Klook shakes up travel fair concept with mobile-led fest

October 11, 2019

Korea-Build-your-holiday-wall — "Build your own holiday" wall in Korea Zone

Consumer travel fairs in Singapore are traditionally a marketplace featuring outbound travel agencies and related travel products, as popularised by the long-running NATAS Travel Fair and Travel Revolution: The Event, which are organised by NATAS and Travel Revolution, respectively.

Now, Klook has entered the game with a different kind of travel fair to appeal to the modern breed of travel buyers. The Klook Travel Fest, which concluded in Singapore over October 5 to 6, adopted a flexible “build your own holiday” DIY concept featuring activities, products and services targeted at FITs.

Klook Travel Fest Singapore

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Billed as a “mobile-led” event, the fair showcased tours available on the Klook website and mobile app in eight destination zones, namely, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South-east Asia, Europe, Australia and the US.

Attendees, who had to register for free entry via the mobile app, could pick up activity pamphlets in these zones with QR codes linking to the product pages.

The event also featured flash deals on select products, talks by travel writers and content producers, themed carousel rides and ball pits, as well as booths by Universal Studios Japan, JR West, Korea Tourism Organisation, among others.

“We realised that traditional travel fairs do not cater to the large and growing pool of FITs, who are mobile-centric and extremely digitally savvy. They are moving away from hyper-scheduled days and packaged reservations; they are also using their mobile devices to manage every aspect of their trips,” noted Marcus Yong, regional marketing director, Southeast Asia, Klook.

This fresh concept, added Yong, caters to more diverse segments of consumers who are drawn to community-driven games, educational talks, workshops and mobile-driven deals.

This year, the event made its rounds to Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and drew a total of more than 150,000 attendees. The Manila event registered double the number of bookings compared to its debut edition last year.

As this new breed of travel fair takes root, the next step is to make it more accessible for less tech-savvy travellers, shared Yong.

He expressed: “(We’ve observed that) some of the older generation of travellers still lack the confidence to plan and embrace new travel technologies. We will be taking a more in-depth look into how events like ours can be structured to better empower travellers to plan with confidence. For example, we would prepare more itineraries that are easily adaptable, bite-sized content for complex products and even engaging additional brand ambassadors to help us on site.”

Upgrade Pack eyes Asia growth with new Singapore office, APAC COO hire

By TTG Asia

October 11, 2019

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UK-based loyalty startup Upgrade Pack has expanded its flight and hotel upgrade business into Asia with the opening of a Singapore office, appointing ex-Google and Expedia executive Toby Berger as Asia-Pacific COO to spearhead regional growth.

The international expansion comes as the fintech company prepares to roll out its customer loyalty and rewards platform in the region, which provides users with exclusively discounted upgrades on flights and hotels of up to 35 per cent.

Upgrade Pack names Toby Berger as Asia-Pacific COO to spearhead regional growth

Its proprietary technology, delivered through a value-led app, offers banks, credit card issuers and employers a differentiated, digital customer loyalty and employee benefit.

“Singapore represents the perfect base for our first phase of international expansion. The city-state has firmly established itself as a global technology and finance leader and with many of our potential banking and corporate clients here, this new office enables us to demonstrate the value Upgrade Pack delivers as a differentiated customer loyalty and employee benefit offering,” said its group CEO Craig Unsworth.

Upgrade Pack plans Asian expansion with opening of Singapore office

The move into Asia-Pacific follows the company’s recent S$2.2 million (US$1.6 million) funding round, led by private investment firm Havisham Group. In addition to expanding into Asia-Pacific, the company is finalising a new base in North America to support its US and Canadian businesses.

Walmart boss Greg Foran to head Air New Zealand as CEO

By TTG Asia

October 11, 2019

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Current Walmart boss Greg Foran has been appointed as Air New Zealand’s new CEO, a role that he will assume in 1Q2020.

He will take over from CFO Jeff Mcdowall, who was appointed as interim CEO after Christopher Luxon’s resignation in June.

A Kiwi native, Foran is currently president and CEO of Walmart US, a role he took up in 2014. He first joined Walmart International in 2011 where he served in a number of capacities, including as president and CEO of Walmart China, and then president and CEO of Walmart Asia up until he assumed his current role.

Before joining Walmart, Greg held a number of positions with Woolworths in Australia and New Zealand.

Sri Lanka to allow foreign airlines in domestic routes

By Feizal Samath

October 11, 2019

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Cinnamon Air taking off from Batticola Airport — A Cinnamon Air plane taking off from Batticola Airport. Photo credit: https://www.airport.lk/Bati

Sri Lanka will be opening its skies for foreign carriers to operate domestic flights in the country, as part of the government’s push to boost accessibility to tourism hotspots.

According to the government’s decision on October 1, cabotage rights will be granted to foreign carriers which have bilateral air services agreements with Sri Lanka to operate domestic flights to airports within the country.

A Cinnamon Air plane taking off from Batticola Airport. Photo credit: https://www.airport.lk/Bati

The authorities have also designated three domestic airports at Ratmalana (near Colombo), Batticaloa (in the eastern region) and Jaffna (in the north) as international airports to accommodate international flights.

The trio will join the Colombo International Airport and the Mattala International Airport (in the southern town of Hambantota) as new international destinations.

HMC Nimalasiri, director general of the state-owned Civil Aviation Authority, said that the trio of new international airports can accommodate aircraft up to a maximum of 80 seats.

He said that Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, has expressed interest in flying to Pallaly from Chennai, South India, and also from Pallaly to Batticaloa (domestic route). “This may be one of the reasons why cabotage rights have been approved by the government,” he said.

The move, however, has sparked criticism from the domestic aviation sector in view of the greater competition.

A veteran airline official and the current director of a leisure company, who declined to be named, said that he was surprised by the decision to allow foreign carriers to operate flights internally. “No country – for example, Thailand, Australia or Japan – allows foreign operators to operate local flights as it affects the domestic aviation industry,” he said. “It is also not viable for international carriers to operate smaller aircraft on a local route”.

Currently, private operator Cinnamon Air operates a daily scheduled flight across Sri Lanka with eight-seater Cessna aircraft which can land in the water or on land. There are also other private companies that operate charter flights with aircraft of similar or less capacity.

Biggest-ever global marketing push launched for Famous Original New York City

By TTG Asia

October 11, 2019

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TOUCA_UK_Lucozade_Outbound_900x450 — The Famous Original New York City campaign will also hit Singapore shores

NYC & Company has kicked off “its most expansive global tourism marketing campaign to date”, as New York City looks to welcome a record 13.9 million international visitors in 2019.

The refreshed Famous Original New York City campaign, valued at approximately US$20 million, will be unveiled across 22 countries including first-time markets Singapore and Ireland.

The Famous Original New York City campaign will also hit Singapore shores for the first time

This promotional effort, with a “Welcomes You. Always.” tagline, presents travel partners with several colourful iterations from which to choose, with further design executions featuring other uniquely-NYC imagery still expected to come.

New to this year’s refreshed Famous Original New York City initiative is a toolkit, which include five-borough imagery, video and other creative assets, that will be given to all partners to promote New York City.

The My Famous Original New York City personalisation hub will help users gather inspiration, plan their visit and navigate the destination, by offering ‘favouriting’ tools and providing information (including in-language content in French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish) in response to their behaviour and feedback while using the website. The hub will also offer visitors the option to book New York City restaurants, hotels and attractions directly on the website.

NYC & Company’s city-to-city tourism partnerships are being leveraged to support this global tourism marketing effort, spotlighting New York City via in-kind media in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; and Toronto, Canada. Starting this autumn, NYC & Company will also collaborate with global corporate partner MasterCard on out-of-home advertisements promoting New York City in key Latin American markets Chile, Colombia and Mexico.

NYC & Company has partnered with tour operators and airlines to offer packages and flight-only deals driving visitation in 1Q2020. In addition to out-of-home media through an ongoing in-kind partnership with media provider JC Decaux, digital, partner-owned, and paid promotion contribute to an approximate campaign value of US$20 million to date.

This week in the UK, the city’s leading source of international visitation, digital out-of-home advertisements were rolled out in collaboration with British Airways. Additional partners include Aeromexico (Mexico), Asiana Airlines (South Korea), CVC (Brazil), El Corte Inglés (Spain), FTI (Germany), HIS (Japan) and SAS – Scandinavian Airlines (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), with more to be announced.

Next month, new digital promotion will appear across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube platforms in Brazil, India, Mexico and the UK. In conjunction, visitors will soon discover a new personalised experience on NYCGO.com, the official guide for everything to see and do across the five boroughs.

New hotels: Karma Sitabani, Le Méridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa, and more

By TTG Asia

October 11, 2019

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Karma Sitabani, India
Karma Group has opened Karma Sitabani in the Jim Corbett National Park, part of the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand. Spread over 1.4ha at the foothills of the Himalayas, the resort boasts a total of 42 suites in various configurations, and amenities such as spa, pool, restaurant, kid’s area, cinema, games area and gym. Safari trips to view tigers and other wildlife such as monkeys, foxes and deer in the park are also offered. Guests can fly to Delhi and drive for six hours to get to Karma Sitabani, or fly to Patnagar and then drive for about 2.5 hours. The nearest village is Ramnagar, 45 minutes from the resort.

Le Méridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa, Thailand
Situated in Phang Nga Province, this recently-opened hotel features 10 types of guestrooms, suites and villa with balconies across its 269 keys. Facilities on-site include seven bars and restaurants, spa, three lagoon pools, fitness centre and a kids’ club. Guests will also be able to book trips such as the Local Life Experience, Thai Cooking Class, Khao Sok Safari and Sea Cave Canoeing at Phang Nga Bay with the Tour Desk. Event planners may avail several indoor and outdoor spaces, ranging from the 540m² Grand Ballroom to The Beach Lawn.

Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA, Philippines
Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA has opened in Quezon City, the brand’s first in Metro Manila and the fourth in the Philippines. The hotel offers 238 rooms, including 16 suites also feature separate living areas. Guests can refuel at three F&B outlets: Casa, the all-day dining restaurant; Terraza on 7, which serves poolside drinks and light snacks; and the social Lobby Bar. Aside from the fitness centre, other facilities include the Makiling Grand Ballroom, Banahaw Meeting Rooms and a pre-function area that accommodates up to 640 delegates.

Rosewood Guangzhou, China
The 251-key Rosewood Guangzhou has launched in Guangzhou’s Tianhe District within the top 39 floors of the 108-storey CTF Finance Centre – the seventh tallest building in the world.

The luxury hotel has seven F&B venues, while recreational options include the two-level Sense, A Rosewood Spa with three spa treatment suites, a health club complete with yoga studio and fitness centre, and a 25m-long indoor pool. Function spaces on-site include The Pavilion, a residential-style function space that can accommodate up to 420; a 958m² Grand Ballroom; three function rooms; two VIP rooms; and a Sky Mansion on the 108th floor featuring a show kitchen terrace.

The property is also home to Rosewood Residences Guangzhou, which features 355 serviced apartments spanning from studios (76), one- and two-bedroom apartments (160 and 96, respectively) to luxurious duplexes (23). Designed with long-term stays in mind, each Residence includes amenities such as in-room washing machines, as well as a full kitchen with an oven and dishwasher.

Yello Hotel Harmoni, Indonesia
A refresh of this midscale hotel in the Indonesian capital brings the addition of suites, making it the first Yello property to offer suites. Out of the 350 rooms, 14 have been transformed into suites, each furnished with a king-sized bed, sofa, desk with wireless charging, Wi-Fi, and a separate bathroom. Other new features include daily buffet lunch and dinner at the on-site restaurant, as well as eight new mural spots by local artists to make the hotel more Instagrammable.

Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown hires new GM

By TTG Asia

October 10, 2019

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Abhimanyu Singh has been appointed general manager of the soon-to-open 318-room Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown in Malaysia.

Having gained substantial experience in a career span of 15 years, Abhimanyu brings with him a wealth of knowledge in hotel management, administration, and operations.

His career with Marriott International began in 2004 with JW Marriott Mumbai, Juhu and in a short span of time became the hotel’s front desk manager. Over the years, Abhimanyu has also worked with various brands within Marriott International and has played a role in the opening of hotels such as JW Mumbai Sahar, JW Marriott Macau and JW Marriott Pune.

Prior to his move to Malaysia, Abhimanyu was most recently resident manager at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay in Vietnam.

Singapore’s Katrina Group unveils new co-living brand as part of hospitality expansion drive

By TTG Asia

October 10, 2019

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ST Hospitality Group, the hospitality arm of Katrina Group, has launched the first property in Singapore’s Chinatown, the first of a new line of affordable co-living hotels across Asia-Pacific.

ST Signature Chinatown incorporates a blend of custom-built technology such as the smart Chat-In technology, a self check-in solution which uses a virtual host to enable guests to check in and out of the hotel more efficiently.

ST Signature Chinatown

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The 40-key co-living hotel in Chinatown also incorporates an intelligent design that circumvents a traditional room layout, allowing the rooms to be spacious enough to be comfortable and compact enough to reduce their carbon footprint.

ST Signature Chinatown, which marks Katrina Group’s first major expansion after the acquisition of Straits Organization, will soon be followed by the group’s flagship property opening later this month in Tanjong Pagar, before a wider roll-out in the Asia-Pacific region.

Straits Organization currently has a portfolio of over 600 serviced apartment units in Singapore and Hong Kong, and four additional co-living hotels in the pipeline for Singapore.

New Nerf attraction hits Singapore, with more to come in global pipeline

By Rachel AJ Lee

October 10, 2019

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Singapore-based design and production group Kingsmen Creatives has partnered global play and entertainment company Hasbro to open the world’s first NAX (Nerf Action Xperience) arena in the Marina Square shopping mall in Singapore.

At the unveiling of the new attraction last Friday, Kingsmen Creatives’ group CEO Andrew Cheng said: “(The) NAX arena is a first-of-its-kind branded attraction centre in the world. It unlocks a whole new way for fans to experience the renowned Nerf brand. The NAX arena is not just a fun venue; it is also a highly interactive arena that encourages learning, teambuilding and family or community bonding through active play.”

Nerf Action Xperience

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Spanning more than 1,600m², the attraction houses four activity zones – Compete, Conquer, Challenge, and Create – which are themed after extreme natural environments to challenge players, and targeted at both the young – aged three to 16 – and young at heart.

“The NAX arena is unique and will enrich Singapore’s family-friendly offerings. Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will continue to support industry partners with good ideas to make Singapore even more interesting and fun for visitors and locals,” said STB’s chief executive Keith Tan, who was in attendance at the opening.

When asked how much of the revenue generated by the attraction he thinks will come from tourists, Cheng said: “Attractions’ revenue in Singapore is generally 80 per cent from the domestic market, with 20 per cent from tourists. Being in a prime location, we hope to grow revenue from tourists to 30 or 40 per cent.”

“That is why we’re promoting NAX regionally, and not (just) in Singapore. We will be attending regional roadshows with STB, and conducting promotions on websites, through influencers, as well as to travel agents,” he elaborated.

The NAX arena is the first of multiple Family Entertainment Centre concepts that Kingsmen plans to roll out globally within the next few years.

Earlier in July, Kingsmen signed a partnership with Vision High to bring NAX to the China market. The first NAX in China is currently being constructed in a mall in Chongqing.

Kingsmen Exhibits’ group managing director Anthony Chong added: “All of our NAX centres will be located in malls. At the moment, we’re also looking at South Korea and Japan, as there’s lots of interest from those markets.”

The Singapore NAX arena is open to single players and groups, with four rooms available for event bookings. It will retail exclusive made-for-Singapore NERF blasters and merchandise. The NAX arena is open daily from 10.00 to 22.00, with last entry at 19.30.

Thousands of jobs saved as Hays Travel snaps up Thomas Cook UK stores

By TTG Asia

October 10, 2019

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The sale of 555 Thomas Cook UK shops to Hays Travel is a potential game-changer that could save up to 2,500 jobs.

All the Thomas Cook stores will be rebranded as Hays Travel following the acquisition for an “undisclosed sum”, according to a BBC report.

Hays Travel acquires 555 Thomas Cook UK shops in a move that could save up to 2,500 jobs

Thomas Cook’s collapse last month put 22,000 jobs worldwide at risk, including 9,000 in the UK. It also sparked the biggest ever peacetime repatriation by the CAA to bring more than 150,000 holidaymakers back to the UK.

John Hays, who owns and founded the Sunderland-based travel firm, said it is difficult to give guarantees about every Thomas Cook shop as it is subject to discussions with individual landlords, but the company plans to offer reemployment to all former Thomas Cook staff.

Hays, which runs 190 shops and has 1,900 staff, reported sales of £379 million (US$463 million) and profits of £10 million last year.

The acquisition will see Hays trebling their number of shops and doubling their workforce, said the BBC report. More than 100 new jobs will be based at Hays Travel’s Sunderland headquarters, with the rest in shops across the UK.

The takeover deal was struck with the travel industry regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), after several days of negotiations, it added, further quoting a CCA spokesperson as saying that he expected many of the shops to reopen on Thursday.

Following the news of the takeover, GlobalData said in a statement that Hays Travel’s acquisition of Thomas Cook stores is a “gamble that could pay off”.

Nick Wyatt, head of R&A, travel & tourism at GlobalData, said: “Not many of us saw this deal coming but it is welcomed news for the high street. It is a bold move on Hays’ part, but Thomas Cook is a cherished brand with an established customer base and if Hays has negotiated well, the move may just pay off.

“Much will depend on the terms of the deal. As this is breaking news, we don’t yet know the cost of the deal, what terms can be agreed with landlords for example, but this was most certainly a buyer’s market situation so Hays should have been able to negotiate favourable terms.

He added that there is still demand for Thomas Cook’s services as the company raked in £9.6 billion in revenue for the financial year of 2018.

“Hays should be able to operate without the millstone of debt round its neck and the publicity around the Thomas Cook collapse may even spur people to seek out Atol protected package holidays for peace of mind, which will play into Hays’ hands.

“The deal is not, however, without peril. It will have to conduct a review of store locations and operations and there may be a need for a rationalisation at some point, particularly in areas in which Hays already has a strong presence. Hays will also need to make sure it invests in digital trends as competitive online threats to a large store network are legion.”

Klook shakes up travel fair concept with mobile-led fest

Upgrade Pack eyes Asia growth with new Singapore office, APAC COO hire

Walmart boss Greg Foran to head Air New Zealand as CEO

Sri Lanka to allow foreign airlines in domestic routes

Biggest-ever global marketing push launched for Famous Original New York City

New hotels: Karma Sitabani, Le Méridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa, and more

Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown hires new GM

Singapore’s Katrina Group unveils new co-living brand as part of hospitality expansion drive

New Nerf attraction hits Singapore, with more to come in global pipeline

Thousands of jobs saved as Hays Travel snaps up Thomas Cook UK stores

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