Web In Travel

Thanks Luke Clark for this piece that gets to the heart and soul of what we try to do at Web In Travel - that travel tech need not be dry and all about data, but what drives it is the human heart, emotion and fun. And of course, music and dance, plus a charity rock concert to round it off. Thank you Robert Hecker Jesper Palmqvist James Marshall Ian Lien and Lada Shelkovnikova for rocking it for good. Next, WiT The Funk will have to go on the road with us. This is the first of a series of articles CP5 will be writing about “Next Generation” WiT Singapore. #petetownshend #mygeneration #thewho #witsingapore #nextgeneration #witforgood https://lnkd.in/gwdpwQyx

Are you curious about how Agoda's staying ahead in the customer acquisition game across #Asia? Get the inside story from Ittai Chorev, Chief Product Officer at Agoda, as he reveals the strategies that keep Agoda tuned into every trend and ready for every opportunity. No stone left unturned—no traveler left unbooked! #witsingapore #nextgeneration #traveltech #travelconference

Listen to Idan Zalzberg, Chief Technology Officer of Agoda, share how Agoda redefined itself by putting tech first. He underscores the shift from “a travel company with some tech” to “a tech company that does travel,” a transformation that began 10 years ago when he and his co-founders at Qlicka joined the Thailand-based OTA. #witsingapore #nextgeneration #traveltech #travelconference

Hear a short snippet of this face-off between Peng Sum Choe, CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, and Laura Houldsworth, Managing Director & Vice President, Asia Pacific Booking.com, with them discussing everything from repeat bookings vs. reach to commissions vs. customer retention, as both share sharp insights on navigating this partnership. Friends, Foes, or Fancy Partners? The call is yours. #witsingapore #nextgeneration #traveltech #travelconference

Last week, I had the incredible honor of representing Neoma on the global stage as APAC Scale-up Winner, competing alongside inspiring innovators in the travel and hospitality tech space. It was a privilege to showcase Neoma’s capabilities through our Gaia platform, designed to elevate guest experiences and operational efficiencies for our industry partners. This was also my first experience presenting to such a large, distinguished audience—a personal milestone I’ll always remember. I’m proud of pushing my limits and doing my best for my team. Congratulations to Hotel Treats, Hotel eCommerce on their People’s Choice win, and a heartfelt thank you to Phocuswright, Web In Travel, and JetBlue Ventures for this invaluable opportunity. #Gaia #Neoma #traveltech #hospitalityinnovation #GuestExperience #DigitalTransformation

These past two weeks have been a whirlwind, but in the most amazing way! 🌪️✨ Anna Sun pitched Nowadays (YC S23) at the Web In Travel conference in Singapore, the leading conference to foster and support the next generation of travel startups. So cool that she shared the stage with leaders of Booking.com, Trip.com, Agoda, Go City®, and Expedia Group! 🌏🚀 The best part — she won 1st place at the startup pitch!! 🏆 A decade ago, Klook had won this startup pitch competition, and they just celebrated their 10th anniversary with a platform valued at more than a billion dollars. 🌟 Thank you to WiT and Northstar Travel Group for being such a supportive community for founders, and we’re excited to be a part of the next generation of travel and hospitality trailblazers! 🙏 Thanks for rooting us on and see everyone at Phocuswright in Phoenix next month. Let me know if you’ll be there! 🌵📅 #nextgeneration #witsingapore #travel #phocuswright #northstar #nowadays #startup #travelconference

From locally farmed tomato poppers to plant-based dumplings, Pan Pacific Singapore brought together flavors from every corner of their culinary lineup—Hai Tien Lo, Keyaki Japanese Restaurant, and Pacific Emporium—to host a cocktail party as diverse as our crowd. With delegates from 28 countries savoring every bite, each dish offered a fresh take on familiar flavors, bringing together global influences and regional touches in each dish. The live DJ spun the tunes, the energy was next-gen, and the plates were pure perfection. We raised our glasses high to new ideas, fresh faces, and Pan Pacific’s flair for bringing sustainable bites to an international table at WiT Singapore 2024: Next Generation! #witsingapore #nextgeneration #traveltech #travelconference #networking #cocktailparty Pan Pacific Hotels Group

This week, we look at how WiT Singapore 2024 highlighted the role of AI and tech in the travel industry, with leaders like Agoda's CTO Idan Zalzberg emphasising the shift from tech as a cost to a value driver, and Booking.com's Adrienne Marie E. focusing on empathetic, AI-driven user experiences. Experience-led travel, where journeys are crafted around unique activities, also stood out, as noted by Seek Sophie's Jacinta Lim. Meanwhile, Expedia Group's Unpack ’25 report shows Singaporeans leaning toward “Goods Getaways” and “Detour Destinations,” preferring unique products and quieter locales. Sustainability remains a complex motivation, with Trip.com Group’s report revealing that 96.4% of Singaporean travellers consider sustainable options, yet only 41% would pay more, especially as costs rise. Read more ⤵

This year's WiT theme "Next Gen" - what is it? On Innovation Day, a day before Main Stage Day 1, the agenda included getting a pool of under 35s networking, brainstorming and exchanging ideas, of course with the oldies present. 😄 I wasn't there but my under 35s said it was inspiring and interesting being a first time 'WiT-ter'. WiT by Night was held at the the Aloes ballroom at Oasia Resort Sentosa. I had the opportunity to hear some fantastic space travel stories from Marvyn Lim Seng and met with award winning green and iconic hotel, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, CEO Peng Sum Choe. Our Assistant Chief Executive, Michael MA, welcomed about 60 invited delegates at the ThinkTank session. He shared how we have also embraced tech for travel services and experiences, while not always a big success, were definitely lessons we learnt from trying and to refine our strategies, and not embark on tech for tech sake. WiT by Night ended with an Opening Party at iFly Singapore with their founder, Lawrence Koh, sharing his journey to "Anyone can fly". Delegates also jumped on the flying experience. Excited to hear what's new in this year's WiT. Bringing my next Gen leaders (under 35s) into the picture as they will make some cool decisions for my travel experiences in the near future. Xiaowei Poh Junnie Tran Junhan Heng Samion Ong Jarine Wong Linwei Chong Si Pei Low Web In Travel 2024

A thrill-seeker and former Commando, Lawrence Koh, Founder of iFly Singapore brought the joy of flight to everyone through his innovative wind tunnel, even reshaping a 40-year-old SAF skydiving syllabus with free-fall training. His motto? “Anyone can fly”—and with hundreds of thousands of flights at iFly Singapore, he’s proven it! Inspired by Lawrence’s drive to lift others high, we’re here to help connections touch the sky. Hosted by Sentosa Development Corporation and iFly Singapore, WiT Singapore's opening party lifts participants into the air for an indoor skydiving experience, sponsored by iFly Singapore and GlobalTix. It’s all about building bridges and bonds before the deals, letting meaningful connections and fresh ideas take flight. And as the night unfolds with fireworks in sight, let’s watch new partnerships take flight! #witsingapore #nextgeneration #traveltech #travelconference #networking #openingparty