Calling Travel Changemakers who built back better with tech
WiT collaborates with ATTIA to launch new awards
WiT (Web in Travel), Asia Pacific’s leading travel tech news and events platform, will launch an awards series, the Travel Changemakers Awards, at its signature conference in Singapore this year. The Awards aim to recognise travel innovators that h [...]
Penang bans homestays after a year of deliberation. Was it the right move?
“Housing areas are for residents. If you are holidaying, go to a hotel.”
Last year, Penang’s state government said that it would ban short-term rental homes or homestays in response to complaints by residents of such properties. After a year of will-they-won’t-they, Penang finally announced [...]
Newly launched Northstar Travel Today delivers daily travel scene snapshots to your inbox
“This new initiative is a uniquely Northstar-enabled creation, gathering our voices to paint a picture of the global travel industry.”
There’s a lot happening in the travel and hospitality space - markets are shifting, tourism is recovering, key markets are evolving. Technology is fundamental [...]
BritGPT is AI on roids; Unbundling travel insurance; Guinness World Records validates Travelport+
Brits put AI on “steroids”
The UK government plans to invest £900m in a cutting-edge supercomputer, as part of its new artificial intelligence (AI) strategy – a move will enable the country to build its own “BritGPT”.
Adam Harris, founder & CEO of Cloudbeds, which provides techno [...]
China, Experiences, Business Travel: Mastercard Economics Institute Reveals 2023 Travel Trends
AS more brands and institutions release data regarding travel trends for the rest of the year, one defining factor that’s bound to arise is the reentry of China in the travel scene.
Despite shaky economies the world over, people have been flooding to domestic and international destinations in [...]
How the metaverse will transform travel: McKinsey points to $800B industry by 2025
THE metaverse market is experiencing rapid growth and by 2025, is projected to reach a market size of approximately $800 billion, with estimates suggesting it could surpass $1 trillion by 2030, according to the McKinsey report, “Value Creation in Metaverse”.
The gaming industry is at the fore [...]
Singapore startup Cinewav brings immersive audio to Vivid Sydney for second year running
Visitors to Vivid Sydney, taking place in Sydney from May 26 to June 17, will be able to immerse themselves in a new kind of audio experience, thanks to the world-first, patented technology of Singapore start-up Cinewav.
The startup, whose technology synchronises audio between mobile phones and a [...]
Top of the WiT 24: Ready for China, understanding India, and Google ARCore digitises Singapore
Top Of The WiT is a grab of the trendiest news that happened this week in travel, tech and Asia - all condensed into a quick-and-easy nugget-sized podcast.
In this episode, listen to Juliana Kua's (Assistant Chief Executive, International Group, Singapore Tourism Board) take on the online travel [...]
Asian Development Bank charts impact of pandemic on Southeast Asia aviation industry
Southeast Asia's aviation industry has taken a significant hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an estimated loss of $17 billion in revenue in 2020, according to a report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). However, the ADB has proposed a range of strategies to aid in the post-pandemic recovery o [...]
Future of Extended Reality; eating “phygital” chocolate; Air NZ’s digital goals; More
McKinsey’s take on the future of XR in travel
McKinsey and Co, in an extensive new report, has posed the question, ‘Can travel go virtual’, can the travel industry grab a US$20 billion opportunity offered by the metaverse.
The answer? Yes, no and maybe.
McKinsey suggests it’s time for [...]
