Singapore has been chosen by the largest business information company in travel to host the first Skift Forum Asia
Lionel Yeo, Singapore Tourism Board’s chief executive joined Rafat Ali, Skift CEO and founder, in New York to announce the decision at the Skift Global Forum.
The forum is dubbed the “TED of travel” and regarded as the leading creative business gathering in the global travel industry. It attracts influential marketers, strategists and technologists among others.
The Asia forum is being scheduled for a yet-to-be-announced date next October – a month when ITB Asia is held and which in the past saw the Singapore Travel Rave week.
“When considering our expansion into Asia, Skift selected Singapore in recognition of its vibrant ecosystem of travel companies and access to the region,” said Ali.
“Singapore’s focus on innovation and its strong knowledge economy also provide an ideal platform for the forum,” he said.
Yeo said: “We are delighted to partner Skift on its inaugural expansion to Asia. We have witnessed a growing number of travel and tourism companies from the US selecting Singapore to be their gateway into Asia, be it for new events or business expansions.
“This has further added to the confluence of ideas and exchanges in Singapore, and will make Singapore an even more inspiring and ideal platform for the travel industry to meet, collaborate and take full advantage of the possibilities spurred by Asia’s travel boom.”
Skift pointed to growth levels in Southeast Asia with the World Travel and Tourism Council expecting an annual sustained growth of 5 to 7 per cent over the next decade.
Skift Global Forum has a North America edition in New York and a Europe edition. Past speakers at the forum included Glenn Fogel, CEO of the Priceline Group; Christopher Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton; Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder of Airbnb.
