TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Wednesday, 21st January 2026
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RateHawk targets travel agents in Asia

By TTG Asia
0

RateHawk, an online system for booking hotels, air tickets, and transfers for travel professionals, has established its first Asian headquarters in Singapore, with the goal of targeting travel agents in the region.

RateHawk will provide local travel professionals with an advanced booking tool tailored to the local markets. It will offer a localised platform and business operations where local travel agents, operators, travel management companies, and other industry professionals will have access to a full range of travel services on RateHawk’s platform.

RateHawk will offer a localised platform and business operations for local travel partners

The platform will enable local travel agents to book more than 2.5 million accommodation worldwide, flights from over 400 airlines, and transfers in 150 countries. Languages featured include Thai, Chinese, and Korean, with dedicated language support lines in Thai and Korean available within business hours, as well as a 24/7 multi-language support line.

The launch of this hub and legal entity in Singapore follows the success RateHawk has experienced in Europe and the Middle East. It will also facilitate payment transactions, avoiding additional costs due to exchange rates – accepted currencies include Singapore dollar, Thai baht, and Malaysian ringgit.

Launched in 2016, RateHawk employs over 500 professionals in commercial roles globally and has offices in London, Berlin, Milan, Lisbon, Warsaw, Dubai, Limassol, and Wilmington. The number of RateHawk partners exceeds 70,000 travel professionals worldwide.

RateHawk is part of the UAE-based Emerging Travel Group, and offers a web platform and a mobile app for partners to handle business remotely.

Felix Shpilman, CEO of Emerging Travel Group, commented: “Our early operations in the region have demonstrated the product-market fit of RateHawk in Asia. Therefore, we are now ready to elevate our operations and establish a robust presence in the region. We will continue to further localise the product and ensure full coverage of the entire region.”

RateHawk plans to further strengthen the team and scale the business in Asia by increasing the reach locally, and will be present at several major regional travel fairs, including ITB Asia later this year.

Vietjet Thailand’s career festival offers job opportunities for thousands

By TTG Asia
0

Vietjet Thailand held its largest recruitment event in eight years on June 15 at the country’s Paragon Cineplex in Siam Paragon, which offered career opportunities in the airline industry.

The Sky Career Festival 2024 also saw the launch of Vietjet Thailand’s Major Cadet Pilot Training Program.

Vietjet Thailand’s Sky Career Festival was held on June 15 at Paragon Cineplex in Siam Paragon

An annual event since 2018, this year’s career festival allowed over 10,000 attendees to explore diverse aviation career paths with Vietjet Thailand, which included roles like pilots, cabin crew, engineers, safety and security personnel, commercial staff, and more.

The event also featured engaging activities such as panel discussions with industry professionals and career experts, interactive games with prizes, and lively performances.

Furthermore, Vietjet Thailand also signed a partnership agreement with Bangkok Aviation Center Public Company and RMIT University’s Aviation Academy in Victoria, Australia during the event.

This strategic partnership marks the beginning of the airline’s Major Cadet Pilot Training Program, designed to nurture the next generation of skilled pilots through comprehensive training and development opportunities. Attendees at this year’s festival had the exclusive opportunity to discover more about this programme and explore how it can support them in achieving their aviation aspirations.

Woranate Laprabang, CEO of Vietjet Thailand, shared: “This is our largest job event over the last eight years, reflecting our commitment to further growth and innovation. We are excited to offer not just various job positions, but meaningful career paths in the aviation industry.

“As we have been expanding our flight network and capacity to meet rising travel demands, to support our growing operations, we welcome new talents to join and together foster a dynamic environment where talent and passion can soar.”

Jetstar Asia resumes Clark services

By TTG Asia
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Jetstar Asia has restarted its Singapore-Clark services, flying four return services each week between Clark International Airport in the Philippines, and Singapore’s Changi Airport.

Jetstar Asia will fly four return services each week between Clark and Singapore

The service is operated on the airline’s Airbus A320s, with the flight frequency increasing to five return services from October 18 this year.

Philipp Knuepfer joins Sunset Hotels & Resorts as COO

By TTG Asia
0

Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) has appointed Philipp Knuepfer as the new chief operating officer of Sunset Hotels & Resorts, who will be based in Singapore.

He has over 20 years of international experience in the luxury hospitality sector and will support the growth of Sunset Hotels & Resorts, while overseeing global operations.

Knuepfer joins SHG from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, where he served as area vice president and general manager.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bali appoints new GM

By TTG Asia
0

The Ritz-Carlton, Bali has named Go Kondo as its new general manager.

With over 25 years of extensive experience in luxury hospitality spanning across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe, he brings a wealth of knowledge and global experience to lead the team in his new role at The Ritz-Carlton, Bali.

Kondo previously served as the general manager of W Osaka, and has also chaired the Marriott Business Council for Japan and Guam.

Hong Kong takes a step forward with new hospitality campaign

By Prudence Lui
0

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched its Let’s Go the Extra Mile campaign to encourage hospitality frontline staff and the general public that they can do more to demonstrate good hospitality.

A trade preview was held to share updates on the hospitality campaign, which was attended by about 120 trade representatives from tourism-related sectors – tourism, aviation, transportation, hotels, F&B, retail, attractions and MICE.

A trade preview for HKTB’s latest campaign was held to share updates to attendees from tourism-related sectors (Photo: HKTB)

Moreover, different sectors in the city will also launch various activities to create synergy, and work together to enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as a hospitable destination.

ATI Travel managing director Richard Woss said: “Hong Kong, unfortunately, is not exactly known as the City of Smiles – it is good to remind everyone in the industry to be proactively friendly and welcoming.”

Woss stated that the onus is on those in the hospitality sector to discover how they can improve on this, adding that his company frontline staff “love their jobs and are positive thinkers”.

Paul Leung, managing director of Holiday World Tours, cited that it is vital to figure out why people are not polite. He said: “Manpower crunch keeps frontline staff very busy so this root cause must be addressed. We should explore more alternative ways, like job satisfaction to incentivise staff, in addition to monetary rewards.”

He added that hiring foreign workers for hotel positions or even as coach drivers would be an efficient way to resolve this labour problem.

“Many industries suffer manpower shortage with staff overloaded with work,” he opined.

However, Liberty International Tourism (HK) CEO Portia Hau commented: “It is not fair to say all service frontlines are not friendly or not smiling. So far, local guides and retail shops demonstrate good hospitality. Some waiters at cha chaan teng (teahouses) are rude, but it’s not only to tourists but locals as well.

“We handle mostly foreign visitors, and don’t have bad feedback (regarding) our hospitality,” she noted, remarking that HKTB or the government should consider carefully before implementing such campaigns.

TrendWatch highlights future travel trends at TTM+ 2024

By Anne Somanas
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In a compelling keynote at TTM+ 2024, Victoria Loomes, head of trends at TrendWatching, outlined three future travel trends poised to shape the industry and help travel operators future proof their businesses.

The rise of awescapes
People crave experiences that leave them breathless and ignite personal growth. This trend, termed “Awescapes” by Loomes, highlights the power of awe-inspiring travel. The takeaway for the travel industry is clear: curate experiences that go beyond the ordinary and leave a lasting emotional impact.

TrendWatching’s Victoria Loomes addressing the audience at TTM+ 2024 in Phang Nga, Thailand (Photo: Anne Somanas)

“Awe is an emotion that scientists have actually only really been researching for the last two decades – and they continue to uncover the benefits of awe, which include making people kinder and emotionally resilient,” Loomes noted.

She said travel companies can capitalise on this by designing trips that immerse travellers in stunning environments and moments of wonder.

A great example is Cotopaxi’s “bucket list” stipend programme, which incentivises employees to partake in awe-inspiring adventures. This not only boosts employee morale but also aligns perfectly with the consumer desire for rejuvenation and connection with nature.

AI companions
The second trend highlighted by Loomes is the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI), which she terms “AI Genies”.

One research study by Europol predicts that by 2026, 90 per cent of online content will be AI-generated. Not only will most content be AI-generated, but AI is poised to move beyond simple convenience and into a more transformative role of companionship, which has innovative implications for the travel industry.

“Imagine a future where AI not only plans your trip but also acts as a companion, enriching your journey,” remarked Loomes.

This is already becoming a reality. Nissan’s AI-powered stuffed toy keeps children entertained during travel, while VRX Health’s virtual therapist offers mental health support using virtual reality.

The future holds even more possibilities, with AI companions poised to provide personalised and responsive services throughout the travel experience.

This is illustrated by the TERRA – termed a “companion for mindful wandering”, this open source project between Modem and Panter&Tourron aims to develop an AI-pebble that fits into the palm of the hand and helps travellers navigate, keeping travels screen-free.

Combating loneliness
The final trend, “Villaged Squared”, addresses the increasing global epidemic of loneliness and the rising importance of community.

“The number of people living alone is growing worldwide as a result of rising divorce rates, delayed marriage, and more women participating in the workforce,” Loomes stated, elaborating that this demographic shift presents an opportunity for the travel industry to foster connections and create community-centric experiences.

Innovative examples include laundromats leveraging their 24/7 operating hours to host soccer match screenings for people in different time zones from the matches – as in a recent collaboration between Heineken and WashEnjoy, thereby transforming mundane spaces into vibrant community hubs.

Similarly, Hotel Indigo’s Borrowed by Hotel Indigo programme – where guests can ‘borrow’ from the neighbouring local small businesses – as well as Enuove’s Tokyo café, Dial, which offers conversation prompts to encourage interactions, illustrate how travel can facilitate meaningful social connections.

“There is a great opportunity for brands to think about how they can become community builders,” Loomes shared, urging operators to consider how their services can combat loneliness and enhance social well-being.

TrendWatching is a resource for consumer trends, insights, and innovations, driven by expert analysts, AI, and a global network of over 1,000 spotters in 90+ countries who identify and highlight trend-driven opportunities for businesses.

Tourism Malaysia hosts B2B session for tourism roadmap marketing strategies

By TTG Asia
0

Tourism Malaysia organised a B2B session with industry stakeholders on June 12 in an effort to refine and enhance the strategic roadmap towards Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).

The session was attended by key players from the travel industry, including travel agents, hoteliers, and airlines.

The B2B session comprised industry stakeholders like travel agents, hoteliers, and airlines

Aimed to build upon the strategic initiatives introduced during the Tourism Malaysia Strategic Direction Towards VM2026 Networking Session held in late April, this session served as a critical juncture to streamline and fortify the strategies for Tourism Malaysia’s overseas offices, ensuring the successful implementation of high-impact and fast-conversion programmes.

Held at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur, over 80 local representatives, including travel agents, tourism product owners, airlines and hoteliers, had the opportunity to connect with 30 Tourism Malaysia’s overseas offices and four marketing representatives worldwide.

Emphasis was placed on the critical role of overseas directors in realising the vision for Malaysian tourism who were encouraged to proactively engage with industry stakeholders, embrace new ideas, and align their efforts with current trends to achieve the set targets.

The session reaffirmed Tourism Malaysia’s commitment to realising the vision of VM2026, which aims to attract 35.6 million tourist arrivals and generate 147.1 billion ringgit (US$31.2 billion) in receipts.

Sri Tiong King Sing, minister of tourism, arts and culture, stated: “Our journey towards VM2026 is not merely a campaign but a collective effort that requires the support and dedication of every individual. Let us work together to re-strategise our marketing action plans, leveraging the feedback and insights gained from this session. By doing so, we can create captivating campaigns that inspire global audiences to experience the wonders of Malaysia.”

Bali sees new markets emerging from Europe, Asia

By Mimi Hudoyo
0

Indonesian inbound operators participating at Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF 2024) have reported a significant improvement in business as compared to 2023, with some seeing new markets coming in.

Panorama Destination saw a 96 per cent increase in performance last year as compared to 2022, which was about 70 per cent of 2019’s volume. Among its top markets are the Netherlands, France and Poland.

Ricky: more Europeans are looking into travelling to Asia

Ricky Setiawanto, director at Panorama Destination, noted: “With more international flights coming in this year, we are expecting (an even better) year ahead.”

According to data from Angkasa Pura Bali airport authority, Etihad Airways will start four times a week services from Abu Dhabi to Denpasar from June 20. In addition, other airlines such as Air Busan, Uzbekistan Airways, Jeju Air, Rossiya Airlines, T’Way Air, Starlux Airlines, and Air India have plans to start services to Bali this year.

Ricky commented that more Europeans are looking into travelling to Asia, adding that travel agents he met with have revealed that demand for Asia is high.

“As such, we are hoping to achieve a 20 per cent increase (in business) this year,” he said.

Similarly, Classic Tour Lombok has also seen a strong return to Indonesia from longhaul markets, thanks to the much-improved international access to the country. While the domestic air network has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels, it is performing much better than in 2022.

Nawasier Tralala, travel consultant, Classic Tours Lombok, shared that they had penetrated into the new market of Croatia since 2017, which has picked up well this year. Over the last couple of months, he has handled several groups in the last couple of months, with 26 groups arriving between July and September – each group comprises a maximum of 28 passengers.

Tralala said Turkish Airlines provided a convenient connection to Indonesia: “It take two hours from Croatia to Istanbul and then around eight hours to Jakarta. I started receiving bookings in 2019 for trips in 2020, but those got cancelled due to Covid-19.

“Last year, when I approached the agents there, they were still taking a wait-and-see stand – but this year, the groups are really coming.”

He added that Croatians were mostly interested in the nature and culture of Indonesia, and are also keen to take trips around the country, for an average of 22 days.

Meanwhile, Nepal is a new market for RD Tours Bali, thanks to the new AirAsia Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route as well as the good connectivity to Bali, according to its director of marketing and overseas promotion, Bambang Sugiono.

“I have actually seen the potential of this market since 2017, but accessibility was the issue then,” commented Bambang, who explained that the available flights were by Singapore Airlines to Singapore, then a connection to Bali, which was considered pricey. He remarked that more are visiting the area now thanks to low cost carriers – which makes it more affordable – although travellers still needed to apply for a visa at the embassy.

These travellers come with their families, are interested in adventure trips, and take five-day holidays in Bali, Bambang said.

Qantas buys up remaining shares of TripADeal

By TTG Asia
0

Qantas is accelerating its expansion into the holiday packages market by acquiring the remaining 49 per cent of the Byron Bay online travel business TripADeal.

The acquisition will enable Qantas to deepen synergies by combining Qantas and Jetstar’s extensive network with the growing curated tour market, and also create a more tailored and integrated experience for Qantas Frequent Flyers.

From left: TripADeal’s Norm Black, Qantas’ Andrew Glance, and TripADeal’s Richard Johnston

Qantas purchased a majority stake in TripADeal in 2022, enabling its Frequent Flyers to earn and use their Qantas Points on African safaris, Fiji beach holidays, European getaways, adventures to India, and other ready-made holiday packages.

The remaining 49 per cent will be purchased for A$211 million (US$139.4 million), with the transaction expected to be completed by the end of June. Through the full acquisition, Qantas expects combined cost and revenue synergies to build to at least A$50 million annually across the group, over time.

During July, Qantas members will also receive a 30 per cent discount on bookings made with points.

TripADeal will continue to operate as an independent business, working with a range of travel partners and airlines, including Qantas and Jetstar, to build and deliver ready-made packages. TripADeal recently added cruises to its platform, expanding the itinerary options for travellers.

The purchase will see founders of TripADeal, Norm Black and Richard Johnston, depart the business. Matt Wolfenden, who has been with the company for seven years, has been promoted to CEO and will lead the 150- strong team in Byron Bay and tour guides based in 30 countries.

“TripADeal has been building on-trend and well-priced holiday packages for over a decade and has delighted millions of holidaymakers in the process. This success has only been turbo-charged by the Qantas partnership, and the opportunity for our members to earn and use their points,” said Qantas loyalty CEO Andrew Glance.

“With TripADeal bookings growing at 70 per cent over the last year, and more opportunities to strengthen the offering and realise further synergies, this deal is great news for our customers and the loyalty business more broadly.”

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Raja Ampat raises tourism fees to support conservation and communities
TTG Asia | Philippines launches Manila transit tours for international passengers via Philippine Airlines
TTG Asia | Agoda, Mastercard introduce travel rewards solution