Airbnb seems set up for hotel expansion, competition with OTAs
Airbnb is changing its service fee structure from split to single fee, potentially positioning the company to compete with online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia and Booking.com.
But not all affected will benefit. While it may give the short-term rental (STR) giant new opportunities to wi [...]
Unveiling “The Next 20” theme for WiT Singapore 2025, marking a bold new chapter in travel innovation
Asia’s leading travel tech event to explore the forces shaping the future of travel in the next two decades
Web in Travel (WiT), Asia’s premier travel technology conference, has announced its 2025 theme: The Next 20. Taking place 6-8 October 2025 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre [...]
Scoot expands global reach with Dohop-powered booking platform
Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), announced the launch of its virtual interline platform, developed in collaboration with travel solutions technology company Dohop. Dohop’s interline technology enables airlines to form flexible partnerships quickly, complementing traditio [...]
Online Travel In Asia: The Untold Story (Chapters 9 – Epilogue)
The online travel industry is entering its “third wave” – a new era shaped by AI, cloud, social commerce, and a traveller who expects everything seamlessly connected. Unlike the early days, when companies specialised in flights, hotels, or tours, today’s focus is on the “connected trip” [...]
ZUZU raises fresh capital, bets on AI to scale soul of indie hospitality
ZUZU Hospitality has raised US$5.9 million in a Series B extension round which includes long-time backer Wavemaker Growth, with participation from Velocity Ventures and other existing investors.
The Singapore-based startup, founded in 2017 by former Expedia executive Vikram Malhi, is positioni [...]
TikTok books hotels. Risky GPT. Trip.com’s AI planner. Google grows AI Mode.
Book hotels on TikTok
TikTok is expanding its push into e-commerce with a new integration that lets users book hotels directly through the app via Booking.com. Travellers in the US can now browse hotel landing pages featuring room rates, amenities, reviews, and nearby attractions, alongside TikTok [...]
Booking.com and hotels increasingly go their separate ways
Hotels are reporting a significant recent drop-off in sales from online travel agencies (OTAs), particularly Booking.com, after “leaning” away from them in recent years, alongside other broader industry trends.
The relationship with Booking.com has especially soured in Europe as the embattled [...]
From antelope to evolutionary explorer: Ho Kwon Ping on 30 years of Banyan and the next chapter in travel | Conversations On Turning 20
When you get to the ripe young age of 20, you’re bound to collect lots of stories – not only about the past but lessons for the future.
As WiT marks its 20th year in 2025, we turn the spotlight on our community, our tribe pioneers and leaders, to tell their stories and share their views on th [...]
Klook’s IPO. AI sharpens Agoda. United sues Kiwi. Gathern gets $72M. Yatra’s new AI.
Klook eyes $500M U.S. IPO amid market rebound
Klook has hired Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan to work on a potential U.S. initial public offering that could raise about $500 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The Hong Kong-based travel booking platform, backed by Sof [...]
Online Travel In Asia: The Untold Story (Chapters 5 – 8)
The next chapters of Online Travel in Asia: The Untold Story dive into the defining “moonshot moments” that changed the course of the travel tech industry. From Agoda’s acquisition by Priceline in 2007 to MakeMyTrip’s IPO in 2010, and Qunar’s $306 million sale to Baidu the following year, [...]