TikTok is the trip before the trip

June 8, 2023

TikTok-1_640-1_640(new2) copy — Travel and tourism industry players engaged in a panel discussion on the power of short-form videos at TikTok’s inaugural event for the sector, Travel Unboxed, in May

Travel and tourism industry players engaged in a panel discussion on the power of short-form videos at TikTok’s inaugural event for the sector, Travel Unboxed, in May

Brought to you by TikTok for Business

As border restrictions ease and the travel industry recovers, tourists are making up for lost time and eager to explore the world once again.

To cut through the cluttered competitive space for their attention, travel brands must be able to inspire wanderlust, connect deeply with them and satisfy their motivations.

With TikTok, industry players can now capitalise on personalised content delivered through its recommendation engine to reach targeted travellers before they even have an intent to travel.

To demonstrate the power of short-form videos for the travel and tourism industry, TikTok organised its first-ever physical event curated for the sector, Travel Unboxed, in May. It was attended by more than 170 representatives from OTAs, airlines, hotels and media agencies from South-east Asia.

Travel Unboxed 2023

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Real experiences, real reviews, real travellers
TikTok creates the intent to travel by making it possible to travel through the experiences of other travellers. Users share their authentic experiences on the short-form video platform with a like-minded community, through the raw and real moments captured during their journeys.

In fact, the unique #ForYou feed offers tailored travel content allowing time-strapped travellers to immerse in experiences before they embark on a trip.

According to a TikTok commissioned survey on travel in South-east Asia last year, 80 per cent of TikTok users agree that the platform had inspired them to travel. About 70 per cent of them also indicated that they like to share their travel experiences with others on TikTok.

A case in point – Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) videos gained traction through TikTok, with travellers sharing their love and interest in Singapore as a tourist destination and helped built brand love across the platform through the hashtag #visitSingapore. These videos have over 379 million views to date.

Driving real results & impact
Apart from the democratisation of content and creativity that gave rise to videos that are deemed more authentic and relatable to fellow travellers, TikTok’s marketing mix can enable brands to reach travellers effectively.

Brands have seen success and higher efficiency since tapping into TikTok’s suite of solutions that powers full-funnel campaigns.

For example, they saw up to two times more conversions, 36 per cent more efficient CPA (cost per acquisition), and 33 per cent higher CVR (conversation rate) when running a full-funnel campaign, according to TikTok’s Media Settings Levers Driving Performance Study, South-east Asia, 2022.

Brands can therefore reap short-term benefits with immediate conversions with performance solutions and gain a long-term impact by building brand love and broadening reach through branding solutions on TikTok.

Georgina Koh, director, marketing activation, STB, panelist at the Travel Unboxed event, believed that moving forward, people are going to be increasingly engaged in raw and unfiltered content, rather than polished, highly glossy productions.

“As a destination and travel brand, it’s important for us to harness the power of tools that allow people to develop creative content on their own in a very real and authentic way.”

Another panelist, Marcus Yong, vice president, global marketing, Klook even saw the future potential of bridging the online-to-offline travel experience with TikTok – forming a repeated cycle from the online stage where travellers search for what to do, taking part in the activity at the destination offline, and creating a short-form video, leaving a review, to discovering new activities at the location.

@tiktokforbusinesssea✈ Experience the trip before the trip on TikTok! Watch TikTok Unboxed 2023 at the LINK IN BIO to learn how to leverage #travel, #content, and #community for your brand. #TikTokTravelUnboxed #Marketing #TravelMarketing♬ original sound – TikTok for Business SEA

Reaching out to a diverse & passionate travel community
TikTok’s growing user base has led to the explosion of travel reviews and content which are at the forefront of driving the culture of travel.

Rich and diverse subcultures arising from hashtags, such as #familytravel and #streetfood, managed to garner billions of views, because of the community’s shared interest in the topics.

TikTok’s research also identified five key personas among its users – nature lovers (68 per cent), culture seekers (64 per cent), foodies (57 per cent), event-goers (57 per cent) and luxury travellers (29 per cent).

Insights showed that nature lovers are travellers who are most excited about nature, love the outdoors, and value places with sustainability practices. They are more likely to consider environmental factors when making travel plans.

Luxury travellers will splurge on an elevated travelling experience and have spent US$7,500 on average over the past year on their vacations.

Currently, there is a mix of targeting techniques and options available on TikTok such as interest, behaviour, hashtag targeting and even contextual targeting, where brands are able to place their advertisement or branded content before and after a piece of relevant content to target these personas.

TikTok offers brands the opportunity to play in the space where inspiration begins, before travellers even have the intent to travel. With real travellers sharing authentic experiences on the short-video platform, brands can utilise TikTok’s suite of solutions to show up where it matters in the multi-touch journey to drive real results and impact.

TikTok is the trip before the trip.

Ready to unleash the power of short-from videos to turbocharge your marketing efforts?

Find out how your brand can tap on TikTok to fuel inspiration before potential travellers even consider a trip here.

To learn how to leverage TikTok to unlock the full potential of your travel business, check out the video on-demand of Travel Unboxed 2023 here.

Christchurch undergoes revitalisation, focuses on crafting new identity

By Rachel AJ Lee

June 7, 2023

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Christchurch has been laser-focused on shifting perceptions from its broken image of the 2011 earthquake, and is in the process of building a new city identity that positions it as an appealing place for both leisure and business travellers.

Ali Adams, chief executive, ChristchurchNZ, shared: “At the moment, we have two tourism plans that we’re developing. One for Christchurch, and one for the surrounding regions. These will be completed soon. The support of the tourism sector and recovery of the visitor economy have been absolutely crucial to Christchurch. I can’t stress how valued visitors are here in Christchurch; we really want tourism here.”

One of the murals seen during Watch This Space’s Walking Street Art Tour (Photo: Rachel AJ Lee)

For example, cruise ships can now call at Christchurch after a 12-year hiatus. Between October 2022 and April 2023, Christchurch welcomed 123,000 cruise passengers through the purpose-built Lyttelton terminal.

Adams said of this significant milestone: “Eleven years on from our last large passenger cruise ship, we have a fresh, revitalised city and new tourism experiences on offer.”

New city experiences include paddling on the Avon River with Waka On Avon, Amiki Tours’ culture and food tours, Watch This Space’s Walking Street Art Tour, while new accommodations include The Mayfair and The Observatory Hotel.

Local tour operators echo Adams’ positive sentiments.

Watch This Space’s creative director, Reuben Woods, told TTG Asia: “I am confident that visitors to the city will find a wide range of attractions and as such, I think the future of tourism is positive. With a range of events and experiences developing here, I can see the city shedding the gateway identity it has perhaps held previously.”

The Art in the Streets walking tour serves to do just that, by reconciling the impact of the quakes while contributing to the re-imagination of the city. Visitors will get to view colourful murals and graffiti art of all sizes, learn about the history of urban art, and insights into the artist’s inspiration behind each work.

Amiki Tours’ lead guide Riwai Grace, added: “Our job is simple – to let go of the past perceptions and narratives of this region and positively promote us as a must-do destination. As a new indigenous operator, it is so great to have our borders open again. We hope to see a flow of arriving international travellers who will embrace cultural experiences and will want to genuinely engage with the spaces and people that they visit.”

Amiki Tours offers a range of walking food tours that combine storytelling, history, culture and city sights with kai (food), manaakitanga (hospitality) and whanaungatanga (connection). Guests will learn facts about Christchurch and the significance of pounamu (green jade) in Māori culture, while meandering to cosy bars like Salut Salut for their cheese platters and extensive New Zealand wine list or convivial spots such as Kaiser Brew Garden, run by three German-Kiwi brothers who handcraft their beers.

Moving forward, Grace added that partnerships – with the local councils, ChristchurchNZ, and tourism operators – are incredibly crucial in ensuring the region continues to have a “positive narrative”.

Woods pointed out that partnerships with OTAs was also necessary to showcase the “activities and experiences Christchurch’s local talent and resources are producing”.

Pre-Covid, travel agents drove about 70 per cent of all international businesses into Christchurch, and in turn throughout the South Island, representing about NZ$1 billion (US$607,920) in 2019.

Adams concluded: “What remains strongest (in Christchurch) is that community spirit and sense of togetherness that runs deep over the challenges of the past decade. It has taken leadership, collaboration and a creative, open-minded approach from all of us. These things don’t happen easily, and the revitalisation of Christchurch has not been done in isolation.”

Mastercard-CrescentRating introduces new tools in Global Muslim Travel Index 2023 report

By Caroline Boey

June 7, 2023

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The latest Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2023 Report – which ranks 138 destinations – has a new tool that offers insight into Muslim Women Friendly Destinations for the first time.

According to CrescentRating’s CEO Fazal Bahardeen, only the top 10 destinations were ranked for 2023, but all 138 destinations will be scored in the 2024 index.

Fazal presenting the Mastercard-CrescentRating GMTI 2023 Report’s new tool that offers insight into Muslim Women Friendly Destinations

Three other new tools in the eighth edition, launched last week, also include the Muslim Travel Intent Tracker, Muslim Traveller Responsible Tourism Framework and the GMTI Performance Matrix.

Fazal noted the 82-page report – the longest so far – offers deeper insight and recommendations regarding this demographic of 110 million international arrivals in 2022 and is forecast to reach 140 million this year.

“By 2028, Muslim arrivals are expected to hit 230 million, with projected expenditure of US$225 billion,” he said, adding that GMTI will start researching Gen Z travellers and the Muslim cruise market.

Fazal also announced the introduction of “live tracking” by the 1H2024.

Safdar Khan, division president, South-east Asia, Mastercard, said the GMTI showed faith-based travellers had evolved in their needs.

Both organisations shared the same commitment in using the power of data and insight to create more relevant solutions and unearth new economic opportunities, he added.

Malaysia, which has dominated as the number one Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) destination, shared the 2023 ranking with Indonesia, followed by Saudi Arabia in the top three positions.

Among non-OIC destinations, Singapore was number one, followed by the UK and Taiwan.

Malaysia was in top spot again in the Muslim Women Friendly Destination, while Indonesia and Qatar were joint second among OIC countries. Singapore, Taiwan and Japan were the top three for non-OIC countries.

The report found that global travel behaviour was impacting trends among Muslim travellers, with the demographic increasingly incorporating sustainability into their travel; opting for destinations and activities to improve their health and wellness; finding opportunities for immersive experiences and authenticity; and incorporating personal development into their travel plans.

Boeing partners RSB to scale SAF production in South-east Asia

By TTG Asia

June 7, 2023

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Boeing and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) will conduct a joint study to scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in South-east Asia.

This project builds on the long-standing partnership between Boeing and RSB to explore SAF feedstock opportunities in different regions of the world, including Ethiopia, South Africa and Brazil.

The joint study will help to scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in South-east Asia

SAF will play a critical role in enabling sustainable growth and meeting commercial aviation’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. It has the potential to reduce carbon emissions over the fuel’s life cycle by up to 80 per cent compared to petroleum jet fuel.

While the current global SAF supply accounts for only around 0.1 per cent of jet fuel consumption, the Asia-Pacific region can play a crucial role in SAF production with a potential of 40 per cent of global feedstock supply.

Phase one of the study will evaluate whether SAF production could scale sustainably in South-east Asia based on the availability and sustainability of feedstocks across the region. The study will also assess the sustainable feedstock policy environment, as well as the technical and economic viability of main SAF production pathways. Findings and recommendations will be published in 1Q2024.

“We are excited to start a new partnership with Boeing in South-east Asia, looking at supporting the regional aviation sector to decarbonise in a way that goes beyond emission reductions and also considers wider sustainability impact on the environment and society,” said Arianna Baldo, programme director, RSB.

Boeing is acting on its commitment to deliver 100 per cent SAF-compatible airplanes by 2030 and expand the SAF supply it is scaling regionally and globally.

“It’s imperative to expand the supply of SAF to decarbonise aviation, as they are safe and used every day as a drop-in replacement for fossil-based jet fuel,” said Jacqueline Lam, sustainability lead for Boeing in South-east Asia. “The findings of the study will provide an evidence-based, data-driven set of recommendations for promoting the SAF industry in South-east Asia.”

Boeing and RSB have established an advisory group of key stakeholders including policymakers, companies and environmental and financial institutions to provide subject matter expertise. Additional stakeholders will be consulted as the study progresses.

Wyndham debuts in Singapore with Peninsula Excelsior Singapore, a Wyndham Hotel

By TTG Asia

June 7, 2023

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Wyndham Singapore - King Bedroom 640 — The first Wyndham Hotel in Singapore is slated for a soft opening in early July 2023 and marks Wyndham’s commitment to expand its presence in the city-state (rendering)

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts will introduce its flagship Wyndham brand to Singapore with Peninsula Excelsior Singapore, a Wyndham Hotel, slated to soft open in July.

The 591-key hotel will feature facilities such as a fitness centre, sauna, two swimming pools, lounge, and meeting venues, and the rooms offer views of the Marina Bay, Singapore River and Fort Canning Hill.

Peninsula Excelsior Singapore, a Wyndham Hotel will open in July

The property is nearby major shopping malls as well as the nation’s most iconic buildings including Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, Old Parliament House, The Arts House and the Padang. It is within walking distance to City Hall MRT station which provides guests accessibility to other tourist spots in Singapore.

Matt Holmes, vice president of business development South East Asia & the Pacific Rim, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said: “Being a major hub and gateway city to the rest of South-east Asia and the world, Singapore plays a significant part in Wyndham’s regional growth strategy… this opening further illustrates our growth momentum in the region and builds upon our strong pipeline of recent signings and openings.”

The introduction of Peninsula Excelsior Singapore, a Wyndham Hotel, comes at a time when bleisure travel continues to grow across the region, coupled with the recovery of Singapore’s growing tourism industry.

Wyndham has plans to further establish a larger presence with its distinctive, upscale, midscale, lifestyle, and value brands in the country.

Hyatt completes acquisition of Mr & Mrs Smith travel platform

By TTG Asia

June 7, 2023

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Hyatt Hotels Corporation has completed its acquisition of London-based Mr & Mrs Smith, a global travel platform that provides direct booking access to a carefully curated collection of more than 1,500 boutique and luxury properties.

With this addition to the portfolio, World of Hyatt members will soon have even more rewarding stays and experiences to choose from, including more than 20 new countries for Hyatt such as Fiji, Croatia, Iceland and Anguilla.

Hyatt Studios is the new extended-stay brand entry into the upper-midscale segment in the US

Hyatt is poised to build upon the momentum of its transformative growth journey with expansive opportunities globally across its brand portfolio and immediate developer interest in Hyatt Studios, Hyatt’s new extended-stay brand entry into the upper-midscale segment in the US.

Intervals introduces airport bar concept to Hong Kong International Airport

By TTG Asia

June 7, 2023

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Intervals will soon open at Hong Kong International Airport’s (HKIA) Skybridge, allowing travellers to experience an elevated drinks and food programme.

Due to open in late June, the space at Intervals has been designed to host different travel profiles – solo, couples or groups – and boasts unobstructed front-row views of HKIA’s runways.

Intervals’ has curated a drinks programme that is tailored according to how much time a guest has to spare

Designed for the airport setting, Intervals will offer F&B, interactive and engaging experiences, an app that provides knowledge about the drinks alongside beverage-focused travel inspirations, and more.

Its drinks programme will showcase a series of miniature sips, aptly named as ‘flight of cocktails’, that have been tailored according to how much time a guest has to spare – from a 15-minute experience to a 45-minute one. There will also be a non-alcoholic ‘flight of cocktails’ that riffs on the seasons and features special drink creations.

For travellers who have the shortest available interval of time – and are unable to sit down for an experience – Intervals has also created custom takeaway boxes of cocktails and pinchos (tapas-style bar snacks) perfect for on-board dining.

The concept and name of Intervals was inspired by the idea that the time of day becomes fluid while travelling, and that instead key actions are measured in intervals of time. It was the brainchild of Mei Mei Song, director of global brands and transformation of Plaza Premium Group, and Victoria Chow, creative director and founder of acclaimed Hong Kong bar, The Woods.

Tourism Representation Services for Tourism Northern Territory in Singapore

By TTG

June 7, 2023

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A unique and rare opportunity for a destination that is different in every sense. Tourism NT in Australia’s Northern Territory is looking for a representation agency to conduct trade and consumer marketing services in Singapore. For more information please visit https://tendersonline.nt.gov.au/Tender/Details?id=22578 Tender number D23-0167.

There’s nowhere in the world like Australia’s Northern Territory. Represent Tourism Northern Territory in Singapore. Apply now.

Village Hotel Sentosa adds new mini hotelier experiences

By TTG Asia

June 7, 2023

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Village Hotel Sentosa has unveiled two new experiences for its signature Mini Hotelier brand to offer young guests more fun and exciting ways to learn what it takes to run a hotel through play.

The latest additions, Mini Concierge and Mini Responder, join the existing experiences – Mini Concierge, Mini Responder, Mini Artist, Mini Housekeeper, Mini Engineer, and Mini Chef.

Kids will learn more about the role of a concierge and how to better guide hotel guests around Singapore

Mini Concierge will allow children to understand the role of a concierge in a hotel. To better guide hotel guests on their trip to Singapore, the children will don smart jackets and learn about the history of Singapore, the popular tourist attractions in the city, how to navigate the comprehensive MRT system.

Mini Responder will introduce children to items in a first aid kit and how these items are utilised when a minor incident happens to or around them. They will learn how to tie an arm sling and even try completing a crossword puzzle.

Children will receive a stamp after every experience they participate in. Those who complete all seven experiences will be rewarded a graduation gift pack and be certified as a Village Hotel Sentosa Mini Hotelier – all part of the new Mini Hotelier Graduation programme.

The Mini Hotelier Experience is included in the Village Playcation stay package, as well as for guests who book their stays in Deluxe Family Rooms at Village Hotel Sentosa.

Priced at SG$40 (US$29) per child per stay, the experience is also available at The Barracks Hotel Sentosa and Oasia Resort Sentosa.

For more information, visit Village Hotel Sentosa.

BWH Hotels adds three new hotels in Bangkok & Kyoto

By TTG Asia

June 7, 2023

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Best Western Ratchada Hotel3 (1)_640 — The newly-opened Best Western Ratchada Hotel is located in the heart of the vibrant up-and-coming downtown Ratchada district

The newly-opened Best Western Ratchada Hotel is located in the heart of the vibrant up-and-coming downtown Ratchada district

Brought to you by BWH Hotels

BWH Hotels has expanded its footprint in Asia with the recent opening of three new hotels in two of the region’s most compelling cities, Bangkok and Kyoto.

Serving as convenient launchpads to experience the energy of Thailand’s pulsating capital city and explore Japan’s most captivating cultural destination, BWH’s latest hospitality additions will appeal well to the cultural seeker, avid shopper and business traveller.

Indulge in retail options at nearby Chatuchak Market
Best Western Chatuchak is a brand-new hotel located next to the iconic Chatuchak Market, one of Asia’s largest markets and a well-known tourist attraction for avid shoppers.

Easily accessible, the 192-key hotel is also within close proximity to Bangkok’s new main rail terminal, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, as well as Kamphaeng Phet MRT subway station and Don Mueang International Airport, making it a convenient accommodation of choice for domestic and international travellers alike.

All guestrooms come complete with signature king or twin beds, stylish interiors, a working desk and views of the city.

Best Western Chatuchak is also an ideal venue suited for events of varying sizes from corporate to social gatherings. It houses a naturally-lit ballroom which can accommodate 300 guests, complete with 280m² of pillar-free floor space and soaring 8.4-metre-high ceilings. The world-class venue also extends onto a 3,200m²outdoor terrace and garden, which provides the perfect setting for glamorous alfresco receptions, as well as a separate functional meeting room to host 100 guests.

Best Western Chatuchak

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Discover a new side of the Thai capital
For leisure tourists keen for a fresh take on Bangkok, they can choose to stay at the newly-opened Best Western Ratchada Hotel located in the heart of the vibrant up-and-coming downtown Ratchada district, surrounded by commercial towers, restaurants and retail malls.

Just a few minutes from the Chinese Embassy and the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the contemporary 120-key midscale hotel provides excellent connectivity via the Phra Ram 9 and Thailand Cultural Centre MRT subway stations, with the bustling Sukhumvit district a few stops away.

Utilising the city’s elevated expressways, the hotel is also less than 40 minutes from Bangkok’s two major airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang.

Business travellers will find the boardroom useful for intimate meetings and strategy sessions, with complimentary high-speed internet throughout the premises. The outdoor swimming pool is also a great place to unwind and the on-site restaurant serves daily breakfast in a cozy atmosphere.

Best Western Ratchada Hotel

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Uncover the cultural wonders of Kyoto
For culture seekers keen to explore the charming historical Kyoto, the KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle, BW Signature Collection by Best Western is now welcoming guests in the heart of Japan’s former capital.

Surrounded by UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Nijo Castle, which dates back from the 1600s and transports travellers back to the era of the shoguns, as well as the famed Imperial Palace, the 57-room boutique hotel puts guests at the doorstep of some of the city’s most significant landmarks and attractions.

Designed in a contemporary Japanese style and equipped with organic amenities, innovative technology and complimentary Wi-Fi, travellers can keep to their wellness routine on the road with workouts at the hotel gym and dine at the restaurant specialising in French cuisine within the premises.

KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle, BW Signature Collection

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For more information on BWH Hotels in Asia, please visit www.bestwesternasia.com.

Vote for your favourite travel brand to win at TTG Travel Awards 2023, Asia-Pacific’s Most Prestigious Travel Industry Accolade
Vote Best Western Hotels & Resorts (BWH Hotels) for Best Mid-range Hotel Brand here.

TikTok is the trip before the trip

Christchurch undergoes revitalisation, focuses on crafting new identity

Mastercard-CrescentRating introduces new tools in Global Muslim Travel Index 2023 report

Boeing partners RSB to scale SAF production in South-east Asia

Wyndham debuts in Singapore with Peninsula Excelsior Singapore, a Wyndham Hotel

Hyatt completes acquisition of Mr & Mrs Smith travel platform

Intervals introduces airport bar concept to Hong Kong International Airport

Tourism Representation Services for Tourism Northern Territory in Singapore

Village Hotel Sentosa adds new mini hotelier experiences

BWH Hotels adds three new hotels in Bangkok & Kyoto

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