Continuing our annual round-up where we ask our industry friends about the lessons and words from 2022 and what they are looking forward to in the new year, as well as the words they will embrace in the new year.
Eric Gnock Fah, COO & Co-founder, Klook
Looking back – one word to describe 2022
Nostalgic: Nostalgia is a beautiful feeling. It reminds us of the way things once were, the happiness that we experienced when we are able to meet up in person, do handshakes, give hugs
The biggest lesson you learnt from 2022
No virtual experience can outweigh real life / social experience, at least not for now
Best trip of 2022 – why
Phuket and Maya Bay – it was wonderful seeing travel coming back in a much more sustainable form
Looking forward – one word to describe 2023
Excitement
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2023?
9 (for reference we went with 8 for 2022)
What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Ensure that we have a balanced approach – driving growth while heightening efficiency
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2023?
As flight capacity increases across Asia Pacific, we will see even more cross border travel take place in 2023. We are excited to help these travelers seek new and old ways to travel and enjoy themselves, creating new moments and experiences with their loved ones.
What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2023?
Hiring the best of the best
What’s the most exciting new tech you’re keeping your eye on?
Decentralised digital IDs and how that will shape future travel
What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2023?
Resilience
The (holiday) trip you’re most anticipating in 2023
Hitting the slopes in Japan
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
The Matrix (had to re-watch it in preparation for the panel at WiT Singapore in October 2022)
Min Yoon, CEO, Tidesquare
Looking back – one word to describe 2022
Resume
The biggest lesson you learnt from 2022
It is not over until it’s over.
Best trip of 2022 – why
Trip to Singapore for WIT, the first oversea trip since the pandemic, great to meet old friends again and see how world is living with Covid-19.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2023
Beginning of the Endgame
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2023?
7
What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Direct connectivity with suppliers
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2023?
North Asian market which still has not been opened or recovered yet due to the regulations
What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2023?
Recruiting and managing employee relationships
What’s the most exciting new tech you’re keeping your eye on?
Personalisation tech
What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2023?
Empathy
The (holiday) trip you’re most anticipating in 2023
Hopefully back to Nepal & Himalayas
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
“How to Talk to A Science Denier: Conversations with Flat Earthers, Climate Deniers, and Others Who Defy Reason” by Lee Mcintyre
Christine Tan, Commercial Director, ASEAN, Yanolja Cloud
Looking back – one word to describe 2022
Exhausting
The biggest lesson you learnt from 2022
Life doesn’t give you what you want, it gives you what you need.
Best trip of 2022 – why
USA. We proudly watched our daughter performed with confidence at Berklee and she literally grew up overnight!
Looking forward – one word to describe 2023
New
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2023?
8
What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Strategising and laying the foundation for market entry
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2023?
ASEAN and global expansion
What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2023?
Partnerships
What’s the most exciting new tech you’re keeping your eye on?
AI and metaverse
What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2023?
Choice
The (holiday) trip you’re most anticipating in 2023
South Africa
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Andrew Dixon, Accidental Hotelier, Nikoi/Cempedak Islands
Looking back – one word to describe 2022
Yipee
The biggest lesson you learnt from 2022
Re-opening takes a lot of work
Best trip of 2022 – why
Kenya – amazing landscapes, extraordinary wildlife and beautiful people
Looking forward – one word to describe 2023
Nervous optimism (sorry two words)
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2023?
8/10
What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Rising costs
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2023?
Improve marketing effort
What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2023?
Developing more unique guest experiences
What’s the most exciting new tech you’re keeping your eye on?
IOT particularly around measuring resource efficiency
What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2023?
Conservation
The (holiday) trip you’re most anticipating in 2023
The one I have yet to book!
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
Netflix Wirecard documentary
Mary Li, CEO & Founder, Atlas
Looking back – one word to describe 2022
Adapt
The biggest lesson you learnt from 2022
Hiring right people
Best trip of 2022 – why
Feb 21, 2022, I went to Siem Reap with a new friend. This was the first trip for me in the past two years, it also became the first journey I faced the post-covid recovery. This trip helped me to realise there are more valuable things in the world than personal business achievements, such as friendships, and people connections.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2023
Unpredictable
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2023?
5
What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Embrace the change
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2023?
Data product commercialisation
What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2023?
Charity
What’s the most exciting new tech you’re keeping your eye on?
Web 3
What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2023?
Inclusiveness
The (holiday) trip you’re most anticipating in 2023
Back to China to have Chinese New Year with my parents
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
I like to watch the Chinese Comedy series name 脱口秀大会 since I have not been back to China for so long. It is very popular among young Chinese. It’s about a group of girls actively performing comedy on the stage and they talk about their parents, work, boss, lockdown life, and relationships with a special black sense of humour and strong Chinese language skills.
