Along with its recent rebranding, B2B online booking engine RateHawk is now poised to enter the Asian market.
The company now has a core group of people in the region, and aims to expand its headcount to 30 in 1Q2024 and 60 by the end of the year. The company will launch as a legal entity in Singapore, with a target to begin operation by the end of this year.
RateHawk is available in 21 languages, including Chinese. As it grows in this region, it will add Thai and Korean in 1Q2024, Vietnamese in 2Q2024, and Japanese by the end of 2024.
Felix Shpilman, RateHawk’s CEO and president, said the company would establish local operations, with “local support, local commercial teams, local bank accounts” among other things. He also plans to contract locally, as RateHawk has been in other regions like Dubai in the Middle East, Europe and CIS nations.
Shpilman is bullish about competition, and remains confident that his company stands out in terms of supply quality, web and mobile user experience convenience, support quality, and level of automation and machine learning.
“Nobody has anything like us, and I believe we’re unmatched globally. Expedia, Bedsonline, TPL Holidays, etc are all formidable competitors, but combining all of those things? Nobody does that at the global scale like we do,” he remarked.
He previously served as the general manager of Hilton Adelaide for nearly five years.
Having been with the SkyTeam Alliance carrier for 17 years, Chang will move to Phnom Penh for his new role. He was previously based at the airline’s headquarters in Seoul where he was in charge of marketing for Europe and South-east Asia.
In his new role, he will leverage his extensive experience to further enhance guest experiences and elevate the hotel’s reputation.
As for Sangmookda, he will manage a portfolio of over 30 properties where over a third are expected to open over the next three years. With over two decades of experience in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, he brings with him strong operational and commercial expertise from the past management of large hotel portfolios under leading hotel chains such as Marriott International, Minor Hotels and the former Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Planeterra’s work with the Kao Tep Pitak Community Restaurant has been recognised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand for its community-based tourism efforts.
Planeterra’s highly effective model of local regeneration empowers small communities around the world to take control of their lives and conserve their environment and traditions through sustainable tourism.
It helped Kao Tep Pitak Community Restaurant gain public awareness, which used to be elusive despite the villagers’ enthusiasm for travellers and warm hospitality. The few who came would stay only briefly, snapping a quick photo of the area’s main attraction – its elegant suspension bridge – before leaving..
By working with Planeterra to develop its tourism programme, Kao Tep Pitak Community Restaurant was able to incentivise locals by providing them with a reliable income while promoting local entrepreneurs and inculcating a sense of pride and self-esteem among participants.
Planeterra enabled the restaurant’s project to gain traction by providing food and hygiene training, guidance on how to improve the tourism experience, as well as vital funding to complete the construction of a community centre, which first began in 2016. The completed centre includes a communal area, kitchen, dining room, and guest bathrooms.
With Planeterra’s partner, G Adventures, the project has drawn thousands of visitors to the community to sample the Kao Tep Pitak way of life, discover local arts and crafts, sample the incredible cuisine and explore the local landscape.
“We are thrilled to congratulate our esteemed community partners, Kao Tep Pitak, on their well-deserved recognition at the Responsible Thailand Awards 2023,” said Tricia Schers, director, partnerships and development, Planeterra. “Their dedication to community-based tourism exemplifies the positive impact that responsible travel can have on Thailand’s nature, local communities, wildlife, and heritage.”