Key takeaways of the Next Generation – from WiT Singapore to WiT Seoul

As we look back at some highlights of 2024, let’s rewind to the event that kicked off the Next Generation of travel tech in Asia by gathering the brightest minds in the industry on one stage, over three insightful days - WiT Singapore 2024. Take a quick look back at all the experts - from indie trailblazers to industry giants - who made the event a success.?Watch highlights here: https://youtu.be/SAISxjeN2Zk

Speaking of highlights, one highlight of WiT Seoul was our interview with Bo Young Song, who was just made new CEO of Asiana Airlines, following final approval of the Korean Air-Asiana?merger. Korean Air plans to operate Asiana Airlines as a subsidiary for two years and prepare for the launch of "integrated Korean Air" at the end of 2026. The merger has been four years in the making.

“Other industries can grow off a large aviation industry,” said Bo, adding “we can have a global hub in Incheon, I am confident Korea will grow as an economy, and we need to make sure that Next Generation-worthy businesses continue to grow in Korea.”

On that note, what do you think the future of travel looks like? Is it about preserving traditions or embracing AI-driven discovery? Turns out, it’s both.

Take Rakkojae Hanok Collection, a group of traditional Korean houses turned boutique stays. CEO Dr. Michael Jiwon Ahn , whose father started the company, believes modern luxury is about experiences, not excess. Rakkojae’s painstaking attention to detail is renowned - one of their hanoks in a UNESCO World Heritage Site took 15 years to build. “We repeatedly planted and pulled out trees to make the trees seen through the window look the most beautiful,” shares Ahn.

Meanwhile, Yuna Sun of MOULIN de SéOUL wants to bring Korea’s culinary heritage to the world, one jar of fermented soy sauce at a time. Her mission? “Our goal is to connect the world to Korea’s culinary soul while respecting its roots,” she says. Her flagship store in Paris, set to open next year, will introduce global audiences to 370-year-old soybean pastes and workshops that explore the art of fermentation.

And then there’s Sulbi Lee , a former hotelier who traded tech-driven hospitality for a farmhouse in Jeungup. After a failed attempt at farming, she found her purpose in building a community of small farmers. Together, they produce herbal tea called “ssanghwacha,” now featured in MOULIN de SéOUL. Talk about collaboration. “Everything I love about travel is food,” she explains.

Collectively, unique experiences like these resonate with newer demographics, something platforms like Klook are well aware of. According to Klook’s James (Zunho) Lee , Gen Z’s social habits – such as sharing interests on Instagram during blind dates – fuel Klook’s success in leveraging social media and micro-influencers. It is now investing heavily in AI to enhance its language localisation. Partnering with Google Cloud , Klook uses Large Language Models to train its AI systems, creating a proprietary “Klook language”.

“We have a localisation trainer in AI to ensure cultural nuances in translation,” Lee said, noting that the results were getting better, very fast. “From a five-year-old, it is now talking like a 10-year-old, and that’s in three months.”

For more stories from travel and tech in Asia, visit www.webintravel.com.

Have a great weekend, everyone!