How voice assistants are changing our lives

January 3, 2019

Siri, Alexa, Cortana and Google Assistant are names that have recently become familiar to many people throughout the world. Many of us call upon them from time to time to help us with mundane tasks such as web browsing and Internet searches, making phone calls, checking weather information or playing music.

They are voice-activated digital assistants that reside in our mobile phones and have lately started to appear in other devices such as home speakers, cars, kitchen appliances and watches, to name a few.

Digital assistants are not to be confused with virtual assistants, which are people who work remotely and can handle a variety of tasks. They are technology-based and can be taught (programmed) ‘skills’, which can be downloaded from directories or by simply writing ‘shortcuts’ that help accomplish simple tasks. This is currently how most digital assistants operate.

Adoption of the usage of voice-activated digital assistants has been slow, as we have become conditioned to pressing keys on a typewriter for more than a hundred years. Specialists working in this field will tell you that one of the biggest challenges in the adoption of voice-activated digital assistants is the lack of a display screen. People are accustomed to receiving visual confirmation to ensure that instructions are clearly understood, however I do believe this can be easily overcome.

For example, I have been experimenting with voice-activated digital assistants at work and home for such simple tasks as switching lights on and off, setting up reminders, taking notes, playing music, Internet searches and reading emails. The more times I have used the assistant, the more natural it has become.

Voice assistants can help with tasks such as Internet searches and restaurant bookings

The questions that many of us ask is “what is the future of voice-activated digital assistants” and “what is its impact on the travel and tourism industry?”

I believe that in the not too distant future the use of digital assistants will become the norm. Through improvements in artificial intelligence (AI), machines will become more personal and responsive, knowing an individual’s personal habits and eventually anticipating their needs. I am confident that each of us in the future will have their very own digital assistant that will be available to us at anytime and anywhere – think Jarvis in the Iron Man movies.

In the travel and tourism industry, many travel brands have already begun experimenting with Alexa, the digital assistant developed by Amazon, first used in the Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot smart speakers. With Alexa, you can search for flights using the ‘Skyscanner skills’ and, through other built in ‘skills’, search for hotels, information on shows, and check the weather in the destination you plan to travel to. By the time this article is published, there will already be over 30,000 ‘skills’ available on Alexa. Other digital assistants are also building their own portfolio of ‘skills’ and ‘shortcuts’.

For people born in the last 15 years, digital assistants are likely to become part of their daily lives. Therefore, my advice to travel brands is to start experimenting with voice-activated digital assistants. Creating ‘skills’, apps and additional functionality for voice-activated digital assistants is relatively easy and can be set up in a matter of minutes.

Hardware, software and AI are improving daily and talking to a digital assistant will become a common and natural activity. At the beginning, it may feel as odd as the first time we all saw someone with an earpiece appearing to talk to themselves, however over time we will all become accustomed to it.

Qatar Airways acquires 5% stake in China Southern Airlines

By TTG Asia

January 3, 2019

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Qatar Airways China Southern — Qatar Airways' Akbar Al Baker and China Southern Airlines' Wang Changshun

Qatar Airways has acquired a five per cent stake in China Southern Airlines, as part of its strategy to invest in “strongest” airlines around the world and enhancing its network connectivity.

This latest investment marks an important part of Qatar Airways’ strategic investment in “the largest airline in one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets”, stated Ali Shareef Al Emadi, chairman of the Gulf carrier.

Qatar Airways’ Akbar Al Baker and China Southern Airlines’ Wang Changshun

Qatar Airways’ group chief executive Akbar Al Baker added: “China Southern Airlines is one of the most prestigious airlines in the Chinese domestic market and an important market player in the world, with massive potential for cooperation in the future.”

According to a Bloomberg report, this investment makes Qatar Airways the fourth largest shareholder of the Chinese carrier.

The latest development further supports Qatar Airways’ investment strategy, including its 20 per cent investment in International Airlines Group, its 10 per cent investment in LATAM Airlines Group, its 49 per cent investment in Air Italy and its 9.99 per cent investment in Cathay Pacific.

Monthly closure, online ticketing kick in at Mount Ijen

By TTG Asia

January 2, 2019

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kawah-ijen — Charter flights take travellers beyond Bali; tourists drawn to unique spectacles at Kawah Ijen volcano in Banyuwangi (pictured)

Mount Ijen, located in the East Java regencies of Banyuwangi and Bondowoso, will from January 2019 onwards close every first Friday of the month.

The Ijen crater, which draws hordes of visitors eager to witness the blue flame phenomenon resulting from dense sulphur concentrations, had seen intermittent closures over the years due to heightened seismic activity or phreatic eruptions. The most recent closure was last April, when some were reported to have taken ill after exposure to thick clouds of sulphur gas at Ijen.

With the imposition of a monthly closure, the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency hopes to allow “nature to rest”, the Jakarta Post reported.

According to some media reports, the attraction’s closure will be for cleaning and environmental management work, including facilities and infrastructural improvements, with the aim of stabilising the ecosystem around Mount Ijen.

Asian Trails DMC on Wednesday issued a circular announcing that visitors to the landmark will be offered alternative sightseeing in the region on days the crater is closed.

“Programmes and itineraries including visits to Mount Ijen will be adjusted in line with these regulations, either on the spot or in advance with our Indonesia team,” the notice read.

The Jakarta Post also reported that starting this year, entry to Mount Ijen will be ticketed, through online travel agents, to facilitate the management of visitor numbers.

As of last month, the estimated visitor cap was 1,000 a day, subject to change as planning and discussion progress.

Qingdao extends financial incentives to develop cruise tourism

By TTG Asia

January 2, 2019

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Qingdao, a coastal city in eastern China’s Shandong province, has rolled out incentive policies with the aim of accelerating the growth of the China Cruise Tourism Development Experimental Zone in Qingdao and the city’s transition into an international tourism destination.

Last month, the Qingdao Municipal Tourism Development Committee and Shibei District People’s Government jointly released the Detailed Implementation of Policies in Support of Cruise Tourism in Qingdao.

Qingdao is an open coastal city in China’s Shandong province

In the document, Qingdao’s municipal government outlined plans to provide incentive subsidies of up to three million yuan (US$435,000) to cruise firms that include the city as a port of call in their itineraries and travel agencies that organise sightseeing tours in the city, as well as for outbound travel agencies and ticket agents that operate rented and chartered cruises in Qingdao.

Qualified cruise firms and travel agencies will be able to enjoy subsidies amounting to 100,000 to 500,000 yuan per voyage.

Those offering departures from Qingdao will receive 100,000 to 400,000 yuan per voyage, while cruise firms with formal operations in Qingdao may enjoy 500,000 yuan per every ten voyages.

For companies sailing 50 voyages or more, subsidies of three million yuan are available.

In addition, the Shibei District government, the Qingdao International Cruise Port Services Administration and Qingdao Port Group have jointly issued a notice announcing that outbound travel agencies and ticket agents that rent or charter cruise ships with the base of operations in Qingdao, and who succeed in boarding 5,000 or more passengers per year who then travel abroad, would be entitled to a subsidy of 200 yuan per passenger.

The cruise sector represents huge revenue potential for the city and its economy, The Qingdao Municipal Tourism Development Committee said in a statement.

The committee added that Qingdao – an open coastal city – boasts rich tourism resources, a favourable climate and a deep-water port.

Giving Qingdao the makings of a preferred destination for cruisegoers, the city’s docking facilities for cruise ships are located in proximity to a railway station and downtown area. The city is also recognised for its urban coastlines, and offers opportunities for onshore tours in addition to Qingdao beer and sailing tours.

Kapil Chopra debuts hotel venture with trio of openings in Goa

By TTG Asia

January 2, 2019

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Former president of The Oberoi Group Kapil Chopra has unveiled his latest hospitality venture, The Postcard Hotel, a luxury brand aimed at leisure travellers seeking accommodation by the sea, mountains or in wildlife-dense areas.

The brand debut was marked by three openings, spread across neighbourhoods in Goa. The Postcard Moira, nestled in one of the four heritage villages of Goa; The Postcard Velha, surrounded by 300 acres of virgin coconut plantations in old Goa; and further south, in keeping with its proposition of taking travellers back in time, The Postcard Cuelim, which houses a 350-year-old chapel.

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The brand plans on building and operating 50 hotels in the next five years. In the next 12 to 18 months, The Postcard Hotel will be present in seven more destinations across the country:
• The Postcard, Uttarakhand
• The Postcard on the Arabian Sea, Karnataka
• The Postcard, Dhauladhar Mountain Range
• The Postcard Ravangla, Sikkim
• The Postcard, Darjeeling
• The Postcard, Sundarbans
• The Postcard, Kanha

Each hotel will offer experiences that give a sense of its surroundings. In place of fixed breakfast hours, buffets, and sugary welcome drinks, the new brand says it will offer local experiences, from food, to design, to artisanal welcome cocktails. Guests will also get to decide on check-in and check-out hours as well as experience community and cultural immersions.

Wellness will also be a key part of the experience, with the brand naming Coimbatore-based Purnarnava Ayurveda its Ayurveda partner.

“What I wanted to do with The Postcard Hotel is make luxury hotels for the modern audience but bring back the romance and charm of sun-kissed holidays. We wanted it to be rich in experience but also simple,” Kapil said.

Up to 30% off Best Flexible Rates at Carlton Hotel Singapore

By Pierre Quek

January 1, 2019

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Brought to you by Carlton Hotel Singapore

Carlton Hotel Singapore is an upscale business hotel that offers 940 elegantly designed spacious rooms right in the heart of the city. Modern facilities such as the Executive Lounge, Premier Club Lounge, three restaurants, a patisserie, bar, gym and swimming pool offer a stay experience suited for the discerning traveller.

Strategically located at the heart of Singapore, Carlton Hotel is just minutes away from Singapore’s busiest financial and convention centres, the arts, culture and shopping haven. These include Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, National Gallery Singapore, Singapore National Museum and major shopping belts in the Marina area and along Orchard Road. Just five minutes’ walk from the hotel are several train (MRT) stations – City Hall interchange, Bugis, Bras Basah, Esplanade, Rochor and Bencoolen. Public bus stops can also be found at multiple locales around the hotel.

Stay in comfort in the guest rooms and suites from 30sqm in the Main Tower and Executive Wing. For more upscale accommodation, relax in the Premier Rooms from 34sqm, and Premier Club Rooms with full access to the Premier Club Lounge. Every guest room is equipped with a personalised handy smartphone to enhance your stay in Singapore. Enjoy seamless connectivity and convenience at all times with complimentary unlimited 4G mobile internet, local and international calls to selected countries as well as complimentary e-news, PressReader, that offers access to thousands of publications.

Hold successful business meetings and events in any of the fully-equipped 13 meeting and event spaces. The Empress Ballroom, located on Level 2, has thickset walls re-upholstered and elegant floral carpets lining the magnificent ballroom. With an extension of high-ceiling and pillarless rooms, the Empress Ballroom caters up to 590 persons in a round table setting. Istana Rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows and natural daylight, making it conducive for smaller meetings.

There has never been a better opportunity to stay with us for less! Enjoy savings of up to 30% off Best Flexible Rates with complimentary buffet breakfast and high-speed Wi-Fi for direct bookings made
30 days in advance. Valid for stays from now to 31 August 2019.

Email roomreservations@carltonhotel.sg or visit www.carltonhotel.sg to find out more.

Village Hotel at Sentosa Opening Privileges

By TTG

January 1, 2019

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Brought to you by Far East Hospitality

A New Gateway and Getaway as close or as far away as you like it. Opening from April 2019.

Far East Hospitality presents three distinctively different hotel experiences – Village Hotel at Sentosa, The Outpost Hotel and The Barracks Hotel, with over 800 keys at a strategic location on Artillery Avenue of Sentosa, this new gateway and getaway is poised to be the centre of gravity on Sentosa.

Located at the heart of Sentosa, the new hotels are well connected to the attractions on the island as well as within close proximity to the key locations on Singapore mainland.

2 minutes’ walk from Imbiah Monorail Station
10 minutes from Singapore’s Cable Car Sky Network
15 minutes from Singapore’s Central Business District, major shopping areas and attractions including Gardens by the Bay and Trick Eye Museum

Village Hotels at Sentosa offers the perfect experience for leisure and business groups. The 606-room hotel perfectly captures all Sentosa’s Sun, sand and sea in its modern architecture and the décor in sun-washed hues of nature by the sea. The elevated pool deck was to create an archipelago of endless water-fun activities with its four themed pool zones from the Children’s Play Pool, Lazy River Pool, Adventure Pool, and Pamukkale Pool. Not forgetting the thematic gardens, and outdoor spaces for rest, recreation or even intimate events.

Mix business with pleasure when you book a space with us. After your event, retreat to our Pamukkale Pool which comes with a view and bar – perfect for drinks and networking.

Holding large-scale celebrations and meetings for up to 480 people are possible too at The Commune within Village Hotel at Sentosa. The Commune is a welcoming space with large windows that overlook the Heritage Courtyard. Its flexible and spacious area makes it ideal for big conferences and events.

Cosy and more intimate events are not forgotten as they can be held at the Revelry Hall in Events Centre which is ideal for celebrations and social events.

Designed for discerning adults, The Outpost Hotel has 193 guest rooms with contemporary industrial aesthetics and clean crisp lines inspired by black-and-white design. For those who enjoy relaxing in the open, the exclusive rooftop pool and bar offers a picturesque backdrop of the sea or sunset for evening cocktails and intimate social events.

Housed in a designated conserved building, the 40 luxurious guest rooms and suites of The Barracks Hotel are decorated with old-world sophistication and elegance will suit your most prestigious guests. On the ground floor, rooms offer direct access to the private pool and jacuzzi. The Barracks Hotel will open in 2^nd half of 2019.

At our new hotels in Sentosa, we’ll see to your event’s success and take care of everything from event support to group accommodation.

Does your upcoming event need a breath of fresh air? Take your guests out of the city and transport them to Sentosa’s new gateway to getaway – where you can find meeting venues and event spaces filled with sunshine & sea breeze. Start planning your one-of-a-kind event with us. Email sales.sentosa@fareast.com.sg

Mario Hardy’s musings on Kazakhstan

By Industry Expert

December 27, 2018

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Palace-of-Peace-and-Reconciliation-Astana-Kazakhstan — The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in the distance

When I first visited Kazakhstan in 2017 I didn’t know what to expect. It’s a country I didn’t know much about, nor considered as a holiday destination. I was there to speak at an event and the little I saw at that time intrigued me and left me with the desire to learn more and go back.

Luckily, Paul Pruangkarn, director of communications and external affairs at PATA, and I were invited this month to the capital city of Astana to meet with the vice minister of tourism, the Astana mayor and other tourism stakeholders. We also had the unique opportunity to explore this forward-looking, modern city.

Astana

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It is hard to believe that prior to 1997, Astana was a small village in the middle of vast plains. The new capital was founded in 1997 and now hosts over a million permanent residents. You can clearly see that urban planning and sustainability are a high priority in the development of the city.

Despite its wealth of natural resources, the city was built with renewable energy in mind. You can see solar energy and wind power in use across the city and the Museum of the Future, the formal site of Expo 2017 under the theme “Future Energy”, is one of the most fascinating sites I have visited in a long time. I could have easily spent days at the museum and felt like a kid in a toy store.

The city also clearly thought about accessibility for the disabled, as ramps and other amenities are available for people with limited mobility.

The modern architecture mixed with some Soviet remnants of the past and local Kazakh features blend perfectly well to create a spectacular skyline. The city hosts the biggest building in the world having the tent form, Khan Shatyr Shopping Mall, housing a mix of local and international brands as well as a beach resort situated within. Bayterek Monument, which represents a Kazakh legend in which the mythical bird Samruk lays a golden egg containing the secrets of human desires and happiness in a tall poplar tree beyond human reach, provides a unique view of the city.

Astana also hosts one of the largest mosques in Central Asia, Hazret Sultan Mosque, which is located in an interesting area surrounded by the beautiful pyramid of the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and the Palace of Independence.

The city is well equipped to be an example of excellence in the development of the MICE sector, with facilities to host the smallest to largest events. In addition, there are a number of five-star hotels with amazing service, great restaurants and 24 hour bars.

Astana is a fascinating city; however, I would strongly encourage anyone visiting Astana to extend their stay and explore the rest of the country. Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world with contrasting geographical diversity from turquoise coloured lakes and vast plains to beautiful snow covered mountains and sand dunes. There are activities for everyone including horseback riding, skiing, and trekking. For those who wish to immerse themselves in the culture and heritage of the country, they could spend time in the old capital of Almaty or visit the city of Turkistan which boasts beautiful buildings with turquoise coloured roofs.

Paul and I both mentioned to our hosts how safe we felt at all times during our stay and found the Kazakh people to be very friendly and welcoming. Paul pointed out one of the displays at the Museum of the Future that summed up our stay perfectly. It read: “Hospitality has been considered a sacred duty in Kazakhstan since ancient times. It is customary to welcome a traveller in one’s home as a ‘heavenly messenger’ by offering the best refreshments and lodging for the night.”

For all of these reasons when Kazakh Tourism approached us to host the 42nd edition of PATA Travel Mart, it didn’t take us long to decide to put them at the top of the short list and eventually choose Astana as the host city in 2019. This gives our members and the travel trade community a unique opportunity to visit and enjoy a new destination that has so much to offer. We hope many of you will join us in a part of the world that is waiting for us to explore.

JTB’s Billy Kurosawa moving to Japan inbound role

By Pamela Chow

December 26, 2018

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jtb-billy — Billy Kurosawa will move into an inbound role as president & CEO of Global Marketing & Travel

After nearly three years in Singapore as JTB’s president & CEO, Asia Pacific, Shinya Billy Kurosawa is returning to Japan to head the corporation’s Global Marketing & Travel (GMT) as its president & CEO starting January 2.

“The type of business I’ll be doing in GMT will be a bit different. We will be more involved in practical inbound tourist and MICE business strategies,” Kurosawa told TTG Asia in an exclusive interview.

Billy Kurosawa will in January assume the role of president & CEO of Global Marketing & Travel

He shared that his priority upon returning to Japan will be to drum up branding efforts leading up to Japan’s major upcoming sporting events, namely the Rugby World Cup 2019, the 2020 Olympic Games and the World Masters Games 2021.

“We are at what I’ve called the ‘golden era of sports tourism’. What we’ve been doing in APAC is building up our branding as a sports specialist. Starting next year, JTB will sponsor and host fun run events. It looks like APAC will have lots of demand for the sporting events, so we will use our brand to go into that market (segment) and maybe include something related to Japan,” described Kurosawa.

Japan’s inbound business has been booming, he said. Last year, the country received 28.6 million international visitors. JTB has forecasted that 2018 will register some 31.6 million arrivals, and 35.5 million next year. The Japanese government targets 40 million inbound travellers by 2020.

But with such thriving numbers, another challenge looms ahead for inbound companies like GMT. Overtourism is a rising concern in Japan, with cities like Kyoto making headlines due to over-crowding.

Kurosawa said: “Until five or six years ago, most tourists to Kyoto were domestic travellers within Japan and visitors from Europe and US – not many from Asia-Pacific. But nowadays, there are so many people.

“What the municipal governments in Japan have been doing is try to promote each of the prefectures in Japan. We’ve been working for over three to four years to diversify the areas that tourists can go. Unfortunately, there are very famous areas that people will still want to go to. What we can do is (show them that) Japan has so many places to see and promote by area and season.

“Repeat tourists who have already gone to Hokkaido and the Golden Route – Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka – know that Japan is easy to travel in. They buy JR passes and book their (accommodations) online. There is a tendency now for tourists to spread out over Japan by themselves.”

Where is sustainability in travel & tourism headed?

By Industry Expert

December 24, 2018

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What is sustainable tourism? How sustainable is travel and tourism? I’m asked these questions constantly in my leadership role at Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). To the first, our view at GSTC is that “sustainability is a journey”, requiring constant improvement and reflecting dynamic conditions, an imperative to continually strive toward greater sustainability and not a set end point.

That answer is almost as varied as travel and tourism, which can be viewed as an enormous sector with multiple subsectors or a cluster of sectors. That is to say, it is diverse and enormous. There are star performers in sustainability, while others seem to neglect even trying to operate sustainably. Aviation is currently far from sustainable with its explosive growth in the era of discount carriers and its continued reliance on fossil fuels.

However, everything on the ground is moving toward greater sustainability, albeit at vastly differing paces and approaches. Land transport is converting to electric and hybrid vehicles, and most hotels are making some improvements. Both sectors, however, are moving too slowly, and could – and should – be doing much more. That’s on the environmental side of sustainability.

The economic sustainability of travel and tourism is generally strong. The social and cultural aspects of sustainability are, like the environmental side, marked with greatly mixed reviews. Socially, we see citizens protest or show annoyance in over-crowded urban tourism destinations.

A positive on the social side is that travel and tourism is a tremendous generator of jobs based on all the service requirements that cannot be automated or done by a robot. Tourism is the one sector where human contact is essential, which travel companies should keep in mind when contemplating ways to replace human workers.

Culturally, tourism usually appreciates and even celebrates diversity. Some may scoff at locals temporarily donning traditional attire to display cultural dance and music, but when else might those displays be made if not for visitors? In our increasingly urbanised world, with its globalised sameness of brands and activities, tourism’s cross-cultural exchanges help us maintain some degree of diversity.

Where are we headed? Here’s where I hope and think we’re headed. First, hotels, transport providers both public and private, and all product and service providers will increasingly feel compelled to operate more environmentally sustainably. There is so much pressure to do so – cost reduction, reputation, regulation compliance, avoidance of risking greater regulation and risk management.

Secondly, we simply must embrace the authentic, the unique, the participatory, the adventure-oriented, the exploration, in delivering and promoting travel products and destinations. That can and should leverage ever-improving technologies to enhance the visitor experience, but it all adds up to an imperative to preserve, celebrate and sustain unique experiences and cultures. If travel and tourism doesn’t do that, why should travellers leave home?

How voice assistants are changing our lives

Qatar Airways acquires 5% stake in China Southern Airlines

Monthly closure, online ticketing kick in at Mount Ijen

Qingdao extends financial incentives to develop cruise tourism

Kapil Chopra debuts hotel venture with trio of openings in Goa

Up to 30% off Best Flexible Rates at Carlton Hotel Singapore

Village Hotel at Sentosa Opening Privileges

Mario Hardy’s musings on Kazakhstan

JTB’s Billy Kurosawa moving to Japan inbound role

Where is sustainability in travel & tourism headed?

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