Articles tagged “skift asia forum 2026”

The U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict didn't redirect travel demand toward Asia — it exposed a shift already underway.

Passion-driven trips for events or showing off a new dress have become traveler priorities in Asia, but safety and value are still critical.

Even for superapps, mindless growth at all costs can be a trap that's hard to defend, while strategic, careful expansion aligning with a travel company's mission is a moat.

Sometimes an asset owner wants to build a luxury or lifestyle hotel because the brand sounds prestigious. But this session argued that Hilton's first job as an operator is to tell them 'no' if the project won't pencil out as profitable.

The companies that will matter are those with proprietary data, not ChatGPT wrappers.

"High touch" used to come from a concierge or customer service agent. Today, it can stem from technology, so long as it gives the customer "what they want at that moment when they need it."

The customer is technically in charge of booking decisions, but social media and AI systems are increasingly making the decisions for them.

For Asian travelers, the booking decision increasingly starts on social media — the platform just takes the order.

Chinese brands can't copy and paste their strategies to compete in international markets.

Years of acquisitions left Minor Hotels with a fragmented technology stack that limited personalization across the guest journey.