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 the evolution of online travel and technology.
We ask them to look back on the past and their early days, reflect on the present and why this moment is pivotal for online travel and get them to imagine the future, the next 20.
This special WiT Studio series, “Conversations On Turning 20”, is the collective story of WiT.
As a Chinese saying goes, 以古为鉴，可以知兴替
“By using history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of things.”
Episode 9: Christine Tan, Vice President, Sales, Asia Pacific, Lighthouse
Christine Tan, a veteran at the crossroads of hospitality tech and distribution, shares a front-row view of how hotel distribution has transformed over two decades – and where it’s heading next.
Key Discussion Points:
- The Biggest Shift: Real-Time, Dynamic Pricing
Hospitality has moved from static rates and long lead times to real-time inventory and dynamic pricing. What was once an aspiration in 2005 is now the industry norm. - The Rise of Direct Booking and Smarter Hotels
Hotels today are armed with better technology, data-driven insights, and advanced marketing tools to compete head-on with intermediaries — and they’re getting much better at owning the customer relationship. - The Evolution of OTAs
Online Travel Agencies aren’t standing still — they’re evolving too, leveraging AI for personalization and fighting even harder for market share. It’s a battle of tech, distribution, and customer loyalty. - The Road Ahead: AI and Automation Take Center Stage
Over the next 3-5 years, expect AI and automation to play pivotal roles in pricing optimization, guest personalization, and distribution strategy refinement. Strategic hotel-platform partnerships will become critical. - The Power Struggle: Who Owns the Customer?
Hotels are investing heavily in first-party data and loyalty strategies to shift the balance from indirect (OTA-driven) to direct booking channels — a trend accelerated by COVID-19 and showing no signs of slowing. - A Timeless Truth: Tech Must Align with Business Goals
Whether in 2005 or 2025, success still hinges on understanding the customer, leveraging the right data, and making smart tech investments that serve clear business objectives.
Don’t miss this deep dive into two decades of change and a bold look ahead at the future of hospitality distribution.
