Secondary cities, smoother visas and digital adoption dominate 2026 travel outlook
Digital travel platform Agoda has released its 2026 Travel Outlook Report, offering a data-driven analysis of the evolving travel landscape across Asia. Drawing on an extensive survey of Agoda customers in key Asia-Pacific markets, the report highlights shifts such as the rising popularity of second [...]
Daryl Lee on B2B’s AI moment and impact on rate parity and value
When Daryl Lee walked on stage for his first public appearance as Group CEO of Dida, he was only three days into the job, yet already crystal clear about what he had signed up for.
After eight years leading global expansion at WebBeds, Lee had made headlines for joining what many considered a fast [...]
Airline distribution and the role of aggregators in a fragmented future, with AeroHub’s Kelvin Fu | WiT Studio
Airline distribution is at a crossroads. The centralized Global Distribution Systems (GDS) is more fragmented, driven by NDC (New Distribution Capability) and direct distribution. In the WiT Studio, Kelvin Fu (CEO and Founder of AeroHub) weighs in on the direction of the industry. He asserts that di [...]
Meili’s McGearty: Rooting for a direct future that puts travellers first
“AI could tilt discovery against suppliers”, he warns at WiT Singapore
Mike McGearty, CEO and co-founder of Meili, believes the next decade of travel will be defined by direct relationships between suppliers and travellers – but not at the expense of balance across channels.
“There wil [...]
Emirates x OpenAI. MOVE adds VietJet. Osaka’s travel hypermarket. Digital-first luxury. Hotels breaking data laws?
Emirates partners with OpenAI, accelerating airline-wide AI adoption
Emirates has entered a partnership with OpenAI to deploy ChatGPT Enterprise and expand artificial intelligence capabilities across the airline, aiming to strengthen operations, solve complex commercial challenges and elevate the c [...]
Young punks to new guardians – Asia’s new kids return in style
Each of them was a previous Startup of the Year pitch winner at WiT. Since then, they have each gone on to build amazing companies, helping to bring even more global attention to this new Asian century.
Now, as the WiT Singapore preview noted, each is now preparing their bid to “take it to the ne [...]
Barry Diller: On truth, end of Google search and travel’s endurance
I’ve long been a fan of Barry Diller, so when he walked onto the Phocuswright Centre Stage in San Diego, 20 years after his last appearance, I was all agog with anticipation – as were the delegates in the room. Let’s just say it was the most packed session of the three-day event.
And so it [...]
Parallel revolutions: A nation and a platform in sprint mode
Saudi Arabia and Expedia showcased as twin stories of transformation at TOURISE
It was interesting to hear CNN’s Becky Anderson introduce her session with Saudi’s Vice Minister of Tourism, Princess Haifa Al Saud and Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin, as “a parallel story in leapfrogging”.
S [...]
Beyond margins, the new metrics behind tourism investments
In one of the most animated and layered conversations at TOURISE 2025, CNN’s Richard Quest masterfully steered a panel featuring HE Fahd bin Abdulmohsan Al-Rasheed, advisor in the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and Chairman of SCEG; Sébastien Bazin, CEO of Accor; Ferit Şahenk [...]
Veltra moves into wellness tourism via exclusive partnership with Trambellir
Veltra and Trambellir bet on the rise of "self-investment travel" and travellers upgrading themselves abroad.
Veltra has signed an exclusive agreement with medical and wellness booking platform Trambellir, marking a move into the expanding “wellness and beauty travel” segment. The partnership c [...]
