Boracay is better than Bali: Singaporean entrepreneur

Boracay is better than Bali: Singaporean entrepreneur

(From left) Gerald Yuvallos of Istorya.net, David Overton of Symph.com, Tina Amper of Techtalks.ph, and JJ Chai of Airbnb answer questions from members of the Cebu media and blogging community as Doris Mongaya (standing) of PRworks moderates.
(From left) Gerald Yuvallos of Istorya.net, David Overton of Symph.com, Tina Amper of Techtalks.ph, and JJ Chai of Airbnb answer questions from members of the Cebu media and blogging community as Doris Mongaya (standing) of PRworks moderates.

THE idea of holding a tech and startup conference in a beach setting is brilliant, says a Singaporean business executive. And it will be in Boracay.

Jiah Jih Chai, Southeast Asia managing director of worldwide accommodations leader Airbnb, said he immediately pledged to sponsor the “Geeks On A Beach” (GOAB) tech/startup confab when organizers TechTalks.ph sought out his support for the event.

“The GOAB is unique,” Chai said. “This is very different from the usually conference hall-held sessions. And this is what makes the GOAB uniquely distinct from other conferences not just in the Philippines but in Asia.”

A tech geek himself, Chai said this is also the perfect time for the Philippines to show off its entrepreneurial talents along with its hospitality and the beaches.

“This is the time for Filipinos to show their entrepreneurial skills, strengthen their tech and startup communities, help future entrepreneurs, and teach hospitality to the rest of the world,” said Chai, who graduated from INSEAD – one of the leading and largest graduate business schools in the world.

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The long stretch of white sand is one of Boracay’s many charms.

The “Geeks On A Beach” confab scheduled on Sept. 26-27 will be held in Boracay, which Chai honestly believes is “the world’s best island” as declared by Travel+Leisure.

“Everybody is talking about Bali (in Indonesia). But when they come to Boracay, they will see that Bali is way, way behind Boracay,” Chai said.

Airbnb, the trusted community marketplace to book unique accommodations around the world online or from a mobile phone, will shoulder $50 worth of each of the GOAB participant’s accommodation during the two-day confab.

“We have a choice of over 250 unique accommodations in Boracay for the guests and participants,” said Chai, who is also among the cast of resource persons in the GOAB. “I’m looking forward to GOAB becoming an annual event in the Philippines.”

Related stories

Boracay meet to encourage investments in ICT (www.inquirer.net)

Encourage startups to invest in ICT (Cebu Daily News)

Meet gets DOST backing (Istorya.net)

Boracay confab backed by DOST (Silosbreaker.com)

Meet to gather geeks in Boracay (Silosbreaker.com)

 

 

 

PRworksPH team

PRWorksPH Content Team is now composed of Emmanuel Mongaya, Alya Simone Mongaya, Patricia Quiachon, and Raphaella Bautista.

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