Amadeus has reached an agreement to combine its solutions with Adobe Experience Cloud, coming after Sabre recently announced cloud services partnerships with Microsoft and Amazon.
John Lonergan, director digital, airlines at Amadeus said: “Amadeus’ collaboration with Adobe Experience Cloud opens a world of opportunities for airlines to deliver personalised experiences to travellers across any digital channel – be it on a laptop, an iPad at check-in, a smartphone, or even a video screen on the back of an aircraft seat – and at any point throughout the customer’s journey.”
Amadeus said in a statement that along with Adobe, it is working with airlines to leverage joint technological capabilities. Further details are not available at press time.
Julie Hoffmann, head of industry strategy and marketing – travel at Adobe commented that the goal of Adobe’s travel arm is “to deliver engaging experiences to all touchpoints”.
“The world’s leading travel and hospitality brands rely on Adobe Experience Cloud, and this partnership with Amadeus will enable us to integrate further with airline brands and take that experience to the next level,” said Hoffmann.
The Swiss hospitality management school will set up an international campus in Singapore
Recognising the importance of Singapore both as an origin and transit market, the Indonesia Ministry of Tourism is upgrading the status of its Visit Indonesia Tourism Officer (VITO) marketing representative in Singapore into a full promotion and information office.
Currently, the paperwork required for the formation of the office is being prepared. When complete, this will be the first such office overseas for Indonesia.
Singapore is a hub for other Asian tourists travelling to Indonesia, and home to a large expatriate community
Indonesia used to have tourism promotion offices during the Soeharto era, but these were closed after the economic and political crisis in the late 1990s. Instead, Indonesia appointed marketing representatives in selected countries known as VITOs.
The move would scale up marketing efforts and trade collaborations in Singapore to a level more proportionate to targets set for the market.
Masruroh Arifin Nurdin, director for marketing development – Singapore, Thailand and Indochina at the Indonesia Ministry of Tourism said: “Singapore has a unique position among all the markets Indonesia is focusing on. Geographically, the country is small, but in terms of number of arrivals, its position is second after China.”
VITO Singapore’s data shows that while Singapore total population is 5.6 million, its outbound traffic movements last year numbered 9.8 million. “Besides being an international hub, Singapore is a hub for travellers from our other international source markets,” Masruroh said, giving examples of the fast-growing Indian and Chinese markets.
With 7,200 flights per week connecting Singapore and 400 cities across the world, there are 62.2 million passengers passing through Changi Airport a year.
“Besides, with our border-crossing promotions, VITO Singapore has a big duty to promote every programme put in place in Riau Islands (Batam and Bintan) as about 60 per cent of (visitors to the) islands (originate) from Singapore.”
This comprises not only the Singaporean citizens but also the expatriate community living in the country, which comprises about 1.6 million residents.
“This year, for example, we have 140 events in Batam and Bintan, which will be promoted in Singapore,” Masruroh said.
Masruroh said the ministry has two VITOs in the Middle East, source of a targeted 200,000 visitors; and India has two VITOs to grab the target of 700,000 tourists. In comparison, Singapore has only one VITO to tap 1.7 million arrivals targeted for this year.
“The tourism minister feels it is unfair for VITO Singapore to take on such a big task on its own. Instead of spending budget on two or three VITOs (in the small country), the minister has decided to open one full office here.”
When ready, Sulaiman Shehdek, country manager of VITO Singapore will continue spearheading the office with one marketing manager and two staff handling social media and sales.
On plans going forward, Sulaiman said: “Under the current arrangement, our resources are limited to only support promotional events and deal with travel agents. By having a dedicated marketing manager, we can expand our reach to associations, corporates and the end users.”
As the Ministry of Tourism is developing new destinations and promoting beyond Bali, there needs to be more awareness campaigns in the market.
“We need to educate the end-users about this. Having a full office will allow us to invite these new destinations to do exhibitions and promotions in our office, for example.
“We will have more consumer shows in the malls in the satellite districts in Singapore, where the locals and families spend their weekends shopping and eating out,” he said.
In relation to working with travel companies, he said the aim was not only to attract Singaporean residents to Indonesia, but also create Singapore-Indonesia combined or extension packages for travellers originating from all over the world.
Masruroh explained: “To tap the Indian market, for example, we need to do dual approach—the outbound operators in India and their ground handling agents here in Singapore. Here is where the promotion office will take part.”
Legian Hotel Management (LHM) is coming out of its “beauty sleep” with a renewed vigour to get the ball rolling on expansion, starting with The Legian Sire, Lombok, scheduled to soft launch by year-end.
The passing of founder Robby Djohan in 2016 put a pause on the budding hospitality company’s plans to expand beyond its Legian grand dame in Bali (which Djohan owned), according to Florian Leven, general manager of the soon-to-open The Legian Sire, Lombok.
The Legian Lombok (photo credit: lhm-hotels.com)
Despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the delay in the hotel’s opening, Leven told TTG Asia on the sidelines of ILTM Asia Pacific that LHM is now “well rested after a beauty sleep”, and in the able hands of managing director Irma Djohan (daughter of the late Djohan) and board of management Ralph Ohletz, one of the founders of General Hotel Management (GHM) with Adrian Zecha.
LHM also recently welcomed a new COO, Hans Joerg Meier; he was formerly COO at COMO Hotels and Resorts, and senior vice president at GHM.
Eyes are once again on The Legian Sire, Lombok to kick off the group’s expansion plans. Originally slated for launch in 2017 as the second property in the LHM portfolio, the hotel seems up to the task of continuing the Legian legacy, with a gap to be filled in the luxury sector particularly in northern Lombok.
“There are some well-known hotel brands in Lombok, but most of these are in the south,” he said, citing examples such as Sheraton and Novotel.
Closer to the northern coast, and widely considered to be a better launch pad to the famous Gili Islands, Leven said luxury options are few and the ones that are available tend to be smaller in scale.
The Legian Sire, Lombok is expected to fill this gap, bringing to market a mid-sized inventory of 61 suites and villas, including 500m2 private pool villas, Leven told TTG Asia.
The property is scheduled for a soft opening in December this year, before its official launch early next year. However, after a delay in opening the first time around, Leven now maintains caution and said: “For us, it is more about getting everything right than rushing to launch.”
Antarctica growing in popularity, but Dynasty Travel says many are still have reservations about visiting since few 'reputable agencies' offer the destination
Turning to “experiential tourism” to meet new challenges in the travel business, Dynasty Travel is touting a more worry-free way for Singaporeans to cruise Antarctica with its charter of Ocean Atlantic, an ice-class vessel with a shallow draft operated by Albatros Expeditions.
The Singaporean agency, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, says the 15-day Antarctica Expedition Cruise to the Great White Continent in November 2019 will become one of its signature journeys.
Antarctica growing in popularity, but Dynasty Travel says many in Singapore still have reservations about visiting since few ‘reputable agencies’ offer the destination
In a statement, the agency says it is targeting “a new breed of travellers” with their “growing environmental awareness and penchant for off-the-beaten track experiences”. Travel agencies and tour companies are cashing in on the small but growing business segment as they adapt and evolve in a fast changing industry, Dynasty Travel observes.
The agency is betting on experiential tourism to cope with the challenges brought on by the digital revolution, which it says has “severely disrupted the industry not just in Singapore but around the world, where more and more people plan, manage and book their travels online on their own”.
With the new chartered cruise, Dynasty Travel says it is giving travellers in the Lion City a “reputable” and “safe” Antarctica cruise itinerary that goes beyond the traditional packaged tour.
The agency said in a statement: “We know that Antarctica is on many Singaporeans’ bucket list. However, most travellers are deterred because few reputable agencies like Dynasty Travel offer this destination. It is a not a journey that you can book confidently on the internet.”
The chartered cruise will be able to accommodate up to about 200 travellers onboard Ocean Atlantic, with a team of guides to take customers out on Zodiac boats to learn about topics ranging from marine biology to geology.
Star Cruises will relocate the SuperStar Virgo to North China, with the ship confirmed for homeport deployment in Dalian, Tianjin and Qingdao this year.
This will continue Star Cruises’ expansion in China to cover the country’s three main cruise markets – in the south, east and north – after SuperStar Virgo was homeported in Shanghai for the summer, SuperStar Gemini in Xiamen, Sanya and Haikou, and SuperStar Aquarius in Qingdao.
Superstar Virgo
“By deploying Star Cruises to the three key cruise markets in China, we are providing a variety of different cruise experiences from across China, building closer relationships with local travel agents, ports and business partners while boosting our market penetration rate and expanding further into the China market,” said Kent Zhu, President of Genting Cruise Lines.
SuperStar Virgo will sail from Dalian (staring September 9), Tianjin (staring September 30) and Qingdao (starting November 3).
On the four-night itineraries from Dalian, guests will visit Nagasaki, Kitakyushu and Fukuoka. There will be four- and five-night options for itineraries from Tianjin, which will visit Kagoshima, Beppu, Fukuoka and Nagasaki. And for sailings from Qingdao, SuperStar Virgo will call on Kagoshima, Fukuoka and Nagasaki.
“The deployment of SuperStar Virgo to North China during September to November will cover public holidays including the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Golden Week, (making the itineraries) suitable for family (travel). And autumn is the perfect time to visit Japan with its comfortable weather conditions and scenery,” said Ang Moo Lim, president of Star Cruises.
Hainan is doubling down on tourism in a bold move to allow tourists access to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, in addition to offering visa-free entry into its Sanya for citizens of 59 countries, including eight of the 10 ASEAN nations.
According a Reuters report, a special “gathering zone” will be created in Hainan province for foreign tourists to access the social media websites, a significant exception in China’s hard-line ban of international social media sites, chat apps and search engines.
With a target for 25 per cent arrivals growth, Hainan relaxes rules to lure tourists
The relaxed ruling for tourists was part of a plan announced this month to boost visitor arrivals into the province to at least million by 2020, or by 25 per cent annually.
Meanwhile, a new policy came into effect in May to allow citizens from 59 countries visa-free entry into Sanya – Hainan’s southern-most island and key tourist destination – for stays of up to 30 days.
This applies to individual or group bookings made through travel agencies registered in Hainan Province and approved by the China National Tourism Administration.
The 59 countries that now enjoy the visa-free access to Hainan include: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE, Qatar, Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Kazakhstan, Monaco and Belarus.
Tonino Lamborghini Hotels & Resorts is beginning its expansion beyond mainland China with two properties signed in Siem Reap.
Shanghai-based Join.In Hospitality Management yesterday announced it has entered an agreement with Hong Kong-based Shimao International Development for the development of the two properties.
Roberto Simone, COO of Join.In Hospitality Management described the signing as a “major milestone”, marking “the first step in our expansion outside and beyond borders of China”.
Tonino Lamborghini Hotels & Resorts also plans to add 12 more properties in key tourism areas across East and South-east Asia in the coming years, starting with Macau and Saipan.
The development of Tonino Lamborghini Hotels & Resorts brand began in 2012 with the opening of its very first luxury hotel in the Chinese city of Suzhou, shortly followed by properties in Kunshan and Huangshi.
Currently, the brand’s development pipeline holds 18 projects in locations across mainland China, namely Chnogqing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Xi’an, Qingdao, Dalian, Xuzhou, Wuxi, Wenzhou, Yixing, Huangshan, Taihangshan and Taihu, all to be opened before 2020.
Hilton has appointed Matt Fry as senior vice president, development in Asia-Pacific (APAC), effective from August 6, 2018.
In his new role, Fry will oversee the team responsible for the overall development strategy for APAC. He will be based in Hilton’s APAC regional office in Singapore and report to Ian Carter, Hilton’s president, global development, architecture, design and construction.
Most recently, Fry served as the head of global real estate operations and Americas real estate at WeWork – a company which provides shared workspaces with a strong emphasis on community.
A seasoned professional, Fry possess over 20 years of experience in the real estate and development industry, with nearly 18 years leading teams at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Ten out of those 18 years were based in Singapore leading Starwood’s development efforts for APAC (excluding China).
He then rose through Starwood’s ranks to senior vice president, global development, overseeing development in APAC, Europe and Latin America, and was also responsible for global oversight of feasibility and deal approval processes.
Gaurav Mathur has assumed the role of country manager for India at Kuoni Global Travel Services since June 1, 2018, reporting to Reto Kaufmann, vice president sales & sales operations South-east & South Asia.
Mathur has joined Kuoni Global Travel Services since 2009 and taken on various management roles over the years. His latest assignment was senior sales manager, India.
A recognised industry expert with in-depth knowledge of the Indian outbound group travel market, Mathur has been instrumental in developing a wide range of new product solutions for clients and introducing new destination ideas to the market.
Bookings pouring in for properties on Rattanakosin Island, where coronation ceremonies will be held
Large European tour operators appear to have an appetite to establish their own DMCs rather than outsource the handling of their passengers to in-destination agencies, as shown by the new joint venture (JV) company in Thailand created by Thomas Cook Group plc and Asian Trails.
If this becomes a trend, it will make a dent on the profitability of DMCs and intensify their need to diversify accounts. Thomas Cook Group’s new joint venture DMC in Thailand will mean a huge loss of business for inbound agencies that have been handling the account, in particular Travel Center Asia but also AED and Exo Travel, according to sources.
Thomas Cook In Destination Management (Thailand) will handle the over 100,000 clients that Thomas Cook Group sends to Thailand each year
The new outfit, Thomas Cook In Destination Management (Thailand), will handle the more than 100,000 clients that Thomas Cook Group sends to Thailand each year effective November 1. Travel Center Asia is understood to be the hardest hit, as it has been handling a big part of Thomas Cook Group’s clients, particularly Germans, for over two decades, while AED is responsible for the Scandinavians, Exo French tourists and Asian Trails UK clients.
Michael Scheidler, Thomas Cook Group director, destination management, in response to questions from TTG Asia, said more than half of its clients to Thailand are from continental Europe, one-third from the Nordics, then “small programmes out of the UK and France”. He declined to comment why Thomas Cook Group did not set up the joint venture with its long-time partner Travel Center Asia.
Travel Center Asia’s managing director, Thomas Maurer, also declined to comment, saying: “For the whole duration of our cooperation (with Thomas Cook Group), Travel Center Asia does not give any kind of information at all.”
On why it picked Asian Trails, Scheidler said: “Asian Trails has proven to be a strong partner for UK and an established company with experience of working with other large tour operator companies like Kuoni; strong relationships within Thailand (hoteliers and authorities); positive negotiations and shared vision for the JV; and good cultural/values match.”
Scheidler said the primary driver for Thomas Cook Group to operate its own inbound agencies is “greater control over the quality and consistency of service all our customers receive in destination”, although a source observed that one big motivation surely must be “a cut of the profit” by owning the groundhandler.
“Such JVs are the future as they mean profit optimisation for large tour operators,” said the source.
The DMC business is still lucrative in Asia, with a flurry of M&As in the past two years, such as DNATA’s acquisition of Destination Asia or Thomas Cook India buyout of Kuoni’s DMC network including Asian Trails. The latter however had no influence on this latest JV; Thomas Cook India is not part of Thomas Cook Group.
If Thomas Cook Group had its way, it would probably set up a fully owned Asian DMC but Thai law does not allow 100 per cent foreign-owned DMCs. With Asian Trails it shares the same level of ownership in the JV, said Scheidler.
The company has been exploring options to either own, manage or set up inbound agency operations since 2014, he said. “We already have successful operating models in Spain, Portugal and the US and will also operate our own agency in the Caribbean from this winter,” said Scheidler.
He added the company is “reviewing the destination management set up across all major destinations, to find the best organisational solution and partner to work with in each destination to meet our operational and service needs”.
When asked about the structure of the new company, Asian Trails CEO, Laurent Kuenzle, said: “The control of the company will be under a Thomas Cook Group appointed manager who will sit at the administrative headquarters in Bangkok which is a separate office from Asian Trails. Also the operation hub in Phuket will be a separate office. It is a completely separate company from Asian Trails. Asian Trails will sit on the board together with Thomas Cook Group appointed officials. The company will have its own reservations, operations, contracting, finance, managers and staff. I can’t disclose the number of staff at the moment.”
Thomas Cook Group isn’t the only large tour operator to establish its own in-destination agencies. Germany’s REWE Group which owns DerTour, Meier’s Weltreisen and Kuoni Switzerland, has its Asian network, Go Vacation, which is represented in Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
