The WiT Podcast

WiT
  • 0.0 (0)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL

The WiT Podcast, hosted by Yeoh Siew Hoon, shines the light on the travel industry as it undergoes its biggest crisis with the outbreak of COVID-19. It features conversations with travel industry leaders about how they are surviving the storm, and offers ideas and insights, on how to recover and emerge stronger.

  1. 09/06/2025

    Episode 44: From Lucky Beginnings to a Mind-Blowing Future: Omri Morgenshtern Reflects on 20 Years of Agoda and 10 Years of Leadership

    This WiT Podcast exclusive is part of our "Conversations on Turning 20" series. If you've ever wondered what happens when a tech-loving realist runs one of Asia's biggest travel platforms through a decade of seismic change, tune in to the latest WiT Podcast with Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of Agoda. As Agoda turns 20 and Omri celebrates 10 years with the company, we sat down for a wide-ranging conversation in Singapore to reflect on the past and gaze boldly into the future.

    51 min

  2. 29/04/2025

    Middle East Mid-Range Expansion, Singapore's Tourism Impact Awareness

    On this week's episode, our AI hosts discuss current trends and opportunities within the tourism and hospitality sectors, based on a couple of reports that were highlighted last week on the Web In Travel website. One report by Booking.com spotlights Singapore-based travellers' growing awareness of tourism's social and environmental impact, indicating a preference for supporting local communities and a desire for better infrastructure to manage tourism's challenges rather than limiting visitor numbers. Another report by Mabrian examines the Middle Eastern hospitality market, emphasising the need for strategic development in mid-range hotel options and a realignment of guest expectations with different hotel categories to improve competitiveness and attract broader international tourism. ---------------------- We're trying something new with our weekly-ish podcast - we're outsourcing it to Artificial Intelligence. This is both an experiment and, if we're being honest, a convenient way to digest the top articles of the week from the WiT website into a nugget-of-a-podcast. We'll release a new episode every other Monday as a way to catch-up with last week's biggest news and articles from the WiT website.

    13 min

  3. 14/04/2025

    Winning Big with Sports Tourism | Unpacking Expedia's Latest Data

    On this week's episode, sports tourism's economic potential is explored via Expedia Group's latest study, highlighting strategies for businesses to capitalise on this market by understanding traveller behavior and preferences, such as offering appealing packages and experiences. Data-driven insights from Expedia and practical advice for marketing and engaging with sports tourists are also presented, while the impact of tourism on local economies and development is examined with a focus on creating sustainable and beneficial relationships between tourism and host communities. ------------------------------ We're trying something new with our weekly-ish podcast - we're outsourcing it to Artificial Intelligence. This is both an experiment and, if we're being honest, a convenient way to digest the top articles of the week from the WiT website into a nugget-of-a-podcast. We'll release a new episode every other Monday as a way to catch-up with last week's biggest news and articles from the WiT website.

    9 min

  4. 07/04/2025

    Trump's tariffs. Saudi Arabia's tourism surge. Global airline demand slows.

    On this episode, we address current shifts and future concerns within the global and regional travel industries. One piece examines the potential impact of new US tariffs on Asian travel, considering both negative consequences and the possibility of increased intra-Asia travel as a buffer. Another report highlights the rapid growth of Saudi Arabia's online travel agency market, detailing key players and significant increases in booking volumes for both air and hotel sectors. Finally, the International Air Transport Association provides data on global passenger demand for February 2025, noting a slight overall increase but also regional variations and concerns about North American markets.

    23 min

  5. 27/03/2025

    Future Lanes Ep 6: Navigating The Next Wave of Travel Technology (with SAS's Caroline Bergstroem)

    The airline industry has long been on a journey toward personalisation, but few have embraced the power of AI and technology as strategically as SAS. Caroline Bergstroem, Head of Ancillary Products, Connectivity, and Retail at SAS, is leading the charge to create a seamless, one-stop-shop experience for passengers. Bergstroem envisions a world where travellers no longer have to juggle multiple platforms to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and experiences. Instead, SAS aims to provide an integrated ecosystem where everything can be arranged in one place. On the season finale of Future Lanes, a special WiT podcast series powered by Meili, Bergstroem shares insights on how AI, data analytics, and self-service are shaping the airline's future. --------------------------------------- "Future Lanes" is a special WiT Podcast series powered by Meili, a tech company that is rewriting the rules of ancillary distribution. The series, covering six episodes, is all about getting direct – cutting through the noise with unfiltered conversations on what's shaping the next decade of travel. No fluff – just straight, feisty talk about what it takes to find your future lane in travel.

    1h 3m

  6. 25/03/2025

    The True Power of AI. Alipay's Success in Malaysia. OTAs in UAE. Africa's Unique Path.

    On this episode, our (AI) hosts discuss significant shifts in the travel industry, particularly focusing on the impact of artificial intelligence and the evolving landscape of online travel agencies (OTAs). AI is portrayed as a transformative force, changing how travellers discover destinations, handle bookings, and expect personalised experiences, presenting both opportunities for startups and threats to traditional suppliers. The adoption of digital payment solutions like Alipay+ is highlighted as a key enabler for tourism, improving the visitor experience in regions like Malaysia. The OTA market in the UAE is experiencing double-digit growth, with specific companies leading in air and hotel bookings due to strategic advantages. Finally, we revisit WiT Africa and how the African travel market is a a unique space for innovation, where local knowledge and technology will drive its distinct development, despite facing challenges like payment fragmentation and global competition.

    18 min

  7. 13/03/2025

    Future Lanes Ep 5: The Road Ahead | Timothy O'Neil-Dunne on travel's "technical debt"

    In the fast-evolving world of travel technology, few voices resonate as deeply as Timothy O'Neil-Dunne, an aviation enthusiast with decades of experience in travel tech innovation, who believes that "technical debt" is holding back the travel industry from truly realising the potential of revolutionary tools like AI. To him, travel businesses face the daunting task of modernizing or risk becoming obsolete. --------------------------------------- "Future Lanes" is a special WiT Podcast series powered by Meili, a tech company that is rewriting the rules of ancillary distribution. The series, covering six episodes, is all about getting direct – cutting through the noise with unfiltered conversations on what's shaping the next decade of travel. No fluff – just straight, feisty talk about what it takes to find your future lane in travel.

    54 min

  8. 07/03/2025

    Blended travel rising. Loyalty points and free flights. Hybrid hospitality in APAC.

    This episode discusses the rising trend of blended travel in the Asia-Pacific region, where professionals increasingly combine business trips with leisure, prioritising flexibility and personal enrichment. Then, our AI hosts examine the fragmented but growing short-term rental market in APAC, highlighting regulatory complexities, the impact of trends like "set-jetting," and the increasing role of technology and professionalisation. Finally, a third segment profiles HeyMax, a Singaporean fintech startup that enables users to earn travel miles on everyday spending, aiming to disrupt traditional loyalty programs and make travel more accessible. ---------------- We're trying something new with our weekly-ish podcast - we're outsourcing it to Artificial Intelligence. This is both an experiment and, if we're being honest, a convenient way to digest the top articles of the week from the WiT website into a nugget-of-a-podcast. We'll release a new episode every other Monday as a way to catch-up with last week's biggest news and articles from the WiT website.

    10 min
See All (100)

About

The WiT Podcast, hosted by Yeoh Siew Hoon, shines the light on the travel industry as it undergoes its biggest crisis with the outbreak of COVID-19. It features conversations with travel industry leaders about how they are surviving the storm, and offers ideas and insights, on how to recover and emerge stronger.

Information

  • Creator
    WiT
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Yeoh Siew Hoon
  • Show Website
    The WiT Podcast