Sectors
Concerns raised as business travellers fall outside travel policy while home-sharing
20/04/2017 by WiT
As the popularity of home-sharing grows – spreading also to corporate travellers – companies are finding it more challenging to maintain compliance of travel policies. A study – Home-sharing and travel policies – a shifting landscape – by Global Business Travel Association in partnersh [...]
The Wrap: British Airways is investing £500m to boost customer travel experience
20/04/2017 by WiT
In the news: British Airways’ large investments in products and services,  Amadeus APAC’s enhanced team to drive airlines business, Tourico Holidays’ new push service AIRLINES: BRITISH AIRWAYS IS INVESTING £500M TO BOOST CUSTOMER TRAVEL EXPERIENCE British Airways has launched its [...]
AirAsia strengthens ancillary portfolio with purchase of travel planning startup Touristly for US$2.6m
19/04/2017 by WiT
Asia’s largest low cost carrier AirAsia has acquired a 50% stake in Malaysia-based online travel planner, Touristly, through an asset injection and loan deal valued at RM11.5 million (US$2.6 million). Launched in June 2015, Touristly describes itself as a “travel platform that helps trav [...]
How reward-U is aiming to be “Hong Kong’s everyday loyalty programme”
18/04/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
In putting together its reward-U loyalty programme, Hong Kong’s low cost carrier HK Express turned a couple of things on its head. One, members are rewarded for dollars spent, not miles flown. Two, it moved from an FFP (frequent flyer programme) to a lifestyle-based scheme, rewarding customer l [...]
Skyscanner says evolution from metasearch to marketplace the logical path to future distribution landscape
13/04/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Skyscanner has made its intentions clear: it is transitioning from just being a metasearch engine to becoming a marketplace with multiple storefronts, where travellers “can shop for a rich array of air fares with a seamless process from start to finish across any device”. Sounds like a logica [...]
It’s a Spanish welcome to metasearch for alternative accommodation
11/04/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Spanish tech company Hundredrooms has found a niche entering the metasearch space within the disparate alternative accommodation market in Europe. Establishing itself first within Spain in 2014, it has since branched out to Italy, Germany, France, Mexico and the U.K. It is soon to expand into the La [...]
Dara Khosrowshahi on pivotal leadership moments, confluence of 3Ms and being a tortured executive
12/04/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
In a catch-up over local coffee with Yeoh Siew Hoon, Dara Khosrowshahi, president and CEO of Expedia Inc, recalls his early stepping-back-in-leadership moments, and why it’s important to know where you are going, not just what you are doing. Plus, his thoughts on the confluence of the 3Ms and the [...]
Trends that matter In hospitality
10/04/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
What are the trends that matter in hospitality? In a one-on-one with WIT founder Yeoh Siew Hoon, Lorraine Sileo, vice president research, Phocuswright shared these insights at WIT Hospitality in Hong Kong  What are the biggest trends in hospitality Room revenue is on the rise, growing f [...]
Expedia’s first Innovation Lab in Asia will be beach-head for mobile learning
06/04/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
We sat in one room watching a man have sensors attached to his face – two above the eyebrows and a couple on his cheeks. The sensors, using Electromyography (EMG) technology, will tell us when he’s frustrated or delighted as he browses the Expedia website for his dream hotel. Turns out he’s [...]
Gibergues’ view of online travel: New trends being set in Asia, Skyscanner & Ctrip will bring marketplace model to the world
06/04/2017 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Having just spent three months based in its Asia offices, Sebastien Gibergues, Head of Leisure and Online Travel at Amadeus, is better able to appreciate the different way the Asia online travel market is developing compared to Europe and the US. “I also spent a lot of time in the US previously [...]