Barely weeks after closing its US$45 million Series B round, Singapore-based hospitality start-up RedDoorz has raised a fresh US$70 million investment as first close of a larger Series C round driven by high investor demand.
The latest funding round, which is ongoing, was led by Singapore-based growth equity firm Asia Partners. Other co-investors include Rakuten Capital and Mirae Asset-Naver Asia Growth Fund, as well as existing investors Qiming Venture Partners and International Finance Corporation.
The new funding brings the total amount of funds raised by the company to approximately US$140 million since its launch in 2015, putting it on head-to-head competition with rival Oyo in the South-east Asian market while Accor recently inked a franchise deal for 15 budget hotels in Singapore.
RedDoorz has raised US$70m as first close of a larger Series C round (Photo Credit: RedDoorz)
Amit Saberwal, founder and CEO of RedDoorz, said: “This new round is a testament to our strong business growth and market leadership position we were able to build during the last few years. RedDoorz operates in some of the most dynamic markets in the world and we see tremendous opportunities to continue growing our platform and expanding into new markets.”
He added: “We believe we are on the right track to create the next tech unicorn in South-east Asia and with the backing of our new investors, who bring deep expertise building large successful tech and digital businesses in our region, we are well positioned to fully execute on our strategy and mission.”
RedDoorz said it will use the new funds to launch in new markets and scale technology, customer experience projects, people and marketing investments to further strengthen its leadership position in the region. A significant portion of the latest proceeds will be used to build a second engineering hub in Vietnam which will complement the current regional tech hub based out of India.
The company also plans to ramp up its hotel staff and quality training programmes across all properties in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines as it helps employ approximately 10,000 people across the region through its hotel partners.
Oliver Rippel and Nicholas Nash, co-founders and partners of Asia Partners, which was involved in the IPO of South-east Asia’s startup Sea and Flipkart’s sale to Walmart, said: “Our mission is to help build and mentor Southeast Asia’s next generation of tech unicorns. Our team has a unique combination of investing and operating skills to help companies such as RedDoorz become true market leaders.”
Rakuten Capital, the corporate venture arm of Japanese Internet services giant Rakuten Group, has invested in regional leading companies such as Gojek, Carousell and Shopback. The Mirae Asset-Naver Asia Growth Fund, a joint venture between Seoul-based Mirae Financial Group and Internet company Naver Corporation, counts HappyFresh and BigBasket as portfolio companies and also recently participated in Grab’s US$1 billion Series H round.
In the absence of tourism recovery efforts by the Sri Lankan government following the Easter Sunday terror attacks, the country’s private sector industry is ploughing its own resources to woo visitors back to the country.
One such company is Aitken Spence Travels (AST), which is the largest DMC in Sri Lanka. Parakrama Dissanayake, deputy chairman of Aitken Spence Group, which controls AST, said the DMC and its chain of hotels are spending “a lot of money” to boost inbound tourism.
Sri Lanka’s private sector companies are holding their own marketing campaigns to promote inbound tourism
The travel firm is 50 per cent owned by TUI, which is also stepping up promotion efforts, he said, declining to give details of their marketing budget. AST said in an earlier statement that in the 12-month period ending March 2019, it invested over 250 million rupees (US$1.4 million) to promote the destination in overseas markets.
Dissanayake said the government should have commenced their tourism recovery promotion immediately, instead of delaying action. “It’s too late now for the winter promotions, which should have been in April to June,” he said, adding that their marketing efforts are now focused on India and China, which are the country’s largest source markets.
However, arrivals from China have dropped sharply since the April 21 terror attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels, which killed more than 250 people, including 50 tourists.
While arrival numbers are now on the mend, the normally busy winter season from November is expected to see a 30 per cent drop in arrivals.
In the meantime, tourism authorities have run into problems with launching an emergency PR and marketing campaign in key markets.
“We need to look at the campaign anew as there were delays in its launch and now the (two-month) PR campaign is of no use. We are looking at a new marketing campaign which would take three months for an idea to be transformed to reality,” said state-owned Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau chairman Kishu Gomes. The problems arose because proper tender procedures were not followed, industry officials said.
Hiran Cooray, a veteran hotelier from Jetwing Hotels, said that proper procedures should be adhered to even if it takes another two months for approval. He added that even if the plan is not ready to launch ahead of the winter season, advertising and promotion should continue, apart from this recovery plan initiative.
Cooray said companies like Jetwing were investing their own resources into marketing the country, while many foreign journalists and travel magazines were complimentary of the destination. “There is a lot of PR taking place now, urging people to visit Sri Lanka,” he said.
Devindre Senaratne, managing director at JourneyScapes, said that his inbound travel company has spent US$35,000 on marketing promotions across many markets and fam tours for agents from Germany, Belgium and Australia in the aftermath of the Easter attacks.
“We are a small- to medium-sized company so our investment is nowhere near those of the big DMCs,” he said, adding that such promotions should have been carried out by state tourism agencies.
He added that small companies, which form the bulk of the industry, find it hard to spend money on promotion, and that they need state support.
Turkey-based aviation technology player Hitit is prioritising Asia in its expansion plans by targeting airlines in Malaysia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India.
Nevra Onursal Karaagac, Hitit chief sales and marketing officer, told TTG Asia that the company plans “to enhance our partnership ecosystem throughout Asia” as “(South-east Asia) is the most important regional organisation (and) trade and bilateral ties between Turkey and Asia have been rising consistently in all sectors including aviation technology”.
Hitit’s Nevra Onursal Karaagac (pictured) said the Turkey-based software company is extending its footprint in Asia
Known for its Crane IT solutions geared towards every part of the business lifecycle of flag carriers, low-cost and hybrid airlines, and ground handling agencies, Hitit believes that the cost-saving opportunities of its new Crane Agency Portal Plus will attract more carriers in Asia.
Karaagac said that since last year, this new solution allowing indirect ticketing sales through IATA BSP agents is connecting Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) with over 2,500 travel agencies. The implementation process took only a record-breaking five months and saw online sales jump from two to 25 per cent, with savings of more than 70 per cent expected from the carrier’s existing passenger service costs over the next five years.
She also shared that this year Hitit launched a new solution in mobile and travel merchandising developed by its “new department devoted to trends and cutting-edge solutions, such as an Internet booking engine and a mobile to enhance the quality of the areas where the airline touches the passengers”.
Hitit’s first Asian partner was Turkmenistan Airways, followed by Air Manas (Kyrgyzstan), FlyArystan (Kazakhstan) and Kam Air (Afghanistan), she recalled.
Last year, Hitit entered South Asia when PIA became a partner, followed by K2 Airways, which led to the company opening a liaison office in Karachi.
Noting that “airline and travel IT is a very niche market in the technology area,” Karaagac said that Hitit has grown from a local Turkish IT provider 25 years ago to become one of the top five passenger service suppliers worldwide out of the approximately 40 providers in the industry, including those from China, the US and Europe.
“(Our) competitors have thousands of employees and support from multinational consortiums, but despite these significant differences, Hitit is successfully competing with them,” she stressed.
IATA recently granted Hitit the NDC 4 status, which is the highest level of accreditation for IT providers in the distribution of NDC capabilities.
Currently, Hitit has 25 airline partners across 17 countries, and its departure control system, or Crane DCS, is used in more than 160 airports worldwide. It expects to process 65 million passengers through its systems by year-end.
More visitors to Singapore will be able to submit electronic arrival cards online or through a mobile app up to 14 days before their arrival, as part of an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) trial, according to The Straits Times.
The move is an extension of a trial ICA has been conducting on electronic arrival cards since last October, said the report.
More visitors to Singapore need not fill out paper cards upon arrival at Changi Airport if they submit electronic arrival cards beforehand
ICA said in a statement that only foreign travellers with selected transport operators can submit electronic arrival cards in place of the paper-based disembarkation/embarkation cards that they are currently required to submit on arrival.
The transport operators included in the trial are AirAsia, Jetstar Asia, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Transtar Travel, BatamFast Ferries, Bintan Resort Ferries, Horizon Fast Ferry and Majestic Fast Ferry.
Under the new system, they will need to produce only their passports for immigration clearance upon arrival, as the ICA’s system would already have their electronic arrival cards which were submitted in advance, according to a statement by the ICA.
All other visitors are still required to complete the paper-based disembarkation/embarkation cards. This includes those arriving at sea checkpoints via cruise liners, land checkpoints via rail, cars, motorcycles and lorries, and those entering Singapore to assume work pass status, said the authority.
ICA said that it will study the results of this trial and progressively extend the SG Arrival Card e-service to all foreign visitors.
The electronic arrival card is expected to replace the paper-based cards by 2021, said the Straits Times report.
The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is expanding its presence in the region with the appointment of Craig Gibbons to now oversee Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, in addition to Australia and New Zealand.
Based in Sydney, Gibbons has been Los Angeles Tourism’s regional director for Australia/New Zealand since 2014.
In his expanded role, Gibbons will develop and support air service for Los Angeles International Airport; design a destination training programme for the travel trade utilising the L.A. Insider programme; and attend key industry trade shows in the region.
Prior to joining Los Angeles Tourism, Gibbons was the commercial & trade executive, South-east Asia & Australia for Visit Britain and held the role of Australia country manager for Visit Indonesia.
“South-east Asia continues to be an expanding source-market for travel to the US and we are keen to increase and support airlift from the region,” stated Kathryn Smits, vice president, tourism for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.
Radisson Hotel Group has announced the signing of a beachfront property close to Hoi An, the heritage port town on Vietnam’s central coast.
Slated to open in 2021, Radisson Blu Hoi An will be nestled directly on the Ha My Beach, just eight kilometres from Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed town centre and 30 minutes’ drive from Danang International Airport.
Radisson Hotel Group announced at a signing ceremony they will be opening Radisson Blu Hoi An, their fourth property in Vietnam
The low-rise property, comprising 734 rooms, suites and villas, will flow around a series of reflective pools, with wooden walkways and landscaped gardens. Facilities on-site include a water sports and recreation centre, several swimming pools, a spa, fitness centre, kids’ club, rooftop garden, three restaurants, a lobby lounge and pool bar. The property also features a ballroom, meeting facilities and a private beach for alfresco occasions.
Developed by Indochina Hoi An Beach Villas, a subsidiary of the Bamboo Capital Group, and designed by BAKH Architecture, Radisson Blu Hoi An will embrace eco-friendly features, such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, recycling, energy conservation and green walls.
Radisson Blu Hoi An is the company’s fourth property in Vietnam, following Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc, Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh and Radisson Resort Phu Quoc Long Beach.
Thai Airways International (THAI) has embellished a Boeing 777-300 aircraft with the Suphannahong Royal Barge livery to commemorate the coronation of Thailand’s new king this year.
THAI’s president Sumeth Damrongchaitham, who presided over a sacred ceremony to bless the aircraft livery, said the effort is an expression of the national carrier’s loyalty and honour to the royal coronation – which was held on May 4, 2019, with celebrations to continue until May 4, 2020.
The royal barge livery on THAI’s Boeing 777-300 aircraft will appear on the plane till end 2022
The airline received permission to paint the Suphannahong Royal Barge aircraft livery on its Boeing 777-300 aircraft, which was royally bestowed the name “Lahan Sai”. The emblem will appear on the aircraft till end 2022.
This special aircraft, equipped with 34 seats in Royal Silk Class and 330 seats in Economy Class, will be operated on round-trip flights from Bangkok-Seoul, Taipei, Beijing, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Sapporo.
The Suphannahong Royal Barge, originally called “Si Suphannahong” or “Chai Suphannahong Royal Barge” has been the Thai king’s royal barge since the Ayutthaya era.
The current Suphannahong Royal Barge was constructed upon the order of King Rama V, and completed during the reign of King Rama VI.
At the front or bow of the barge is a golden swan figurehead, the body or hull is the body of the swan etched in wood and decorated with gold leaf, mirrors, tassels and engraved glass. The exterior of the barge was painted black, while the interior was painted red, with a throne in the middle of the barge for the monarch or royalty. The Royal Barge is 46.2m long, 3.2m wide, and 15 tons in weight.
Xiqu Centre, one of the West Kowloon Cultural District’s landmark buildings, is a new home for traditional Chinese opera. Photo by HKTB
An increasingly vibrant and flourishing cultural and artistic scene currently unfolding in Hong Kong is stirring up greater interest among foreign visitors to seek out lesser-known facets of the city.
The growing arts and cultural scene is in part bolstered by active support pledged by the Hong Kong government to the sector’s development, with recent initiatives including HK$20 billion (US$2.6 billion) set aside for upgrading existing cultural hardware and building new facilities, and HK$500 million allocated to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) to acquire museum collections and organise exhibitions.
Xiqu Centre, one of the West Kowloon Cultural District’s landmark buildings, is a new home for traditional Chinese opera. Photo by HKTB
Having positioned itself as an art city in Asia through events like Art Basel and numerous openings of blue-chip galleries, a fresh crop of mega cultural projects launching over the next few years is set to inject a new buzz to Hong Kong’s arts and culture scene.
For instance, the 57-year-old Hong Kong Museum of Art will reopen in November this year on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront following a major makeover with an eye-catching glass façade. Not only will the institution see its total exhibition area expand by 40 per cent from 7,000m2 to 10,000m2 and the number of galleries increase from seven to 12, it has also received 350 Chinese painting and calligraphy masterpieces from Chih Lo Lou Art Promotion for its permanent collection.
West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), a government-funded development project that seeks to create a hub of arts and cultural venues in a 40ha waterfront area west of Yau Ma Tei, will house numerous facilities. This includes the Xiqu Centre, a venue for Cantonese opera; Freespace, presenting contemporary arts performances; Lyric Theatre Complex, focusing on international dance and theatre: M+, a museum of visual culture; and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which will display Chinese art and culture from the imperial period.
Hong Kong’s flourishing cultural scene has given a visible marketing push for tour operators, say industry players.
For instance, Hong Kong A La Carte’s managing director Alexandra Malandain has added tours of Tai Kwun, a contemporary art and heritage centre housed in the restored and revitalised Central Police Station compound.
She explained: “The western market, especially FITs and corporates, is definitely interested in hosting events and meetings at the brand-new Tai Kwun. They like the way the compound mixes contemporary buildings with old ones. They are also keen on the art exhibitions and the numerous F&B offers there. The Museum for Contemporary Art, M+ and K11 should interest them as well.”
Likewise, Via Vai Travel, director, Sef Lam, also offers architecture and heritage tours of key and revitalised landmarks like the new University of Chicago campus in the old Victoria Detention Centre; the Haw Par Mansion, which has been given a new lease of life as Haw Par Music Farm; Xiqu Chinese opera, which gives “an excellent introduction to an art form many are not familiar with”; and twinning a visit to Tai Kwun with H Queen’s, a building dedicated to art and lifestyle.
“Based on our experience, these are popular destinations, each with its own attraction,” Lam remarked.
Nadia Quinn, lead guide at Hong Kong Greeters, told TTG Asia that such attractions not only add breadth to Hong Kong’s portfolio of tours, but also helps to cultivate a lasting impression of a destination offering “diversity and variety”.
She added: “We observed travellers attending Art Basel are mainly business people or those who have a direct connection to art and culture, whether through work or personal interest. I hope more staff training would help tourists receive friendly guidance upon their arrival at these new cultural attractions and make it easier for them to navigate.”
Hospitality players are also keen to get a piece of the action in Hong Kong’s flourishing arts scene, with the new Hotel Alexandra slated to open in early 2020 as a design-led property. Melding Victorian elegance and modern concepts to create an atmosphere evocative of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the 840-room hotel will be adorned with art fixtures like engraved golden doors and pendant crystal chandeliers, general manager Christina Cheng informed.
She added: “We are excited to be a part of this integral artistry, bringing Hotel Alexandra to new heights within the growing art scene in Hong Kong, making it a friendly social hub space and a welcoming arena for creative campaigns, art installations and showcases.”
However, art and culture is often not the sole attraction for tourists visiting Hong Kong, noted Paul Chan, co-founder, Walk in Hong Kong.
He explained: “Except for Hong Kong Arts Month and Art Basel, there is no defining feature that stands out for the city’s cultural tourism push at this stage. Still, we need these kind of new attractions to build up the (momentum) with (multifaceted support) to boost tourism.
“Factors like quality of curated exhibitions, access to performances and events, as well as availability of a systematic information channel are crucial software to draw visitor interest. In fact, there isn’t any integrated system that shows what the city offers in a day, and ticketing is tied up with two ticketing agents that often have a lot of glitches during purchasing.”
It’s still early days for Hong Kong’s culture tourism development, Chan elaborated, as the under-construction WKCD is not yet anchored on the cultural hub ecosystem while existing institutions like Xiqu Centre needs supporting attractions in its vicinity to become a staple stop on tour itineraries.
The management of cultural venues is also a key link, Chan pointed out, stressing the importance of having a roster of “creative promotions and new themed exhibitions” for tour operators to incorporate them into walking tour programmes to attract international visitors.
Lam also noted: “In the long term, education is important to get tourism school students interested in arts and culture. I believe strongly in students acquiring hands-on experience and getting involved with an art form, so that they will develop a growing appreciation for the art form as they mature and share this knowledge and passion with the people being guided.”
Qatar buys about 9.6 per cent stake in the Hong Kong flag carrier
Cathay Pacific Airways CEO Rupert Hogg, alongside chief customer and commercial officer Paul Loo, both resigned last Friday.
They will be succeeded by Augustus Tang and Ronald Lam respectively, starting from today. Lam will also remain the CEO of Hong Kong Express until a successor has been appointed.
Cathay Pacific Airways CEO Rupert Hogg is the latest casualty of Beijing’s immense displeasure over Hong Kong protests
In a statement, Hogg indicated that he and Loo, his deputy, resigned to “take responsibility” in light of recent “challenging weeks” for the airline.
According to AP, Hogg’s shock resignation came following pressure by Beijing over the participation of some of Cathay’s employees in the recent anti-government protests.
In a statement, John Slosar, chairman of Cathay Pacific, said that it needed a “new management team in place who can reset confidence and lead the airline to new heights”.
Hong Kong is entering its third month of protests that started in opposition to a proposed extradition law but which have since expanded to include demands for a more democratic system.
Japan is ramping up its accessibility efforts to better cater to a growing number of overseas and domestic visitors with mobility issues. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 15 per cent of the 31 million inbound visitors to Japan in 2018 had a physical disability.
Meanwhile, Japan’s rapidly ageing population is resulting in more domestic travellers with reduced mobility. By 2030, 37.2 million people in Japan are expected to be aged 65 or older, according to the National Institute of Population and Social Research.
Japan is working towards building a barrier-free society amid growing demand
In anticipation of this growing need for improved accessibility, the government will be using the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to champion barrier-free access to transport, hotels and attractions. It has launched a Universal Design 2020 Action Plan to make universal facilities a legacy of the Games.
To date, 93 per cent of Tokyo’s subway stations and 1,000 taxis are wheelchair accessible. In soft infrastructure, the Japan Tourism Agency is supporting barrier-free mindset education to aid tourism staff.
“There is a need to create the infrastructure to allow every traveller, including the elderly and people with disabilities, to experience the ‘joy of travelling,’” the Council for a Tourism Vision to Support the Future of Japan said.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has launched a raft of new services, including one that allows passengers who require special assistance to register their information indefinitely, rather than on a per-use basis. The airline has also partnered with Panasonic to test self-driving electric wheelchairs at Narita International Airport and created Mobility as a Service, which offers on-demand transport for all on arrival.
“We think it is very important to promote accessible/universal tourism,” an ANA spokesperson told TTG Asia. “We will continue embracing the latest technological advancements and seeking out new innovations to improve every aspect of the air travel experience.”
Joshua Grisdale, founder of Accessible Japan, a website that offers information on barrier-free facilities, claims that although there are more barrier-free rooms, toilets and facilities in Japan, more needs to be done to communicate its availability in English.
“According to a recent survey, 54 per cent of disabled people said they would not travel to a destination if information on accessibility is not available,” he said.
