I am convinced that there will be several positive outcomes from this virus scare that has left the entire travel industry reeling. Already, in Singapore, one of the first countries to be hit, I sense a return to some form of normalcy. Th [...]