New kids on the block: Gen Alpha

October 18, 2019

Move over, millennials and Generation Zs. A new generation of travellers – Generation Alpha – is becoming an emergent force in influencing travel purchase decisions, and industry players are taking note.

While the youngest members of Gen Alpha are still toddlering, they’re already ruling the roost when it comes to family travel, said Wendy Olson Killion, global vice president, business development, Expedia Media Solutions, who shared research findings from the group’s Generation Alpha & Family Travel Trends study at WIT 2019.

Generation Alpha is an influential force in family travel decisions

Gen Alpha, which refers to those born after 2010 – the same year that iPad and Instagram debuted – are expected to be truly “digital natives”. Added Killion: “Kids have always influenced family travel, but Gen Alpha will be the first generation to do so with data.”

According to the Expedia study, which surveyed more than 9,000 parents and grandparents across nine markets, many travel decisions that families make are done to satisfy Gen Alpha, even if this tech-savvy generation has yet to make any travel purchases themselves.

On average globally, families with Gen Alphas are taking more than three family trips a year, including at least one bleisure trip. For family travellers, location (41 per cent), family needs (39 per cent) and price (36 per cent) weigh heavily in accommodation decisions, significantly more than the appeal of deals and promotions (21 per cent).

This spells good news for travel marketers, as families with Gen Alpha are prioritising experiences over expenses, Killion stated.

Millennial parents plan and revolve their travel plans around family needs: Zelia Leong

Zelia Leong, co-founder & CEO of Anywhr, a Singapore-based travel curator that plans mystery trips for clients, also noted that price is a lesser concern for family travel, for whom safety and convenience are bigger influencing factors.

“Millennial parents are not ready to give up travel, but instead plan and revolve their travel destinations around their family needs,” she shared. For instance, her clients with young families would ask for hotels to be picked based on the availability of nearby attractions or beaches, or the itinerary to be planned with just one core activity each day.

However, industry watchers caution against neglecting other market segments. After all, it is senior travellers who are still driving the majority of revenue in the travel industry, said Sojern’s chief solutions officer Kurt Weinsheimer, based on data the travel marketing technology company has found.

“Multi-generational travel is funded by the older generation to destinations chosen by the younger generation,” he remarked.

Market expertise, engagement key for agents to stay relevant in direct booking game

By Pamela Chow

October 18, 2019

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Travel agencies may have to enhance their market expertise and engagement as hotels look to funnel more consumers towards direct booking channels, potentially widening the gap in the hotel-agent relationship.

Speaking at the Hotel Revenue Distribution Summit in Singapore earlier this year, hospitality players expressed greater confidence in increasing direct bookings and reducing their reliance on OTAs, whose rapid expansion in the past decade have dominated the booking process. Hotels are now balancing their OTA partnerships with reinvestments into other distribution channels.

Travel agencies have to deepen their market expertise and engagement as hoteliers look to grow direct bookings, say industry leaders at the recent Hotel Revenue Distribution Summit

This forewarns that hoteliers may also re-examine the place of traditional travel agencies in their distribution strategies.

Ludovic Cacciapaglia, assistant vice president global distribution, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, said: “If we want to work with other channels like TMCs, we must ask how can they help us better reach our target market and how can they impact my hotel.”

The ability to effectively engage and capture target markets is the linchpin agencies need to keep the hotel-agent relationship intact.

Cacciapaglia noted that hotels have the option of many other distribution channels, and to determine which ones are a good fit, hoteliers must understand their target geographical source markets.

“For example, it is important to know the booking window of a market, and their different lead times and touchpoints,” he said.

Such market expertise is critical but uncommon in the hospitality sphere, even with a wealth of data available. For instance, Brett Henry, president director, MG Group, raised the example of millennials, which have become a generalised target segment that in actuality exhibit distinct preferences across different geographical markets.

He said: “The concept of millennials is at a level too high to target for real results. (Hotels) need to be more tactical and have their ears to the ground; they need to be much more focused and targeted to a specific group.”

The next avenue that hotels may be turning their eye to are “bigger players that are making moves on bed banks and tour operators,” opined Cacciapaglia.

Universal Beijing ropes in Alibaba to pioneer digitised theme park

By TTG Asia

October 18, 2019

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alibaba-universal — Duan Qiang, Party Secretary and Chairman of Beijing Tourism Group; Daniel Zhang, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group; Brian Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation

Universal Beijing Resort (UBR) has signed a strategic partnership with Alibaba Group to elevate the guest experience through the use of smart technology and digitisation of operations at the upcoming theme park, which is slated to open in 2021.

UBR is owned by Beijing International Resort, a joint venture between Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment and Universal Parks & Resorts, which operates under Comcast NBCUniversal.

Universal Beijing Resort join forces with Alibaba to digitise the upcoming theme park (Pictured; from left: Beijing Tourism Group’s Duan Qiang, Alibaba Group’s Daniel Zhang, and Comcast Corporation’s Brian Roberts)

Brian Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation, said: “We put significant thought into the experiences we create for our guests. That experience is about more than our great rides and attractions. It’s about making it fun and easy for our guests to enjoy their time with family and friends. Our partnership with Alibaba will help us do exactly that. Together, we can take the theme park experience to a new level.”

Daniel Zhang, executive chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group, added: “This partnership will also bring to fruition a multi-dimensional data-enabled operations management solution for the industry and create a truly digitised theme park. The future of commerce is driven by technology and big data, and digitisation will be the source of brand-new growth opportunities for all businesses.”

UBR will leverage the Alibaba business operating system – a complete suite of services and digital tools – to digitise the operations and management of the theme park to offer guests convenience even before they leave their homes, said the companies in a joint statement.

For example, through integration with Alibaba’s online travel platform Fliggy, visitors will be able to buy tickets and book hotels through the UBR flagship store with a few simple swipes on their phones.

UBR guests will also have the option of using Alipay’s facial-recognition technology across the resort, from park entry and storage lockers to express-lane access and even payment for merchandise and meals.

Alibaba’s local service application, Koubei, will provide F&B recommendations based on guests’ preferences, and enable online meal purchases to minimise wait time.

Tmall, Alibaba’s premier online shopping platform, will be the resort’s e-commerce sponsor, and conduct co-marketing efforts with UBR.

Through cooperation with Alibaba’s digital marketing platform Alimama and Alibaba’s online video hub Youku, guests can enjoy programming about the resort and access Universal movies in the Universal Brand Zone.

Alibaba and UBR said that they are also exploring the options of using Alipay mini-apps to optimise guests’ overall experience. It will aim to improve trip planning, parking and other pain points usually faced by theme park visitors.

The resort will leverage Alibaba’s technology and consumer insights to enhance the guest experience with customised services and elevated park operations, said the companies. Alibaba Cloud will support the digitisation and technology infrastructure of the theme park.

The UBR-Alibaba partnership also extends to Ant Forest, where low-carbon lifestyles will be promoted and users can help contribute to planting real trees in Tongzhou through low-carbon actions that convert into “green energy”. Ticketless entry and digital payment provide guests with convenience, while reducing carbon footprint.

Genting unveils hull artwork for Global Dream

By TTG Asia

October 18, 2019

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Genting Cruise Lines has presented Global Dream’s brand-new hull artwork with an unveiling ceremony at ITB Asia 2019 in Singapore.

Senior minister of state for trade and industry and education Chee Hong Tat (second from right) graced the unveiling ceremony as guest of honour, joining Singapore Tourism Board’s Keith Tan (leftmost) and Genting Cruise Lines’ representatives in the Wednesday event to unveil the illustration for Global Dream.

Gracing the unveiling of Global Dream’s hull artwork were (from left) Singapore Tourism Board’s Keith Tan, Genting Hong Kong’s Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, senior minister of state for trade and industry and education Chee Hong Tat, and Genting Hong Kong’s Hui Lim

Genting Cruise Lines’ president Kent Zhu said: “As arguably the most identifiable feature of a cruise ship, the hull artwork is another important milestone in the development of any cruise ship and will set the personality of the ship when she launches. The new hull artwork provides a fresh take on our beloved mermaid and astronaut characters and captures the adventurous spirit and sense of modernity that will be the hallmarks of Global Dream’s essence.”

Created by Shanghai native and London-based illustrator, Shan Jiang, the latest chapter of the Dream Cruises hull art romance titled “A Dream Through Time and Space” continues the journey of the mermaid and the astronaut as they seek to satisfy their boundless curiosity and explore an infinite universe. Embodying the independent and fearless spirit of a new generation of traveller, the two worlds of the mermaid and astronaut blend together, resulting in a new way to explore the seven seas– one that combines age-old maritime tradition with space-age technology.

Guests who attended ITB Asia also had the chance to experience Global Dream through a specially constructed, full-scale smart show cabin on display during the event.

Set to enter into service in early 2021, the 208,000 gross tonne ship, Global Dream, is currently under construction at Genting Hong Kong’s own MV Werften shipyard in Germany.

Personalisation, sustainability demands on the rise for APAC travellers: Sabre

By TTG Asia

October 18, 2019

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A rising tide of group travel for retirees, eco-conscious movement and thirst for customisation are some of the key traveller trends that Sabre has identified in its Asia-Pacific survey for 2020.

Here are the five key trends as revealed by the survey, which polled over 500 leisure travel consultants from over 24 countries across Asia-Pacific:

Leisure travel consultants from over 24 countries reveal the five key trends across Asia-Pacific

Forever young
Travel professionals reveal that travellers aged between 35 to 50 make up close to 60 per cent of their customer base, proving that despite the rise of online platforms meant to facilitate personal bookings, there’s nothing like having a professional to help enhance the booking experience. What’s more, three in five respondents indicate that personalised requests are the main reason why customers reach out, allowing them to create unique packages that cater to each traveller’s needs.

Silver is golden
In Asia’s rapidly aging economies, more than 40 per cent of consumers served by travel agents are over the age of 50, and over one third of those surveyed identified that retirees are among their most popular customers, just after families and couples.

In fact, four in 10 agents confirm that travel for groups of retired people is on the rise, with packaged tours listed as the main reason why people over 50 reach out to travel agents. Some 46 per cent of those included folks in the 50 to 69 branch; and close to 60 per cent of the 70 and over age group request packaged tours that include flights, hotel and transportation bookings, with wellness or religious activities often being the main reason for their bookings.

Green giant
Sabre’s traveller trend survey found that over 60 per cent of travel consultants identified a growing concern for the environment among travellers. The survey also reveals that an impressive 70 per cent of travellers are asking for sustainable tourism options, and close to 30 per cent are requesting for alternate modes of transportation. However, the survey also reveals that only two per cent of leisure travellers across Asia-Pacific ask to purchase carbon credits.

The gender gap
With solo travel growing year on year, the Sabre traveller trends survey discloses that in Asia, men account for 10 per cent more of the solo travel bookings than women. When it comes to bookings, women tend to prefer travelling in groups. However, when it’s time for a couples’ getaway, the survey reveals that both parties do their part, with nearly 40 per cent of both men and women reaching out to their travel consultant to assist with the booking.

Me, myself and I
As consumers across the board expect customisation to be part of their retail experience, a significant 60 per cent of respondents indicate that personalisation is the main reason why they are called upon to book travel. Travel consultants are sought to fulfil the growing demands of those aged 34 and below to book their next sport and adventure travel, which account for approximately 50 per cent of group bookings, or simply to identify better prices for their customers.

The Postcard Hotel sends first global outposts to Bhutan and Sri Lanka

By TTG Asia

October 18, 2019

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Following the launch of a trio of properties in Goa earlier this year, The Postcard Hotel will soon bring the India-based boutique luxury hotel brand into Sri Lanka and Bhutan this November.

The Postcard Dewa hotel in Bhutan will feature 15 suites, while The Postcard Galle in Sri Lanka will offer 10 intimate suites.

The Postcard Hotel will soon debut in Sri Lanka and Bhutan with The Postcard Galle in Sri Lanka (above) and The Postcard Dewa hotel in Bhutan

With over Rp10 million (US$140,000) of assets under management today and projects underway across South Asia, the luxury group aims to own or manage over US$1 billion of assets in five years.

Founded by the former president of The Oberoi Group, Kapil Chopra, The Postcard Hotel plans to open 50 hotels in five years in experiential destinations across the world. The investment will be made through an intelligent mix of buying off the asset, taking a long term lease on the asset or managing it as a management company.

New hotels: The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, Oakwood Residence Hanoi, and more

By TTG Asia

October 18, 2019

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The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney has opened within the former General Post Office building at No 1 Martin Place. The luxury hotel in Sydney’s CBD offers 416 rooms, all furnished with Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, Nespresso machines, TWG teas, and a pillow menu.

There are two F&B options: The Place, which serves Modern Australian cuisine and South-east Asian dishes; and The Bar which comprises The Lounge and The Room.

Five event spaces are available, the largest being the pillarless Grand Ballroom with a capacity of up to 1,000 for a banquet. The property will also offer Fullerton Experiences, a bespoke programme featuring complimentary heritage tours and events.

Oakwood Residence Hanoi
Situated in an upscale residential neighbourhood within the West Lake (Tay Ho) District, Oakwood Residence Hanoi features 262 studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Each unit comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, high-speed Internet and hotel amenities.

Guests can also expect a suite of services including round-the-clock guest relations and security, housekeeping services, laundry and dry cleaning services, shuttle bus services, as well as activity programmes. Other amenities include a residents’ lounge, restaurant and bar, fitness centre, children’s play area, as well as the city’s first all-season infinity pool fitted with a retractable glass roof.

Pullman Suzhou Zhonghui
Pullman Suzhou Zhonghui has risen in Suzhou’s Xiangcheng District, offering 413 rooms and suites. Each suite includes a Pullman fitness bag and workout guide with yoga mat, while these items are available upon request in all other room categories.

F&B options include the brand’s signature Junction Bar; Perle Café which offers all-day dining; Lingering Garden which serves up Cantonese and Suzhou cuisines; and Japanese restaurant Mokusei Teppanyaki.

For MICE travellers and event planners, the hotel features a 1,200m² column free Grand Ballroom, equipped with a 360-degree and 4D holographic project system; two Junior Ballrooms at 300m² and 220m²; five meeting rooms, and a terrace space for outdoor events. Recreational facilities include a Fit Lounge with a 650m² workout area and an 18m indoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi, a gym, steam bath, sensory showers and yoga room.

Awan Biru Resort & Spa
Awan Biru Resort & Spa, partly managed by Adiwana Hotels and Resorts, has opened in Ubud. Extending over two floors, the resort’s main building has five rooms, namely, Mentari room, Candra room, Surga Kecil, Surga Besar, and Pelangi Room which features a private pool. Features include an open-air dining pavilion, a fitness centre, a sauna and Jacuzzi, a miniature golf course, a Japanese garden, an infinity pool, a lounger, a spa, a study room, media room and games pavilion.

Red Planet Sapporo Susukino Central
Red Planet has welcomed its second hotel in Sapporo. The 212-room Red Planet Sapporo Susukino Central is located just off Odori Park, in the downtown Susukino neighbourhood. The hotel is a short walk to the Sapporo Clock Tower, Sapporo TV Tower, and Nakajima Park.

John Reed joins Octave Institute as COO

By TTG Asia

October 18, 2019

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Health and wellness hospitality company Sangha Retreat by Octave Institute has appointed John Reed as COO.

Reporting to chairman and founder of Octave Institute, Frederick Chavalit Tsao, Reed has been placed in charge of the business performance of Octave Institute and developing a sales-driven culture throughout the organisation.

The American brings more than 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the table, having worked in various destinations around the globe such as the US, Australia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bali and Bhutan. Reed has a deep knowledge and understanding of the markets in South Asia and Indochina, especially Bhutan, where he spent a significant part of his career building the Aman brand.

Penang eyes Singapore market with Experience Penang 2020 campaign

By S Puvaneswary

October 17, 2019

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Penang Global Tourism is looking to snare even stronger arrivals from Singapore – among the Malaysian destination’s top three source markets – with its new Experience Penang 2020 campaign and soon-to-come travel promotions with airlines and online travel agents.

At its campaign launch event held at Parkroyal on Beach Road in Singapore on Tuesday, Penang Global Tourism’s CEO Ooi Chok Yan revealed that plans to further grow arrivals from Singapore next year include creating loyalty programmes, as well as working on joint promotions with OTAs and airlines that operate flights between Singapore and Penang.

Penang launches Experience Penang 2020 campaign with Singapore as one of its target markets; Pinang Peranakan Mansion in Penang, Malaysia pictured

Penang Global Tourism will also intensify its branding and destination marketing through print and online advertising.

Singapore outbound agents that TTG Asia spoke to at the event said that leisure and corporate travel demand for Penang has climbed on the back of attractive airfares, a weak ringgit and new products and attractions.

Otto Gerard Ree, business development manager at Cultural & Entertainment Holidays, observed rising interest among Singaporean youths who favour nature and soft adventures in Penang. Fuelling the demand are return airfares that are priced “as low as S$148 (US$108)”.

For Vincent Tham, director at D’Address, Penang enjoys “healthy interest” from business event groups that are attracted by the variety of business hotels and unique venues at competitive rates.

The number of church and student groups from Singapore is also on the rise, noted Lawrence Koay, owner & CEO of Penang-based DMC Tour & Incentive Travel. He added that durian lovers flock in too when the fruit is in season.

Yeoh Soon Hin, Penang State EXCO for Tourism, Arts, Culture & Heritage, hopes to keep the momentum going through Experience Penang 2020, which will highlight Penang’s diversity of culture, heritage, arts, food and scenic natural surroundings.

“Hence the tagline, The Diversity of Asia,” he explained.

Zen Rooms snags further investment from South Korea’s Yanolja

By TTG Asia

October 17, 2019

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Singapore-headquartered budget hotel chain Zen Rooms (Zen) has received additional investment of an undisclosed sum from South Korea’s travel group Yanolja.

Yanolja has also acquired Zen’s early investors’ stakes and signed a wide strategic alliance with the company.

Zen’s Nathan Boublil said that the company’s alliance with Yanolja will create a hospitality group in South-east Asia that is able to deploy technology infrastructure to all hotels in the region

Backed by Booking Holdings and GIC, Yanolja was the lead strategic investor in the company’s US$15 million funding round in 2018, with rights to invest further.

Zen’s early investor Asia Internet Holdings, which is a joint venture between Rocket Internet and Ooredoo Telecom, has exited its stake to Yanolja. Meanwhile, RedBadge Pacific and SBI Korea remain as investors, while Access Ventures has joined as a co-investor.

The Zen-Yanolja alliance creates “the first full service budget and mid-range hospitality group in South-east Asia”, according to Zen’s co-founder and CEO, Nathan Boublil.

It combines Zen’s budget hotel franchise business with Yanolja’s scale, hospitality technologies and the backing of OTA leader Booking Holdings, thus granting Zen “unique competitive advantages in both hotel technology and sales distribution”, the company said in a statement.

South Korean travel group Yanolja’s recent additional investment in Zen Rooms follows its $15 million funding in the budget hotel chain last year

The groups will work to heavily deploy automation technology to enhance customer experience, further reduce budget hotels’ operating costs and reinvent budget hospitality across South-east Asia, it added.

Since Yanolja’s investment in mid-2018, Zen has quadrupled revenue in the past year. In 4Q2019, it became the largest hotel chain in the Philippines, with 5,500 rooms under franchise.

New kids on the block: Gen Alpha

Market expertise, engagement key for agents to stay relevant in direct booking game

Universal Beijing ropes in Alibaba to pioneer digitised theme park

Genting unveils hull artwork for Global Dream

Personalisation, sustainability demands on the rise for APAC travellers: Sabre

The Postcard Hotel sends first global outposts to Bhutan and Sri Lanka

New hotels: The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, Oakwood Residence Hanoi, and more

John Reed joins Octave Institute as COO

Penang eyes Singapore market with Experience Penang 2020 campaign

Zen Rooms snags further investment from South Korea’s Yanolja

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