How AlUla is tackling seasonality and storytelling
“If you had told me a year ago that Banyan Tree and Habitas would be running 70-80% occupancy in April, I’d have laughed.”
That was Melanie de Souza, Executive Director of Destination Marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), reflecting on what she now sees as a turni [...]
What it takes to win in social: Be a pinball wizard, storyteller, experimenter
“If you think you know your customers, think again.”
That mic-drop moment came from Eason Zhang, TikTok’s Head of Strategic Apps, South-east Asia, during a spirited panel on how social media is redefining travel discovery, influence and commerce at the Preferred Global Conference 2025 in Sing [...]
From hashtag to hotel room: The evolution of the social food chain
What do a Saudi influencer-turned-travel agent, a Singaporean AI virtual girl named Rae, and a hashtag with 30 billion views have in common?
They are all living proof that the travel funnel is being flattened, and social media is the bulldozer.
In the session I ran on “Next Generation: Aspirat [...]
Tapping into Asia’s Traveller Economy: A growing force shaping consumer spend
When you earn miles by dining out, take a Grab to the airport, or use a rewards card while shopping, you’re already participating in what we call the Traveller Economy, even if you’re not currently traveling.
This shift is redefining how people think about travel around the world. It’s no l [...]
Japan’s strong rebound, Singapore’s softer inbound, and other trends driving tourism in APAC
Mastercard Economics Institute on Travel in 2025: Tokyo and Osaka top the list of summer hot spots while Nha Trang makes its debut, currency fluctuations are a key consideration for travellers
Asia-Pacific is home to eight of the world’s top 15 trending summer travel destinations, according to Tr [...]
From phone cards to payment cards: Visa’s Tania Platt on powering the Next Age of Travel
Tania Platt didn’t start in travel. She started in telecoms, selling international phone minutes – Mother’s Day and Ramadan were peak days – just as they are now in travel. That deep understanding of human connection and the friction in how it’s facilitated still drives her today in her ro [...]
WiT Queenstown to debut in July 2026: Where travel tech meets snow and adventure
WiT (Web in Travel), Asia Pacific’s leading travel tech media and events platform, will make its New Zealand debut with WiT Queenstown in July 2026, marking a milestone for the region as it aims to establish itself as a hub for travel and hospitality technology innovation.
The one-day event wil [...]
Timothy Hughes, the “Cranky Optimist” on travel, tragedy and comedy | 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 [...]
From beach to boardroom: How dnata Is future-proofing travel with heart and humility
In a candid conversation with Phocuswright’s Pete Comeau at WiT Phocuswright Middle East 2025, John Bevan, CEO of dnata Travel Group, reflects on leadership, legacy travel models, and the future that’s already arriving, but still needs a human touch.
The session started with snow and silence. [...]
Next-gen travel marketing is about Gen Z, sports tourism, and the future of advertising
“What AI is going to do is make personalisation better. But because travel is such an experience, people are still going to want to see and feel a little bit more before they just book.”
As technology evolves and younger generations assert their influence on the travel tech space, the world of [...]
