illka gobius' Podcast

Interview with WU HAI, Founder & CEO, Orange Hotel Group, China

Wu Hai is Founder and CEO of Orange Hotel Group. Orange Hotel Group is bringing its distinctive, high-design hotel product to consumers in China at budget hotel prices. Headquartered in Beijing, Orange Hotel Group currently operates 16 hotels in Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Nanjing.


Interview with TIMOTHY HUGHES, Vice President - Commercial, Hotelclub.Com

Timothy Hughes, Commercial Director for Hotelclub.com is a senior online and new media executive. Timothy is responsible for a team of 50, managing the sales, revenue management & pricing, sourcing (hotel inventory), content (descriptions) and database operations for online hotel sites HotelClub.com, RatesToGo.com and asia-hotels.com.

Interview with SANDRA CHIPCHASE, CEO, Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau

Sandra Chipchase has had an outstanding career in international tourism and Business events marketing, major events, sponsorship, business and asset management.

Interview with ROSHAN MENDIS, 
President of Zuji and Regional Vice President of Travelocity Asia Pacific

Based in Singapore, Roshan Mendis leads Travelocity in Asia Pacific, and is responsible for leading the business focus, development and future growth strategies for all Travelocity brands in Asia Pacific including Travelocity, ZUJI and Nextour. Roshan has more than 10 years experience with Sabre and Travelocity. Prior to joining the Executive Team at ZUJI in 2006, in the role of Director, Supplier Relationships and Partnerships, Roshan worked for ZUJI's parent company Travelocity.

Interview with ROBIN LOKERMAN, President Asia/Pacific, CEO Institutional Division, MCI

In 1991 Robin Lokerman founded GIC Management, which became Europe’s leading full service association management company. The company merged with MCI in August 2003, and today MCI is the foremost global Association, Communications and Event Management Group, with close to 800 professional staff working in 32 offices throughout Europe, Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

Interview with RAM BADRINATHAN, General Manager Asia Pacific, PhoCusWright

As general manager, Asia Pacific, Ram heads the development of PhoCusWright's business in the Asia Pacific region including strategy, syndicated research, custom engagements and conference activity.

Interview with GORDON LOCKE, Vice President, Airline Marketing and Strategy, Sabre Airline Solutions/Sabre Travel Network

Gordon Locke is the Vice-President of Airline Marketing for The Travel Industry Group at Sabre. He is responsible for global airline marketing & airline segment strategy for Sabre Airline Solutions / Sabre Travel Network, including portfolio positioning for solutions to help airlines better market, sell, serve and operate.

Interview with DON BIRCH, Travel Industry Leader

Don's experience includes airlines, hotels, telecommunications, travel agents and most recently GDS distribution as CEO of Abacus International. But he still has problems delivering a decent second tennis serve.

Interview with DARREN WRIGHT, General Manager Australia, AirAsia X

Darrren Wright joined the airline back in 2007 when it started its first flight into the Gold Coast. Darren was previously the Marketing Manager of Virgin Blue for four years and before that, was six years in the marketing team at Flight Centre.