The Westin Manila has named Alexander Dietzsch as its general manager, who was also the pre-opening consultant of the hotel.
Before joining The Westin Manila, Dietzsch oversaw F&B operations at NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. He has also worked in various capacities at The Westin properties in Bangkok and Bali.
Meanwhile, Meegee Yap is the new director of sales and marketing at The Westin Manila. She was previously at Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa with the same title.
The newly announced S$10 million (US$7.5 million) Singapore On-screen fund, while not a big budget, is betting on the initiative creating and repeating the international impact of the 2018 Hollywood hit Crazy Rich Asians.
Co-funded by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to encourage the use of Singapore as the backdrop to create content and deep story, the initiative is also expected to boost the local film industry.
The announcement was made at the Travel Industry Conference on April 5.
IMDA noted that the fund was not aimed at catering to a specific genre of film/TV projects or skillset.
Justin Ang, assistant chief executive, IMDA noted: “A big part of the fund is targeted at companies willing to set productions in Singapore and willing to commit to hire a certain amount of local media talent to be involved in such productions. So that, one, it will help boost the direct involvement experience transfer, but also the ability to boost the credentials of our media talent.”
The fund, IMDA added, would “provide more opportunities for our home-grown media enterprises and talent to collaborate with their international counterparts to hone their skills and gain experience on projects that target the global audience”.
“Having our local media talent involved in such projects will boost the credentials of our local media industry and also showcase Singapore’s capabilities to take on large-scale productions on the global stage,” the agency said.
In response to TTG Asia‘s query, STB’s spokesperson pointed out the board was “not limiting to any aspects in particular” – which is why the Branded Entertainment sizzle reel that was shown during the plenary session – showed diverse possibilities from modern and sci-fi to drama and high-speed chase scenes.
“What’s key is to tap the deep storytelling expertise of global media and entertainment players in a more purposeful way, showcasing Singapore through a fresh lens as travel demand recovers,” commented the spokesperson.
Editor’s note: Quotes in paragraph five to seven were wrongly attributed to an STB spokesperson. This has been corrected.
Klook and Mandai Wildlife Group (MWG) have signed a three-year strategic partnership to boost international visitors to the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.
The collaboration will leverage on Klook’s digital marketing and social content capabilities and strength in Asia-Pacific, to target the growing millennial and Gen-Z segment in six key markets, namely Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and South Korea.
Together, MWG and Klook will co-develop regional marketing campaigns as well as curate bundles and activities for international visitors and position the precinct of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve as a top-of-mind destination in Singapore.
Eric Gnock Fah, COO & co-founder, Klook said: “Our collaboration reflects our shared values and commitment to responsible tourism and protecting the planet and its wildlife. With social content being the perfect medium to showcase the amazing experiences at Mandai, we aim to attract a younger demographic of travellers to explore new adventures and create meaningful memories.”
The partnership will kick off with an integrated pan-region digital campaign, a series of online-to-offline (O2O) activations, original social content as well as new offerings sold exclusively on Klook’s platform. There will be a new Mandai Klook Pass and other customised bundles that pair admission tickets with food, wildlife experiences, transportation and SIM cards for connectivity, creating convenient and seamless experiences for different travellers.
Jean Choi, chief sales and marketing officer, Mandai Wildlife Group, shared: “We want to be culturally relevant and in the minds of the young working adults and youth segments who are always on the lookout for new experiences. With this group being the key demographic users of Klook, there is a lot of synergy to fuel our partnership.
“Our jointly developed campaigns will showcase a different side to our upcoming destination, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, and in line with Klook’s purpose, inspire and enable more moments of joy. Overall, Mandai Wildlife Group remains committed to providing meaningful experiences as we progressively launch new wildlife parks and nature-based offerings in the next three years.”
One core focus of the partnership will be on raising awareness of wildlife conservation efforts and taking actions towards living sustainably – users can also opt for “Choose Good, Do Good” bundles where a portion of the proceeds will go towards MWG’s conservation efforts across South-east Asia.
A detailed line-up of events will be updated on Klook’s platform, including the soft opening of Singapore’s new bird park on May 8, Singapore Zoo’s 50th anniversary or Golden ZOObilee, and a series of specially curated mini-events like memorable dates for couples.
Travelport’s newest research What Consumers Want showed that consumers want the travel industry to get modern. It revealed multiple gaps that explain the lacking trust customers have in travel retailers, namely the lack of simplified and intuitive experiences, easy support and transparency.
For the travel industry, this insight offers valuable considerations and opportunities to generate more sales and customer loyalty.
“The travel industry is poised to build on the goodwill it earned during the pandemic by getting modern and giving consumers the simple, easy and supportive experience they expect,” said Jen Catto, chief marketing officer at Travelport.
“Now that the industry is recovering, there is an enormous opportunity for travel brands to reinvest in their customer experiences, earning them customer loyalty while increasing their revenue simultaneously. It’s a win-win.”
Time and transparency prioritised over price
Supporting the belief that “time is money”, Travelport’s study confirmed consumers spend more time online searching rather than buying – consulting reviews, seeking recommendations, and looking into other factors of what an offer includes.
The study revealed that the majority (69%) of consumers research a purchase online daily or weekly, with very few (only 2%) stating that they never research a purchase online.
Travelport also found that nearly all consumers (93%) believe that the best modern retailers make it easy for them to find exactly what they want. With various options available for every aspect of a trip, this is particularly crucial for travel retailers.
Full transparency is what most consumers (90%) desire most, meaning modern retailers must share full product information upfront in order to help consumers save time and gain confidence in their purchases. Doing so will pay off for retailers. In fact, most respondents (59%) said that getting exactly what they want is more important than how much they pay for it.
Even Gen Z wants convenient, human-led customer support
Most study respondents (77%), regardless of age, have interacted with a chatbot. However, just a quarter of theoretical “digital natives” – those aged 18 to 41 – use them frequently. Three quarters of all respondents prefer to speak with a human (via chat or phone) when something goes wrong, but what was unexpected is that more (83%) of younger consumers aged 18-41 actually want more human support than their elders, age 42 and above.
Furthermore, consumers in this study shared that importance of easy returns and exchanges (43%), filtered options (40%) and personalised offers (29%). These factors clearly indicate more personal support is valued at every stage of the retail journey, from research to purchase and post-purchase experiences.
Consumers will travel longer, spend more for sustainability
Climate change and sustainability are top of mind for consumers, especially those with a passion for travel. Travelport’s study revealed that nearly half of consumers (49%) would choose to spend more and even more (60%) would take longer, indirect transport routes to their destination to save on carbon emissions when travelling. This varies by age group, as the study results show (33%) of consumers aged 18-41 would travel two to three hours longer to save on carbon emissions, compared to only (19%) of consumers aged 42 and older.
View the full report here.
Zipair Tokyo will have its inaugural flight from Tokyo to San Francisco on June 2.
The airline will initially offer five flights per week between Tokyo’s Narita Airport and San Francisco International Airport.
The service to San Francisco will become the carrier’s third route across the Pacific, following Los Angeles and San José Mineta International Airport.
This year marks a decade of Dark Mofo, a provocative midwinter festival that stretches imaginations with its unique, artistic expression – it returns to Tasmania, Australia from June 8 to 22.
Explore a variety of offerings from the iconic Winter Feast to the nude solstice swim. This festival will allow for extreme merry-making with its mesmerising exhibitions, astounding visual shows at the Dark Park, and scrumptious spread for all to enjoy.
For more information, visit Dark Mofo.
Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort, the Maldives
Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is set on the tropical island of Fares at the western edge of Baa Atoll and features 176 accommodation choices such as beach studios, four-bedroom beach pavilions, and three-bedroom over water villas.
Just 35 minutes from Velana International Airport, the new-build resort offers activities for the whole family – seven F&B outlets, a water sports centre, gym, spa, kids’ club, teens’ club, and more.
The resort is in close proximity to Hanifaru Bay, where guests can spot whale sharks and snorkel with manta rays. There are also dive sites and reefs for guests to explore the underwater world.
Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand
INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit offers 208 rooms and is situated in the city’s trendy On Nut neighbourhood.
Guests can take in the vibrant cityscape from the towering windows of the hotel’s expansive co-working space on the 32nd floor, dine at the on-site tapas restaurant, or head to the two topmost floors to enjoy the sky-high pool bar and open-air swimming pool.
Caring for the environment, the property has eliminated single-use plastic and provides drinking water in recycled glass bottles.
Grand Mercure Hanoi, Vietnam
Grand Mercure Hanoi has opened in the heart of city, close to the Temple of Literature and within walking distance of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum.
The hotel boasts 181 rooms and suites, as well as four restaurants and bars, rooftop pool, fitness centre, spa, and meeting venues.
Centara Ubon, Thailand
The 160-key Centara Ubon is an all-in-one lifestyle destination for both business and leisure travellers to experience the beauty and culture of Thailand’s North-east region.
On-site are an all-day dining restaurant, outdoor pool bar, swimming pool, fitness centre, event spaces.
Located just 6.5km from the Ubon Ratchathani International Airport, guests at the hotel are within steps of food, shopping and local experiences at the adjacent Central Ubon shopping centre and nearby historic landmarks.
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will be refreshing its Passion Made Possible (PMP) campaign, which is expected to be the impetus to maintain the momentum of tourism recovery.
During the Travel Industry Conference on April 5, STB chief executive Keith Tan expressed confidence “we can sustain the momentum of growth” based on the destination having “already crossed over 2.9 million visitors in 1Q2023, each staying an average of 3.97 days”.
Sharing more details on PMP 2.0, Chang Chee Pey, assistant chief executive, marketing group, told TTG Asia a review of the marketing strategy had been done in 2021 – in consultation with experts in travel, tourism, and marketing – to “future-proof Singapore’s desirability as a destination and support our longer-term tourism strategy”.
“With rapidly evolving consumer behaviour, Singapore must remain well-positioned to cater to the needs of future travellers,” Chang added.
STB’s refreshed marketing strategy is to tell a great Singapore story by “sharpening this narrative” and giving strong reasons for travellers to visit based on six propositions, namely World’s Best MICE City, Culinary Capital, Family Playground, Twice the Fun, City that Connects, and Travel Well.
Chang explained: “Each of these six positionings is supported by a mix of products and experiences. They have the most potential to grow visitor arrivals, as well as impact visitor spend and length of stay in Singapore.
“The positionings will be rolled out progressively, with the World’s Best MICE City positioning campaign set to launch later this year. More details on the other positionings will be available at a later stage.”
Elaborating on the MICE positioning, Chang noted: “We want Singapore to be recognised globally for the strong fundamentals that make us a key MICE hub, such as our strategic location, vibrant business culture, excellent infrastructure, stable governance, and stellar track record in delivering high-quality events.”
As for Culinary Capital, the vision is for Singapore to be known as a world-class food destination that constantly innovates.
“We want to be recognised for our distinctive local cuisine and diverse dining scene, helmed by reputable bars and restaurants with talented bartenders and chefs. Singapore will host the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 later this year, which will be held in Asia for the first time. We also had a strong showing in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2023, with nine restaurants making the cut and eleven bars in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022,” he added.
Chang pointed out that Singapore is one of the world’s safest and cleanest cities, coupled with world-class and diverse family-friendly attractions and experiences, citing Disney Cruise Line homeporting a new Disney Cruise ship in Singapore exclusively for five years, as an endorsement of the Family Playground status.
Twice the Fun will aim to deliver “an exciting city that offers year-round leisure events, entertainment, retail, and nightlife experiences that appeal to Early Careers” by curating and developing “a range of attractive tourism and lifestyle offerings that appeal to travellers across ages, interests and passions”.
In addition, STB will maintain a full calendar of events, such as world-class sports, arts, culture, and food, on top of Singapore’s exciting nightlife including outdoor cinemas and night admissions to museums, to add vibrancy to the garden city.
City that Connects will promote Singapore as a multi-cultural hub and a global city with excellent connectivity to Asia and the rest of the world, in particular to South-east Asia, while Travel Well aims to have Singapore become a sustainable city and urban wellness haven.
Chang observed: “Earlier this year, we were certified under the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) Destination Criteria, which affirms that Singapore is on the right track to become a sustainable urban destination, where large experiences come with small footprints.
“In wellness, we will establish Singapore as a destination that provides holistic well-being and accessible must-do experiences that leave visitors feeling better than when they arrived. For both sustainability and wellness, we will continue to invest in new products and experiences.”
To celebrate the 100-day countdown until the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, FIFA announced yesterday a new tournament chant as well as released additional tickets to World Cup matches.
Held every four years, the biggest women’s sporting event on the planet will kick off across nine cities in two countries, with Brisbane as the host city for eight of the 64 football matches.
The FIFA Beat, as the chant will be known, was developed to unify football fans (and non-fans) around the world and energise them ahead of this year’s historic tournament. The chant is anticipated to become a stadium favourite in the same way that “Ole, Ole, Ole” has become the anthem for international football spectators.
Meanwhile, fans in Brisbane also welcomed the start of a six-day football activation with the arrival of the Unity Pitch at King George Square – a scaled-back football field made up of a patchwork of FIFA brand colours that reflect the local cultures and the coming together of the 32 nations participating in this year’s cup.
From April 11 to 16, visitors to the pop-up pitch can watch exhibition matches and practice football drills using the official tournament ball. Tazuni, the tournament mascot, and Matilda’s Active, the Matilda’s fan squad, will also make special appearances at the pitch.
This year is anticipated to be a strong year for Marriott Bonvoy in Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives, with forward bookings for all three markets reflecting the return of solid demand for travel.
Rivero Delgado Ramos, Marriott International area vice-president for Singapore, Malaysia and Maldives, shared in an email response: “The opening of our latest hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Melaka, earlier this month is a milestone for several reasons – it is our third Courtyard hotel and the 40th property in Malaysia, as well as the debut of Marriott International in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Melaka.”
She added that strategic sales and marketing plans continue to drive and stimulate demand to the three countries under her portfolio, keeping them top-of-mind for consumers and travellers.
Sharing why Marriott Bonvoy finds it more effective to connect directly with its guests through social media platforms, Ramos said: “Social media allows us to not draw attention to ourselves, but to see our guests in their own spotlight. We create user-generated content to capture the millennials’ and Gen Z’s attention as they are more spontaneous and do not buy into old-fashioned travel norms.”
With the reopening of China’s borders and its people travelling abroad, China remains a top source market for Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives.
Ramos noted: “We are already seeing an increase of Chinese guests at our hotels and this is expected to increase as flight frequencies improve and travel costs return closer to pre-pandemic levels. We expect the coming Labour Day in May and Golden Week in October to be especially robust.”
On post-lockdown leisure travel trends in Malaysia, Singapore and the Maldives, Ramos revealed that Marriott Bonvoy is seeing an enhanced demand for personalised, luxury travel experiences and meaningful travel experiences – more travellers are also looking for sustainable offerings.
“Marriott Bonvoy has embarked on a journey to sustainability and have implemented a few ways to facilitate this – starting with food and beverage offerings at selected hotels. It is not just in production or minimising food wastage, but also through avoiding non-environmentally-friendly packaging,” she explained.
Marriott Bonvoy is working towards ensuring that by 2025, it will locally source 50 per cent of all produce, in aggregate, across its portfolio.
In addition, Ramos noted the growing demand for wellness-focused travel experiences such as yoga retreats, meditation classes, and spas to relax and rejuvenate.
As for the trend of remote work, or “workation”, Ramos believes it will continue to gain momentum throughout 2023. She said: “Countries like Malaysia – which have recently introduced a digital nomad visa welcoming digital professionals to work in the country for up to a year – are likely to see an increase in digital nomads.”
She added that the increase of multi-generational travel has also resulted in increased demand for suites and villas, particularly in destinations where private plunge pools are available, so guests can enjoy the exclusivity of a private getaway.
