Reflections of 2018 and Predictions for 2019, Part 1
As we come to the close of 2018, we asked some of our industry peers to give us their take on the year that's passed and to stare into the crystal ball and make predictions about the one ahead. Read on to see what travel trends they find most exciting (and boring), what they predict the biggest gam [...]
GuestReady positions itself to drive consolidation in short-term rental market
Short-term rental management service company GuestReady has been in full throttle, growing its portfolio worldwide through acquisitions and taking on the challenge to be a driving force in the consolidation of the supply end of this industry.
“On the supply side, the market is highly fra [...]
Singtel Innov8 leads A$22m Series B in Australia’s Data Republic with SIA taking a stake
Sydney-based tech startup Data Republic has raised A$22 million (US$16.1 million) in Series B funding to accelerate its expansion in Asia.
The round was led by Singtel Innov8, the corporate venture arm of Singtel, Singapore’s leading communications technology group. Singapore Airlines came in a [...]
Bear Luxe Japan launches B2B portal to address luxury travel market
In an effort to address Japan’s growing luxury tourism market, Bear Luxe Japan – an online platform and community of luxury travel suppliers and international buyers – has launched a B2B membership portal to better communicate, exchange services and develop partnerships between suppliers and [...]
Klook enters strategic partnership with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Tours and activities aggregator, Klook has entered a strategic partnership with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts to boost each guest’s stay by granting them access to its inventory of in-destination experiences. In exchange, Klook will be the tours and activities provider of choice, for the internati [...]
From Odisha to Bay Area, how Ritesh Agarwal built OYO Rooms into a unicorn
If you believe that like leaders, entrepreneurs are either born or they are made, then Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, belongs to the former.
Growing up in the second most undeveloped district of India in Rayagada, Odisha, the young Ritesh tried his hand at many businesses including [...]
Cloud-based e-ticketing platform, GlobalTix, closes S$12.5M funding round
GlobalTix – a cloud-based e-ticketing and B2B marketing platform, with a specific focus on digitalising tickets for tourist attractions – has just raised a S$12.5 million investment round, led by Singapore-based VC firm, Tin Men Capital.
GlobalTix was founded by brothers Chan Chee Kong (COO) [...]
Letter from Berlin: Brexit woes, hard truths about aviation and hail the good guys of globalisation
Flying across from Cardiff to Berlin via Amsterdam over the weekend of the Brexit negotiations made me mindful of how fragile and uncertain the social, political and economic landscape of Europe is.
As I read the headlines – how the Europeans have agreed to the Brexit deal and now Prime Ministe [...]
Letter from Los Angeles: Of last mile mobility, teenage dreams and Chinese ambitions
The day I landed in Los Angeles, there was a heavy smell of smoke in the air. The California wildfires were raging and the winds were blowing smoke towards the city.
It didn’t stop the city’s residents from getting out and about. The LA Live area was teeming with crowds. A Lakers game was on, [...]
Uncovering stories of startups in Asia Part 2: Of size, investments and restrictive policies
Startups from China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Nepal and Israel took to the stage at the WiT Bootcamp held in conjunction with WiT Singapore 2018 conference last month to share their stories and the state of the startup ecosystem in their countries.
In the second part of the report we h [...]
