Startups
Chain4Travel, founded by three veterans, raises Sfr4.3m to build blockchain platform
26/05/2022 by WiT
CHAIN4TRAVEL, founded by three travel veterans, has raised seed funding of Sfr4.3 million for the development of its blockchain-based travel platform, known as Camino, as well as chase growth for the company. The Switzerland-based business combines the experience and expertise of Ralf Usbeck, who [...]
Elizabeth Liau: Marrying travel with scent and stories
19/05/2022 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Creating a luxury niche fragrance brand around destinations not to be sniffed at YOU could say it was her nose for travel and stories that led her to create her own  luxury niche fragrance company built around her favourite places in Asia. That, and love for her mother who passed away in 2018. [...]
The long and winding road that led to Simard
10/05/2022 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
Founders of Winding Tree behind Web3 solution to solve corporate travel pain points WINDING Tree, the non-profit blockchain decentralised travel marketplace, had just gone live with a couple of airlines towards the end of 2019 when Covid hit and brought the project to a standstill. “The silver [...]
Pace breaks into travel, Shangri-La makes first move into BNPL
20/04/2022 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
SHANGRI-LA Hotels and Resorts in Malaysia has signed a partnership with BNPL startup, Pace, the first for the hotel group to delve into the Buy Now Pay Later space and for Pace, its first break into travel and hospitality. WiT speaks to Turochas ‘T’ Fuad, founder & CEO, Pace and Katie Robert [...]
The Wrap: Accor’s distribution deal with Traveloka, Bear Luxe Japan tie-up with Sabre, Cebu Pacific-Singapore renewed partnership
13/04/2022 by WiT
THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology sector – new partnerships, product launches, aviation industry updates, innovative solutions, and more … Accor expands global distribution footprint in partnership with Traveloka Travellers now have access to Accor properties in 1 [...]
“Celebrate the difference” as a different VELTRA emerges from the pandemic
05/04/2022 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
World home cuisine, crowd funding, B2B ticketing solution – all part of moves to go beyond travel VELTRA, Japan’s leading tours and activities player, rolled out a new brand and corporate identity this week to mark its 10th anniversary and although it says the timing had nothing to do with the [...]
BNPL operator Pace acquires fintech startup Rely
30/03/2022 by WiT
PACE Enterprise (Pace), a Singapore-based fintech solution company that allows customers to 'Buy Now Pay Later' (BNPL),has acquired the assets of competitor BNPL startup Rely. The purchase price of the acquisition was not disclosed. Pace, founded in early 2021, has raised USD40 million Series [...]
Rethink of hospitality/real estate and the rise of digital nomads – two big changes driven by the pandemic
29/03/2022 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
“The total restructuring and rethink of accommodation real estate” and “the rise of digital nomads” will be two of the biggest changes coming out of the pandemic, according to two leading investors who spoke at The Bridge Series, Episode 1, organised by WiT and Phocuswright. When asked by [...]
10 years and counting, Traveloka “firing on all cylinders” to ride on recovery
23/03/2022 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
From meta-search to lifestyle superapp as it adds services from food delivery to Buy Now Pay Later THERE'S no disputing the fact that Traveloka, Indonesia’s homegrown travel unicorn, has come a long way in the 10 years it’s been around. What started out as a flight meta-search in CEO and co- [...]
How travel is turning the Great Resignation into the Great Renewal
17/03/2022 by Yeoh Siew Hoon
“Best time to have a front row seat to travel's rebound and transformation” Workation programmes, Unlimited Time Pay Off, Joy Allowances, Remote Work – these are some of the practices being rolled out by online travel brands as they adjust to life changed by Covid, and a talent pool that is a [...]