DMC Travel Exclusive Asia now serves Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in addition to Thailand, and has revealed plans for further expansion in the future.
Yves Van Kerrebroeck, managing partner for Indochina and group business development director, said the move gives the DMC the chance to curate a raft of combined tours between the four destinations, as well as individual packages for each to cater to the growing slow travel trend emerging from European markets.
“There are many combinations between Thailand and Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, and also with Vietnam; there’s a lot of opportunities there,” Kerrebroeck told TTG Asia, adding that in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, there was a shift towards solo country travel.
However, that is changing.
“Now, we’re seeing more demand for multi-country programmes, which we wouldn’t have seen two years ago,” Kerrebroeck added, noting a demand for 60-day multi-destination itineraries.
“Everyone is complaining about ticket prices for long-haul flights, so it makes sense to stay a bit longer. In the European market, there’s definitely a trend for people wanting to spend a bit more time in a destination,” he said.
Kerrebroeck added that since Travel Exclusive Asia launched in 2016, himself and founder, André van der Marck, have built up a strong reputation as experts in Thailand. Kerrebroeck also spent five years working in Vietnam, as well as in a role overseeing multi-country and wholesale divisions.
“I have a great network, I know a lot of suppliers and lots of agents know me as somebody who knows these destinations, so it made a lot of sense,” he said. “We really meet the demand of our existing clientele and a lot of potential new agents are very excited by this.”
Kerrebroeck added that the company has set its sights on further expansion in the region, eyeing up Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. “I think these are the regions that are next on our list to really offer a full range of satisfaction destinations.”
India’s hospitality industry has taken what it calls a major step forward in its journey towards achieving net positive hospitality, as the Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) joins forces with Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
The alliance, which represents over 50,000 hotels and seven million rooms globally, will collaborate with the FHRAI, acting as a champion for innovation and climate action in the industry. Both organisations plan to work on joint projects and share knowledge, leveraging each other’s tools and programmes to promote best practices within India’s hospitality sector.
The FHRAI provides a crucial link between the hospitality industry, political leadership, academics and international associations, creating a platform for dialogue and thought leadership within the industry.
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, is enthusiastic about the possibilities this partnership brings. “This is a milestone for the alliance, and will undoubtedly support India’s climate action and bring its vast hotel and restaurant sector towards net positive,” he remarked.
Pradeep Shetty, FHRAI president, said: “We are starting an exciting journey together to reshape the hospitality industry in India. This collaboration demonstrates our strong commitment to reducing our environmental impact while optimising our beneficial influence on the communities we serve”.