Boeing has rolled out its first 737 Max 10 in a ceremony witnessed by thousands of employees at the company’s Renton, Washington factory.
In light of the global 737 Max grounding, the unveiling of the 737 Max 10 was a muted affair, similar to the 777X roll-out earlier this year.
Boeing unveils its first 737 Max 10 in a ceremony for employees in Renton
The 737 Max 10, the largest variant of the Max family, can seat up to 230 passengers and offers the lowest seat-mile cost of any single-aisle airplane ever produced. The airplane will be undergoin system checks and engine runs prior to its first flight next year, Boeing said in a statement.
The 737 Max 10 currently has more than 550 orders and commitments from more than 20 customers around the globe.
Race promoter Singapore GP has released tickets to the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2020.
Tickets to the race weekend, which will take place from September 18-20, 2020, will be available for sale in phases starting from November 15, 2019. Special discounts will be applied to six ticket categories across all zones of the Circuit Park in the early sale stages.
Super Early Bird tickets to Singapore Grand Prix 2020 has gone on sale
During the Super Early Bird promotional period from November 15 to December 3, 2019, patrons can enjoy up to 28 per cent in savings, with prices for the available three-day ticket categories starting from S$268 (US$196). More ticket categories will be released in the coming weeks. Regular prices will apply from May 13, 2020 onwards.
Patrons will be able to catch the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix and entertainment performances at the Marina Bay Street Circuit with a valid ticket for the relevant zones.
Tracy Ng has joined Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel as general manager.
Prior to her latest appointment, she was previously the general manager at Carlton Hotel Singapore.
Ng brings a wealth of hospitality experience spanning more than three decades, having embarked on her hospitality career after a stint with Singapore Airlines. She cut her teeth at properties such as The Elizabeth Hotel, Furama Hotel, Traders Hotel and Carlton Hotel.
All-inclusive resorts, which typically include accommodation, meals and entertainment, have long been a popular vacation mode among European travellers, but now the concept is catching on in the Asian market.
“In Europe, the all-inclusive resort concept is very common, and Europeans love to stay in the resort for 10 days or two weeks to just enjoy (the resort’s facilities),” noted Petra Gauthey, director of business development Asia, Riu Hotels & Resorts. “In Asia, we don’t see this trend of people staying so long (overseas), so we had to do quite a lot of branding and promoting of our all-inclusive resorts because that concept is not very common in Asia.”
Riu Atoll, one of two resorts that the hotel group has opened in the Maldives this year, is attracting more Asian travellers
Already, Gauthey has observed an uptick in interest in the hotel group’s all-inclusive properties from markets in Asia-Pacific. “We (are seeing) a huge amount of clients from different Asian countries. China is the biggest Asian market for all our destinations, and also India because of the country’s proximity to our properties in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. We also have clients from South Korea and Japan.”
The 66-year-old Spanish hotel conglomerate, which owns 93 all-inclusive properties across 19 countries, has recently expanded its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, with resorts launched in Sri Lanka and Maldives.
To correctly communicate what their all-inclusive resorts provide, especially among “skeptical” travel agents, Gauthey said that Riu is stepping up on efforts in Asia to build awareness around their offerings, with the group’s latest effort being a recent workshop held at Parkroyal on Pickering, Singapore last week.
Singapore-based Fortune Travel’s senior sales manager Adrian Ang, who was one of the participants at the workshop, said that it was his first time hearing about the all-inclusive concept. “I think the response would be overwhelming if people knew that they could go to a resort where everything is included. I think the all-inclusive concept would be very well received in the Asian market. Nowadays, resorts have come up with a lot of creative ideas and activities for patrons to enjoy exclusively.”
But Ang, who sells package tours to corporate groups, admits that “budget-concerned clients” will be the main challenge in marketing the all-inclusive concept to Asian travellers. “Costs are still the top priority for most of our clients,” he said.
To overcome that obstacle, Gauthey said that Riu will look at pushing promotions during off-peak seasons. “Asian travellers are very focused on the pricing, so we will look at doing more promotions during the low season because that is the time when we can really drop our prices,” she added.
Gauthey debunks the common misconception that staying at an all-inclusive resort means having to fork out a fortune. Rather, she pegs Riu properties as “four- and five-star properties”, targeting in particular families and corporate groups looking for “comfortable, hassle-free holidays”.
In the region alone, Riu has already appointed two representatives in China and another two in India to promote the resorts, said Gauthey. “There are more travel agents in Asia who are approaching us now to find out more information about our resorts. Currently, we have direct contracts with about 20 agents in China and another 10 in India,” she said. In Singapore, Riu works with Hana Tours, a B2B agency, to distribute hotel rates for its properties.
Gauthey said that other Asia-Pacific countries on Riu’s radar are South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Australia.
The company also has a B2B website, www.riuagents.com, where agents can make direct bookings at any Riu hotels worldwide, earn points and stay free in Riu resorts worldwide once they have earned sufficient points.
As part of Riu’s Asia push, the hotel group is also dangling attractive agent incentives. Travel agents in Asia who make at least five new bookings for their clients in Riu Atoll or Riu Palace Maldives from November 1, 2019 till February 29, 2020 will score a four-night, all-inclusive stay for two pax in a double room in Riu Atoll. The prize is inclusive of a return domestic flight from Male to Kudahuvadhoo airport.
In future, Gauthey said that the company is also looking at running online workshops to connect with travel agents “in countries like Australia or India where there are many agents but they can’t be reached easily”.
As the China-Pacific Island Countries Year of Tourism 2019 drew to a close at the China International Travel Mart (CITM), which recently took place in Kunming, Yunnan, expectations were high among industry leaders that China will play a bigger role in the region’s tourism development landscape.
Christopher Roy Cocker, CEO, Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), said: “The partnership has opened up tourism, with China now the fastest emerging market for the Pacific Islands. In 2018, out of the 2.1 million visitors, 5.8 per cent were Chinese.”
China now the fastest emerging market for the Pacific Islands: Cocker
When asked about the mission of SPTO – a representation of all 20 Pacific Islands – Cocker shared: “One of our aims is to get each destination to come up with their own USPs. Everyone knows the region has water sports, diving and fishing, but I can’t just sell sun, sea and sand. All 20 islands are different.”
A newcomer to this year’s CITM is Kiribati, a sovereign state whose niches lie in fishing, diving, bird-watching, and WWII relics. Said Petero Manufolau, CEO, Tourism Authority Kiribati: “We are hoping to make tourism our main economic driver, and move away from fishing. The Chinese market is a fantastic opportunity (to help this happen).”
Currently, few Chinese tourists make their way to Kiribati, which offers “lots of room for growth”, Manufolau said.
Similarly, the Solomon Islands is hoping to move away from logging and mining, and has expanded efforts on the development of the tourism sector as an economic driver.
Josefa Tuamoto, CEO, Tourism Solomons, told TTG Asia: “Resources have a shelf life. Mining, logging and fishing will come to an end. What’s next? Tourism.”
Currently, the Solomon Islands welcomes around 2,000 Chinese visitors – mostly business travellers – of the annual total of 30,000 tourists.
“China has the potential to bring in 30,000 for us in a month, yet we welcome only 2,000 in a year. The Chinese are the largest outbound market globally, and we want a piece of the cake,” Tuamoto remarked.
Seeking not just a “spike” in Chinese numbers but the cultivation of a “long-term relationship” with China, Tuamoto revealed that the Solomon Islands is now working on easing visa entry regulations for Chinese travellers, as well as developing specific products for the market.
As for the type of products Chinese travellers sought, Tuamoto said: “When I spoke to Chinese wholesalers, they shared that Chinese market wants soft adventure, such as snorkelling and trekking. They are also usually higher-spending, and more experienced travellers.”
China clearly has the makings of a luxury market for Vanuatu, which is among the earliest to tap the Chinese outbound travel boom, said Adela Issachar Aru, CEO, Vanuatu Tourism Office. She noted that Chinese travellers usually spent six to eight nights in Vanuatu, spending over US$2,000.
Aru shared: “There has been a 33 per cent increase in Chinese tourists over the last four years, with more arriving yearly.”
The fifth edition of the Digital Travel APAC, which will see the gathering of some of the world’s most innovative and disruptive travel companies, will be held from April 20-22, 2020 at the Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore.
E-commerce, digital marketing and customer experience leaders from Asia’s top travel businesses will converge at Digital Travel APAC 2020 to share their views on this emerging demographic of travellers.
Digital Travel APAC
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Already, forward-looking travel businesses are changing their strategy when interacting with today’s increasingly tech-savvy travellers.
Multi-device, mobile messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, WeChat and Facebook Messenger are a key tool in enriching the consumer experience.
From pre-sale enquires to flight reminders and chat assistance during their trip, agencies staying connected to their customers leads to higher satisfaction levels.
The SITA, 2025: Air Travel for a Digital Age report shows that 68 per cent of all passengers will be digital travellers by 2025, and will expect to manage their travel in much the same way they do every other aspect of their daily lives – using their mobile phones.
Digital Travel APAC will further explore the industry drivers of tomorrow’s travel business in an interactive two-and-a-half-day conference.
Key topics of discussions include:
Perfecting Personalisation – How to deliver a single view of the customer and real-time data access to deliver a hyper-personalised experience
Data-driven personalisation – What are the people, processes and technology requirements for rolling out a practical strategy that delivers on the customers’ individual needs from the get go?
How to understand customer needs to deliver personalised travel solutions in multiple markets
The discussions will be led by an advisory board comprising Cheryl Goh, group vice president of marketing, Grab; Jerome Thil, vice president of digital innovation, Singapore Airlines; Ronald Dalderup, vice president of innovation, Shangri-La; Nandor Locher, head of digital direct, Qantas; Akira Mitsumasu, vice president of global marketing, Japan Airlines; Andrew Cefai, senior director, marketing & e-commerce Asia-Pacific, Hilton; Piotr Jakubowski, ex-chief marketing officer, Go-Jek; and Vikas Bhola, regional director, South Asia-Pacific, Booking.com.
2020 will also see the travel event hold new formats for deeper engagement and discussions:
“How to” roundtables – A highly interactive small group format that allows participants to choose their desired topics while enjoying a glass of champagne.
Country Clinics – Deep diving into upcoming markets like Vietnam, India, Indonesia, China
Shark Tank – Identifying “the next best thing” in travel tech
Further information about event can be viewed here.
Readers of TTG are entitled to a 20 per cent discount to attend Digital Travel APAC 2020; simply quote ‘DTA20_TTG’ on checkout or email to sgwbrinfo@wbresearch.com.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation will introduce its first dual-branded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House project in South-east Asia, with the 300-key Hyatt Place Saigon, District 7 and 250-key Hyatt House Saigon, District 7 slated to open in Ho Chi Minh City come 2023.
The result of a management agreement between a Hyatt affiliate and Xuan Mai Sai Gon Construction Investment Joint Stock Company, the new hotels will form part of the Eco Green Saigon 13ha mixed-use project, which will also include residential units, office space, event space, and a primary school.
A rendering of the upcoming dual-branded property by Hyatt in Vietnam
Hyatt Place Saigon, District 7 will feature a café, a bar, a lobby lounge, three meeting rooms, an outdoor pool and fitness centre.
Hyatt House Saigon, District 7, which will predominantly cater to guests looking for longer-term accommodations, will consist of 250 rooms divided into studios and one-bedroom suites, a bar, a lobby lounge, a meeting room, an outdoor pool and fitness centre.
Solo travellers in Asia are leading the charge by a large margin, as the concept has already been relatively popular in western nations
The vast majority of travellers – regardless of age, gender, or nationality – are keen on solo travel, according to a Klook-commissioned Solo Travel study conducted by YouGov.
The study, which polled close to 21,000 respondents across 16 markets, found that 76% of them have either travelled alone or are considering it.
The number of travellers in Asia who are more inclined to travel solo are growing
When comparing generational preferences, 80% of Generation Z (18 to 24 year olds) respondents and 79% of Millennials (25-39) said they have already travelled alone or would be keen to plan a solo trip.
Similar trends were also found among the older generations: roughly 73% of Generation X (40-54) and 71% of Baby Boomers (55+) said they were interested in travelling alone. There is also little difference between genders, with 74% of women and 78% of men saying they have either already experienced or would be interested to pursue solo travel.
And while there has been an uptick in interest globally, the data shows that solo travellers in Asia are leading the charge by a large margin. Between 69% and 93% of travellers from Asia have either travelled solo in the past or said that they are open to the idea. In western countries, by comparison, that number hovers between 60% and 69%.
When asked about their reasons for flying solo, half of the respondents said that they wanted to enjoy uninterrupted “me time” or reward themselves, suggesting that travellers value their independence more than ever.
However, the same survey also found that while many people said that they are interested in hitting the road alone, they also had reservations about potentially feeling lonely. In fact, half of the survey participants who wanted to solo travel cited a “fear of loneliness” as the biggest hurdle. This concern was prevalent across all generations – with Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers all ranking loneliness as their top concern.
Additionally, 48% said that safety was their biggest worry; and 30%, planning and booking the itinerary on their own.
Vietnam-based travel booking platform VLeisure has partnered with Travel Prologue, a hotel direct booking service provider, to deliver live room rates and inventory to B2B channels like travel agencies, wholesalers and corporate travel intermediaries.
Under the partnership, VLeisure is able to provide an open ecology network to its customers, while leveraging on Travel Prologue’s hotel connectivity services and network of hotels such as Mandarin Orchard Singapore, Furama Hotels International and Berjaya Hotels & Resorts.
Phan: sharing technology is the way forward for the business
VLeisure’s technology will deliver “seamless payment solutions and many more efficiency driven modules for wholesalers and agents”.
VLeisure’s CEO Phan Le said: “An open ecosystem for the travel industry will be the next development in the hotel distribution business. There is no longer a ‘one man wins’ in hotel distribution anymore, making it more of a level playing field. Sharing technology is the way to go and Travel Prologue shares the same ideology with our vision on this.”
Travel Prologue’s managing director Ho Siang Twang said: “Our B2B hotel direct booking service, Trip Affiliates Network, is designed to help hotels and their B2B channels improve their direct bookings with one another.”
Hertz is marking its 60th anniversary with the addition of 60 Mini vehicles, including the Mini Cooper, the Mini One and the Mini Countryman, to the premium British Collection.
To launch the expansion, Hertz has asked the vehicle wrapping company Yannimize to “dress up” some of its Mini cars in vinyl, featuring three eye-catching designs. The artwork showcases the traditional red, white and blue of the Union Jack, alongside 16 typically British cultural references.
Minis are available for rental in the UK from Hertz
“Mini is an icon of British style and culture, and as such, it had to be part of our British Collection,” Hertz UK’s country manager Richard Davies said. “With the British Collection sporting Jaguar, Land Rover and Mini models, as well as an exclusive, personalised service, we trust customers will be pleased to join the ‘Best-of-British’ vibe.”
The newly added Mini models are available at Hertz locations in Edinburgh Airport, London Heathrow Airport and London Marble Arch.
