Regions
Niccolo and Marco Polo hotels are now known as Wharf Hotels
06/06/2017 by WiT
Two Hong Kong-based iconic hotel brands - Niccolo Hotels and Marco Polo Hotels are, from today (June 6), officially grouped as ‘Wharf Hotels’ under Wharf Hotels Management Limited, the management company for the hotel group. “This marks an exciting new chapter in the company’s evolution, [...]
Mobile shopping spend in Asia Pacific to surge this year, research reveals
07/06/2017 by WiT
‘Shop till you drop’ is a common phrase among most Asians as shopping is a favourite past time and, for some, an indispensable part of their life. With the ‘invasion’ of technology into so many aspects of our lives and the proliferation of mobile gadgets, shopping online has become very p [...]
Goodbye MISA Travel, “last of the Mohicans”
01/06/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
The revocation of the travel agency licence of MISA Travel on May 30 is indicative of the growing challenges facing traditional travel agencies in Singapore. In its advisory, the Singapore Tourism Board stated that the notice was served “as it has ceased to carry on the business of a travel age [...]
The Wrap: AirAsia on track to becoming a truly Asean airline
01/06/2017 by WiT
The focus this week is on AirAsia’s journey to becoming an Asean airline, and launch of feijipiao.co.nz to cater to Chinese travellers in Australiasia AIRLINES: AIRASIA ON TRACK TO BECOMING A TRULY ASEAN AIRLINE  AirAsia’s rapid expansion in the region is paving the way for it to beco [...]
JTB buys Kuoni, the Samurais fight back, get set for a fiery WIT Japan
31/05/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
The news of JTB Corporation acquiring all shares of Kuoni Global Travel Services, making it the world’s largest DMC, is yet another sign of the emergence of Asia travel brands on the global scene. As the Asia market grows in importance and scale, and their customers fan out across the world in [...]
Letter from Amsterdam Part 2: Fear of ghosts and bikes, and trends that rock in Asia
29/05/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
In Amsterdam, I stayed at the Grand Amrath Hotel. It’s reputed to be haunted. I didn’t know it because unlike 80% of travellers who read reviews before they book a hotel, I didn’t do any research. I stayed there because it was the hotel of choice for the Phocuswright team. It’s a very [...]
The Wrap: Is this the future of inflight service? A sneak preview from Air New Zealand
24/05/2017 by WiT
In the news: Air New Zealand’s vision of future inflight service, TripAdvisor's revamped iOS mobile app, flydubai in new partnerhips with Amadeus AIRLINES: IS THIS THE FUTURE OF INFLIGHT SERVICE? A SNEAK PREVIEW FROM AIR NEW ZEALAND On your next flight on Air New Zealand in the near fut [...]
Letter from Amsterdam: Fretting over Google, obsessing about data and customers and lessons from Lola
24/05/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
At Schiphol these days, they still give you free WiFi for an hour, but on the condition that you have to complete a survey. If you don’t wish to do that, then you can pay for premium access. It’s a fair exchange, I reckon. You shouldn’t get something for nothing and it is clear that travel [...]
Amadeus uses big data to help destinations in marketing
23/05/2017 by WiT
Amadeus is extending a helping hand to destination marketing organisations (DMOs) to improve their marketing campaigns with analysis of up-to-date travel data through Destination insight. This latest product from Amadeus’ Travel Intelligence division equips DMOs with timely insights into the co [...]
The Wrap: Flight Centre Travel Group expands footprint in Europe, acquires stake in 3Mundi
18/05/2017 by WiT
In the news: Flight Centre Travel Group’s acquisition of stake in 3Mundi, Deem's Intelligent Attach solution for corporate travel, YTL Hotels’ new portal for Singapore, communications solution for Star Cruises TRAVEL AGENCY: FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP EXPANDS FOOTPRINT IN EUROPE, ACQUIRES STA [...]