Contiki rolls out ‘quirky’ Facebook messenger chatbot

January 29, 2018

Travel expert Contiki has launched a youth-oriented chatbot named Tiki on Facebook messenger, aimed at allowing agents to suggest trips that suit traveller style and interests based on the brand’s eight travel styles.

According to a statement from Contiki, the eight travel styles launched in 2014 have been received well with agents and travellers alike, providing them with an easy way to match a traveller to trips and receive experiences that better match their expectations.

Tiki will be used as a tool to help agents better understand the style of their clients

With a quirky tone of voice, Tiki steps users through a set of questions about their personality, travel preferences and tastes, doing so through a mix of pop-culture references and internet memes.

Contiki says the bot’s responses – or “bot-banter” – addresses some of the stilted experiences lamented by chatbot users, creating something which is entertaining and engaging,

Once Tiki has identified the users’ travel style, it suggests a number of trips within that style that best suits them, before handing the remaining customer service to Contiki agents.

“Tiki is a tool that can be used to bring some fun into the research phase of travel,” said Alexis Sitaropoulos, group marketing director of Contiki Holidays. “It will also help agents to better understand their clients’ style, and give them a leg up on suggesting experiences that suit their motivations, tastes and preferences.”

Largest investment puts Blacklane in fast lane to expansion

By TTG Asia

January 29, 2018

0

Blacklane, which provides on-demand chauffeur service, says it has raised its largest investment to-date through a Series D round, and will channel the funds into expanding to new cities as well as global airport concierge services and product innovation.

The funding round was led by Alfahim – a UAE-based automotive, hospitality and travel, real estate and industrial conglomerate – which will join existing Blacklane investors Daimler AG, through subsidiary Daimler Mobility Services, and European venture capital firm btov Partners.

This round of funding will fuel growth in the Middle East & Africa

Blacklane’s global network of professional driver partners covers more than 250 cities and 500 airports in 50 countries. This year, Blacklane will reach more than 300 cities, with growth focused on the Middle East and Africa.

“Combining our nationwide expertise and diversity with Blacklane’s reinvention of the professional driver industry for the benefit of travellers, drivers and partners, will bring innovative luxury services to the Middle East and Africa,” said Ahmed AJ Al Fahim, chairman of ALFAHIM.

Blacklane will also launch Blacklane Premium Airport Services & Solutions worldwide. Having acquired Solve last October, Blacklane is able to offer travellers curbside booking, planeside meet-and-greet, connecting flight assistance and airport lounge services.

Sabre has lowest fares among GDSs, it says

By TTG Asia

January 29, 2018

0

Sabre apparently best delivers the lowest air fares among its GDS competition, at least according to a study it commissioned.

Marketing and consulting firm, Dr Fried & Partner, conducted the “wide-scale qualitative and quantitative competitive GDS study” across 18 countries. While Sabre has been benchmarking its low-fare search performance for several years, this year’s study also included extensive interviews with travel professionals as well as a “best fare” assessment comparing low fare efficacy, bookability, response time, diversity and ancillary content data, Sabre said in a statement.

Study finds that Sabre is the global leader in best fare flight search options

According to the research, Sabre surpassed its competitors in all regions, finding the lowest fare 10 per cent more often than Amadeus and seven per cent more often than Travelport, on average.

In addition, the study found that 75 per cent of bookable air content in Sabre offers a branded fare or ancillary option, versus 59 per cent in Amadeus and 55 per cent in Travelport.

But price is not the sole determinant of a good fare. Depending on the traveller profile and the type of journey they are undertaking, the study indicated that travellers are willing to pay up to 25 per cent more for added value.

While the lowest price remains top of mind across all customer segments, the research suggests that there are pronounced differences between leisure and business travellers. The survey found that the former have considerations including flexibility when it comes to travel dates or destination, price and baggage inclusion; while refundability or factors like shorter travel durations are less important.

Business travellers are also price-conscious, but their needs extend more beyond price considerations, to include short travel duration, airline brand, amenities like more legroom, priority boarding and lounge access, and fares that deliver convenience and flexibility within the confines of their corporate travel policies

Markus Heller, co-founder, Dr Fried & Partner, observed: “As airlines continue to unbundle their offers and provide a wider range of branded fares and ancillaries, travellers appreciate individual services and amenities more than when they were included. Our research suggests that, as rich content gets more and more into travellers’ focus, it will present a significant opportunity for differentiation to travel agents.”

Rides still suspended at Singapore Flyer

By TTG Asia

January 29, 2018

0

Singapore Flyer has suspended its flights operations since last Thursday morning after it experienced a “technical issue”.

According to Singapore Flyer’s Facebook page, a “thorough check” will be conducted of the observation wheel before flights are resumed.

The Straits Times reported that Straco Leisure, which owns the Singapore Flyer, is conducting a probe and updates will be made through the attraction’s online channels.

The observation wheel remains closed at press time.

Khon Kaen picked as host city for PATA Destination Marketing Forum

By TTG Asia

January 29, 2018

0

Khon-Kaen-announcement — Picture: L/R: Mrs. Srisuda Wanapinyosak, Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); Mr. Santi Laoboonsa-ngiem, Vice Governor, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand; Mrs. Supawan Teerarat, Senior Vice President – Strategic Business Development & Innovation of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB); and Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA.

The PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2018 (PDMF 2018), formerly known as PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum, will be held in Thailand’s north-eastern city of Khon Kaen from November 28 to 30 this year.

Held under the theme “Growth with Goals”, the event will be hosted by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

(From left) Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Srisuda Wanapinyosak;Khon Kaen Province’s Santi Laoboonsa-ngiem; Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s Supawan Teerarat; PATA’s Mario Hardy at the media briefing during the recently-concluded ATF 2018

PATA CEO, Mario Hardy, commented that putting the spotlight on Khon Kaen is in line with the association’s advocacy for tourism dispersal to secondary and tertiary destinations.

Added Supawan Teerarat, TCEB’s senior vice president – strategic business development and innovation: “The event, which will serve as a driving force for international MICE events in Thailand, contributes to implementing the government’s policy of stimulating and developing the regional economy.

“In order to further stimulate Thai participation, TCEB has negotiated waivers of registration fees for Thai operators and relevant government agencies for the event,” she continued.

PATA will offer complimentary registration to all interested parties who wish to attend.

For more information about the event, please visit www.pata.org/pdmfor email events@PATA.org.

Former CNTA exec named UNWTO executive director

By TTG Asia

January 29, 2018

0

New UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili has appointed Shanzhong Zhu as executive director of UNWTO for a two-year term starting January 1, 2018.

A Chinese national, Zhu also served as UNWTO executive director in the team of the former secretary-general Taleb Rifai.

He was previously the vice chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) from late 2008 to 2013, overseeing international relations, marketing and promotions in domestic and overseas markets, tourism information centre, tourism security and the establishment of a public service network. .

Joining CNTA in 1989 to 2008, he has served the Chinese NTO in different capacities, namely as director of CNTA Sydney Office, director of CNTA New York Office, deputy director-general of international marketing department and director-general of the marketing and communication department of CNTA.

Prior to that, he was department manager of China International Travel Service.

Mövenpick Maldives gets GM ahead of 2018 opening

By TTG Asia

January 29, 2018

0

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has appointed Brice Borin as the general manager of the 105-villa Mövenpick Resort & Spa Kuredhivaru Maldives, which will open this year as the brand’s first property in the country.

Prior to joining Mövenpick, Borin was the general manager of the Soori Bali.

With almost three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, the French hotelier spent more than 20 years working for hotel groups in Asia-Pacific such as Regent Hotels & Resorts and Anantara Hotels & Resorts.

A group handshake affirms regional tourism ties

By TTG Asia

January 26, 2018

0

ATF-Gala-Opening-ASEAN-Ministers-02 — ASEAN's tourism leaders show solidarity

ASEAN tourism ministers and VIPs on Wednesday came together to launch the ATF 2018 gala opening ceremony at Royal Flora Ratchaphruek botanical gardens in Chiang Mai.

A show of solidarity among ASEAN tourism leaders

Donning the traditional northern Thai mo hom indigo shirts, these tourism leaders also crossed their arms in the signature ASEAN group handshake, signifying the regional solidarity shared in supporting the ATF 2018 theme of ‘Sustainable Connectivity, Boundless Prosperity’.

During the opening ceremony dinner, the Tourism Authority of Thailand also took the opportunity to highlight its marketing focus on Thai gastronomy tourism, with 10 Thai celebrity chefs serving up an eclectic mix of modern Thai dishes to offer ATF delegates a taste of the country’s rich culinary traditions.

Tourism tax rebates a push for Thailand’s secondary provinces

By Marissa Carruthers

January 26, 2018

0

udon-thani-red-lotus-lake-Talay-Bua-Daeng — Udon Thani, home of the Red Lotus Lake tourist attraction, is one of the 55 provinces to selected benefit from the new scheme

Thailand is hoping a tax deduction scheme will help drive tourism into 55 secondary provinces.

Tanes Petsuwan, Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) deputy governor for marketing, said as part of the country’s Go Local campaign, travellers to the 55 areas can claim back taxes paid on hotels and tours.

The tax-back scheme will first be offered to domestic travellers this year, with the programme extended to international visitors in 2019.

Udon Thani, home of a famed tourist attraction known as Red Lotus Lake (pictured), is one of the 55 provinces selected to benefit from the new scheme

“We hope the tax deduction measures will help boost the economies of these provinces and create more (tourist) demand,” said Tanes, adding that TAT’s biggest challenge in promoting secondary provinces lies in “creating a flow of tourists from big cities to small cities”.

However, some international buyers at ATF 2018 appeared less enthused about the tax-back scheme, and told TTG Asia that the move would have little effect on their market.

David Capaldi, founder and CEO of US-based Blue World Journeys, explained: “For the US, I don’t think this would encourage people to extend their stay (in Thailand) as they have a limited number of holidays.”

Albert Sánchez Ramos, account manager Spanish & Latin markets, Destination Asia Thailand, said the majority of his clients were first-timers to Thailand, and as such preferred “to do the typical itinerary and see Bangkok and Chiang Mai”. “I don’t think this would affect our markets,” Ramos remarked.

For Ben Gosman, managing director of FreeStyle Incentives based in the Netherlands, information on the secondary provinces must come first before he is able to work the new destinations into existing itineraries.

“(Destination) knowledge comes before (traveller) incentives,” he remarked.

TAT too sees the importance of raising awareness of the kingdom’s secondary provinces in order to achieve its new objective. Accordingly, it will reduce promotions of major and well-established destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya this year, and shift its marketing efforts to lesser-known ones.

Petsuwan said: “We hope this will encourage people to extend their trip. For example, people visiting Chiang Mai will go on to visit Lampang province.”

Through this new direction, TAT hopes to increase visitors numbers in these areas to 10 million, and generate an annual tourism income of US$3 million.”

Industry veteran forms hospitality services agency

By S Puvaneswary

January 26, 2018

0

Ally-Bhoonee,-World-Avenues-executive-director,-Ally-Bhoonee--(2) — Ally already shook on a deal to manage signed a three-year contract to manage the soon-to-open Camar Resort in Langkawi

Ally Bhoonee, founder of tour specialist World Avenues Malaysia, has expanded his portfolio to include hotel and resort management services through the establishment of a new company, WA Hospitality Management in Kuala Lumpur, of which he is the company director.

WA will provide services such as market study and impact analysis, strategy development, hotel positioning, financial planning and cash flow projections, marketing planning, pre-opening scheduling and procurement.

Ally has already shaken on a three-year deal to manage the soon-to-open Camar Resort in Langkawi

Some of the first clients are Langkasuri and DYKS Holdings. With Langkasuri, WA has signed a three-year contract to manage Camar Resort in Langkawi, a 90-key, four-star business class beach hotel which will begin operations in March 2018.

With DYKS Holdings, WA will manage the 150-room, four-star Kensington Hotel Kuala Lumpur, and the four-star casino Morow Hotel in Siem Reap. Both properties are scheduled to open in 2020.

Ally, a travel and tourism industry veteran with more than three decades of experience, said: “Expanding the business into hospitality is a natural progression. The travel industry is saturated with small profit margins and massive competition from OTAs. On the other hand, South-east Asia’s hotel industry is booming.”

He hopes to grow the company’s hotel management services in the region, and is closely watching Vietnam and Myanmar for hotel management opportunities.

Contiki rolls out ‘quirky’ Facebook messenger chatbot

Largest investment puts Blacklane in fast lane to expansion

Sabre has lowest fares among GDSs, it says

Rides still suspended at Singapore Flyer

Khon Kaen picked as host city for PATA Destination Marketing Forum

Former CNTA exec named UNWTO executive director

Mövenpick Maldives gets GM ahead of 2018 opening

A group handshake affirms regional tourism ties

Tourism tax rebates a push for Thailand’s secondary provinces

Industry veteran forms hospitality services agency

Tried and Tested

Knai Bang Chatt by Kep West

What to Buy Now

Star Navigator to sail to Okinawa from Kaohsiung in January 2026