Travel trade stakeholders in Indonesia are increasing their online presence and app capabilities to better engage domestic customers and secure new sales in an increasingly challenging travel landscape.
Traveloka recently conducted live hotel tours, during which discounted rooms were sold. The initiative, according to John Safenson, vice president market management, helps to demonstrate the health and safety measures taken by industry players and rid fear of travel in a pandemic era.
Recognising that travellers today are more price-conscious, Traveloka has intensified its marketing work, throwing out special offers and door prizes to entice consumers.
Safenson told TTG Asia that travellers today seek promotions and discounts, and look for assurance in the form of flexible booking and payment terms.
Over at Dafam Hotel Management (DHM), an improved mobile app has been created to facilitate better communications with in-house guests and expand service offerings.
Andhy Irawan, CEO of DHM, said hotels must do more than sell rooms and services on property; they should also have the capability to bring external experiences to in-house guests. With that in mind, DHM worked with Jawara Solusi Nusantara (JAWS), a web and mobile application system provider, to launch the HAI Dafam mobile app.
Rizki Susetiadi, CEO of JAWS, said the new app allows in-house guests to make room and restaurant reservations as well as order room service. In the future, the app will include online shopping features, allowing hotel guests to order local cuisine or souvenirs and have their purchases delivered to their room.
Another industry partnership has surfaced to benefit the travelling community, this time between Indonesia AirAsia and the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA). Both entities have come together to create travel packages for both individual and group travellers through the new Super AirAsia app. Supporting this effort is the SNAP promotion, which dangles affordable travel deals to Medan and Lombok, with prices starting from 699,000 rupiah (US$48.35). These deals include round-trip airfares from Jakarta and two-night stay at IHRA participating member hotels.
While the promotion was initially aimed at boosting traffic to priority Indonesian destinations the airline operates in, Veranita Yosephine Sinaga, CEO of Air Asia Indonesia, soon found opportunities to expand it to other destinations. – Additional reporting by Mimi Hudoyo
