Expedia closing in on $100b as it aims to be world’s largest travel platform
Fifteen years after its first partners' conference, Expedia Group has re-named its annual gathering in Las Vegas to Explore because “it reflects who we have become and aspire to”.
Opening the event yesterday, which is being attended by more than 4,500 delegates, Mark Okerstrom, president and [...]
Asian wholesalers form alliance to “reshape the travel landscape”
Four major travel players in Asia have joined forces to form the OPP Alliance in its bid to “reshape the travel landscape” by sharing hotel and travel supply, exchanging technology resources/best practices and improving industry innovation.
The coalition said in a statement it also aims to pe [...]
Bear Luxe Japan launches B2B portal to address luxury travel market
In an effort to address Japan’s growing luxury tourism market, Bear Luxe Japan – an online platform and community of luxury travel suppliers and international buyers – has launched a B2B membership portal to better communicate, exchange services and develop partnerships between suppliers and [...]
The Wrap: Antarctica – the hottest new destination for Chinese travellers
In the news: Antarctica’s new playground for Chinese tourists, Troovo and Serko team up, Vistara’s renewed distribution deal
Travel: Antarctica – the hottest new destination for Chinese travellers
The breath-taking scenery of a frozen land, travelling to the southernmost continent [...]
From Odisha to Bay Area, how Ritesh Agarwal built OYO Rooms into a unicorn
If you believe that like leaders, entrepreneurs are either born or they are made, then Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, belongs to the former.
Growing up in the second most undeveloped district of India in Rayagada, Odisha, the young Ritesh tried his hand at many businesses including [...]
Letter from Berlin: Brexit woes, hard truths about aviation and hail the good guys of globalisation
Flying across from Cardiff to Berlin via Amsterdam over the weekend of the Brexit negotiations made me mindful of how fragile and uncertain the social, political and economic landscape of Europe is.
As I read the headlines – how the Europeans have agreed to the Brexit deal and now Prime Ministe [...]
The Wrap: China’s airports and airlines are increasing investment in IT with cybersecurity the top priority
In the news: IT investments by China's airports and airlines, report on worldwide airline ancillary revenue in 2018, live chat channel for hotels
Aviation: China’s airports and airlines are increasing investment in IT with cybersecurity the top priority
China’s aviation industry is ex [...]
Young, independent female travellers fuel growth of China’s outbound travel market
They are young, independent, adventurous, preferring to travel solo – these are the post-90s and post-00s women contributing to the rapid growth of outbound travel from China, according to the latest Ctrip and Mastercard 2018 Chinese Travel Consumer Report
The findings revealed that the proport [...]
Letter from Los Angeles: Of last mile mobility, teenage dreams and Chinese ambitions
The day I landed in Los Angeles, there was a heavy smell of smoke in the air. The California wildfires were raging and the winds were blowing smoke towards the city.
It didn’t stop the city’s residents from getting out and about. The LA Live area was teeming with crowds. A Lakers game was on, [...]
Uncovering stories of startups in Asia Part 2: Of size, investments and restrictive policies
Startups from China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Nepal and Israel took to the stage at the WiT Bootcamp held in conjunction with WiT Singapore 2018 conference last month to share their stories and the state of the startup ecosystem in their countries.
In the second part of the report we h [...]
