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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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“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.

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.

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.

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“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.

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.

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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.

The travel industry is constantly evolving, and few airlines have been as relentless in shaping the low-cost carrier model as Ryanair. In a no-holds-barred conversation on the “Future Lanes” podcast, Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson shares his candid views on everything from direct distribution to leveraging technology for a more efficient airline experience.

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“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.

On this week's episode, Trip.com's "Momentum 2025" report highlights key travel trends for Singaporeans, including food-focused tourism, media-inspired destinations, cruise popularity, and entertainment-driven trips, emphasising social media's influence. Expedia's "Air Hacks Report" debunks common air travel myths, revealing optimal booking times, travel days, and dispelling notions about summer costs, premium fares, and crowded flights. 

Then, we cover how OAG's Filip Filipov discussed the need for a more customer-centric connected trip experience, advocating for data sharing and AI to enhance personalization and overall journey support. Filipov highlights the transformative potential of AI, particularly OpenAI's Operator, for revolutionising the travel agent role and loyalty programs.

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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.

“Exclusivity can sometimes limit customer choice and push operators into suboptimal business decisions. Today, partnerships that prioritize mutual benefits and customer-centric solutions are the way forward.” – Michel Taride

Michel Taride began his career at Hertz in 1980, a time when car rental operations were a far cry from today’s tech-savvy landscape. Hertz was among the first car rental companies to launch a website, paving the way for real-time bookings and greater transparency. Today, the industry stands on the brink of another revolution. These technologies, coupled with new mobility models like car sharing, ride-hailing, and autonomous vehicles, promise to transform how consumers engage with transportation.

For Mike McGearty, CEO and co-founder of Meili, the car rental industry's current challenge is modernizing its legacy systems to address the friction points that persist in customer experiences. Meili, the technology platform McGearty leads, is designed to empower service providers by streamlining direct distribution, improving data usage, and enhancing the end-to-end customer journey.

In this episode, both McGearty and Taride discuss and debate their differences, similarities, and all the ways the industry is rapidly changing. 

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“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.