Seven startups advance to Grand Finals at WiT Singapore
Travel startup ecosystem is alive and well, say judges
THE travel startup ecosystem is alive and well, despite the ravages of the pandemic, concluded judges at the WiT/Phocuswright Global Startup Pitch held August 25, as they named seven startups to advance to the Grand Finals at WiT Singapore 2022 [...]
The Wrap: WeMo Scooter Launches RenTour, Airbnb vs rowdy guests, Sentosa wins Global Sustainable Tourism Council certification
WeMo RenTour goes electric
WeMo Scooter has launched WeMo RenTour, Taiwan’s first shared all-electric vehicle platform. WeMo RenTour has partnered with smart vehicle brands and rental companies to offer drivers with smart vehicle rentals and short-term leases.
WeMo RenTour’s first launch i [...]
Travellers seeking inclusive choices but not seeing enough in advertising
Expedia's new reports says 7 in 10 willing to pay for more inclusive choices
NEW data released by Expedia Group™ Media Solutions shows that seven in 10 consumers are willing to pay more when making a travel choice that is more inclusive to all types of travelers. Furthermore, 78% of consumers sai [...]
Omio raises $80m to fuel global expansion
GROUND transportation platform Omio has raised $80 million that it will use to create “a globally unified transportation network on a single digital platform.”
The funding comes from new investors Lazard Asset Management and Stack Capital Group as well as existing investors NEA, Temasek and f [...]
How Thailand’s “Elephant Whisperer” made it through the pandemic
When voluntourism disppeared, Elephant Nature Park got creative
SOCIAL media and a caring, connected community have largely been responsible for the smooth running of the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand, since it was established in 1996. So when Covid came along and broke the connectiv [...]
Agoda launches Eco Deals, inks pact with WWF Singapore
Agoda is launching Eco Deals with accommodation partners in five countries – Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore – to offer travellers between 5% and 15% discounts on their bookings.
For each booking, Agoda will contribute to WWF-Singapore’s marine conservation and fl [...]
Traveller confidence is high, so is interest in sustainability
But industry must give right information, otherwise “it’s disingenuous or meaningless”
THE three markets that are most interested in travelling are also the ones most interested in travelling sustainably, according to Booking.com’s inaugural APAC Traveler Confidence Index, shared at the OTA [...]
From “hilltribe lady” to “tea lady”: The making of Araksa
When inbound travel stopped, specialty tea making and community experiences flourished
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my career,” said Chananya Phataraprasit as she introduced me to the 17 (soon to be 18) types of speciality teas her Araksa Tea Garden in Chiang Mai is currently p [...]
Letter from Thailand: Take it slow, make it sustainable, be well – a destination in transition
I HAD waited more than two years for this moment and when it arrived, it was almost bitter sweet. This week, I got on a flight to Bangkok, a place I fell in love with at first sight decades ago and stayed in love with through the passage of time.
I had visualised it so hard – the moment when I [...]
As travel returns, more transparency needed for consumers to make sustainable choices
More than 68m travellers have opted for Skyscanner’s “Greener Choice”; Travalyst coalition working on standardised score
FRESH from attending his first physical airline conference, the CAPA Aviation Summit in Manchester, since the pandemic, Hugh Aitken, vice president of flights of Skyscanner [...]
