Q1 growth slows for vacation rentals as Expedia Group realigns business for long-term
A deceleration in gross bookings in Expedia Group’s alternative accommodations business captured much of the attention on the company’s call with analysts to discuss its first-quarter earnings report.Vrbo’s gross bookings were up 5% in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quar [...]
WiT Europe puts spotlight on two markets for the future, Asia and Middle East
In two weeks’ time, WiT will be back in Amsterdam, putting the spotlight on Asia and for the first time, Middle East. For companies looking for new growth, these two regions are critical for the future.
In the past four months, we have held events in Malaysia, Dubai and Seoul and one thing’ [...]
Record European fintech Series A funding for Checkout.com
Checkout.com, the global payment solutions provider, has raised $230m in what is Europe’s largest fintech Series A round ever, and globally the third largest fintech Series A round of all time.
Although in its seventh year of business, this is the first time it has reached out to outside i [...]
The Wrap: Marriott expands into home-sharing business with launch of vacation rental platform
In the news: Hotels take the spotlight with Marriott making a foray in home rentals, and two partnerships – Amadeus/Restel and Amex/Booking.com – offering wider choice of accommodations to customers
Hotels: Marriott expands into home-sharing business with launch of vacation rental platform
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Letter from Seoul: Travel market has all the makings of a K-drama like Mr Sunshine
Someone once asked me why WiT was in Seoul. My answers were simple. It is the second largest outbound market in Asia, after China. Consumers are changing faster than traditional travel players. Into that vacuum has entered global OTAs and local startups that are rewriting the rules of the game.
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Ctrip boosts ownership of MakeMyTrip after Naspers swap
Ctrip has increased its shareholding in India’s MakeMyTrip to 49 percent after Naspers, a South African Internet giant, swapped out its MakeMyTrip shares for 5.6 percent of Ctrip.
“We are grateful for the unstinting support Naspers has provided us over the last couple of years. We have worked w [...]
Grab invests in Singapore’s logistics company Ninja Van, forms partnership
Grab, fresh on the heels of adding four services in a bid to evolve from ride-hailing app to super app, announced it has invested in and formed a "strategic partnership" with Singapore-based logistics services provider Ninja Van.
Terms of
the deal have not been disclosed.
The partnership
see [...]
Helicopter ride-sharing pioneer Ascent flying high
Ride-sharing has gone up to the skies with newcomer Ascent joining the fray with a pioneering concept – helicopter ride-sharing.
The Singapore-based startup, founded last year, has already seen some initial success in Philippines where it started its service earlier this month with support fro [...]
Spoiler alert. GOT Season 8: No one dies – yet, just like online travel
War chests have been
replenished, battle moves have been made, welcome to travel’s own GOT (Game of
Online Travel) Season 2019
If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you will know the first two episodes have largely been helping us to catch up on the story, and none of the main characters has died [...]
The Wrap: Lost in translation in Japan? No worries, Miko’s here to help
In the news: Focus is on Japan this week with a virtual travel concierge to help tourists explore the country, a All Nippon Airways-OpenJaw partnership, and travel giant JTB's debut at ITB China to promote sports tourism
Chatbots: Lost in translation in Japan? No worries, Miko’s here to help
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