The Wrap: HomeToGo buys Tripping.com, its largest US competitor
In the news: HomeToGo’s purchase of Tripping.com, record year for Japan’s tourism, launch of Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme
Vacation rentals: HomeToGo buys Tripping.com, its largest US competitor
Tripping has more than 10 million properties listed on its site.
Berlin-based HomeToGo, [...]
Travelstop, out to fix corporate travel, expands to seven new markets
Travelstop – an AI-powered SaaS platform for business travel and automated expense reporting – has launched in seven new markets, to consolidate its presence in Asia.
The startup, which launched in September and has raised $1.2 million in seed funding in 2018 led by SeedPlus, declared its e [...]
Chinese tourists are flocking to islands. Here’s why
Due to rapid urbanisation in China the conception of leisure for many Chinese is escaping to an island, leading to a growing demand for island vacations. Although China has a long coastline it is not dotted with beaches, and the rare ones are often overcrowded during holiday seasons; so many travel [...]
The Wrap: De Schepper joins Amadeus to take charge of online travel and APAC region
In the news: New role at Amadeus for Mieke De Schepper, Klook and Italy’s CoopCulture team up, holiday quickies from AirAsia
People: De Schepper joins Amadeus to take charge of online travel and APAC region
De Schepper to lead online travel for Amadeus
Amadeus has appointed Mieke De Sch [...]
Cybersecurity takes top investment priority in air traffic industry, according to SITA
Airports and airlines are amongst travel’s most rigorous when it comes to physical security checks – from baggage scans, restrictions on liquids, and random passenger searches. However, the development of technology in the air industry has meant that threats to safety are no longer just physica [...]
The Wrap: AirAsia abolishes ‘klia2 fee’ for flights out of Kuala Lumpur
In the news: Airlines in focus with AirAsia removing a passenger fee to maintain its low fare stance while Indonesia’s Lion Air is charging for checked baggage, and a ‘young’ Cambodia Airways is looking to expand its network through partnership.
Airlines: AirAsia abolishes 'klia2 fe [...]
2019 – the bridge to something new. Will it be fat years, winter or a fundamental cultural shift?
In his interview on BBC’s World Book Club last month, Chinese author Chan Koonchung spoke about “the importance of the year ending with a 9”.
“Next year (2019) is an important year because 1949 was the beginning of the People’s Republic so it’s the 70th anniversary and we have other [...]
How Alila achieved “zero waste to landfill” in Bali: What else can independent hotels do
After pledging “zero waste to landfill” over two years ago, Alila Hotels & Resorts has achieved its goal across all four of its Bali properties and plans to take and adapt the model to its other hotels.
“It’s quite complex to actually get yourself to ‘zero waste to landfill’,” [...]
What Singaporeans want from a holiday home rental
What do Singaporean travellers look for when renting holiday accommodation? It seems they want a ‘home away from home’ judging from their choice of the top three amenities in a rental – kitchen, air-conditioning and WiFi access.
A washing machine and being kid-friendly wrapped up the trave [...]
Defiance by design and the big themes for 2019. Happy new year
After a year of intense travelling, it seems fitting to end my letters with a missive from my home island of Penang. If there’s one place that has been transformed by travel, this is it.
In my lifetime, I’ve seen it go through what I call the three ages of tourism – the first wave, that of [...]
