Japan’s largest credit card issuer selects Hopper to power new travel booking portal
Following recent partnership announcements with Lotte Card in Korea and Air Asia MOVE, HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions) has sealed an agreement with Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., Ltd. (SMCC), the credit card company of SMBC Group and the largest credit card issuer in Japan, to create a travel loyalt [...]
One founder’s bid to reduce dependence on Google amid drop in traffic
Reeling from the drops in organic traffic his two websites, Travel.jp, a Japanese travel metasearch and guide site, and Trip101, a travel guide promoting unique stays and experiences, have sustained as a result of the updates made by Google search since the third quarter last year, Kei Shibata is re [...]
Meet the rock star astronauts behind COMO’s Space Camps
How space tech can help life on earth – mission behind “Space For A Better World”
So, how do you get from singing with Ringo Starr on the “Vertical Man” album to managing Buzz Aldrin, the second man to land on the Moon, to becoming an “Astronaut Wrangler” and working with veteran astr [...]
Travel as a “memory industry” driven by tech advancements
The experts came together at Phocuswright Europe to talk about travel tech trends around the world, things like generative artificial intelligence, machine learning and the metaverse.
So, it might have seemed jarring when one of the panelists on Center Stage defined travel in terms that evoke pho [...]
The impact of visa-free travel on ASEAN this summer, and how travel brands can capitalise
While visa-free access removes one barrier, other factors such as marketing efforts, infrastructure, and overall destination appeal are crucial in attracting tourists, says expert.
According to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, the recovery of international tourism fell short of expectat [...]
Perfect match for HBX and PerfectStay. Smailing and TA Network team-up. Union Pay’s summer deals. More.
HBX, Perfect Stay get personal
HBX Group is accelerating the global rollout of HBX Group and PerfectStay curated travel experiences to a wider selection of clients, enabling them to offer monetisable travel experiences directly to their customers.
Since 2023, HBX Group has been collaborating w [...]
Four markets, four approaches – lessons on how to unlock opportunities in Africa, North Asia, ASEAN and Middle East
WiT Europe puts spotlight on four regions investing in travel and tech
Four markets with growth promise and opportunities – how do you choose between them? Well, during the WiT Europe track at Phocuswright, the audience was taken on a tour of Africa, North Asia, South-east Asia, Middle East and A [...]
TV shopping giant Japanet acquires senior travel specialist Yuko Yuko
“Considerable synergy” between the two companies, says Yuko Yuko's Wakako Tokuda
Japan’s largest home shopping company, Japanet Holdings, has acquired Yuko Yuko Holdings and Yuko Yuko Net, a travel company specialising in the senior ryokan and onsen market, in a deal [...]
Singapore’s heritage champion honoured; Prime Minister says “better story telling” needed
Mrs Pamelia Lee (second left) flanked by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Melissa Ow, CEO of Singapore Tourism Board. With them is chairman of the STB, Olivier Lim.
In accepting the Lifetime Achievement For Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award at the Singapore Tourism Awards last week, [...]
Wine was the lure; “hotels without strangers” is the vision for Howard Ho
How Japan’s Section L uses tech and talent to create “fellowship among guests” at its apartment-hotels
When Howard Ho was 18 and deciding which university to apply to, he chose hotel school “because I learned that I could take a wines course and drink wine in class e [...]
