Leah Lee: Building hospitality that flows like water
When South Korean hotelier Leah Lee, CEO of Trinity D&C, first applied for a job at the Michelberger boutique hotel in Berlin, she was asked for a quote which defined her. She submitted “Be water, my friend”. The Bruce Lee mantra became her passport into hospitality, and years later, it re [...]
Building the future of air supply: Kelvin Fu’s global vision for AeroHub
When Kelvin Fu speaks about building, he doesn’t just mean companies. The AeroHub co-founder talks like an engineer, weaving systems, networks, and connections into every answer. “I cannot stop building,” he says. “Whether it’s companies, partnerships, or even transportation systems, I’m [...]
From Bengkulu to the boardroom: Caesar Indra on Traveloka’s start, resets and future impact | Conversations On Turning 20
Editor's note:
The interview was conducted while Caesar Indra was still serving as Traveloka president. The company confirmed that he stepped down on Aug 1. The leadership team, led by Founder and CEO Ferry Unardi, will remain focused on driving Traveloka's growth as the leading travel platfo [...]
China’s Umetrip: A revival or a reboot?
When the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and 37 Chinese carriers – pretty much all of them – announced the launch of a unified direct ticket sales platform — embedded in the popular Civil Aviation Information app “Umetrip” — it immediately drew parallels to past airline-le [...]
Premiere | Online Travel in Asia: The Untold Story (Chapters 1 – 4)
Reflecting on the history of online travel while celebrating the future of things to come.
As the world counted down to the year 2000, headlines warned of Y2K chaos — crashing computers, frozen clocks, a world on pause. For Yeoh Siew Hoon, Founder of WiT, David Bowie’s Changes became the soundt [...]
From chrome to current: How Singapore Sidecars is charging into the future
On a humid Singapore morning, deep in the basement of a luxury hotel, Simon Wong is preparing to launch something he’s been quietly building for six years – an electric sidecar fleet. For the co-founder of Singapore Sidecars, the retro-chic ride that’s become a magnet for celebrities and curio [...]
Viral is cheap. Value takes time. Why indie influencers matter now more than ever
“We're not the big fish,” said Klook Kreator Amer Ridzuan, in a video promoting his speaking slot at WiT Indie. “We're the anchovies.”
Cue laughter, but the message was serious.
This wasn’t your typical influencer panel built on vanity metrics and polished promo reels. At WiT Indie, th [...]
Renaissance, luxury, freedom: The three faces of hospitality at WiT Indie
You couldn't find three more different hoteliers if you tried but Chris Ong, Doris Goh Nixon Chin, sharing their stories at WiT Indie in Penang, share one thing in common – they are each driven by a common mission to create spaces that matter to today’s travellers.
One wants to bring about a [...]
From Taiwan, with new dreams and aspirations
How a new wave of travel founders is reimagining Taiwan’s role in global travel
At WiT Indie in Penang, a heartfelt panel unfolded, not just about business, but about identity, optimism, and grit. Titled “From Taiwan, With New Dreams and Aspirations,” the session explored how a new generation [...]
Founders on fire: Indie spirit, big markets, bigger dreams
At WiT Indie, five startup founders took the stage, each tackling a different challenge in travel and tech. What they shared: courage, creativity, and a relentless drive to build from the ground up.
What do a lawyer-turned-AR entrepreneur, a molecular biologist-turned-cargo software builder, a th [...]
