Commercial Strategy Associate Manager
About the job
- Four to eight years of experience in consulting, strategy, commercial planning, or a related field.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to turn complex information into simple, actionable insights.
- Strong business judgment and comfort working through ambiguous strategic questions.
- Experience with financial modeling and business case development.
- Ability to communicate effectively and influence senior stakeholders.
- A proactive, ownership-driven mindset and the ability to work independently.
- Ability to move between high-level strategy and hands-on execution detail.
- Help shape the commercial strategy for Agoda’s B2B business across markets, segments, and partnerships.
- Lead strategic analyses on market trends, competitor moves, performance, and opportunity sizing.
- Build business cases, financial models, and strategic recommendations to support decision-making.
- Drive cross-functional strategic projects from problem definition through recommendation and execution support.
- Support ad-hoc projects by leading independent workstreams.
- Develop frameworks that help the business prioritize, allocate resources, and execute effectively.
- Partner with teams across the organization to align on priorities and move strategic initiatives forward.
- B2B, partnerships, or marketplace experience.
- Travel, e-commerce, or technology industry experience.
- Experience in market prioritization, portfolio strategy, or commercial planning.
- Familiarity with SQL, Tableau, or similar tools.
About the company
Agoda is an online travel platform that lets people book places to stay, like hotels and vacation rentals, around the world. It operates web and mobile apps that present listings with prices, availability, and user reviews so travelers can reserve rooms easily. Customers search by destination, filter options (like price, location, and amenities), compare deals, and complete secure bookings within the app. Agoda differentiates itself with a large, globally distributed inventory (over 2,000,000 properties) and multilingual support across 38 languages, using local knowledge and connections to source the best offers for both business and leisure travelers. It is part of Booking Holdings, which helps it reach a wide audience and integrate with other travel services. Agoda’s goal is to help millions of travelers find and book comfortable places to stay at great value while partnering with property owners to grow their business.
Company Size
5,001-10,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Singapore, Singapore
Founded
2005
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- September 2026 AI Assistant connects GPT-5.6 and Google Maps to live inventory.
- Agoda’s September 2026 Kaohsiung MOU and Southeast Asia search growth strengthen demand capture.
- 2026 searches rose for Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Europe-to-Asia demand stayed strong.
What critics are saying
- Korea fined Agoda 2.424 billion won on July 6, 2026 for hidden fees.
- Japan consumer lawsuit against Agoda Company Pte. Ltd. settled July 31, 2026.
- OpenAI and Google can disintermediate Agoda’s search funnel, crushing traffic by 2027.
What makes Agoda unique
- Agoda’s Asia-first inventory and 38-language app span over 6 million properties worldwide.
- Booking Holdings ownership supplies global distribution, capital, and supplier leverage across travel verticals.
- Custom flagships for Marina Bay Sands and Capella embed Agoda into destination marketing.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Flexible Work Hours
Paid Vacation
Enhanced Parental Leave
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Employee Discounts
Hybrid Work Options
Company News
Agoda launches Marina Bay Sands Flagship Store. techcoffeehouse Agoda has partnered with Marina Bay Sands to launch a bespoke digital flagship store for the resort on its platform, bringing together rooms, suites and selected experiences in one place. It is the first custom flagship store Agoda has built around a single property. The store features rooms and suites from Marina Bay Sands' Paiza Collection and Sands Collection alongside selected dining, entertainment and cultural experiences at the resort, using editorial content and visual storytelling to show how they fit together into one stay. It is available in multiple languages, including Japanese and Korean, aimed at travellers across Asia Pacific from the early stages of planning through to booking. Betting on experience-led travel. Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President, Supply at Agoda, said the partnership reflects how people now plan trips. "Marina Bay Sands and Agoda's collaboration offers travelers a richer travel perspective through seamless planning," he said. "Travelers often start with the experience they might have first seen on social media, whether that is a restaurant, a theatre show, or a cultural activity and then look for the stay that brings the trip together. Reducing friction in travel planning encourages more travel and helps position our partners' at pivotal moments that influence booking decisions." Agoda points to its 2026 Travel Outlook Report, which found that travellers across Asia are increasingly planning trips around specific experiences rather than a destination alone: 31% around culinary experiences and 25% around cultural exploration. Separate research from Strategic Market Research puts customised and personalised vacations at more than a third of global luxury travel spend. A dedicated storefront, not just a listing. Agoda describes the Flagship Store as a multichannel marketing tool that lets hospitality brands tell their own story and build loyalty rather than compete inside a standard search listing. Marina Bay Sands gets homepage visibility and branded search placements through Agoda's Connected Ecosystem feature, giving it a presence from the point a traveller first starts browsing through to the moment they book. Share with your friends:
Agoda appoints Riisa Naka as new brand ambassador for Japan. 02.10.2026 Riisa Naka Agoda has appointed actor and creator Riisa Naka as its new Japan brand ambassador, launching the "GO GO with Agoda!" campaign nationwide from 1 October 2026. Agoda has appointed Riisa Naka as its new brand ambassador for Japan and launched a nationwide campaign from 1 October 2026. The Agoda Japan campaign, titled "GO GO with Agoda!", aims to make domestic travel planning feel easier and more accessible. It will run across national television, YouTube and additional digital channels. Tripplanning AI Naka is known in Japan for her work as an actor and creator, as well as her social media presence. Agoda said her energetic and approachable personality aligns with the campaign's aim of encouraging travellers to turn trip ideas into actual bookings. Campaign draws on Japanese entertainment and travel culture. The campaign uses familiar elements of Japanese entertainment to present travel planning in a playful way. One storyline draws inspiration from Japanese Tokusatsu entertainment, while another features a kappa, a mythical water spirit, alongside a hot spring setting. Tripplanning AI Naka will also appear in a series of shorter campaign assets. These will highlight domestic destinations, accommodation options and value available through Agoda. Across the campaign, the recurring "A-GO-DA!" sound and "GO GO with Agoda!" call-to-action create a consistent identity. The creative approach places the Agoda Japan campaign around familiar cultural references rather than conventional destination advertising. At the same time, Agoda uses the campaign to promote its range of accommodation and travel products. Domestic travel forms a central part of the strategy. Agoda is positioning the campaign around the full travel-planning journey, from choosing a destination to finding accommodation and completing a booking. The platform is promoting options ranging from traditional ryokan stays to hotels across Japan. Discover more Daily travel news Trip planning AI Agoda booking service The company is also highlighting deals and coupons as part of the campaign. Its stated aim is to reduce friction in the planning process and help travellers move from considering a trip to making a booking. Kris Suebjaklap, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Agoda, shared: "We know Japanese travelers want to explore more of their own country, but sometimes the planning just gets in the way. This campaign is all about removing that friction and getting people excited to actually book. We are delighted to have Riisa Naka on board because her energy and genuine love for discovery are contagious. Whether it's a hot spring escape or a ryokan experience, we understand that every Japanese traveler has their own idea of a perfect trip, and Agoda is here to make finding and booking those stays effortless. Our goal with this campaign is simple: help more people go from 'I've been thinking about a trip' to 'I'm booking it right now,' and enjoy the whole journey with Agoda." Campaign runs across TV, YouTube and digital channels. The "GO GO with Agoda!" campaign is now live on YouTube and national television in Japan. Agoda also launched the campaign across additional digital channels from 1 October. The Agoda Japan campaign promotes the wider range available through the platform. Agoda currently lists more than 6 million holiday properties, over 130,000 flight routes and more than 300,000 activities. Travellers can combine these products within a single booking. Agoda operates as a digital travel platform under Agoda Company Pte. Ltd., headquartered in Singapore and led by CEO Omri Morgenshtern. Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
KAYAK co-founders launch AI assistant Lola for travel experiences. * Sixuan Wu * September 29, 2026 [Credit: Lola] Reading Time: 2 minutes US: KAYAK co-founders Steve Hafner and Paul English have launched Lola, an AI assistant for travel, dining and experiences backed by Booking Holdings. Lola provides personalised recommendations for trips, restaurants and events with real-time availability and pricing, allowing users to compare options and book directly through the same conversation. Anyone can become a member of Lola for free, with paid membership plans providing preferred hotel rates, priority dining, concierge access, and more. Pricing includes The Plus membership at $5 per month and the VIP at $25 per month. Lola's offerings include: * Hotels - all membership plans include results from multiple travel sites, with paid plans offering preferred discounted rates * Dining - paid plans provide advance access to restaurant reservations * Events - members receive access and preferred pricing on more than 200,000 experiences worldwide, including sporting events, concerts, museums and attractions * Paid members also receive discounts for airport and concierge services Launch partners include ResX, BLADE, Aero, SeatGeek, GetYourGuide, Nuitee and Ten Group, alongside Booking Holdings brands including Booking.com, OpenTable, KAYAK, Priceline, Agoda, and FareHarbor. "We built Lola to give everyone the advantage of being well connected," Hafner said. "The next generation of AI assistants should do more than answer questions. They should understand what you're looking for, help you decide, and make it happen." English added: "Lola learns what each member likes and searches across hotels, restaurants, events, and experiences to find the options worth their time, with member rates and perks attached. We're building Lola to be comprehensive, and there are many more partners to come." Highlights: * KAYAK co-founders Steve Hafner and Paul English have launched Lola, an AI assistant for travel, dining and experiences, backed by Booking Holdings. * Lola provides personalised recommendations with real-time availability and pricing, allowing users to compare options and book hotels, restaurants and experiences directly within the same conversation. * Lola offers free and paid memberships, with Plus costing $5 per month and VIP costing $25 per month. Paid members receive benefits including preferred hotel rates, priority restaurant reservations and concierge access. * The platform covers more than 200,000 experiences worldwide, including sporting events, concerts, museums and attractions, with members receiving access and preferred pricing. * Lola has partnered with companies including Booking.com, OpenTable, KAYAK, Priceline, Agoda, SeatGeek, GetYourGuide and Ten Group, and is headquartered in New York City.
Agentic AI adoption outpaces firms' readiness in SE Asia and India. September 25, 2026 Software developers across Southeast Asia and India are rapidly transitioning from using AI assistants for individual tasks to deploying autonomous AI agents across the software-development lifecycle, according to a report from digital travel platform Agoda. This is based on a study commissioned by Agoda and conducted in partnership with Macramé Consulting, which surveyed over 800 software developers and engineering leaders across India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Findings are supplemented by a separate executive questionnaire completed by engineering leaders across the region, and by case studies developed in direct collaboration with participating companies. Results show that developers are experiencing greater productivity gains from AI. More than half (55%) now save at least seven hours each week, compared with 18% in 2025. Reported code usability has also improved, with 62% saying AI-generated code is usable often or almost always without major changes. AI is also being used more broadly across development work, including code review, architecture, debugging, learning, and documentation. Yet human judgment remains essential as 86% of respondents still review or validate AI-generated outputs always or most of the time. Also, more than half (53%) of respondents say AI agents are already used in selected production workflows or broadly across their organization. However, only 38% describe their codebase as mostly or fully ready for a fully autonomous agent. Cost is the primary barrier to wider adoption, cited by 28% of respondents, ahead of integration complexity (24%) and lack of governance (19%). The report finds that AI costs extend beyond model calls to include the work needed to design, integrate, review, and validate agents. Four in every five respondents said they are currently working under some degree of AI usage limits, such as token quotas, usage caps, or budget restrictions. Further, developers are open to granting AI agents more autonomy for lower-risk, reversible work such as documentation. But as work moves closer to production, the demand for human oversight rises: 79% report requiring human approval for production deployment. AI is also changing the developer's role. System architecture and design, AI literacy, and agent orchestration are emerging as future skills. The transition is uneven, however: 49% of junior developers report feeling less secure about their future career prospects, compared with 17% of CTO and VP Engineering respondents. Idan Zalzberg, CTO at Agoda, said that AI is reshaping how developers across Southeast Asia and India build, learn, and collaborate. Zalzberg said that what began as a way to speed up individual tasks is becoming a broader change in how software is built. "Across industries, developers are seeing stronger productivity gains and are beginning to use agents across more of the development lifecycle. But greater capability brings new responsibilities," he said. "The real cost is not simply the model call. It is the work required to make AI trustworthy in production," he added. "The organizations that will excel in this next phase will be the ones that manage cost carefully, build the right safeguards, and keep human judgment where it matters most."
Agoda partners with Capella Hotel Group to bring award-winning luxury stays to more travelers. Digital travel platform Agoda has partnered with luxury hospitality management company Capella Hotel Group, bringing all the Group's luxury and lifestyle properties across Capella Hotels and Resorts and Patina Hotels & Resorts to the Agoda platform. This opens Capella's award-winning portfolio to Agoda's global customer base, making some of the world's most celebrated luxury stays easier to discover and book than ever before. WEBWIRE - Friday, September 18, 2026 With Asia projected to account for nearly half of the world's new high-net-worth individuals by 2028 according to Visa, the region is increasingly shaping the future of luxury travel around purpose, personalization, and lifestyle. Across Asia, travelers are no longer just booking destinations; they're booking experiences. Agoda's 2026 Travel Outlook Report shows 31% of surveyed travelers prioritize culinary experiences, while 25% cite cultural exploration as a key travel motivator. This shift is redefining how hospitality brands and travel platforms work together to meet demand for personalized, destination-rooted stays. Deeply rooted in Asia, Capella Hotel Group and Agoda are well positioned to meet this evolving demand, making highly personalized, destination-defining stays more discoverable to a broader set of travelers across the region and beyond. Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President of Supply at Agoda shared, "Luxury today is personal. Our role at Agoda is to make sure that what a traveler is looking for - from an everyday getaway to a once-in-a-lifetime stay - is easy to discover and book. Partnering with Capella Hotel Group brings some of the world's most celebrated properties onto our platform, making these extraordinary stays and experiences just as accessible to our customers as any other trip they plan with us." Asia Pacific continues to be a key growth market for luxury travel, with demand projected by McKinsey to grow around 8% annually. Bangkok and Bali, both home to Capella properties, are among the most searched destinations for five-star accommodations on Agoda, alongside Kuala Lumpur. "As Capella Hotel Group continues on its growth trajectory, partnerships that drive commercial value like this one with Agoda give us the scale and reach to connect with a high-intent traveler base across Asia and beyond. This helps us grow demand for Capella and Patina, while we continue delivering the bespoke service of Capella and the transformative experiences of Patina in every destination we're in," said Varun Whig, Vice President, Revenue, Capella Hotel Group. Capella Hotel Group's portfolio includes some of the world's most highly regarded luxury properties. Capella Hotels and Resorts was voted the No. 1 Best Hotel Brand in the World in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2026, marking its fourth consecutive year in the top position, while Patina Osaka was voted the No. 1 Best Hotel in the World. Capella Bangkok was named The World's Best Hotel in 2024. WebWireID360654 This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted. Distribute your news. * Every day, hundreds of individuals and companies choose WebWire to distribute their news. * WebWire places your news within numerous highly trafficked news search engines generating leads and publicity. * Submit Your Release Now!