WeRide has launched its Robobus shuttle service at Sentosa in Singapore in partnership with Resorts World Sentosa and EZ Buzz, marking the official opening of Singapore’s first publicly accessible, level four autonomous Robobus route for passenger operations.
The shuttle route spans 1.2km with four stops along the way, taking approximately 12 minutes to complete – hotel guests and tourists can board the Robobus at the nearest stop.
The WeRide Robobus shuttle is the latest attraction at Resorts World Sentosa
WeRide has rapidly deployed the Robobus since obtaining Singapore’s M1 and T1 public road licenses for autonomous vehicles in December last year.
WeRide Robobus is the world’s first purpose-built level four autonomous driving minibus, specialising in micro-transit. It has been deployed and operated in nearly 30 cities worldwide, widely used in key cities, major passenger airports, luxury resorts, and popular tourist attractions.
WeRide’s development in Singapore has been swift and successful and the company will continue to collaborate with local partners to bring more validated products and business models to the Singapore and South-east Asian markets.
Alvin Tan, minister of state for trade and industry, culture, community and youth of Singapore, visited Sentosa with his delegation to inspect and experience the autonomous driving shuttle Robobus. He noted that by integrating autonomous vehicle technology, it allows for a more productive use of limited manpower resources and ensures a more sustainable and scalable transport solution.
Representatives of Sands Resorts Macao have visited Japan to showcase offerings and rekindle relationships with travel partners as part of efforts to draw new and returning Japanese travellers to its properties.
Attending the company’s The Fabric of Macao roadshow in Tokyo, Kris Kaminsky, senior vice president of hotel operations at Sands China, said Japan has “always been a strong market for Macau” and will be “even more important in the future”.
Kris Kaminsky welcoming guests to The Fabric of Macao event in Tokyo (Photo: Sands Resorts Macao)
The industry event, which illustrated Sands Lifestyle through a fusion of luxury, art and entertainment, also introduced guests to some of Macau’s hallmark attractions, cuisine and culture.
The destination has seen major development in recent years, Kaminsky told TTG Asia, pointing to teamLab SuperNature Macao, a body-immersive museum at The Venetian Macao, and Harry Potter: The Exhibition at The Londoner Macao, both of which opened in 2023.
“As you see more refined products being developed, not just in Sands but in Macau in general, that is going to draw the Japanese market to Macau,” he said, adding that the destination’s lifestyle experiences related to fashion, art, culture and history are also sure to appeal to Japanese travellers.
There are more opportunities for discerning visitors to enjoy Macau like a local, he shared. From finding the perfect traditional custard tart to exploring the innovative gastronomic offerings at Sands’ range of outlets, Macau offers a range of activities at all price points.
Macau is “very good value to the Japanese customer” he said, adding that he hopes Macau and Sands are “top of mind” as Japan’s outbound regional travel restarts with gusto.
Sands Resorts Macao comprises around 12,500 hotel rooms and suites, 850 retailers and 150 dining options as well as international entertainment and meeting spaces.
Tell us more about your background in hospitality.
The fact that my father was general manager of the Evergreen Hotel Bangkok and went on to manage other hotels meant that we stayed in many beautiful hotels growing up. The beautiful luxury hotel designs – along with the fact that I come from a very artistic family – led me to study architecture at Notre Dame.
I eventually joined Blink Design Group in Bangkok, which gave me a chance to focus on design from a user’s and developer’s perspective. Later, at Asset World Corporation (AWC), I managed luxury hotel and resort projects, blending design and development experience. It was also during my role as managing director that I brought Nobu in as a partner for AWC. I joined Nobu in September 2023 – now working with Nobu, a hotel brand, I can truly say my journey has come full circle.
Let’s talk about Nobu’s approach to lifestyle. How does Nobu define a lifestyle hotel?
As a hotel, we’re only 10 years old – and our core values and philosophies were born out of the story of Nobizawa. Since the beginning, we have been rooted in the concept of kokoro, which is the connection between emotions, feelings, spirit and soul. So, everything we do is from the heart. This has always been the heartbeat of Nobu restaurants and since its branching out to hotels and residences.
What do you perceive are some key factors behind Nobu’s success in the non-traditional approach of branching from restaurants to hotels, and how does it differentiate the brand from traditional luxury hotels?
We have an upside-down business model, so our F&B is the heartbeat of the hotel – and to have an F&B that works in a hotel, it almost never (happens). You don’t have that. Most of the hotels, F&B either suffers, or barely breaks even, or it’s outsourced.
Many brands are now just starting to look into F&B strategies, which is almost like retrofitting a property – it doesn’t really work. F&B needs to be seamlessly embedded into the whole experience. At Nobu hotels, we actually do put F&B first; everything else follows beautifully and quite naturally from our heart, which is the Nobu restaurant.
Most of our restaurants perform as well as the rooms in terms of revenue – most hotels nowadays struggle with keeping their restaurants open.
At some of our properties, each restaurant seat brings in as many as the number of rooms per year. For example, let’s say you have a 100-seat restaurant and 200-key hotel, so it’s almost like having a 300-key hotel without spending the money to build a 300-key hotel.
It is a model that really works. It makes a lot of sense because it’s just like the original hotel concept where people go there to eat and sleep and meet.
So in a way, we are innovators, but in another way, it’s just going back to the basics. I think people forgot about how important F&B is for a hotel – not just from a profitability standpoint, but from a sustainability standpoint.
You seem to have a big partnership focus as an executive. Can you tell how that has been useful at Nobu?
Nobu is one brand – we’re one brand so we’re always as good as the next project. For us, we’re quite selective of who we work with. Those who we want to work with are usually owners that have a lot of passion in what they do, so from the onset, we establish that trust, then that gets carried through. That is very important for us.
In seeking partners, we focus on creating a memorable experience and prioritise potential partners who “touch and feel” the brand through visits, so that they can understand our core values. This approach builds trust and long-term relationships. Unlike traditional hotel chains with strict requirements, Nobu values a good fit over property size. This strategy creates a network of repeat partners who own multiple Nobu properties across different locations.
We also rely on owners to help us localise. One of our priorities is to buy-in from the local market, because in a world of uncertain geopolitics, that’s the most sustainable source market. Our partners really cherish and are deeply invested in their properties, and Nobu as a brand.
As regional director of Asia-Pacific, can you highlight the current trajectory and direction of Nobu’s development in Asia-Pacific and South-east Asia? What are some of the highlights to come, and where do you see the most growth potential?
Danang is our first development in Vietnam, and we also have Ho Chi Minh City (same partner). We always look at potential locations as a place where our F&B would thrive. We’ve grown very well in Europe – where we have six hotels in Spain, the US, and the Middle East. Asia is our next growth pocket, (such as) Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines; the Maldives would (also) be an amazing resort for us.
Half our new projects also have branded residences.
The Plaza Athénée Bangkok will be a collaboration between the Plaza Athénée brand and Nobu Hotels. There will be two distinct properties: a Plaza Athénée on the riverfront and a Nobu hotel diagonal to it, behind the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. This project is a perfect marriage of East and West, with Plaza Athénée’s heritage and Nobu’s modern luxury.
To be able to craft two properties in two iconic cities, and with renowned designers working with us to do these two properties – it doesn’t get sweeter than this. I’m very lucky to have envisioned this deal together with AWC’s CEO and president Wallapa Traisorat and to be able to sign these two deals and work on this project on both sides, continuing with Nobu.
The trust from partners like AWC adds pressure, but also immense excitement for Nobu to create something iconic.
Trip.com Group has teamed up with Prioticket to broaden its international network and integration, especially for attractions in Europe, the Middle East and the US.
Through an innovative API integration, Trip.com Group will connect with suppliers, aggregators, and platform partners associated with Prioticket, the leading connectivity platform specialising in the management, sale, and distribution of tours, activities, and experiences, which offers a comprehensive suite of tools that facilitate the integration of third-party systems, centralised management of global distribution, and feature-rich point-of-sale solutions.
Trip.com users can look forward to more experiences in the US, Middle East, and Europe, such as Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, pictured
It will also enable Trip.com Group to access over 50 additional reservation systems.
Under this new partnership, Trip.com users can look forward to experiencing Rockefeller Center in New York, Tivoli Gardens and Ikono Experiences in Europe, along with unique tours such as hop-on hop-off bus tours from City Sightseeing Worldwide, Harry Potter Studio Tours from Evan Evans Tours, and top attractions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, like Museum of the Future, At the Top Burj Khalifa and Louvre Abu Dhabi via priohub.
With this integration, key attractions, tours, and activities providers will also benefit from the ability to update prices and inventory via API automatically, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for travellers.
Chase Liu, general manager of attractions and tours, Trip.com Group, commented: “By integrating with Prioticket’s robust platform, we are expanding our reach and enhancing the efficiency of our operations, which ultimately benefits our partners and travellers alike.”
Prioticket’s CEO Gert-Jan Ruiter also expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “By integrating our robust platform with Trip.com Group’s extensive network, we are ready to deliver our partners unparalleled access and convenience to a wider audience. We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration brings and look forward to a successful partnership.”
The 208-key INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit is offering the paw-fect stay for fur parents and their four-legged kids with the introduction of its Pet Friendly programme.
Amenities includes a welcome card, welcome bag of snacks, pet bed, bowls for food and water, and doggie bags for waste collection.
Fur parents can now bring their four-legged kids for a stay at INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit
Furry guests will have access to the upper deck of the lifestyle hotel’s top floor, which features outdoor lounges and is accompanied by sweeping vistas of Bangkok’s skyline.
Other pet-friendly areas include the hotel’s ground lobby and 32nd floor.
Only one dog is permitted to stay in an INNSiDE Room at an additional cost of 1,200 baht (US$33) per room per night. A maximum of two dogs are allowed in the Townhouse accommodation for an additional 2,000 baht per room per night.
The hotel’s concierge team are also on hand to recommend dog-friendly attractions and venues in the neighbourhood and across Bangkok.
During the booking process, the reservations team will gather as much information as possible about the guest’s dog to help personalise the experience from the moment the guest and their furry companion set foot in the hotel.
Hoiana Resort & Golf has launched a series of entertainment, sports events and activities, and special packages as part of its Summer Vibes campaign
For a holiday that packs a punch in activities and entertainment, the Hoiana Resort & Golf delivers on both fronts.
Located along the Hoi An coast, the 1,200-key luxury integrated resort comprises four hotels – Hoiana Hotel & Suites, New World Hoiana Hotel, New World Hoiana Beach Resort and Hoiana Residences.
Hoana Resort & Golf has launched its Summer Vibes campaign that offers a series of entertainment and activities for all ages to enjoy.
Packed schedule of entertainment
Kicking off the Summer Vibes 2024 Festival was the Miss Universe Australia 2024 pageant. Hoiana hosted the top 28 finalists, who explored Quang Nam’s picturesque landscape and culture, participated in traditional Vietnamese cooking classes, and joined charity events.
For the young at heart, the resort’s Hoiana International Entertainment Club and NOX Beach Club — the largest beach club in Asia — offer a vibrant atmosphere with weekly pool parties, Ladies’ Night every Friday, Girls’ Night Out every Wednesday, and live UEFA Euro Championship 2024 game screenings.
Guests can enjoy daily performances, including fire dance shows, DJ sets, live music, and celebrity appearances, ensuring non-stop excitement.
Feel the adrenaline rush of live sports
Look forward to prestigious competitive and charity tournaments
Sports enthusiasts, get ready, because Hoiana Resort & Golf is bringing the excitement of international sports right to the resort with football themed decorations.
In conjunction with the live football broadcasts, there will be a vibrant beer festival, freestyle football shows, performances, contests and photo experiences.
In addition, Hoiana will host a boxing event from August 2 to 4, 2024 in its Grand Ballroom. International title fighters from Korea, Japan, China, and Vietnam, will be in town to fight, providing thrilling matches for guests.
From August 31 to September 1, the resort will also host the International Half Marathon in collaboration with Quang Nam Province.
Golf enthusiasts can enjoy the exceptional facilities at Hoiana Shores Golf Club, one of Asia’s top golf courses. The club will host prestigious competitive and charity tournaments, offering a world-class golfing experience.
Fun for the whole family
For those with children, there are also a variety of activities to participate in. From July 25 to 28, 2024, the resort will host the International Kite Festival, in collaboration with Quang Nam Province.
The kids can also participate in the various educational workshops, group activities and games at the 2,700m2 Kids’ Club PLAY.
For those who prefer playing in the pool, the outdoor wet play area comprises family pools, water slides, foam parties at New World Hoiana Beach Resort, and the children’s mini water park at New World Hoiana Hotel. Guests can also participate in activities such as kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, aquafit, and yoga.
Get value for your stay
Room packages come with F&B vouchers, complimentary access to various events and activities, and more
Hoiana Resort & Golf has crafted special packages that offer great value to guests. The Stay & Watch, Stay & Boxing, and Stay & Marathon packages include benefits such as complimentary buffet breakfast, early check-in and late check-out, room upgrades, F&B vouchers, and free access to the 2,700m2 Kids’ Club and recreational activities.
Additionally, guests can join the Hoiana Premier Rewards membership program to receive a welcome pack valued at US$27.50 (700,000 dong). This pack includes a spa discount, complimentary draft beer, soft drink and F&B vouchers redeemable at all dining outlets.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has launched a Concept and Price Revenue tender to develop and operate a wellness attraction at the Marina South Coastal site. This project is a key part of STB’s strategy to grow wellness tourism, offering holistic and immersive wellness experiences as part of its tourism offerings for visitors.
The four-hectare site is located prominently along the waterfront, and the wellness attraction will be one of the key attractions in the precinct when completed, complementing other places of interest such as Gardens by the Bay, Founders’ Memorial in Bay East and Marina Barrage.
STB is calling for tenders to develop and operate a wellness attraction at the Marina South Coastal site in Singapore (Photo: Singapore Tourism Board)
STB is looking for proposals with innovative, high-quality concepts that can positively impact physical, emotional, or mental wellness, such as therapeutic art, tech-based offerings (floatation or light and frequencies-based therapies), complementary health and alternative therapies, as well as fitness or recovery-related activities, like indoor and outdoor water or equipment-based activities.
Additionally, the wellness attraction must also implement a strong pipeline of regular, high-quality wellness-themed events or programmes on its premises, as well as in public spaces within the wellness attraction or in the surrounding areas which will appeal to both tourists and residents.
The tender is open to local and international bidders, and will run for a period of three months, with the closing date for the submission of proposals set for October 4, 2024.
Carrie Kwik, executive director, world expo and special projects, STB, said: “With the rising demand for more restorative and wellness-related experiences, we believe Singapore is well-placed to be a leading Urban Wellness destination that prioritises holistic well-being.
“The tender marks a significant stride towards realising our wellness ambition as we leverage Singapore’s existing strengths in accessibility, technology and as a strong business hub. This wellness attraction will contribute to Singapore’s tourism sector by giving travellers more compelling reasons to extend their stay and spend more in Singapore. Locals will also get to enjoy the wide range of wellness offerings available.”
Hotel companies are weaving storytelling magic to better convey sustainability achievements to customers that value such features
Improved communications on sustainability success stories can correct misconception that responsible operations, luxurious experiences and profitability cannot coexist
Projects supporting the community and involving guests should be looked at more deeply by hotels wanting to win over well-travelled high-end customers
Minor Hotels runs responsible tourism programmes that benefit the local community while involving hotel guests, such as Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort’s Walk with Giants experience
Well-travelled, well-heeled individuals, who were among the first travellers to hold hotels to responsible actions, are becoming more critical of what qualifies as sustainable operations, leading hoteliers to make a more conscious effort to communicate their accomplishments in this aspect and to lead deeper impact projects.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has recently started an online video series for its Considerate Collection, profiling property owners who are active supporters of the environment, culture and community through their business.
The Considerate Collection, launched in 2021, is a portfolio of properties that pass strict assessment across three levels – Environmentally Conscious, Cultural Custodians and Community Minded – by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Although the Considerate Collection has grown in numbers – 61 properties compared to 21 at the start, consumer awareness of impact projects was lacking.
“Feedback from the marketplace is that we are not telling our stories enough; a lot of the sustainability programmes undertaken by owners of our Considerate Collection properties remain behind the scenes. We talk a lot about these efforts at travel trade events, but many travellers in the public space are unaware. So, we decided to help our owners tell their story,” said Mark Wong, senior vice president, Asia Pacific of SLH.
Besides stepping up on communications, SLH is taking accountability and sustainability measurement ever more seriously. To ensure that Considerate Collection properties maintain their investments in environment, culture and community, it has partnered with Weeva, a company that will establish a management system that enables properties to track sustainability achievements.
“This will allow properties to document and quantify their impacts, and share results with their owners, team members and the media,” said Wong.
Believing in the power of positive stories shaping the right travel decisions, Preferred Travel Group has crafted an informative website for its Beyond Green portfolio of hotels, resorts, and lodges. These are properties that pass a rigorous vetting process by independent investigators, based on globally recognised sustainable tourism standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, conducted every two years. The website is a treasure trove of Good Stories features that detail members’ efforts in environmental and cultural conservation, community development, and more.
Michelle Woodley, president of Preferred Travel Group, acknowledged that a lot of the more complex sustainability efforts, such as energy conservation and food waste management processes, are hidden from the view of travellers and guests. Hence, it is important for hotels to tell their stories and “do it in a way that consumers find interesting”.
Being more vocal about hotels’ responsible efforts will also help to correct misconceptions about luxury, sustainability and revenue not being able to coexist.
“There is a perception among consumers that a sustainable property may not be luxurious. Our job is to make sure that travel advisors know that is untrue and have the information (from Beyond Green’s Good Stories features) to share with their travellers,” stated Woodley.
“Some people also think that hotels have to be out in the middle of nowhere to be sustainable. That is untrue. An example is Starhotel’s E.c.ho. Milan, which is a city hotel that has developed a great way to communicate its sustainability efforts. The hotel has a guide book that tells guests about all the good things being done, including back-of-house processes. Our sales team now uses this guide book to cite examples for their sustainability-focused corporate clients,” shared Woodley.
Good Stories features have also allowed Preferred Travel Group to demonstrate to hoteliers that sustainability and profitability can coexist.
When asked if these communication efforts have a direct impact on bookings and revenue, Woodley said: “Sure, but that’s not the key expectation of hotels in the Beyond Green portfolio. Hotels invest in being qualified for Beyond Green to be able to connect with like-minded hotels and to share ideas on how to harness renewable energy or to contribute to species preservation.”
137 Pillars House, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, has a number of community projects, including supplying essentials periodically to orphans, raising funds for students from low-income families as well as visually impaired children, and sourcing products from the weaving community of the Karen tribe in Chiang Mai’s mountains
What’s next?
As sustainability messages flood the marketplace, Marion Walsh-Hédouin, vice president communication & public relations for Minor Hotels, said “competition” among hotels and resorts to excel in sustainability efforts benefits everyone and the environment.
“This competition raises the bar for conservation, and I am all for that competition,” she remarked.
Savvy hoteliers who are looking to level up to the next stage of conservation efforts and to truly convince travellers who are increasingly scrutinising tourism companies for potential green-washing, must develop programmes that can be executed within the community and with the involvement of customers, she opined.
Citing an example, she pointed to the group’s Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, which offers the Walk With Giants experience. Guests are invited to bond with the elephants of northern Thailand in their natural habitat, by strolling alongside these gentle creatures and witnessing them go about their day. The programme allows the resort to employ elephant mahouts with a salary while supporting their family with accommodation and solar-powered electricity.
“Normally, mahouts and their elephants would live away from their families in an animal attraction or camp. Our activity allows us to reunite them,” she explained.
In addition, money collected from Minor’s Dollars for Deeds’ programme, which invites guests to combine their stay with opportunities to support a range of good deeds that help local communities and the environment, is being used to fund English education for village children, giving the next generation an opportunity to raise their quality of life, as well as mahout training that teaches better ways to care for elephants.
SLH is paving the way for its next step in responsible operations, by delving deeper into community support through universal accessibility and inclusivity. It is assisting property owners in setting up operations and hardware to facilitate welcome for guests with both visible and invisible disability and medical issues.
One way it is doing this is through a partnership with IncluCare, a UK-based organisation that offers inclusive and accessible travel training, assessment, and accreditation for the tourism industry. Details will soon be shared.
Wong believes that by becoming accessible and inclusive, properties will not only be able to welcome a whole new segment of guests, they will also begin to look at differently-abled individuals as potential staff.
“This is a pool of human resources that hotels seldom think of hiring. These differently-abled individuals are often left out of society,” he added.
“Being equipped for universal accessibility is also a sensible thing to do now because societies across the world are aging. Facilities like ramps, grab bars and brighter lighting are needed by elderly travellers, not just those with disabilities. Hotels, in designing their hardware of the future, must take these requirements into account now,” he concluded.
Japan’s travel and tourism sector can expect a record-breaking 2024 based on its “robust recovery” in 2023, according to a study by WTTC.
The 2024 Economic Impact Research forecasts the sector’s contribution to Japan’s economy will reach almost 44.6 trillion yen (US$275.9 billion) in 2024, equating to a 5.7 per cent increase on 2019’s contribution and accounting for 7.5 per cent of the country’s GDP.
A study by WTTC expects Japan’s travel and tourism sector to break all records this year
Employment in the sector is set to surpass six million jobs this year, a 10 per cent increase year-on-year and 209,700 more than in 2019.
Visitor spending is also expected to reach new highs, with international and domestic travellers projected to spend 6.3 trillion yen and 24.9 trillion yen respectively. This consumption would surpass 2019 levels by 16 per cent for inbound tourists and two per cent by Japan-based ones.
“Japan’s travel and tourism sector is set to break all records, partly fuelled by a positive exchange rate for international travellers,” said Julia Simpson, president and CEO of WTTC.
“All the indicators are set to rise – contribution to the Japanese economy, increasing job numbers and visitor spending. These milestones highlight Japan’s leadership and commitment to excellence in the global tourism landscape,” she added.
Government data indicates it may even be possible that Japan’s travel and tourism sector performance will exceed predictions. In 1Q2024 alone, spending in Japan by international visitors totalled an annualised 7.2 trillion yen in nominal terms, making tourism the country’s second-largest export category.
The new 24-km Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge has cut down the travelling time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan from two hours to 30 minutes, spurring tourism within Greater Bay Area (GBA) and courting more traffic to and from Hong Kong.
Commissioned on June 30, this mega link includes a sea-crossing bridge, a subsea tunnel, artificial islands and an underground interchange, connecting Shenzhen, Zhongshan, and Nansha District of Guangzhou. It also boasts the only direct expressway connecting Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou with Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Jiangmen.
Tourism stakeholders visited the bridge facility for an inspection on June 21 (Photo: Travel Industry Council)
Hong Kong-based Sino Step Travel Service branch manager Wing Chan plans to roll out at least 20 new tour itineraries using the new bridge and expects business to increase by two thirds. She shared that the mass market is their target, and that the one-day tour to Zhongshan has been popular among senior travellers.
“For sure, the new bridge experience will stimulate desire for travel (as well as) more time to explore sightseeing and shopping,” she said. “In addition to Zhongshan city, nearby areas like the western part of Guangdong Province will also benefit (from it).”
She is confident that this route will remain in demand for quite a while, unlike the dissipating Shenzhen shopping tours to Sam’s and Costco that “Hongkongers craved for earlier this year”.
The Hongkong-Zhongshan route is currently operated by Eternal East (E&E) Cross-Border Coach Management. Its deputy chief operating officer, Paul Tse, explained that the route has cut the travel time from Hong Kong to Zhongshan by 45 minutes. The cost of a one-way bus fare has also been lowered from HK$110-120 (US$14-15) to HK$90-$100.
Tse commented: “We have also boosted the frequency of services between both cities – from 26 to 40 times per day. Moreover, we are thankful to have benefitted from the government’s labour importation scheme last month (where) Mainland Chinese bus drivers arrived to alleviate the acute labour shortage.”
To mark the inauguration of the bridge, its sister company E&E Tours had also rolled out a special two-day-one-night Zhongshan tour – all 60 seats were snapped up in an instant.
In addition, tourism stakeholders comprising airline, travel trade associations and hotels paid a visit to the site on June 21 for an inspection.
Travel Industry Council chairman Gianna Hsu hopes more visitors from overseas will adopt multi-destination tourism and visit the GBA via the bridge.
“In the meantime, Mainland Chinese FITs can enjoy a better access to Hong Kong, and we are pleased to see agents proactively preparing various tour programmes by leveraging on this bridge,” noted Hsu.
Tell us more about your background in hospitality.
Well-travelled, well-heeled individuals, who were among the first travellers to hold hotels to responsible actions, are becoming more critical of what qualifies as sustainable operations, leading hoteliers to make a more conscious effort to communicate their accomplishments in this aspect and to lead deeper impact projects.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has recently started an online video series for its Considerate Collection, profiling property owners who are active supporters of the environment, culture and community through their business.
The Considerate Collection, launched in 2021, is a portfolio of properties that pass strict assessment across three levels – Environmentally Conscious, Cultural Custodians and Community Minded – by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Although the Considerate Collection has grown in numbers – 61 properties compared to 21 at the start, consumer awareness of impact projects was lacking.
“Feedback from the marketplace is that we are not telling our stories enough; a lot of the sustainability programmes undertaken by owners of our Considerate Collection properties remain behind the scenes. We talk a lot about these efforts at travel trade events, but many travellers in the public space are unaware. So, we decided to help our owners tell their story,” said Mark Wong, senior vice president, Asia Pacific of SLH.
Besides stepping up on communications, SLH is taking accountability and sustainability measurement ever more seriously. To ensure that Considerate Collection properties maintain their investments in environment, culture and community, it has partnered with Weeva, a company that will establish a management system that enables properties to track sustainability achievements.
“This will allow properties to document and quantify their impacts, and share results with their owners, team members and the media,” said Wong.
Believing in the power of positive stories shaping the right travel decisions, Preferred Travel Group has crafted an informative website for its Beyond Green portfolio of hotels, resorts, and lodges. These are properties that pass a rigorous vetting process by independent investigators, based on globally recognised sustainable tourism standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, conducted every two years. The website is a treasure trove of Good Stories features that detail members’ efforts in environmental and cultural conservation, community development, and more.
Michelle Woodley, president of Preferred Travel Group, acknowledged that a lot of the more complex sustainability efforts, such as energy conservation and food waste management processes, are hidden from the view of travellers and guests. Hence, it is important for hotels to tell their stories and “do it in a way that consumers find interesting”.
Being more vocal about hotels’ responsible efforts will also help to correct misconceptions about luxury, sustainability and revenue not being able to coexist.
“There is a perception among consumers that a sustainable property may not be luxurious. Our job is to make sure that travel advisors know that is untrue and have the information (from Beyond Green’s Good Stories features) to share with their travellers,” stated Woodley.
“Some people also think that hotels have to be out in the middle of nowhere to be sustainable. That is untrue. An example is Starhotel’s E.c.ho. Milan, which is a city hotel that has developed a great way to communicate its sustainability efforts. The hotel has a guide book that tells guests about all the good things being done, including back-of-house processes. Our sales team now uses this guide book to cite examples for their sustainability-focused corporate clients,” shared Woodley.
Good Stories features have also allowed Preferred Travel Group to demonstrate to hoteliers that sustainability and profitability can coexist.
When asked if these communication efforts have a direct impact on bookings and revenue, Woodley said: “Sure, but that’s not the key expectation of hotels in the Beyond Green portfolio. Hotels invest in being qualified for Beyond Green to be able to connect with like-minded hotels and to share ideas on how to harness renewable energy or to contribute to species preservation.”
What’s next?
As sustainability messages flood the marketplace, Marion Walsh-Hédouin, vice president communication & public relations for Minor Hotels, said “competition” among hotels and resorts to excel in sustainability efforts benefits everyone and the environment.
“This competition raises the bar for conservation, and I am all for that competition,” she remarked.
Savvy hoteliers who are looking to level up to the next stage of conservation efforts and to truly convince travellers who are increasingly scrutinising tourism companies for potential green-washing, must develop programmes that can be executed within the community and with the involvement of customers, she opined.
Citing an example, she pointed to the group’s Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, which offers the Walk With Giants experience. Guests are invited to bond with the elephants of northern Thailand in their natural habitat, by strolling alongside these gentle creatures and witnessing them go about their day. The programme allows the resort to employ elephant mahouts with a salary while supporting their family with accommodation and solar-powered electricity.
“Normally, mahouts and their elephants would live away from their families in an animal attraction or camp. Our activity allows us to reunite them,” she explained.
In addition, money collected from Minor’s Dollars for Deeds’ programme, which invites guests to combine their stay with opportunities to support a range of good deeds that help local communities and the environment, is being used to fund English education for village children, giving the next generation an opportunity to raise their quality of life, as well as mahout training that teaches better ways to care for elephants.
SLH is paving the way for its next step in responsible operations, by delving deeper into community support through universal accessibility and inclusivity. It is assisting property owners in setting up operations and hardware to facilitate welcome for guests with both visible and invisible disability and medical issues.
One way it is doing this is through a partnership with IncluCare, a UK-based organisation that offers inclusive and accessible travel training, assessment, and accreditation for the tourism industry. Details will soon be shared.
Wong believes that by becoming accessible and inclusive, properties will not only be able to welcome a whole new segment of guests, they will also begin to look at differently-abled individuals as potential staff.
“This is a pool of human resources that hotels seldom think of hiring. These differently-abled individuals are often left out of society,” he added.
“Being equipped for universal accessibility is also a sensible thing to do now because societies across the world are aging. Facilities like ramps, grab bars and brighter lighting are needed by elderly travellers, not just those with disabilities. Hotels, in designing their hardware of the future, must take these requirements into account now,” he concluded.