Skift's Asia Expansion: Two New Senior Hires in Singapore and Skift Forum Asia 2019

As we head into 2019, Skift is expanding into Asia in a big way, as we turn our geographic focus to the world's fastest-growing and most dynamic travel region.

This follows our expansion in Europe over the last two years, building a team and launching Skift Forum Europe.

We are delighted to announce two new senior Skift team hires, both of them based in Singapore, our new Asia headquarters. And we are excited to bring our signature Forums to Asia with Skift Forum Asia next year.

• We have hired veteran travel industry journalist Raini Hamdi, formerly editor of TTG Asia, as our new Skift Asia Editor, to start ground-level coverage of the travel sector in Asia. Hamdi has been covering Asia's travel and tourism industry for 18 years and still considers herself a rookie as the sector keeps evolving. To keep up, she reads Skift, and thought she might as well write for it. Hamdi hits the gym to stay sane, but also because she loves to eat and listen to music.
• We have also hired a new head of Sales in Asia, in Singapore, Joey Kukielka. Kukielka is a British expat who has been loving the lifestyle in Asia for over 13 years. After spending nine years in Bangkok, she is now happily settled in Singapore with her dog and two cats. Kukielka has been working in the luxury travel, publishing industry with Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia since early 2010, and in the capacity of sales director for the past five years. She is excited for this next challenge and to be part of Skift's expansion into Asia!
• We are also launching Skift Forum Asia in Singapore on May 27 next year, with a focus on the future of the world's fastest-growing travel region. Confirmed speakers so far include top executives from Jumeirah Group, Oyo, Rakuten Travel, Swire Group and United Airlines, with lots more to come. Much like our Skift Forums in the U.S. and Europe, we will bring the business and creative sides of travel onto one platform to inspire travel professionals, on the way to creating the best freakin' travel conference in Asia! Join us and register now at our super early bird rate.

Drop me a note if you have any feedback or want to get involved in our Asia plans.

Rafat Ali
Email: ra@skift.com
Founder and CEO, Skift