Hopper doubles down on HTS to power banks and credit cards to “build new space in travel”
It’s the market few saw coming, says co-founder Dakota Smith
With five partnerships with banks and credit cards in place in the US, Brazil, Australia, Japan and South Korea, Hopper is doubling down on growing HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions) as the next generation travel platform that will h [...]
The secret sauce of “char koay teow”, storytelling and indie travel businesses
AI, it seems, is creeping into everything. In a little eatery called Jiashi Cafe in a local neighbourhood in Penang, far from the madding tourist crowd, the young entrepreneurs running it offer “AI Fried Char Koay Teow”.
For anyone who’s been to Penang, you’ll know that “Char Koay Teow� [...]
HKIA gets smarter. Drone drama at Marina Bay. Sun and Moon rise with TA Network. More.
Smart travel, from home to gate at HKIA
The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has officially launched the world’s first Smartphone Express Bag Drop Service as part of its Flight Token smart technology.
The new service enables passengers to complete online check-in and scan their travel docume [...]
Sabah Convention Bureau is carving its niche with conservation, local values and state culture in mind
CEO, Noredah Othman, is focusing on quality over quantity by tapping into the local MICE industry
As the fairly new CEO of the Sabah Convention Bureau, Noredah Othman plans to use her knowledge of the East Malaysian state from a previous career to achieve the company’s goals. Speaking at the rece [...]
How Singapore’s Tribe Tours adds value to its tours with storytelling
Using AI to illustrate the “big story book” for toddlers for a new tour
For Tribe Tours, Singapore, storytelling is an absolutely essential element to staying relevant as a tour operator in a destination where, let’s face it, visitors don’t face much trouble in getting around. [...]
Singapore game, Hidden, makes the leap to New Zealand to gamify Maori stories
First overseas foray for WhatsApp-based game started during pandemic
Former journalist and data scientist, Lim Yee Hung, was twiddling his thumbs during the pandemic (like all of us) when during Singapore’s so-called “Circuit Breaker” – the period when people were asked to stay home an [...]
Swiipr vs Crowdstrike. Kanagawa calling digital nomads. Travel agents to the rescue. More.
Travel agents to the rescue
Searching and booking travel directly from travel providers has become more time-consuming and complicated than ever, according to Travelport’s 2024 State of Modern Retailing Report.
The report combines international independent research, cross-industry comparisons [...]
How many giants can Asia hold? Agoda’s Teja and Trip.com’s Xie on competition, expansion and making sense of new tech
Calling Trip.com Group and Agoda ‘industry giants’ would certainly be an understatement. Both companies have expanded rapidly over the last few years, dominating regional demographics and adding more verticals to their platforms while becoming one-stop booking shops for many travellers in the re [...]
Meet the 18 finalists of the 2024 Global Startup Pitch
Finals to be held August 15 to pick winners from four regions
Eighteen travel tech startups have been selected for the finals of the 2024 Global Startup Pitch. The competition, in its third year, is jointly produced by WiT and Phocuswright. The virtual event will be held on August 15.
Judges s [...]
Never been more exciting to be a storyteller in heritage and conservation, says Blue Mansion’s pioneer
New mission to make Fort Cornwallis, Penang, a must-visit, and not-boring, experience
For the psychologist-lecturer-turned-conservator-researcher, who pioneered story telling in Penang and brought the story of 19th century Chinese merchant Cheong Fatt Tze to life, through the Blue Mansion, ther [...]
