Chan Brothers courts premium and niche markets

MAJOR outbound operator Chan Brothers is growing its business, with new brands to be rolled out in the second half of the year and refinements to be made to its operations.

Chan’s World, to be launched in July, will target younger FITs and English-speaking groups who are looking for soft adventure holidays in destinations like Tibet and Nepal.

Premier Series, on the other hand, will be more mass-market, but will offer five-star hotel stays, meals at Michelin-star restaurants and more inclusions. This brand is slated to be launched in August, with prices that are at least 30 per cent higher than the usual tours.

Recognising a growing demand for cruise products, the company will also launch a dedicated cruise department in September. It already represents about a dozen cruise liners, but does not have an official division handling bookings.

“Singaporeans are looking for new products, and as a leading tour operator, we have to cater to it,” said group managing director Anthony Chan.

With the boost from these new businesses, he expects annual turnover to climb by at least 20 per cent from the current S$200 million (US$162 million).

The group is also looking to build its S$120-million “asset-backing”, which Chan said helped to “reinforce the whole idea of a trusted brand”. Chan Brothers today is receiving a platinum award as one of the winners of Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands 2011, the second time it has been lauded.

The company’s property portfolio ranges from office spaces to residential buildings across Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. It is also looking to invest in a boutique hotel to complement its inbound operations.

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