South Korean telco giant bringing AI solutions to SE Asia’s hotels

October 16, 2018

MOU-SIGNING — KT's Lee Pil-Jai and HBC's Le Viet Hai (middle two) during a signing ceremony at KT’s headquarters in central Seoul

South Korea’s largest telecommunications company, KT Corp, will introduce its home-developed artificial intelligence (AI) technology to hotels, apartments, building and cities overseas, starting with Vietnam.

The company last month signed an agreement with Vietnam’s Hoa Binh Construction Group (HBC) JVC to bring AI-powered hotel and apartment services to South-east Asia.

KT’s Lee Pil-Jai and HBC’s Le Viet Hai (middle two) during a signing ceremony at KT’s headquarters in central Seoul

The two partners also agreed to later cooperate on smart buildings and cities in major metropolitan areas throughout the region.

“It’s a big first step for KT’s AI platform to reach out to the world, thanks to the partnership with HBC,” said Lee Pil-Jai, senior executive vice president of KT’s marketing group.

“With great success in South Korea, we will step up efforts to localise our AI hotel service and smart city solutions for South-east Asia and beyond.”

In July, KT opened the first hotel in South Korea offering AI-assisted room services, Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences.

The company plans to open three more similar hotels across the capital city by 2020 in partnership with global hotel chains such as Accor, Hyatt and Marriott.

KT’s AI service platform, GiGA Genie Hotel, is a special customisation of GiGA Genie, the world’s first AI-powered smart home media hub launched in 2017. With more than one million subscribers in South Korea, KT’s voice-activated AI platform allows users to see what they command on touch screens or TV screens.

GiGA Genie Hotel is a multi-functional, voice-recognising infotainment system. The hotel rooms’ lights, temperature controls and TV respond to voice commands such as “Genie, please set the room temperature to 20 degrees”. Toiletries and other supplies may also be requested with voice.

Voice commands are currently available in Korean and English, and additional languages, including Chinese and Japanese, will be added. KT also plans to provide more concierge services for the Genie Hotel Platform, such as checking hotel bills, checking out and paying for the mini bar and room service.

KT’s other solutions include GiGAeyes, an intelligent video security and image analysis service, which detects intrusions in real time, both inside and outside of the hotel. It also serves as a round-the-clock fire monitor. The company is also using KT-MEG, which optimises energy management by analysing big data to predict and control energy demands during peak hours.

Porter & Sail and Design Hotels partner up for mobile bookings

By TTG Asia

October 16, 2018

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Porter-n-sail-screenshot — Porter & Sail unveils partnership with Design Hotels

Following a new partnership with Design Hotels, travel technology platform Porter & Sail’s has launched a mobile booking functionality to complete the end-to-end user experience.

Users can now use the Porter & Sail platform to directly book properties in the Design Hotels collection, which takes in independent names such as Gramercy Park Hotel, Nobis Copenhagen and Istoria Santorini.

Porter & Sail unveils partnership with Design Hotels

According to Porter & Sail, guests using the mobile booking app will benefit from real time rates, special offers, perks, and access to hotel specific content not available elsewhere.

Design Hotels’ member hotels meanwhile can use the platform to enhance the digital guest experience with features such as on-the-go hotel check-in, keyless room entry, 24-hour concierge chat, plus delivering in-house hotel content, upgrades & offers to the guests.

In addition, both brands will work closely together to create custom content. This will include narratives to be featured on the brands’ respective social and web outlets as well as exclusive content positioned in the Porter & Sail app.

WTAAA unveils new exco, board

By TTG Asia

October 16, 2018

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The World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA) has elected a new executive committee and board.

This marks the end of the two year-term served by outgoing chair Otto de’Vries, which saw the association’s membership expand considerably, according to a statement from the association.

ECTAA’s Michel deBlust, ACTA’s Wendy Paradis, FOLATUR’s Guillermo Correa Sanfuentes, ASTA’s Mark Meader and TAFI’s Praveen Chugh

The newly elected WTAAA executive committee include:
– chair: Mark Meader, American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA),
– vice chair: Praveen Chugh, Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI)
– vice chair: Guillermo Correa Sanfuentes, Federation of Latin American Travel Associations (FOLATUR)
– secretary: Michel de Blust, European Travel Agents and Tour Operators Associations (ECTAA)
– treasurer: Wendy Paradis, Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA)

WTAAA also unveiled its newly elected board, which will hold a two-year term:

Penthouse living at InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay

By TTG Asia

October 16, 2018

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InterContinental_Singapore_Robertson_Quay_Penthouse_Living_Room_3_Cropped — InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay Penthouse Living Room

To commemorate its first anniversary, InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay has launched the Ultimate Luxury Experience Package.

Valid for Penthouse stays from October 12 to November 12, 2018, the package includes unlimited food from the in-room dining menu, an exclusive private dinner in the Penthouse for up to four guests served up by executive chef Marco Turatti, a curated itinerary by chef concierge Paul Rumpff, access to the Club InterContinental lounge, and pick-up and drop-off services anywhere in Singapore in a Mercedes-Benz S Class, among other benefits.

Rates start from S$2,619++ (US$1,902) per night.

India’s LGBT tourism gets shot in the arm

By Rohit Kaul

October 15, 2018

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Delhi-Queer-Pride-Parade — At the Delhi Queer Pride Parade last year

The Indian travel trade has reacted positively to the recent Supreme Court ruling that decriminalised homosexuality, a move that’s expected to provide a significant boost to the South Asian nation’s LGBT tourism industry.

“LGBT tourism or pink tourism is a multibillion market globally. India was not in the mind of most LGBT travellers because of the law against the homosexuality. However, with the new ruling India has a great opportunity to tap the inbound LGBT tourism market,” said Arun Anand, managing director, Midtown Travels.

At the Delhi Queer Pride Parade last year

Tour operators that were already catering to the LGBT segment expect the positive effects on tourism stemming from the Supreme Court ruling to become apparent from next year onwards.

“Considering India’s tourism season starts from October, tourists have already made plans for this year, so we have to be optimistic for 2019. Our existing clients have expressed happiness on the decriminalising of homosexuality and have also started making enquiries about various tours,” said Rajat Singla, director, Pink Vibgyor.

Since the new ruling, Singla has seen big Indian tour operators step up efforts to cater to LGBT travellers, such as by coming up with webpages on gay tourism.

“We are also trying to start gay bed and breakfast boutique stays in cities like New Delhi, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur,” he added.

Some tour operators also believe LGBT tourism will help to draw high income inbound tourists to India.

“The LGBT community contributes to high-value tourism because of their good disposable income. They mostly prefer comfortable holidays and spend money on luxury products. I believe the new ruling will encourage LGBT community to travel freely without any perceptions and social restrictions,” said Ravi Gosain, managing director, Erco Travels.

In addition to a handful of tour operators which are already promoting holiday packages to the LGBT community, Gosain believes that this high-spending segment will soon become “the target market of other tour operators too”.

However, trade members also pointed out that more still needs to be done to promote LGBT tourism in India and compete with other international markets for this segment of travellers.

“I feel that India’s Ministry of Tourism needs to play a big role in promotion of this segment and the tour operators can always bank on a focused marketing approach. In global trade shows like WTM and ITB, the India pavilion can now have a separate section for pink tourism,” Anand remarked.

“Moreover, we need to learn from countries like Thailand to come up with events specifically targeted at LGBT tourism and widely publicise it across the global markets,” he added.

Single remarked: “At present we are far behind countries like Thailand in terms to incoming arrivals for this niche market, but now we may see a change.”

Genting Cruise Lines amps up focus on Indonesia with second MoU

By TTG Asia

October 15, 2018

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GCL_PERSERO_MoU — Genting Cruise Lines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT . Pelabuhan Indonesia III (PERSERO) to signify joint efforts in exploring possible development of port facilities operated by the latter, which was represented by Mr Raymond Lim, Senior Vice President of Planning & Port Management, Genting Cruise Lines (left) and Mr Joko Noerhudha, covering Director of Operational & Commercial, PT . Pelabuhan Indonesia III (PERSERO) (right).

Genting Cruise Lines has signed a new MoU with Indonesia’s state-owned terminal operator, Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Persero), as part of its ongoing commitment towards developing the country’s cruise tourism industry.

The recent MoU signing marks the second collaboration between both parties, following an initial agreement in April 2017 and the upcoming deployment of Dream Cruises’ Genting Dream in north Bali later in the year.

Genting Cruise Lines’ Raymond Lim (left) and Pelabuhan Indonesia III’s Joko Noerhudha signing the MoU that signifies joint efforts in developing port facilities

The latest MoU agreement highlights the continued joint-initiative in developing the facilities at Celukan Bawang in north Bali, allowing ships of up to 350m to berth directly. In addition, both parties will also explore possible joint developments of additional cruise ports operated by Persero, extending the collaboration beyond North Bali and further across Indonesia.

“At Genting Cruise Lines, we remain highly committed to the development of Indonesia as a key cruise hub for the region, as well as an important source market and destination for the tourism industry. We recognise the need for updated cruise infrastructure in the area and have actively taken the lead in pioneering improvements to port facilities in order to ensure the future growth of the cruise business,” said Kent Zhu, president of Genting Cruise Lines.

“We will continue to work closely with our Indonesian counterparts in creating new opportunities for the local cruise tourism to flourish as evidenced by the successful deployments of our ships to Jakarta, Medan, North Bali and Bintan Island recently, complemented by a series of ongoing collaborations to develop additional ports across Indonesia.”

The signing of the MoU was witnessed by ministers from both Indonesia and Singapore, along with Genting Cruise Lines representatives during the leaders retreat between Indonesia and Singapore held in Bali.

Travelport picked as sole distribution supplier of Air India

By TTG Asia

October 15, 2018

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Travelport has won a competitive tender to become the sole distribution provider of Air India’s domestic flight content in the airline’s home market.

The deal will come into effect from November 2018 and be fully implemented by end-2019.

The airline is India’s flag carrier with a leading position in both international and domestic operations

This also confirms Air India’s continued deployment of Travelport Rich Content and Branding, now used by over 270 airlines, which displays airlines’ graphical content, their fare families and a full range of ancillary products.

The continued deployment means that Travelport will provide the same content as Air India’s own direct selling channels.

Air India is the country’s flag carrier with a leading position in international and domestic operations. Along with Air India Express, it has 43 per cent share of the international traffic to and from India among Indian carriers and a 17 per cent share, including global airlines, as of 3Q of the 2017 calendar year.

Travelport has seen a rapid expansion in India in recent years following the acquisition of business from the largest OTAs such as MakeMyTrip, Ibibo, Yatra, EaseMyTrip and ClearTrip as well as working with the major corporate travel agencies and new entrants to the travel sector such as PayTM.

In addition to airline content, Travelport has also expanded its footprint and capabilities with leading hotel groups and aggregators in India such as Oberoi, Taj, Treebo and Trident.

Travelport picked as sole distribution supplier of Air India

By TTG Asia

October 15, 2018

0

Travelport has won a competitive tender to become the sole distribution provider of Air India’s domestic flight content in the airline’s home market.

The deal will come into effect from November 2018 and be fully implemented by end-2019.

This also confirms Air India’s continued deployment of Travelport Rich Content and Branding, now used by over 270 airlines, which displays airlines’ graphical content, their fare families and a full range of ancillary products.

The continued deployment means that Travelport will provide the same content as Air India’s own direct selling channels.

Air India is the country’s flag carrier with a leading position in international and domestic operations. Along with Air India Express, it has 43 per cent share of the international traffic to and from India among Indian carriers and a 17 per cent share, including global airlines, as of 3Q of the 2017 calendar year.

Travelport has seen a rapid expansion in India in recent years following the acquisition of business from the largest OTAs such as MakeMyTrip, Ibibo, Yatra, EaseMyTrip and ClearTrip as well as working with the major corporate travel agencies and new entrants to the travel sector such as PayTM.

In addition to airline content, Travelport has also expanded its footprint and capabilities with leading hotel groups and aggregators in India such as Oberoi, Taj, Treebo and Trident.

Travelport picked as sole distribution supplier of Air India

By TTG Asia

October 15, 2018

0

Travelport has won a competitive tender to become the sole distribution provider of Air India’s domestic flight content in the airline’s home market.

The deal will come into effect from November 2018 and be fully implemented by end-2019.

This also confirms Air India’s continued deployment of Travelport Rich Content and Branding, now used by over 270 airlines, which displays airlines’ graphical content, their fare families and a full range of ancillary products.

The continued deployment means that Travelport will provide the same content as Air India’s own direct selling channels.

Air India is the country’s flag carrier with a leading position in international and domestic operations. Along with Air India Express, it has 43 per cent share of the international traffic to and from India among Indian carriers and a 17 per cent share, including global airlines, as of 3Q of the 2017 calendar year.

Travelport has seen a rapid expansion in India in recent years following the acquisition of business from the largest OTAs such as MakeMyTrip, Ibibo, Yatra, EaseMyTrip and ClearTrip as well as working with the major corporate travel agencies and new entrants to the travel sector such as PayTM.

In addition to airline content, Travelport has also expanded its footprint and capabilities with leading hotel groups and aggregators in India such as Oberoi, Taj, Treebo and Trident.

TAT intensifies courtship of regional travellers in 4Q

By TTG Asia

October 15, 2018

0

Young Asian traveller — Young asian woman traveler visiting in Maeklong railway market is the most famous traditional traditional market unseen in Thailand at Maeklong district in Samut Songkhram near Bangkok Thailand

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is now aggressively courting South-east Asian travellers with its latest partnership with a trio of airlines in the region plugging ‘mega deals’.

TAT has teamed up with AirAsia, Bangkok Airways and VietJet Air to launch promotions under the Mega Deal to Thailand… Travel Is a Big Deal, which aims to lure travel South-east Asian countries in 4Q with special price tickets from the three airlines.

Young Asian woman visiting the *Maeklong Train Market* located just outside of Bangkok

In a press release, TAT identified Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos as the key targets in this campaign.

According to TAT, foreign tourists visiting Thailand increased 11 per cent, or around two million tourists, compared to the previous year. The three most visited South-east Asian countries to Thailand are Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam, totalling over 5.6 million tourists.

AirAsia expects the campaign will stimulate travellers especially from ASEAN countries to experience Thailand in more variety, which is in line with this year TAT’s main Open to the New Shades campaign.

Beyond helping to boost South-east Asian traffic into Thailand, Bangkok Airways says the promotion could support TAT’s promotion of secondary cities.

South Korean telco giant bringing AI solutions to SE Asia’s hotels

Porter & Sail and Design Hotels partner up for mobile bookings

WTAAA unveils new exco, board

Penthouse living at InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay

India’s LGBT tourism gets shot in the arm

Genting Cruise Lines amps up focus on Indonesia with second MoU

Travelport picked as sole distribution supplier of Air India

Travelport picked as sole distribution supplier of Air India

Travelport picked as sole distribution supplier of Air India

TAT intensifies courtship of regional travellers in 4Q

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