It’s a go! Korean Air-Asiana merger holds big promise for Korea travel
The merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, which has received the final go-ahead from the US regulatory authorities, will create huge opportunities for the Korean travel industry, said Bo Young Song, senior vice president, passenger business division, Korean Air.
Speaking at WiT Seoul, he said [...]
KKday secures about US$70 million to expand global reach via M&A, strategic partnerships
Travel experience platform accelerates growth across the Asia-Pacific region through AI investments, active M&A strategy, and partnerships in key markets
KKday announced that it has raised about $70 million in funding, marking a significant milestone in the company's global expansion strate [...]
All-inclusive travel is booming. Travel partners should take advantage. (Sponsored)
About the author: Greg Schulze is the Chief Commercial Officer at Expedia Group
All-inclusive holidays have exploded in popularity in recent years, with more travelers booking all-inclusive packages now than ever before. Since 2019, the all-inclusive demand on Expedia and Hotels.com has grown [...]
Letter from Seoul: A snowy backdrop to outbound trends, AI innovations and a search for community
Caught in the first snowfall in Seoul, Yeoh Siew Hoon has time to thaw out her brains while the plane is being de-iced on the tarmac to reflect on the key takeaways from WiT Seoul 2024.
The Koreans believe that first snowfall is auspicious. If this is true, then Seoul’s travel industry is in fo [...]
Fast Forward: Where tours & activities will take us in a decade
Editor’s Note: Remember back when we used to plan a decade ahead? Luke Clark does: and thanks to some WiT enabled rose-tinted glasses, he takes a look at some of the trends driving tours and activities into the next decade and beyond.
Bill Gates is believed to be responsible for the truism that [...]
Southeast Asia’s tech sector at pivotal moment for value creation
Asia Partners’ Oliver Rippel Says Travel Will Serve as Foundational Sector
Southeast Asia’s travel tech sector is at a pivotal moment for tech-driven value creation. Speaking at WiT Singapore, Oliver Rippel, co-founder and partner at Asia Partners, says, “We believe that Southeast Asia’s ti [...]
Japan-easy shopping. Hotel app for jet lag. 2025 revenue management. More
Japan-easy shopping launch
Japanese luxury goods store Matsuya is approaching its 100th anniversary with a thoroughly modern approach to retail.
Matsuya Ginza is the first Japanese department store to offer global customers a “click and collect” service, including tax refund.
Customers ca [...]
Nostalgia and spontaneous connections lead 2025 travel trends in Asia
Amadeus has announced the findings of its Travel Trends for 2025 report, in collaboration with travel forecasting agency Globetrender. The report highlights five trends poised to shape the future of global travel, with Asia playing a pivotal role in driving innovation and growth in the tourism secto [...]
Rise in direct sales and low cost carriers are keeping intermediaries on their toes
The airline industry is undergoing a significant shift as major airlines ramp up their efforts to sell directly to travellers, in an attempt to bypass intermediaries like online travel agencies (OTAs) and Global Distribution Systems (GDS).
At the same time, low cost carriers (LCCs) are expanding [...]
Too much data? Agoda’s approach to learning, making mistakes and creativity
How much time does a tech company allocate for learning and experimentation in an age of rapid tech advancement? This is a question Agoda addresses every day, according to its Chief Technology Officer, Idan Zalzberg. In the WiT Studio, Zalzberg shared how Agoda is shifting its view on customer exper [...]
