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 [...]
Content, commerce, and community are pillars of Jiha Jung’s Tripbtoz | WiT Studio
Dropping by the WiT Studio recently, Tripbtoz founder Jiha Jung shared the unique philosophy behind his travel platform, which is successfully challenging industry giants by blending content, commerce, and community. Jung emphasizes that these are not separate pillars but an interconnected ecosystem [...]
Out of TOURISE: Visa by profile, traveller safety among key initiatives
Saudi's bid to unite consumption economy and to elevate tourism to its fair play
It was the final day of TOURISE 2025. The three-day inaugural global travel event organised by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism was winding to a close but even then, the corridors were still full of people, the energy [...]
Sonu Shivdasani: A renewal and new beginning with Sosei
From barefoot luxury to mindful rebirth, the founder of Six Senses and Soneva reflects on his mother’s lack of love, letting go, healing, and creating again, in an interview with Yeoh Siew Hoon (Founder, WiT) on the HICAP stage in Singapore.
When I first met Sonu Shivdasani in the early 1990s to [...]
Agoda on Samsung Wallet. Protect Group’s offline refunds. SmartRyde x Amadeus. Sabre’s GenAI concierge. More.
Agoda and Samsung partner to bring travel booking to Samsung Wallet users
Agoda has partnered with Samsung to integrate hotel and travel deals directly into Samsung Wallet, offering users in South Korea and the U.S. a simpler and more connected booking experience. From October 18, Samsung Wallet us [...]
Hotel CEOs on AI, distribution, and the next battle for direct
For years, hotel CEOs have talked about the power struggle between brands and online travel agencies (OTAs). But now, a new force is reshaping that battleground – Artificial Intelligence.
During the “Views from the Boardroom” panel at the HICAP conference held in Singapore in October, leader [...]
The Next 20: What will shape travel’s new era?
Global Travel Tech Thinktank identifies trust among 3 key battlegrounds - here's a summary
If the past 20 years were about putting travel online, the next 20 will be about rebuilding travel entirely — powered by AI, reshaped by demographics, and tested by global risks we can no longer ignore.
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Agoda’s Omri Morgenshtern on staying relentless and building velocity
When Johannes Reck, CEO of GetYourGuide, sat down with Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of Agoda at the former’s Unlocked Asia Summit in Bangkok in late October, it wasn’t just a chat between two travel-tech leaders. It was a deep dive into what it takes to stay relevant – and relentless – in one [...]
