WIT 2017 Conference: Focus on what a person can be instead of do in a destination, says STB’s Lynette Pang
In August, Singapore launched a new tourism brand, going from Your Singapore to Passion Made Possible. The marketing move was a first for the country, in that it is manifested through a joint effort by two statutory boards — the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Economic Development Board (EDB [...]
Hotels can ride the co-working wave but they need to think of spaces differently
As technology eliminates the boundaries in our lives, lines are also being blurred how we think of and use spaces. Now, a new breed of co-working spaces are on the rise, designed to empower a new generation of workers.
Through collaboration and community, these are spaces that give artists a sen [...]
Letter from Singapore: 8 key takeaways on creating “Better Travel”
From opportunity markets to product innovations to new tech, a lot was discussed at this week’s WIT Conference in Singapore. Here are the eight key takeaways.
The Next Billion Users and it will all be mobile
Most of the major travel brands, from Facebook to Google to Airbnb, are eyei [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: How Asian hotel groups keep their home advantage in a changing world
Home grown independent, owner-controlled hotel groups are mushrooming in Asia, and are competing not only among themselves but also in a world of scale, consolidation and distribution power. How do they fend off the global competition? By localisation, personalisation and doing things differently, s [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: Over S$34,000 raised for the NVC Foundation, WIT’s Charity of Choice
As Day Two of WIT 2017 came to a close, the WIT Charity Auction successfully raised over S$34,000 for this year’s charity of choice, the Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) Foundation in the Philippines.
The NVC Foundation is a charity organisation based on nutrition and education for the poor [...]
GuestReady receives additional US$3m funding, acquires Easy Rental Services
Activity in the alternative accommodation space is picking up pace with GuestReady, a short-term rental management service, receiving a new round of funding.
The relatively young industry is already beginning to see consolidation as GuestReady also announced its acquisition of Easy Rental Service [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: Traditional hotels can stay relevant in era of alternative accommodation – get local
While mature markets are seeing a shift in hospitality from traditional hotels to alternative accommodations, in younger markets such as Indonesia, there are people whose first trips are already with alternative hotels.
Graham Hills, chief commercial officer, BeMyGuest, said: “It’s not ne [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: Cruise panel highlights Asia growth, emerging markets, technology
As Asia looks set to become the largest cruise market in the world, sea and river cruises companies said they have their eyes set on secondary cities in the region’s emerging markets.
Sean Treacy (right), managing director, Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean Cruises, said the market he finds “ [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: Ctrip’s CEO Jane Jie Sun talks female empowerment and baby tigers
The first day of WIT 2017 ended on a high during an intimate chat with Jane Jie Sun – CEO of Ctrip; arguably one of the most intriguing businesses in the travel landscape.
Sun gave a very open and honest account of her poor family background and how an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study ab [...]
WIT 2017 Conference: Rail is real (big) business
Rail travel is a huge business. The industry is estimated to be worth US$350 billion – about two-thirds the airline industry.
In India, for example, 90% of the population have never flown but everyone would have travelled by the railway — run and subsidised by the government.
Aloke Baj [...]
