Letter from Madrid: Humans must do what technology cannot
We arrived in Madrid on a Sunday, the last day of the Gay Pride weekend in which we were told two million people descended on the city. Across from the Westin Palace, a protest was being staged.
The hotel doorman shrugged his shoulders when I asked what they were protesting about. “Happens all [...]
The Wrap: An innovative way to explore Amsterdam – with a luggage tag
In the news: KLM’s smart luggage tag guide, AirAsia's latest offering for corporate travellers, AAPA’s call for closer collaboration between governments and aviation industry, Sabre’s new shopping API
DESTINATION: An innovative way to explore Amsterdam - with a luggage tag
If you [...]
Why the European Commission’s fine on Google matters to hotels
Google has been hit with a hefty 2.42 billion euro fine by the European Commission after the regulator ruled that the search giant was employing unfair practices by promoting its own shopping comparison service at the top of search results. According to the Commission, "Google has abused its market [...]
Who is upfront? Woman, Man, Mouse or Machine?
This is a guest blog by Timothy O'Neil-Dunne, managing partner at T2Impact and co-founder of Air Black Box.
We all know there is supposed to be someone competent upfront when we fly. A lot of what I do is about travel technology, and I spend a lot of time looking at the issues of how technol [...]
Backstreet Academy and Seabin get a boost from Booking.com
Backstreet Academy has clinched the top grant of €400,000 from Booking.com’s first accelerator programme for startups in sustainable tourism, Booking.com Booster.
After three weeks of workshops and intensive coaching, which started last month in Amsterdam, the 10 teams of finalists pitched [...]
Letter from Porto: Jewels of the Duoro and gold in the silver market
I am on my first river cruise. As I write this, our ship, Queen Isabel, has just crossed the deepest lock in Europe, the Carrapatelo Dam, at 35 metres. It’s quite an amazing experience, watching your boat rise to meet the other side of the river, and you marvel at the engineering feats that have m [...]
The Wrap: Self-service technologies boost passenger satisfaction during the airline journey
This week's focus is on SITA’s new survey on passenger IT trends and the partnership between Flight Centre and Airbnb
AVIATION: Self-service technologies boost passenger satisfaction during the airline journey
When we travel we hope to go through all the ‘formalities’ at the airpor [...]
When in Japan, do as Japanese do – how to maintain “chowa” as Japan opens door to “minpaku” accommodation
As Japan gears up for inbound growth – 40m visitors by 2020 – one growing concern is the maintaining of “chowa” (harmony) between tourists and residents as a previously-closed country opens its doors wide to tourism.
After all, across the globe, there is a trend of destinations fighting [...]
Next Story reimagines urban spaces with Kafnu, the vertical village
Next Story Group, formerly Silver Needle Hospitality, will be launching two spaces in Taipei and Hong Kong under a new brand, Kafnu, by year end. Seeking to reimagine urban spaces through technology and story, the company says the new spaces will synthesise “the best aspects of co-working, co-livi [...]
The Wrap: Corporate Traveller merges with FCM Travel Solutions in Asia
This week we see the restructuring of two travel companies in Asia to better market to the growing travel demand in the region, and feature new products from Travelport and TripAdvisor.
CORPORATE TRAVEL: CORPORATE TRAVELLER MERGES WITH FCM TRAVEL SOLUTIONS IN ASIA
The Flight Centre Travel [...]
