Sanya ramps up marketing and promotion efforts in Singapore
The Sanya Tourism Board is pulling out all the stops with its destination marketing efforts with the aim of attracting Singapore residents.
The board held a tourism promotion seminar themed Where Fun Never Ends for the travel trade at the Shangri-La Singapore, with representatives from more than 10 tourism enterprises, including hotels with a presence in Sanya, transport, high-end yachts, airlines and wedding tourism companies, and over 30 trade partners from Singapore.
Speaking at the seminar, Albert Yip, director-general of Sanya Tourism Board, said: “Singapore has consistently been one of the significant sources of inbound tourism for Sanya. As a vital aviation hub, it is a key inbound market for Sanya.”
He added that there has been a notable increase in visitors since visa-free measures for 59 countries were implemented in the Hainan Province.
According to the Sanya Tourism Board, there has been a gradual increase in the number of visitors from Singapore to Sanya in 2023, particularly after the launch of the Phnom Penh-Sanya-Singapore air route, with a month-on-month increase of over 1,200 per cent in the number of overnight tourists.
The mutual visa exemption between China and Singapore has also greatly facilitated inbound travel to Sanya. In January and February this year, overnight arrivals of Singaporean tourists in Sanya increased by 661 per cent compared to the same period last year.
In addition, the board is currently working closely with airlines to increase the number of flights not just in Singapore but also around the region.
At present, there are flights to Sanya from Hanoi, Jakarta and Bangkok.
Through Singapore, Sanya Tourism Board is also targeting to reach more overseas visitors and is expanding its portfolio of tourism products to do so.
The city currently has about 130,000 hotel rooms from more than 41 international hotel brands including Marriott International, Crowne Plaza, Edition and Atlantis. New developments include the Hyatt Regency Sanya Tianli Bay, Hualuxe Hotels and Resorts and Sanya Yalong Bay Resort.
Another initiative is the Hainan Safe Pay app, which allows tourists to make payments easily in Hainan via their smartphone’s NFC capabilities.
Moreover, Sanya has a great range of cultural activities and natural scenery – Yip highlighted music festivals, the Li and Miao cultures, and Luhuitou and Tianya Haijiao as must-see scenic spots.
“Sanya is a relaxed place; and is very safe to walk around at night – it’s great for families and for a relaxing holiday,” said Yip.
The city is also focusing on sustainability, with educational programmes and activities such as coral planting available for visitors. Yip shared that the board is “dedicated to building a platform for friendly cooperation with foreign partners and deepening international cultural and tourism exchanges”.
Aside from Singapore, Sanya Tourism Board has plans to visit the Middle East, Europe, Japan and South Korea as part of its inbound tourism efforts.
Strong 2023 performance powers Club Med’s 2024 growth ambitions
Club Med has reported a fruitful 2023 that brought in record resort operating income as well as higher business volume, operating margin, average occupancy rate, resort capacity, and visitation, with performance paving the way for a bullish 2024.
Globally, the specialist in premium all-inclusive holidays, recorded 1.9 billion euros (US$2.1 billion) in business volume, up 17 per cent from 2022 and 16 per cent from 2019.
Resort operating income hit a record high of 174 million euros, an increase of 64 per cent over 2022 and 70 per cent over 2019.
Operating margin is up 50 percentage points to 9.5 per cent, compared with 6.2 per cent in 2019, thanks to a successful upmarket strategy and business model optimisation.
Club Med also expanded its resort capacity by six per cent over 2022 and brought in more than 1.5 million guests, a 16 per cent year-over-year increase that was largely driven by a rebound in travel from Asia following the end of pandemic restrictions. The average room occupancy rate also reached 70 per cent, reflecting a 3.4-point improvement on 2022.
Strong business performance in 2023 has so far flowed positively into the new year, with record bookings in 1H2024. As of March 2, 2024, the company has 14 per cent more bookings compared to the same period of 2023, which was already at a record level.
Club Med noted that the East and South Asia, and Pacific (ESAP) region had also contributed well to its Premium All-Inclusive Resorts in 2023. Business volume was up 102 per cent year-on-year and six per cent over 2019. Guest numbers had also reach pre-pandemic levels, driven by the revenge travel phenomenon, a strong momentum on domestic travel in Japan & Malaysia, and the success of its mountain business ( up 44 per cent over pre-pandemic performance).
Rachael Harding, CEO of Club Med ESAP Markets, said: “Club Med’s exceptional results are a testament to our market leadership in premium, all-inclusive holidays, especially in our mountain resorts.
“Embracing our refreshed brand identity and campaign, That’s l’Esprit Libre, we will continue to create experiences that allow our guests to disconnect from the worries and mental burden of everyday life to fully embrace the present. This will be achieved through doubling down on the essence of holidays with Club Med, where well-designed spaces, curated sports and activities, signature festive ambience, and our international team of G.Os are synonymous with our premium all-inclusive programme.”
Harding also pointed to the company’s “robust expansion plan” as a means to meet the needs of its travelling clientele. In the pipeline now are three properties – one in Thailand this year, one in Malaysia in 2025, and one in South Africa come 2026.
Looking ahead, Club Med has committed to maintaining its sustainable tourism development focus and to spotlight its summer mountain resort offerings.
IHG brands a Hainan Airlines aircraft to elevate travel experience
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) has teamed up with Hainan Airlines to debut the IHG Explorer, a branded aircraft featuring bespoke business class dining options, amplified member benefits and a co-branded safety video.
Together, IHG and Hainan Airlines are reimagining travel by incorporating diverse cultural elements into guests’ journeys, creating personalised in-flight travel experiences while driving the development of tourism. Through this partnership, IHG also aims to introduce a fresh travel experience that highlights the group’s localisation strategy and dedication to the Chinese market.
Marking the first time that Hainan Airlines has launched a fully themed aircraft with a hotel group, the IHG Explorer aircraft features the comfort of 180-degree reclining seats, where customers can relax while watching a creative co-branded safety video that blends IHG’s extensive and varied brand portfolio in China into essential flight safety instructions.
For business class dining, IHG is introducing food from its Chinese restaurant brand, Cai Feng Lou, which comprises regional delicacies and a signature tea in collaboration with HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts.
Furthermore, IHG and Hainan Airlines will gradually introduce more diverse member benefits during 2Q2024, offering IHG One Rewards and Fortune Wings Club members a range of benefits from ground to sky.
Jerome Qiu, COO, IHG Greater China, said: “Partnering with Hainan Airlines extends our commitment to the air, providing both groups’ members with more immersive travel experiences. From the moment they step onto the plane, guests will be able to enjoy the sense of ‘True Hospitality for Good’ which we aim to convey every day.”
AirAsia to resume Kuala Lumpur-Vientiane route
AirAsia Malaysia will restart its Kuala Lumpur-Vientiane route starting July 2, making it the only airline offering direct flights to all 10 South-east Asian countries.
The two-way services will fly between both cities twice weekly on every Tuesday and Saturday.
Hong Kong Airlines steps up recruitment efforts
Hong Kong Airlines (HKA) is recruiting flight attendants through large-scale recruitment events organised in various regions and drawing interest from thousands of job seekers eager to embark on a career in the aviation sector.
The most recent was on March 17 in Taipei, where over 200 candidates were invited for on-site interviews.
Last year, Hong Kong Airlines launched its first recruitment in the Greater Bay Area and has organised recruitment events in Osaka, Bangkok, and Taipei respectively since the end of last year, receiving over 2,000 applications. Qualified candidates were invited for on-site interviews.
Since 2023, HKA has been incrementally launching and reinstating an array of domestic and regional routes and now services 25 destinations. With the ambition to expand its fleet and route network this year, the airline has stepped up its recruitment efforts and has resumed significant events outside Hong Kong after several years’ hiatus, presenting an opportunity for international talent to apply in person.
Sally Lo Chi Yau, general manager of onboard experience at HKA, remarked: “Our service team consists of members from all over the world and they usually offer mutual support and share insights about life in Hong Kong, thus aiding recruits in swiftly adjusting to the working environment. Here at Hong Kong Airlines, we embrace a multicultural ethos and are committed to fostering a corporate culture that is both relaxed and vibrant, which we believe will entice more international talent to join us.”
Opportunities abound for brands as travel rebounds in Asia-Pacific
The Asia-Pacific travel sector has had a strong start to 1Q2024 so far. It continues to report the strongest year-on-year results when compared to other regions. Key markets like India have experienced an incredible travel rebound over and above 2019 levels, with China now steadily following suit.
While China’s domestic travel demand featured strongly on the cards in 2023, this focus has now shifted towards China outbound, as evidenced by the strong increase in outbound Chinese tourist numbers past the Lunar New Year holiday. The momentum is expected to continue in the months ahead, with Asia-Pacific destinations close to home already seeing the first wave.
India also continues to be a major contributor to the region’s tourism boom, with the market seeing increasingly significant outbound travel traffic since 2023. In response, Indian airlines have been working hard to keep up, expanding flight capacity to meet the surge.
Despite the overall rosy outlook, it is imperative for airlines, financial services and airports alike to look ahead and understand the psyche of consumers, who Collinson has identified to be the “new C-suite” of today, following our latest research report, The New Rules of Engagement: Customer Expectations Revealed. Operating in this customer experience era, winning the hearts and minds of customers is critical as this will enable brands to sustain their growth momentum and drive measurable business impact.
Knowing and meeting customer needs
By 2025, Gen Z and millennials each make up a quarter of Asia-Pacific’s population. Together, they will comprise half of Asia-Pacific consumers and, in turn, be a significant contributor to the demand for travel and its related services. In today’s unpredictable landscape, where loyalty is fickle, winning their hearts and minds is not just a nice-to-have – it is an imperative for brands.
In Collinson’s recent Asia-Pacific consumer insights report, more than half of the 4,750 consumers surveyed across the region expect brands to not only answer, but also anticipate their needs. Furthermore, 74 per cent of respondents expect personalised communications.
When it comes to travel, this translates into a unique demand, especially for millennials, who view travel as a right, not a privilege. This perception of travel translates into an enormous appetite for rewards and benefits that can enable positive travel experiences. Correspondingly, 93 per cent of respondents in the same Collinson survey indicated that the availability of such rewards encourages them to engage regularly with a brand.
Such rewards and benefits do not need to be grand gestures. Collinson’s Fear of Switching Off (FOSO) survey revealed there is an increased expectation towards seamless travel and pre-flight experiences. More than 61 per cent of travellers in Asia say pre-flight issues can initiate a fear of switching off for the rest of their trip. Clearly, the travel experience does not start from the destination, but from the airport.
The FOSO report also revealed that visiting an airport lounge, dining, and having a smooth check-in process are the top airport experiences that help travellers in Asia switch off pre-trip. The key to engaging with travellers today, then, is through providing an end-to-end tailored, seamless experience that adds value to their journey.
To cater to travellers’ expectations, and in response to the region’s travel resurgence, Collinson expanded their Asia-Pacific network of airport lounges and travel experiences by 40 per cent in 2023. Airport Dimensions (a Collinson company), for example, added Game Space in Dubai to the Priority Pass network – a 24-hour gaming lounge designed to provide a more engaging and diverse airport experience, directly aligned to the ever-popular e-gaming trend.
Tailored developments aside, there are key opportunities throughout the year that brands can tap into to engage with their most valued customers and in turn, generate positive impact to their business.
China and India: markets to look out for
Although China’s domestic travel is experiencing a steady recovery, international arrival figures are still well below pre-pandemic volumes; with estimates projecting inbound tourist numbers to recover to 50 per cent of 2019 levels in 2025. Chinese outbound tourism volumes, while on the uptick, are only expected to start returning to pre-pandemic levels next year. This in turn gives major airports in the region more time to prepare for China’s anticipated full return to travel; not only from an operational standpoint, but also in relation to being able to cater to the needs and wants of travellers.
In fact, China’s airport lounges have already been adapting their travel experiences. For instance, understanding that travellers are placing a heightened focus on F&B options and wellness services as part of their airport experience, Juneyao Air V6 Lounge located at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport introduced an array of dishes prepared by Michelin-starred restaurant, Xiyue No. 8 to their airport lounge menu, and Comfort Zone was established in various airports in China to provide spa and beauty treatments.
Looking further ahead, India’s Diwali celebration is another key moment to watch for, as nearly half of Indian travellers plan to increase their travel spending in 2024. Research has shown that Indian travellers place a heightened value on travel experience related benefits; for instance, having access to airport lounges, being able to enjoy duty-free discounts, and gaming spaces at airports. This is also evident in Collinson’s year-on-year airport experiences visit data. When comparing 2019 Diwali season results with 2023, the number of Indian travellers enjoying Priority Pass airport experiences globally significantly increased by 254 per cent.
Formula 1 is also a prime 3Q to 4Q opportunity for brands to leverage travel and work with brands within the travel and hospitality industry to build a cohesive, memorable experience – especially for millennials, who are entering their prime spending years. Last year, Collinson saw a 76 per cent increase in the airport lounges in host cities during race weekends.
We’re gearing up for an exciting year ahead in the travel sector, with these opportunities on the horizon for brands to tap on and engage with their most valued customers who are ready to spend on what matters to them. For brands to be successful in the path ahead, it is key to dive deeper into what consumers want. In turn, they will reward you with their loyalty.
Qantas appoints new EVP Asia
Nick McGlynn is Qantas’ new executive vice president Asia, and will be based in Singapore.
In his new role, McGlynn will steer the commercial, financial and operational performance for Qantas across its Asia markets.
He brings nearly 40 years of global aviation experience to the role, and was Jetstar Japan’s executive chairman prior to joining Qantas.
Sean Seah returns to Langham Hospitality Group
Sean Seah has been appointed as senior vice president – strategy, technology and innovation at Langham Hospitality Group (LHG) and will be based at the company’s global headquarters in Hong Kong.
Having previously worked for LHG 2009 in the position of vice president – E-business, loyalty, and partner marketing, Seah will identify emerging market trends and craft innovative approaches to capitalise on those trends in his new role.
He will also steer the development and implementation of new technologies to enhance guest experiences and streamline business activities across the group’s portfolio of hotels and resorts.
Signature Experiences of Australia debuts in South-east Asia
Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences of Australia – a programme which supports industry collaboration across a variety of special interest sectors – made its debut in South-east Asia at a media showcase in Singapore on March 21.
Currently, the eight special interest sectors are golf holidays, guided walks, premium wineries, luxury lodges, fishing adventures, wildlife journeys, cultural attractions, and Aboriginal-guided experiences.
Karen Fitzgerald, general manager experiences, Tourism Australia, explained: “Each of these collectives represent a number of operators that specialise in their particular sector. What we have through (Signature Experiences of Australia) is access to over 190 businesses that altogether offer 750 experiences.
“The powerful thing about this programme is it is not just these businesses in the programme that benefit, but these (operators) collaborate and partner with another 8,000 businesses across Australia (especially in the regional areas), so the halo effect of this is really broad.”
There are plans to launch a new agri-tourism collective, focused on farmers and producers, in about a year’s time.
Fitzgerald elaborated: “One of the things that came out of our post-lockdown research was the desire for wellness and well-being, and understanding the provenance of our food. (We found that) travellers wanted to know what they were putting into their bodies, where was it from, and the food miles (it travels), as sustainability is important to all the collectives.”
Luxury travellers these days, Fitzgerald added, are not just looking to align their passion points, but also have transformational experiences. “I think it will be enticing for travellers to Australia to meet with the producers and farmers, and learn more about the broad range of local products available,” she opined.
When asked how could businesses apply to be part of their respective collectives, Tori Somerville, general manager of Luxury Lodges of Australia, said access was usually by invitation only.
In the case of the luxury lodges collective, a set of criteria must be met.
“For example, they need to have guided experiences, a restaurant onsite, and be trade-ready. We’re not about quantity. In fact, we only recently added the Odalisque III (an expedition-style cruise based in Tasmania), our newest member in nine years,” said Somerville.
Minor Hotels has named Marlon Abeyakoon as NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort’s new general manager.
With over 25 years of industry expertise in luxury hospitality and rebranding, he has a track record of operational leadership with global brands such as Kerzner, Hilton and Marriott.