Egg-cooking robot demonstration at the conference (photo credit: Singapore Tourism Board)
Singapore is accelerating the adoption of hotel robotics, with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) yesterday announcing a line-up of partnered hotels and solution providers at the 3rd STB-Singapore Hotels Association Industry Conference.
The conference featured a special technology showcase that displayed new solutions in various stages of development and implementation across hotels in Singapore.
Hotel industry players and STB’s Lionel Yeo (far left) witness a demonstration of an egg-cooking robot at the conference yesterday; photo credit: Singapore Tourism Board
Examples included GTRIIP Global’s check-in, room access and in-room control mobile app platform; a laundry and linen inventory and delivery service powered by Laundry Network in collaboration with Republic Polytechnic and StarHub; as well as robotic food preparation by Kurve.
Kurve’s live egg station will soon be implemented in Hotel Jen’s properties, while Laundry Network is currently working with three local properties, including Four Points by Sheraton and Grand Copthorne Waterfront.
CEO of Laundry Network, TP Chan, remarked that adopting such technological solutions, especially in back-end processes, can “save up to 50 per cent in manual manpower”, and these resources can instead be retrained and redeployed to “more valuable” customer service roles.
This is especially crucial in today’s manpower crunch in the hospitality sphere, said Chan.
Ong: hoteliers now more receptive to robots
STB’s Ong Huey Hong, director, hotels & sector manpower, said: “We have seen quite a lot of adoption in the last two to three years. Our first adoption was in 2015, and there was only one hotel that did a pilot. Now, we have about 10 or 12 hotels committing or that have already adopted robotics.”
Ong explained that hotels were once concerned that robotics was “gimmicky”, but pilot programmes have since proven that robots can “enhance customer service and improve productivity”.
Such pilots have also nudged hospitality players out of the “’wait-and-see’ attitude” that they used to have, said Margaret Heng, executive director of Singapore Hotel Association (SHA).
She added that robots can also help hotels generate a talking point on social media, making them a “marketing tool” as well.
The showcase is part of STB’s Hotel Industry Transformation Map launched last year. Four of the solutions in the showcase were submitted to the Hotel Innovation Challenge organised by STB and SHA in May.
With the rise of digital trends, STB and the Hotel Innovation Committee, led by SHA, will chart a roadmap for the hotel industry to transform into “Smart Hotels” through the Smart Hotel Technology Roadmap.
The roadmap will identify the next-generation system capabilities such as facial recognition at check-in and payment wallets that typically define a digitally-driven smart hotel.
Car rental brand Avis Budget Group is stepping into the travel landscape with its Asia expansion plans.
Julia Kemp, its director of international sales & partnerships, told TTG Asia: “We have a big focus on the leisure (travel) market and in particular, we’re looking to do more activities with the travel trade in Singapore and South-east Asia.”
Kemp: tailoring to travel agency needs
Part of its trade outreach efforts is increasing “new travel agency-friendly booking tools and platforms, incentives and product training tools”, explained Kemp.
She described: “We’re working a lot with the travel agents and global TMCs – we’re looking to develop even deeper partnerships with them.
“We’re also trying to tailor our products and services to the needs of the travel agent; we’re going to introduce an all-inclusive car rental package – that takes things like damage cost into account – that will be easier for travel agents to sell.”
She also revealed that Avis will soon launch a new brand in line with this new direction.
Besides agencies, Kemp remarked that Avis is also in partnership with “nearly all of the key airlines”, being integrated into their web services and loyalty programmes.
The company recently launched car-sharing brand ZipCar in Taiwan, joining the US and Europe. The app-supported service allows users to pick up, drive and drop off ZipCar-branded vehicles within designated cities.
When asked about ZipCar expansion potential, Kemp said that Avis is “looking across South-east Asia for other countries where the model would work”. This includes Singapore, as well as China and Hong Kong.
Helen Lau, general manager Singapore, Avis Budget Group (Singapore office), commented that even with zero growth in cars for Singapore in 2018, “individuals and companies may start to explore other alternatives such as leasing used vehicles or car rental options that are flexible and affordable”.
As Dream Cruises launches the inaugural itinerary of its second ship World Dream – with sails covering Hong Kong, Manila and Boracay until March next year – the cruise line is casting its sights on the Philippines’ growing luxury segment and market of potential cruisegoers.
Thatcher Brown, president of Asia’s only cruise line Dream Cruises, said they are offering travel flexibility so that tourists can embark in Manila or fly first to Hong Kong before returning to Manila via World Dream.
Dream Cruises has launched itineraries for World Dream (above)
There are also efforts to localise the cruise product by adapting their offerings in terms of language, food, guest needs, and daily interaction with guests.
Stressing that Manila is a “strong destination partner”, Brown said World Dream offers “inspirational luxury” which would appeal to the country’s burgeoning FITs, first time cruisers, families and multi-generational guests, and MICE.
He said parent company Star Cruises’ pioneering spirit that led to Superstar Virgo being homeported in Manila for three months this year is a “pathfinder” for large ships while in previous years, Superstar Gemini sailed to Manila and Superstar Aquarius included Philippine itineraries.
World Dream currently has eight wholesalers in the Philippines although other travel agencies can sell the cruises and travellers can book direct with the cruise line. About 80 per cent of the bookings are still done through travel agents, according to Star Cruises’ assistant vice president for sales, Andrea Solis Manzano.
Brown said their cruise company has a history of a network of relationship with the travel agency community in Asia and greater Asia and that “we stand by those relationships”. Cruises are complex products that need “professionals to match the right product with guest needs”.
“Travel agents are the ones who understand the product,” he said.
Langham Hospitality Group will manage a luxury hotel by the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River come 2021.
The result of an agreement with Canapaya Development, The Langham, Bangkok will feature 207 rooms and 43 suites, with half of the deluxe rooms with balconies looking out to the Chao Phraya River while the other half will offer views of both river and city. Suites will span one-, two- and three-bedroom categories ranging from 80-205m2. Guests may also opt for suites with separate kitchens.
Langham signs luxury hotel in Bangkok
The property will also feature what it said will be the largest luxury ballroom in the city at 1,500m2 with a frontage and vista over the river; the river’s first fully operational private pier owned by a luxury hotel providing transportation for guests; a bridal chapel and a bridal suite; as well as an outdoor terrace overlooking the river.
F&B options include T’ang Court, offering fine Cantonese cuisine following its three Michelin starred namesake in Hong Kong; specialty lobby lounge, Palm Court, which will serve afternoon tea in traditional Langham style; all-day dining restaurant serving international cuisine; alfresco dining at the pool bar and grill restaurant; and a specialty restaurant located at the promenade with a view of the pier.
The hotel is located 10 minutes from Sathorn CBD and beside the Canapaya Plaza.
Seabourn is launching its Wish List sale today through to December 12, for select voyages departing until August 31, 2018.
Offers include complimentary upgrades for Three Veranda Suite and Ocean View categories, up to US$500 shipboard credit per suite and US$1,000 shipboard credit for Penthouse and Premium Suite bookings for select sailings. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2BbtD9r
The latest hotel openings and announcements made this week.
ibis Styles Nha Trang
Nha Trang is the location for Vietnam’s first ibis Styles-branded hotel. Rooms at the 310-key property sport a bright and colourful design, and feature with floor-to-ceiling windows that open out to Nha Trang beach. Wellness facilities include a fitness centre, a spa, outdoor pool including kids’ pool and kids’ corner. Other amenities include the StrEATs Restaurant, StrEATs Lobby Bar & Pool Bar, four meeting rooms and a grand ballroom.
Mercure Kota Kinabalu City Centre
Located in Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah, Mercure Kota Kinabalu City Centre offers 310 guestrooms comprising 135 superior rooms, 40 executive suites and 135 suites in configurations of one-, two- and three-bedrooms. For events and meetings, the hotel’s function room on the rooftop, which also houses the hotel’s gym and swimming pool, can accommodate up to 40 guests. Various F&B venues are available, including the all-day dining Maupassant, and rooftop space Compass Lounge.
Red Planet Manila Bay
Red Planet Hotels has opened an outpost in Philippines’ Manila Bay, located just across the US Embassy in Ermita. All 150 rooms come equipped with free Wi-Fi, power showers, quality custom-made beds, and an array of modern amenities, said a press release. Within a 10-minute walking radius are attractions such as Manila Ocean Park and Luneta Park (Rizal Park), as well as the Robinsons Place Manila shopping mall. The hotel is now open for bookings for stays starting from December 15.
Baba Beach Club launches in Phuket and Hua Hin
Two new hotels by hospitality brand Sri Panwa have opened in Thailand – Baba Beach Club, Phuket and Baba Beach Club, Hua Hin. Both properties offer direct access to beachfronts and a central beach club, accompanied by daily live music sessions from the property’s resident DJs.
Baba Beach Club, Phuket is set on Natai beach boasts 16 villas and suites, ranging from Ocean View Suites (pictured above) suitable for couples up to the five-bedroom Beachfront Pool Villas. There are also three F&B options on-site.
Baba Beach Club, Hua Hin is located in a prime beach destination in Cha-am & Hua Hin, and overlooks the Gulf of Thailand. The hotel offers 18 suites and penthouses, 10 residential three-bedroom villas, and one five-bedroom villa. There are also three F&B options on the property.
Marriott debuts two properties in Suzhou
Marriott International has opened the Suzhou Marriott Hotel Taihu Lake and Renaissance Suzhou Taihu Lake Hotel, located in the Suzhou Taihu National Tourism and Vacation Zone.
Suzhou Marriott Hotel Taihu Lake offers 275 guestrooms, all of which are equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, a spacious work desk, premium bedding, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows featuring views of Taihu Lake and the surrounding mountains. Meanwhile, the Renaissance Suzhou Taihu Lake Hotel (pictured above) boasts 224 rooms, 14 suites and two villas, all featuring spa-inspired bathrooms and balconies with views of Taihu Lake or Yuyang Mountain.
Together, the hotel complex offers eight F&B venues, six indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness centre, yoga room, steam room, sauna, spa and kids’ club. For meetings and events, the complex offers a 5,500m2 outdoor lawn, and 7,388m2 of indoor event space across four ballrooms, one boardroom and 10 meeting rooms.
Franck Rodriguez has been appointed general manager and Usa Boonchalakulkosol director of sales & marketing of South-east Asia’s first Holiday Inn waterpark resort, Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin.
Rodriguez brings with him more than two decades of experience in the international hospitality industry, including in London, Singapore, Shanghai and Bangkok.
Prior to rejoining InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in 2016, he served as director of operations for The Unique Collection of Hotels & Resorts, overseeing 27 properties. He then became general manager of the Holiday Inn Resort Benoa Bali and later, area general manager of Holiday Inn Resorts Thailand.
From left: Franck Rodriguez and Usa Boonchalakulkosol
Meanwhile, Thai national Usa joins the hotel with extensive hospitality sales and marketing experience, having worked with local and international hotel brands, including Amari, Sheraton, Le Méridien and Alila.
She became director of sales & marketing at the Holiday Inn Chiang Mai in 2010 and was most recently cluster director of sales & marketing for Vana Nava Hua Hin & True Arena Hua Hin.
Darrell Wade, co-founder and executive chair, Intrepid Group Pick three words to describe 2017
Best. Year. Ever. I’m cheating, but for me the three words just have to go together! We’ve had fantastic growth, entered a few new projects and I’ve personally stepped away from being CEO. Wins all round!
An unexpected joy this past year?
I was a little nervous about moving from CEO to chairman after so long as CEO. Would Intrepid maintain its momentum? Would the new CEO be up to the task? Would I still be able to have influence where I felt it was needed? Would I get bored and want my old job back? Would I suffer an existential midlife crisis? The answers to all these questions plus more brought real joy to me.
What was the single biggest time-waster in your life this past year?
I’m pretty efficient and don’t really waste much time. At least I don’t think I do! Some may say I read too much – are four newspapers a day too much? Some may say I spend too much time on email; I like to answer all emails I get – if people can be bothered writing to me, I should answer. Some may say I have too many holidays! Hey, isn’t that one of the reasons we work in the travel industry – because we love and believe in holidays?
The best books you read this year?
Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance. This book goes a considerable way to understanding some of the dysfunctional aspects of America’s society, as well as the rise of Trump that came with it – without even mentioning his name. China in Ten Words by Yu Hua. This is a fantastic memoir of a person growing up in China’s Cultural Revolution. It’s so illuminating on modern China, even though the country has come such an incredibly long way from those difficult years. Maybe I enjoy reading about dysfunctional societies?
Lionel Yeo
Lionel Yeo, chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board Pick three words to describe 2017
Passion Made Possible, of course! This is the tagline of the unified brand launched by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Singapore Economic Development Board earlier this year.
Passion Made Possible describes the Singapore story, what Singapore stands for, and the incredible journeys of many individuals and companies in Singapore who pursue their passions and overcome challenges.
An unexpected joy this past year?
This brand review journey was itself a passion project, and we were so excited to finally unveil it in August. In less than two months, our brand film had garnered over 36.5 million views globally.
We will continue to tell more stories under this brand positioning to inspire the rest of the world to find out more about the spirit of Singapore – a place shaped by its people, our passions and our determination to make things work.
What was the single biggest time-waster in your life this past year?
At the risk of sounding like a complaining millennial, it is the time taken for webpages to load after I click on them, or waiting for pop-ads that can’t be closed to go away, so I can continue reading an article.
Like many people these days, I consume some news content online via my social media feeds over mobile platforms. I applaud news sites offering a quick and seamless user experience (and they earn my allegiance as a result). But several others have not managed to get it right. With speed as the name of the digital game, at the rate some websites load – or not – next morning’s papers might be a better alternative.
This is an area digital media professionals, news platforms and advertisers must rethink in a landscape where consumers hanker after speed and usability.
The best books you read this year?
I would count Born To Run by Christopher McDougall as one of my most memorable leisure reads this year.
After a slow start, it dives into an absorbing account of how humans have evolved over time to be outstanding distance runners. If you do not run, this book may inspire you to start. If you are a runner, it may tempt you to try running barefoot to experience how our ancestors did it!
I’ve noticed that running is growing as a leisure trend in Asia, and even as a purpose of visit, in line with other passion drivers for travel. For example, the Singapore editions of the Sundown and Standard Chartered Singapore marathons attract healthy numbers of foreign participants. In this past year, I have met Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian industry stakeholders who have reported a growing interest in combining travel with health and fitness activities.
Another thoughtful title I made time to read this year was The Attention Merchants – The Epic Scramble To Get Inside Our Heads by Tim Wu. It’s an insightful and somewhat startling overview of the history of advertising and marketing. It shows that sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same. You can’t help feeling smarter, and perhaps troubled, after reading this book, whether as consumer or marketer.
Thatcher Brown
Thatcher Brown, president & CEO, Dream Cruises Pick three words to describe 2017
Anything is possible!
An unexpected joy this past year?
The launch of a new brand and a new ship is always a very special occasion. There is a great satisfaction in developing a new brand with a talented and motivated team, overcoming numerous challenges along the way and successfully launching it in a new market in less than 16 months’ time. To know that Genting Dream has been a driving and innovative force in growing the cruise industry in Asia and, more specifically China, is gratifying.
Since Genting Dream’s arrival in the Pearl River Delta a year ago, she has brought over 200,000 passenger trips to the region. Jobs have been created, the next generation of cruise industry talent hired, and tourism receipts in hotel, airlines and destination management industries have incrementally grown. It is a good story.
On a more personal note, as a leader, I always get a lot of joy out of helping talented people believe in themselves, and leaving each individual on my team in a better place than when I found them.
What was the single biggest time-waster in your life this past year?
I enjoy studying languages. So, this past year I enrolled in Mandarin classes. Unfortunately, I have not been a diligent student. I rarely do my homework and prepare for my lessons. When I go to class, I always feel like I am starting from the same place over and over again! I feel like I am wasting my time. My hope is that there is some form of sub-conscious learning going on, and one day, I will reap the benefits!
The best books you read this year?
I enjoy reading and have read several books over the past year, from biographies to philosophy to collections of essays. I am a curious person by nature which leads me to spontaneous exploration when it comes to literature. Here are four books that I enjoyed reading over the past year for different reasons:
A Small Treatise on the Great Virtues by Andre Comte-Sponville – this was a great read as it addresses the uses of philosophy in everyday life. There is a great chapter on “temperance”.
Spanning Silos – The New CMO Imperative by David Aaker – I have had the privilege of meeting David Aaker a couple of times. His writing on branding and organisational effectiveness has always resonated. I finally got to reading this informative book last year.
China’s Future, A Biography of Xi Jinping by Wu Ming – when I moved to Hong Kong two years ago to build a brand and launch a new ship in a new market in China, I told myself that I would commit to learning about history and culture of China. This book was a logical choice in understanding the personal and political story of the president of the People’s Republic of China.
A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again – Essays and Arguments by David Foster Wallace – I love David Foster Wallace’s writing style and humour – I can relate to his human stories and enjoy the shock-value of his story-telling.
Craig Smith
Craig Smith, president & managing director, Asia-Pacific, Marriott International
Pick three words to describe 2017
Growth, Breakthrough and Digitalisation.
It has been a year since the Marriott-Starwood merger, and this deal has allowed our family to grow in all aspects – seen in our growth of guests, associates, owners, communities and economies. This becomes a key part of our business and it is what has driven us to achieve nearly 180,000 open rooms and a pipeline of over 19,000 more.
We now operate 600 properties across 23 brands in 24 countries in Asia-Pacific. By expanding our core brands and accelerating the growth of all ranges of services, we are able to reach out to a larger and more diverse customer pool, while delivering unprecedented choice for guests by offering a variety of brands across different locations.
We will open nearly 80 new hotels and debut two new brands in the region by the end of 2017. Our combined loyalty programme has over 100 million members who can now enjoy access to over 6,000 properties across more than 122 countries around the world, as well as the world’s largest collection of luxury properties. Our associates will have more opportunities to grow and develop as part of the Marriott family – we will employ 140,000 people across Asia-Pacific by the end of this year, so there are a lot of opportunities to learn from each other, such as cross-training and working under different brands.
We see and are responding to the trend of digitalisation. This is already impacting the hotel industry and we are working hard to stay one step ahead. We’ve made great strides with technology that advances our guests’ experiences, be it online, offline, on-property and off-property. Our recent joint venture with Alibaba provides the Chinese market with customised content, programmes and promotions. It will elevate and redefine the travel experience for Chinese consumers to be more seamless and personalised. We are evolving and continuing to inspire travel in a tech-savvy approach – to develop an even deeper and more loyal relationship with our customers.
An unexpected joy this past year?
The biggest joy was definitely having the Starwood associates join our family. Our Marriott family continues to grow, and I am very happy to see that our associates continue to feel happy and cared for in the workplace. We’ve always been a people company, and I think it is important that everyone feels welcome as a real family at Marriott.
What was the single biggest time-waster in your life this past year?
Long meetings. Sometimes it cannot be helped, but I always like short and concise meetings – everyone is more focused and becomes more engaged in the discussion, making the entire process more efficient and effective.
Waiting in a long line when I’m on business or leisure trips is one of the biggest pain points for all travellers. When we speak often about the nearly two billion international trips we’re expecting by 2030, I really hope to see the collective effort from the industry to modernise the antiquated system in use today with regards to visas, long queues and reliance on paper documents, etc.
Marriott International is working closely with key partners like Accenture to make the vision of seamless international travel a reality. We’re working to build a tangible prototype showing all stakeholders the art of the possible in seamless and secure travel. However, what Marriott can’t do is facilitate the visa and border experience for our customers; we can only encourage governments to adopt new policies that enable greater information and data-sharing across national borders. We understand that building these digital bridges will better integrate security agencies and better protect borders and citizens.
That’s not too far down the road and I am confident that travel will become smarter and eventually, it will bring positive impacts to global travellers.
The best books you read this year?
For 2017, it was a year of “re-reads”. I do this often – pull out classics and re-read them to get a better understanding.
The two notable books are Re-imagine by Tom Peters and The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker. The new read for me this year is Shoe Dog: A memoir by the creator of Nike by Phil Knight.
Albert Pozo
Albert Pozo, president, Amadeus Asia Pacific Pick three words to describe 2017
Digitalisation, Personalisation and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) economy.
For me, these had the biggest influence on travel over the year. If you ask me what I think I’ll answer this time next year, I think we will still be talking about these, along with messaging apps, smart cities and virtual reality.
An unexpected joy this past year?
Asia-Pacific continuing to lead global growth in travel. Although this was not wholly unexpected, it gives me pride, positivity and reassurance in the decisions we’ve made and the direction we are going as a company.
A topic which was unexpected and unwelcome was extremism, and I was relieved when people in the EU rejected it.
What was the single biggest time-waster in your life this past year?
Queues at airports. All I can think about when I’m shifting my feet slowly across these endless security and customs checks, is the 100 other things I could be doing, not least getting home to my family. We need to cut red tape and improve efficiencies on border control and security. This will alleviate the burden on regional and global travel/travellers.
The best books you read this year?
On business side: The fourth industrial revolution by K. Schwab. This gives great insights into the degree of transformation we are experiencing (and will continue to) and how it is an opportunity, for those who are ready to embrace change.
On private side, Todo esto te dare, by Dolores Redondo. Why I loved it? It takes you on a fascinating journey of how things are not always as they appear to be at first glance. It also looks at how the splendour of life reflects best through those we love and care about.
Jennifer Cronin
Jennifer Cronin, president, Wharf Hotels Management Pick three words to describe 2017
Life is short or Just do it.
An unexpected joy this past year?
Safari with a great group of friends, enjoying all the Big Five in the wild – magic!
What was the single biggest time-waster in your life this past year?
Emails.
The best books you read this year?
Shackleton’s Way, Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer, by M Morrell & S Capparell (a pre-read for our 2017 General Managers Conference and now a must-read for our group).
The Professor and the Madman, by Simon Winchester, about the obsession of two men who created the Oxford Dictionary in the last half of the 18th Century.
Suphajee Suthumpun
Suphajee Suthumpun, group CEO, Dusit International Pick three words to describe 2017
From a business sense: Expansion, Diversification and Partnerships. These three words summarise Dusit’s approach towards the objective of having sustainable and profitable growth, which will see our company more than double its tally of hotels worldwide within the next five years.
Taking a wider perspective, my three words to describe 2017 would be Startups, Uberisation (as in modifying a market, sharing economy model), and Millennials – and I don’t just mean youngsters, but people with a millennial mindset who are shaping, and travelling around, the world.
An unexpected joy this past year?
The unexpected joy was the immediate positive response to the launch of Dusit’s new Vision, Mission and Values (VMVs).
Vision: Proud of our Thai heritage, uniquely delivering gracious hospitality to the world.
Mission: We empower our people to exceed expectations, ALWAYS.
Values: Care. Commit. Can do!
Corporate HR invited Dusit Hotels and Resorts Worldwide to create short videos showcasing the new VMVs and the submissions were excellent. For example, the video created by the team at Dusit Abu Dhabi was particularly impressive, showcasing Dusit employees of many nationalities explaining their own definitions of Care, Commit, Can do!
The video really hit home how we are one global family uniquely delivering gracious hospitality to the world. And it was wonderful to see.
What was the single biggest time-waster in your life this past year?
If you mean time-waster in terms of something I enjoyed doing, then that would definitely be running. I love getting out early in the morning or late in the evening for a run. Not only does it keep me fit and healthy, but it really helps to clear my mind. In fact, some of my best ideas come when I’m mid-way through a run – which is probably why I spend so much time doing it.
If you mean time-waster in terms of something I don’t like doing, then that’s definitely sitting out the heavy traffic (Editor’s Note: she’s based in Bangkok). Fortunately, at the very corner of my office at Dusit Thani Bangkok, we have the Sala Daeng BTS and Silom MRT stations right outside, so there’s always a quick and easy way to travel if I need it.
The best books you read this year?
Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become An Extraordinary Leader by Rajeev Peshawaria. This book is rich with case studies and examples of successful leadership, and I’ve actually read it a few times now. He’ll probably send me a bill for using so much of his advice!
Gavin Tollman
Gavin Tollman, CEO, Trafalgar Pick three words to describe 2017
Successful, Inspirational and Enriching.
We have had one of our most buoyant years ever. We are thrilled to be enjoying such loyalty and support and appreciate every aspect of such a privilege, especially as we acknowledge our 70th birthday as the flagship brand of our family business.
Despite the volatile periods and some negative forces this year, I am hugely inspired by the resilience of people – from those impacted by world events to our valued guests to my amazing team. The abundant positive energy all around inspires and motivates me enormously.
I’m so passionate about this industry and feel grateful for what my family and I do every day. I have found 2017 to be particularly enriching: I feel strongly about meaningful travels and for me, taking the time to experience our JoinTrafalgar programme this year was an undoubted highlight.
An unexpected joy this past year?
In all honesty, all of the above. We have seen some precarious times in the world and in our industry and despite such challenging circumstances on occasion, it’s been wonderful to see the humanity of some and also humility of others.
A particular joy was revisiting Paris last April and feeling the joie de vivre of a truly special city. Despite the adversity that France has experienced in recent times, the resilience of the Parisians shines throughout the City of Lights. A simple stroll along the Seine, or indeed anywhere else in the city, is a joyful reminder of the abundant positive energy and inner beauty of this city and its people. It truly touches my heart every time.
The best books you read this year?
I’ve actually revisited a couple of books from someone whom I find immensely inspiring, Seth Godin. Purple Cow is one of my all-time favourites and a great reminder about how we should all be thinking differently – nobody should be vanilla, we need to stand-out and be remarkable.
Tribes also was a timely reminder of how we all crave connectivity and we thrive when pulling together for the same common goal or purpose. My team and I have found this a powerful mantra to abide by.
I’m looking forward to reading Seth’s latest book, What to do when it’s your turn, on my next longhaul flight. It’s a subject I feel strongly about, we should all step up to the mark and make a difference.
Martin Rinck
Martin Rinck, president Asia-Pacific, Hilton Worldwide Pick three words to describe 2017
Purpose, Mindful Leadership, Passion.
An unexpected joy this past year?
Hilton named as the top-ranking hospitality company in Great Place to Work’s Best Multinational Workplaces award for 2017. Our amazing team members and a strong value-based company culture are at the very core of everything we do, so to gain this recognition was a real highlight.
What was the single biggest time-waster in your life this past year?
In the spirit of Thrive@Hilton, and in trying to find a perfect work-life integration, I would say attempting to multi-task was the biggest time-waster!
Multiple studies on this topic have shown (much to my relief!) that we are more productive when we focus our minds on one single task at a time and avoid distractions. With multi-tasking, we are just tiring the brain and are lowering our cognitive ability. Always remember: Being busy doesn’t always translate into being productive.
The best books you read this year?
Search Inside Yourself by Chade-Meng Tan.
Ellen Bettridge
Ellen Bettridge, global CEO, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Pick three words to describe 2017
Motivating, Energising, Fun.
Motivating: Our crew never stops working and always delivers the best service with our tiny noticeable touches.
Energising: From our repeat customers and Uniworld staff at both our corporate offices and on our ships who are always so enthusiastic.
Fun: The experiences and the joy of launching our newest supership Joie de Vivre and our new millennial brand U by Uniworld.
An unexpected joy this past year?
It was the amazing response to the launch of our Joie de Vivre which sails along the Seine River from Paris, and really how we have raised the bar in the river cruising industry.
The best books you read this year?
Lean Sales by Tapio Nissila has been useful for me to understand how we segment our travel agents to best service them.
Whack on the side of the head by Roger van Oech on how to get creative and think differently.
The Last Tudor Princess by Alison Wier. I am a huge fan of historical fiction.
Singapore’s Chan Brothers Travel is introducing the Chan Brothers Prestige label following its invitation to join Virtuoso, a network of travel agents that offer customised luxury experiences.
Allen Leng, director, corporate office, Chan Brothers Travel, said the agency was invited to join Virtuoso in April and started handling bookings for the new label in mid-October.
“The brand will be soft-launched in December followed by an official launch in January next year,” Leng told TTG Asia, adding that the company expects to cater to customers who have travelled on its customised luxury tours.
Customise tours for savvy and seasoned travellers
Chan Brothers Travel, one of Singapore’s leading outbound players, set up Chan Brothers Private Tours as a bespoke travel company under Chan Brothers Group of Companies in 2009 to cater to well-travelled, savvy Singaporeans with exacting travel demands.
Demand for its private tours has been growing 30 per cent year-on-year, according to a spokesperson.
“Chan Brothers Prestige by Chan Brothers Private Tours will redefine excellence in luxury travel, tailored to the discerning palate of the seasoned traveller,” she added.
The company expects the strategic partnership and connection to Virtuoso to expand market segments and experiences, move customers up the value chain and elevate luxury touring through the wide portfolio of preferred regional and global partners.
Unique experiences the new label will offer include Zambia’s wilderness lodges, aristocratic castles in Europe’s countryside, hard-to-access abodes and insider experiences.
The spokesperson said a separate team of seasoned professionals manages Chan Brothers Prestige and expects “most conversations to be conducted offline with the personalised attention of our seasoned travel concierges”.
She added that while MICE requests are handled by Chan Brothers MICE & Travel, “a client’s request if appropriate, can be handled Chan Brothers Prestige”.
Terminal 2 to be more transit friendly and incorporate greater technology and automation
Incheon Airport Terminal 2 (T2) will open on January 18, 2018, and be the new home for the nation’s flagship carrier Korean Air.
A total of four airlines will operate out of T2 – Korean Air, Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM – all SkyTeam members. All passengers using these airlines will check in and board flights at T2 instead of Terminal 1 (T1).
The new terminal is expected to maximise the synergy effect of Korean Air and Delta Air Line’s trans-Pacific joint venture by laying out transit facilities near to each other, according to a Korean Air statement. When the joint venture is in effect, the airline’s Pacific and South-east Asian network in combination with Delta’s US routes could bring to Incheon an increase in transit passengers.
Terminal 2 to be more transit friendly and incorporate technology and automation
Korean Air, which has participated in the construction of T2 from design to planning, will have an increase number of check-in kiosks as well as automated bag-drop machines at T2.
T2 will also have about 2.4 times wider space in the customer waiting room, security check and check-in counters for transit passengers than in T1.
Designed to “eradicate problems that occurred in T1” such as operating multiple security checks and immigration services, T2 will have these centralised into two sections. It will further introduce 24 of the newest screening devices, which will enhance the security process and save time. The technology in T2 is expected to reduce passenger check-in, immigration and transit time by up to 20 minutes compared to in T1.
T2 also will launch location-based services, which will work with passengers’ smartphones to provide information such as boarding pass, lounge location, flight time when passengers are close to the departure gate.
Also notable are kiosks that can print both boarding passes and baggage tags, in addition to other smart technologies, such as guidance robots and flight information display system that provides two-way information.
And to shorten passengers’ waiting time for their checked luggage, a high-speed system transporting baggage has been deployed in T2, while the design of the carousel has also been modified to an upward conveyor type hoped to better prevent baggage damage.
Meanwhile, the transportation centre 2, where public transportation facilities such as bus and airport train are in one building, is located right beside T2, cutting travelling distance from 233m to T1 to 59m to T2.
The new terminal will also feature a premium check-in lounge for Korean Air’s First Class passengers, while Prestige Class passengers and frequent flyers such as Million Miler Club and Morning Calm Premium members will be welcomed at ‘Premium Check-in Counters’. The Premium check-in Lounge will offer concierge service, including check-in, baggage check, immigration information, and welcome drinks.
As well, adapting efficient technology such as natural lighting, natural ventilation and renewable energy, T2 is expected to save about 40 per cent of energy compared with T1.
