Expert Opinions

Todd Handcock, president Asia Pacific at Collinson, examines why it is crucial for travel providers to keep the conversation going with customers amid the coronavirus crisis, and how brands can continue to inspire travel and build consumer confidence to drive post-pandemic recovery.

Brent Thomas, director of public policy for Asia Pacific, Airbnb, urges governments to relook regulations on short-term rentals – a sector which he claims can help to hasten tourism recovery by attracting price-sensitive tourists in the post-Covid world.

Deep Bhong, director of Travind Institute in India, believes that the travel and tourism faternity needs to embrace competitors, training opportunities and responsible practices, among other things, to rise above the current crisis.

Sherri Kimes, visiting professor, analytics and operations with NUS Business School, recalls a 2010 study on tactics for surviving an economic downturn and lists the lessons that hospitality players can learn.

Tim Hentschel, CEO and co-founder of HotelPlanner, studies the impact of the recent Covid-19 outbreak on the hospitality industry and shares what is imperative for the industry to get back on its feet.

Rachel Grier, area vice president, Asia Pacific for IDeaS Revenue Solutions, argues why hoteliers should avoid knee-jerk reactions to tackle market uncertainty during the Covid-19 slump, but adopt shrewd revenue management strategies that will sustain the business in the long run.

Gladys Caligagan, conference director, Digital Travel Summit APAC, argues why travel operators need to undergo digital transformation to deliver hyper personalised experiences to cater to a growing pool of millennial travellers.

Maxim Sevastianov, CEO of Traveknowledgy, looks at the factors travel businesses need to consider before deciding on automation, and whether automation is right for their business or not.

Phan Le, founder and CEO of VLeisure, shares how a paradigm shift in the travel technology industry is allowing smaller hotels to compete with the big chains on a much more level playing field.

Robert Williams and Lada Shelkovnikova, partners at Withersworldwide, assess the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on operators and the hospitality industry as a whole, and the measures employers and hoteliers ought take to manage the health risks and concerns of travellers.