Booking Holdings, Airbnb and the Expedia Group have formed a regional lobby group called the Asia Travel Technology Industry Association, but it would appear there is something missing.
No Asian-owned companies are listed as members on the ATTIA website, while the entire association executive is drawn from the most senior public affairs ranks of Booking.com. Airbnb, Agoda and Expedia:
- President – Choo Pin Ang, Expedia Group’s Senior Director for Government and Corporate Affairs
- Vice President – Mike Orgill,VP Public Policy Airbnb
- Treasure – Daniel Gelfer, Director of Global Government Affairs at Agoda
- Secretary – Kees Jan Boonen, who heads up regional public affairs for Booking.com
The question is why go down this path without genuine local representation?
Sure, the OTAs listed all employ people in the region but all are effectively run out of the United States, where the big decisions are all made.
It can’t be criteria.
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