Travel Tech Thursdays KL Volume 7: All About Startups – Investors, Founders & Open Mic

Chee Chong is passionate about the tourism industry, so much so that his 15-year career has been centered around it. He has founded not one, but two start-ups to better meet the needs of the buoyant travel/tourism industry.

He is currently Chief Executive Officer and visionary of GlobalTix, an e-ticketing travel marketplace. Chee Chong was also one of the co-founders of Adventure Glamping, which has pioneered and built the first-ever “glamping” (glamorous camping) resort called Canopi, located in Bintan.

He began his travel industry career with SilkAir, the regional carrier owned by Singapore Airlines and subsequently was seconded to Singapore Airlines.

During his seven-year career with the two carriers, he handled various job functions, including postings to Thailand, Indonesia, and Central Japan which gave him invaluable exposure in the airline industry. In Central Japan, he started many initiatives, including several that continue to today, and the team was recognized with a CEO’s Merit Award for operational excellence.

Chee Chong next joined Sentosa Development Corporation as a member of the management team. He started as the Leisure Operation, Director where he was responsible for ongoing daily operations, from beach operation, attractions to ticketing and subsequently became the General Manager of Mount Faber Leisure Group.

Chee Chong holds a Bachelor of Engineering (2nd Upper) degree from the National University of Singapore.

Craig Hewett is the Co-Founder of Wego, a leading travel metasearch platform operating across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia Pacific. With over two decades of experience in the travel and digital space, Craig has helped shape Wego’s vision, strategy, and commercial success since its inception.

Before launching Wego, Craig held senior roles at IHG and Priceline (Booking Holdings)gaining deep industry insights and building an extensive network. His entrepreneurial drive and passion for travel technology led to the creation of Wego in 2005, with the aim of simplifying how people discover and book travel online

The name "Wego" comes from the words "We" and "Go", symbolizing the platform's goal of helping people to easily "go" and book their travel plans with the help of technology. The company is focused on simplifying the travel process by allowing users to search and compare flights, hotels, and other travel services all in one place.

The name reflects the core of the company's mission: to empower people to travel more efficiently and at better prices through an online platform.

Nick is an entrepreneur turned professional investor.

Nick started his career in 1985 as an accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co’s Corporate Recovery practice in Sydney, Australia. He left the profession in December 1989 to join his fathers’ concrete business in Adelaide, Australia and assisted with the sale of the company to Adelaide Brighton Cement. Six months later he turned his attention to Southeast Asia and has lived and worked in the region since, firstly building Readymix – a concrete, quarrying and cement manufacturing business spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Singapore and, more latterly, leading Ready Ventures – a family office that has invested in a portfolio of early stage companies and is a partner of Velocity Ventures – Southeast Asia’s leading travel and hospitality focused VC.

Nick is a Partner of Velocity Ventures and sits on the Investment Committee. He is also a Director of portfolio companies CarbonClick and Lumitics. He is a Director of Readymix Brunei and Butra Heidelberg Cement Brunei. He is also the Lead Non-executive Director of SGX listed MTQ Corporation and chairs the Remuneration and Nomination Committee. He is a past Singapore Chairman and regional board member of the Young Presidents Organization and was Chairman of the Australian Chamber of Commerce, Singapore.

Nick holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Australian National University and resides in Singapore. He is married to Stephanie and has 3 adult children.