The Wrap: Amadeus pilots first VR travel search and booking service
In the news: Amadeus’ VR booking service, new premium classification for Salam Standard, Qualtrics’ survey on managing traveller experience
TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: AMADEUS PILOTS FIRST VR TRAVEL SEARCH AND BOOKING SERVICE
Navitaire, which Amadeus acquired in January last year, is testing a [...]
Travellers to Malaysia rely on reviews to pick hotels
Most travellers are influenced by three factors when it comes to booking accommodation: price, ratings/scores of accommodation on a review site, and proximity to key attractions (not necessarily in that order).
For example, almost all visitors (95%) to Malaysia are influenced by price, while 91% [...]
Letter from Penang: Beyond food to tech, heritage and startups
I have in my Dropbox a food guide to Penang. It saves me time whenever a friend tells me, “Hey I am going to Penang, what shall I eat and where?”
The problem with Penang is the good food is found in places which I don’t even know the name of, just the location – for example, right across [...]
AirAsia strengthens ancillary portfolio with purchase of travel planning startup Touristly for US$2.6m
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 [...]
Heritage Race heads to Melbourne for some coffee and culture
The Heritage Race is headed to Melbourne this May, after making runs in Singapore, Bangkok and Kuching.
The first to be held in Australia, the race aims to unearth local stories for good while doing good at the same time. This event will support and raise funds for Orange Sky Laundry and Shower w [...]
Expedia’s first Innovation Lab in Asia will be beach-head for mobile learning
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
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 [...]
The Wrap: Sabre redesigns online booking tool GetThere, optimised for road warriors
In the news: New look for GetThere, easier bus booking with Amadeus, restructured management team at FCM Travel, ‘handy’ smartphone with hotel stay
TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: SABRE REDESIGNS ONLINE BOOKING TOOL GETTHERE, OPTIMISED FOR ROAD WARRIORS
Sabre has revamped its travel management solu [...]
Northstar acquires conference series and publications from Schneider Publishing
Northstar Travel Group, parent of WIT, has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of publications SportsTravel and Association News, as well as the conference series, TEAMS Conference + Expo and Meetings Quest from Schneider Publishing.
The purchase also includes the rights to the Shamro [...]
Special Report: No slowdown in Malaysia’s outbound travel despite weak ringgit
The Malaysian ringgit may be tumbling, prices of essentials in the country may be rising, and many in the country’s population of 31 million may be cutting down on spending, but one thing hasn’t changed – travel.
As one friend said: “I can reduce the number of dresses I buy or stop upgrad [...]
