The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) Luxury Gold brand, a luxury spinoff from Insight Vacations, has kicked off in the Philippines with nine new tours in destinations as varied as Japan, Croatia and Montenegro, and Scandinavia as part of its 2018 tours.
The Philippines is the most attractive source market after Singapore (Malaysia comes third), TTC’s Asia president Robin Yap said, explaining that Singaporeans travel two shorthaul and two longhaul a year because of the size of the city state, while Filipinos travel twice a year usually as a family, with five to six minimum members, making them a “very lucrative market”.
Moreover, compared to Filipinos, Singaporeans tend to be more concerned with price than how good an experience they will get, said Yap. “The Philippine market understands what luxury is about. (The) lifestyle here is about enjoyment, celebration, travelling in style”.
“We have been here for 37 years and we see how the market has grown. Typhoons and volcanic eruptions don’t stop the people from travelling. They’re very resilient,” said Yap.
Aileen Clemente, president and chair of Rajah Travel – TTC’s GSA in the Philippines – added that there is growing demand for luxury travel as Filipino travellers who started with budget trips become more mature in their travel preferences.
Luxury Gold hence focuses on curated destinations and service targeting luxury seasoned travellers seeking attractions where others lack access, Yap shared. The brand’s group tours take small groups with a maximum of 25 pax instead of over 40 pax. Its concierge-style services offer, for example, behind-the-scenes access to an opera production, a booking at a Michelin star restaurant which normally has to be booked six months in advance, or a private limo transfer at the Vatican.
To further enhance the travel experience, Luxury Gold features the Chairman’s Collection curated by TTC chairman Stanley Tollman. The collection offers experiences such as lunch with an Italian Count at his grand Tuscan villa, visiting the gardens of Alnwick Castle with the Duchess of Northmberland, all with select departure dates.
