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Hassle-free airport security. Japan’s easy restaurant booking. Counting flamingos in Botswana. More.
28/06/2024 by Ian Jarrett
Airport security without the hassle The Airport Authority Hong Kong is introducing a smart security screening system at Hong Kong International Airport. The new system will be put into service across all terminals in phases from July. Passengers using the new smart security screening channels [...]
Asians vacation-deprived and need to adopt a Boomer mindset, says new Expedia study
21/06/2024 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
Singapore 5th most vacation-deprived country globally while Japan’s utilisation of vacation days ranks lowest in the world Expedia has released the 24th edition of its global Vacation Deprivation study, revealing insights into the work-life balance of over 11,000 workers from the Asia-Pacific reg [...]
Inclusive properties up by 200% in APAC, says new study
21/06/2024 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
70% of LGBTQ+ travellers seek travel inspiration from LGBTQ+ pop culture. Booking.com has released the fourth edition of its annual global LGBTQ+ travel research, highlighting key trends, experiences and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ travellers, especially those from the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.  [...]
Jane’s Tours Singapore pivots to private groups and excursions
13/06/2024 by WiT
Pandemic forced a rethink to adapt to changing trends It often takes a foreigner to appreciate what locals take for granted about their countries and no one has been more passionate about showing off and sharing Singapore’s heritage, culture and story to foreign visitors and locals alike than Ja [...]
42% travellers in Asia and Middle East say sustainable choices can’t reverse damage, 30% downplay climate change
30/05/2024 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
Hong Kong recognised as a sustainable getaway destination for 2024 Booking.com has published its annual sustainable travel report, offering insights from over 31,000 travellers across 34 countries and territories, including Hong Kong. The findings reveal that while 83% of travellers consider sustai [...]
Why Melanie de Souza finds AIUla fulfilling and what’s behind “Forever Revitalising”
28/05/2024 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
First brand campaign to showcase Saudi’s luxury heritage destination to the world Nearly five years into her role as Executive Director Destination Marketing, at the Royal Commission of AlUla, and Melanie de Souza says “it’s been the most fulfilling chapter in my career”. De Souza, who s [...]
What makes the perfect remote work destination?
28/05/2024 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur can focus on safety while Singapore can benefit from providing a more welcoming environment for remote workers, data says Remote, a company specialising in building, managing, and supporting globally distributed workforces, recently released its annual list of the Best Des [...]
The luxuries of human interaction in travel and hospitality
23/05/2024 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
Anyone who’s been on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, any given podcast platform or any bookstore in the last decade has heard or seen the works of Simon Sinek. He’s a leadership coach, motivational speaker, podcaster and bestselling author of several books including ‘The Infinite Game’, and he r [...]
The Symphony of Humans and Machines: A travel CTO’s balancing act
07/05/2024 by Timothy O'Neil-Dunne
At the Phocuswright WiT Middle East summit in Dubai, held May 3, 2024, a panel of four senior CTOs discussed the critical issue of AI’s interface to humans. Timothy O’Neil-Dunne provides this summary.   In the ever-evolving world of travel technology, CTOs stand at the precipice of a [...]
Hostels are already relatively sustainable – so why not make it official?
26/04/2024 by Arvindh Yuvaraj
Asian hostel bookings represent 25% of Hostelworld’s traffic, second only to Europe, with Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia doubling year-on-year. Hostelworld, in collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), recently launched a new sustainability framework called the 'Staircase [...]