Fresh funding for online hotel booking start-up, SavvyMob
Bengaluru-based SavvyMob, an on-demand mobile marketplace for last minute hotel rooms in India, has closed a seed investment to further expand its product and to strengthen its technology team.The investment is led by Mohandas Pai’s Aarin Capital and includes members of prominent business houses i [...]
16 neighbourhoods to visit: Airbnb’s recommendations for 2016
In 2015, over 40 million people travelled and stayed in homes on Airbnb across 190 countries around the globe. The company analysed the travel patterns of these traveller and selected neighbourhoods that have gained momentum in the past year.The study, Airbnb Travel Trends Report: 16 Neighborhoods t [...]
Ctrip & MakeMyTrip: A union that sets tone for Fiery Monkey year
Some liken it to fulfilling what Admiral Zheng He, the great Chinese explorer, started in the 14th century when the eunuch mounted expeditionary voyages across the world, from Asia to Africa.Some see it as the awakening of Asia, a time when Asian giants have the ambition, appetite and, most importan [...]
The Wrap: Ascott expands reach in China through global portfolio listing on Alitrip
In the news: Ascott’s strategic partnership with Alitrip, Chinese airlines end ties with Qunar, strong passenger growth for APAC carriers Ascott expands reach in China through global portfolio listing on AlitripThe Ascott Ltd, wholly owned serviced residence business unit of Singapore based Capit [...]
WIT Hospitality makes its debut in Hong Kong this March
WIT will launch its first hospitality-focused conference in Hong Kong on March 22, 2016. The one-day event, themed “Reboot”, will be held at Hotel ICON.“With all the changes taking place in hotel distribution, marketing and technology, it is time for us to run an event that’s focused on this [...]
10 travel trends of Asian holidaymakers to watch out for
Tourism in Asia Pacific is growing steadily according to UNWTO World Tourism Barometer despite negative events in the region in the past year that includes the Southeast Asian haze, MERS in South Korea, a bomb blast in Bangkok and the currency fluctuation.Asian travellers are looking for fast, easy, [...]
Reboot of HK Express proves residents are hungry for low cost air travel and booking online
If there is one thing HK Express has proven, it’s that Hong Kong folks have an appetite for low cost air travel – that plus the fact that with the right incentive and marketing, residents of this densely populated city will also book online and direct.I caught up with CEO Andrew Cowen (below) on [...]
Happy 2016: What was over-hyped and what’s coming, Part 2
With the dawn of a new year, we ask a few of our industry leaders for what they felt was most over-hyped in the year that was, their prediction for 2016 and for good measure, we asked them their one wish for WIT. Timothy Hughes, Vice President Marketing, Agoda1. Most over-hyped trend of 2015Upper Fu [...]
The Wrap: Malaysia’s first shariah-compliant airline takes flight
In the news: Focus this week is on new developments in Malaysia - the country’s first shariah-compliant airline commences service, BookDoc partners with MyTeksi, Firefly codeshares with Malaysia Airlines Bhd.Malaysia’s first shariah-compliant airline takes flight The already crowded skies over M [...]
The Wrap: Carlson Rezidor expands in India with seven new hotels
In the news: Seven new hotels for Carlson Rezidor in India, Amadeus airline cloud-based tool, Christmas in AsiaCarlson Rezidor expands in India with seven new hotels Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is expanding across India with seven new hotels comprising 817 rooms in the northern Indian state of Jammu [...]
