From cruises to soba tours, experiences on fire
“The tours and activities sector is having a breakout moment.” That’s how Yuki Hayashi, CTO of VELTRA, opened panel on “Tours & Activities On A Rising Tide” at WiT Japan & North Asia 2025. And judging by the numbers and ideas flying across the stage, he’s not exaggerating.
Tou [...]
From points to personalisation: New trends shaping online travel in Japan
At WiT Japan & North Asia 2025, a panel discussion featuring leaders from Booking.com, Agoda, and travel fintech startup Heymax revealed how the online travel game in Japan is being reshaped by younger travellers, AI-powered personalisation, and a rising demand for authenticity and connection.
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flyadeal joins AlFursan. Agoda’s 20th sale success. Dynamic pricing is in. QiYouJi, TA Network go luxe B2B. More.
flyadeal takes off with AlFursan
Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flyadeal has officially joined AlFursan, the loyalty programme of its sister airline Saudia, offering members more flexibility to earn and redeem miles across a growing network of domestic and international destinations. Announced a [...]
Big bets, bold moves: Investors double down on Middle East’s travel startup future
In a region undergoing massive economic transformation, the Middle East’s travel sector is becoming fertile ground for venture bets – from Umrah companions and cargo startups to AI-led personalisation.
At the WiT Phocuswright Middle East panel moderated by Phocuswright Managing Director Pete Co [...]
Deep Kalra on surviving the fires, changing the rules and dreaming of travel 2045 | 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 [...]
Redefining luxury: COMO’s Doris Goh on the rise of experiential, aspirational, and purposeful travel
From truffle hunting in Tuscany to charting weather ships in the Arctic, COMO’s commercial head shares why the future of luxury isn’t about opulence, it’s about intention.
When Doris Goh talks about luxury, it’s not about chandeliers or thread counts – it’s about truffle grounds in Tus [...]
Staging the Local: How CloudJoi Powers the Arts with Tech, Data—and Heart
“It’s not just about ticketing. We built CloudJoi to make the entire arts ecosystem visible, discoverable, and sellable.” – Kevin Teh, COO.
CloudJoi’s rise is a case study in how local event tech can become destination infrastructure. As showcased at Travel Tech Thursdays KL Volume 4, t [...]
Letter from Barcelona: Rebalancing tourism in the age of protest
On the weekend after Phocuswright Europe, thousands of protestors across southern Europe took to the streets to demonstrate their unhappiness over overtourism. “Your holidays, my misery,” they chanted in Barcelona, as they held up slogans such as “mass tourism kills the city” and “their gr [...]
Not first but fast followers: Michael Cawley on Ryanair’s tech playbook, OTA rapprochement & regulatory realities
Michael Cawley may be best known for his long tenure as Deputy CEO and COO of Ryanair, but his thinking continues to influence not just aviation, but also how we see technology, regulation, and the distribution battleground in Europe.
In a wide-ranging interview at Phocuswright Europe, Cawley lai [...]
Attractions lag in tech. Dorsett x TA Network. Stay22 taps Agoda. Cruise fairs still work. AI tops Google.
New report reveals digital lag among big attractions, missed opportunities
A new report from Arival, in partnership with GetYourGuide, reveals a surprising tech gap among the world's top 50 visitor attractions, which collectively generate an estimated $20 billion annually. Despite their scale, ma [...]
