International tourists’ interest in Thailand soars: Airbnb

July 26, 2022

According to newly released Airbnb data, travellers are increasingly looking to Thailand as a travel destination as restrictions continue to ease, and tend to be staying longer to explore the country.

Searches for Airbnb stays in Thailand grew by more than 180 per cent year-over-year from 1Q2021 to 1Q2022 – with long-term stays emerging due to the remote work trend and the rise of the digital nomads.

Travellers are staying longer in Thailand to explore the country more

Travellers from the US, the UK and Germany are leading the searches for travel to Thailand. These travellers are not only visiting popular destinations like Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Samui, but are also exploring lesser-known places such as Ko Lanta, Trat, Pai and Cha-am.

Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s general manager of South-east Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said: “It is heartening to see that Airbnb guests from around the world are looking to revisit Thailand – as well as explore it for the first time – which bodes well for the sector’s ongoing recovery and for our local community of hosts.

“The blurring lines between travel and living has also led to many travellers continuing to embrace their newfound flexibility. They’re jumping at the opportunity to base themselves amid the picturesque destinations in Thailand – both the favourites and some uncharted parts of the country – looking to live and work remotely.”

Bajaj added that Airbnb is currently working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand on a range of initiatives that will showcase Thailand to the world and attract more remote workers, allowing local communities to take advantage of the travel revolution.

Over the past year, Airbnb has unveiled platform upgrades to make it easier for locals across Thailand to become hosts, with search tools like ‘I’m Flexible’ and the new Categories and Split Stays features that encourage guests to explore new destinations.

Moove, Uber to launch ride-hailing fleet in India

By TTG Asia

July 26, 2022

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Mobility fintech firm Moove has partnered with Uber to launch in India as a part of its global expansion, a move that is set to improve ride-hailing options and contribute to job creation in the destination.

Moove will work closely with the Uber India team to roll out 5,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles within the first year, starting in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. This will scale up to 30,000 vehicles in other cities over the next five years.

Moove will work with Uber to roll out 5,000 CNG and electric vehicles within the first year

In addition to creating jobs in India, Moove is also committed to ensuring that 60 per cent of the vehicles it finances globally are hybrid or electric. This is in line with India’s goal to improve renewable energy uptake and reduce harmful emissions by 2030.

According to the press release, there are over 600,000 drivers on Uber in India.

Abhilekh Kumar, director, business development, Uber India South Asia, added: “We are excited to partner with Moove and work together to unlock growth as we witness a resurgent post-pandemic demand in India. The addition of new cars will help provide superior customer experience to riders while creating sustainable earning opportunities for drivers on the Uber platform.”

Yotel to open first hotel in Japan

By TTG Asia

July 26, 2022

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UK-headquarated hotel group Yotel has unveiled its first property in Japan, Yotel Tokyo, slated to open in 2024.

The 244-key hotel will showcase the brand’s signature robotic concierge YOBOT, motorised SmartBeds, and fully integrated technologies enabling a complete touchless guest experience from reservation up to check-out.

Yotel Tokyo in Ginza is slated to open in 2024

Yotel Tokyo will also feature a 24/7 fitness centre, a Grab-and-Go café where guests can take away locally-sourced food and drink options, a meeting space and an outdoor terrace.

“Japan’s focus on technology and innovation has been an important source of inspiration for Yotel ever since our inception. We are immensely proud and excited to announce our first hotel in Tokyo. A flagship for our group, Yotel Tokyo will also be a stepping stone to roll out our brand across Japan, a market of strategic importance for Yotel,” said Hubert Viriot, CEO of Yotel.

Yotel Tokyo will stand in Ginza, the city’s most popular dining and shopping destination. The hotel is also only a fifteen-minute walk from Tokyo station, providing access to most parts of Japan, including the Narita Express that connects to Narita International Airport.

Yotel Tokyo is part of the group’s wider expansion strategy to expand across key cities in Japan including Sapporo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, as well as to launch YOTELAir – the group’s transit hotel concept – at key gateway airports and train stations.

Time for a break at Sofitel Singapore City Centre

By TTG Asia

July 26, 2022

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To help individuals unwind and slow down from the stresses of everyday life, Virgin Active and Sofitel Singapore City Centre have collaborated on a three-day, two-night BreakAway wellness retreat from October 14 to 16, 2022.

Guests can look forward to a refreshing and rejuvenating getaway over the weekend while immersed in Virgin Active’s selection of wellness activities, such as a Dynamic Flow Yoga class, Bootcamp Circuit, Sound Bath Therapy, and Sleep Meditation sessions.

Immersed in Virgin Active’s selection of wellness activities with the BreakAway wellness retreat at Sofitel Singapore City Centre

All meals are also taken care of by the hotel with curated meals throughout the stay – from dinner at 1864, breakfast at French restaurant Racine, and all other meals at the Chinese restaurant.

The package is priced at S$800 (US$577) for two adults, and includes 48-hour accommodation, access to BreakAway activities, all meals, L’Occitane Verbena Body Salt Scrub, plus a complimentary three-day pass to Virgin Active to experience its studio workouts and facilities.

For more information, visit Sofitel Singapore City Centre.

NSW government lands SIA through Aviation Attraction Fund

By TTG Asia

July 26, 2022

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The New South Wales (NSW) government and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to rebuild visitation to Sydney and NSW.

The new agreement, which was sealed through the NSW government’s A$60 million (US$41.8 million) Aviation Attraction Fund, will facilitate marketing activities across Singapore, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, UK, Germany and France to stimulate demand and drive visitation to NSW.

The MoU aims to drive tourism to the state; Sydney pictured

The NSW government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, will collaborate with SIA on initiatives including advertising, marketing campaigns and fam programmes.

Minister for enterprise, investment and trade, minister for tourism and sport and minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the agreement with Singapore Airlines was critical to reigniting the NSW visitor economy and helping to restore visitation to pre-pandemic levels.

SIA currently operates four daily flights to Sydney, and this MoU is estimated to deliver over A$231 in visitor expenditure to NSW until July 2023 and support some 1,200 jobs.

“In 2019, NSW welcomed more than 126,000 Singaporean visitors, who stayed more than one million nights and added A$232 million to the NSW visitor economy. Singapore is also a high-traffic hub for passengers from around the globe travelling to NSW,” added Ayres.

The Aviation Attraction Fund forms part of the NSW government’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan. It aims to build aviation capacity across NSW by supporting airlines to return to the state’s airports.

Applications for the Aviation Attraction Fund are open until June 30, 2023, and are being managed by Destination NSW on behalf of the NSW government.

Dorsett invests in purposeful hospitality

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July 26, 2022

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NatalieIp_LinkedinPhoto_640 — Ip: Green practices can boost business bottomline

Dorsett Hospitality International is focusing on local communities, economies, the environment, and travellers’ well-being in its sustainability strategy and efforts to deliver even more positive experiences post-lockdown to guests by understanding them better.

Natalie Ip, head of sustainability, told TTG Asia that green practices can be a boon to the bottomline and even speed up tourism recovery.

Ip: Green practices can boost business bottomline

Ip said the pandemic has presented many learning opportunities towards sustainable operations. For example, when hotel guests under quarantine in Hong Kong raised concerns over the use of plastic utensils, Dorsett Hospitality International promptly replaced those items with reusable options provided at check-in.

The small change allowed the group to divert 63 sets of utensils from the landfill for every guest on a 21-day quarantine.

Observing how the quarantine period took a toll on the mental health of guests, Dorsett Hospitality International partnered with Artificial Intelligence-powered mental health app, Clara, as well as organised wine tasting and fitness classes via zoom to lift the spirits of guests in isolation.

Dorsett Hospitality International’s closeness to local markets has resulted in meaningful partnerships that are helpful for the local economy and community, and for the creation of unique local experiences for guests.

For Earth Day last year, the group partnered with Green Monday to offer vegetarian meals to champion low carbon footprint diets among guests. The non-profit organisation promotes a healthier diet and a reduced carbon footprint by advocating for meatless Mondays.

Meanwhile, in a move to support local businesses, hotel guests were served Hong Kong egg tarts – a well-loved local nibble – for their afternoon tea snacks.

Ip, who will be speaking on sustainable tourism at the upcoming Digital Travel APAC 2022 from August 23 to 25, 2022, added: “By making sustainability a mission for your business, it helps drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the community, thereby creating more investment and job opportunities for your region.”

To this end, the group utilises its hotels as a platform to showcase local talents by sponsoring student talent innovation projects.

Ip believes that tourism businesses with a long-term sustainability plan will be rewarded with lower costs in the long run. Small actions can set off a chain reaction – switching out plastic water bottles and incorporating water filtration systems will not only cut costs but will also reduce the size of housekeeping carts, manpower for delivering water bottles, as well as waste generation.

She added: “Being part of the tourism industry, we believe in creating positive impacts within our local communities and advocate for travel experiences with fair labour practices and invest in the preservation of the local biodiversity.”

Inclusive travel is impacting the choices travellers make: Expedia

By TTG Asia

July 25, 2022

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New data released by Expedia Group Media Solutions shows that consumers are paying attention to how inclusive current travel offerings are when searching and booking. While the travel industry has made strides, there is a need for continued improvement across the industry. Only 54% of consumers said they have seen options that are accessible to all abilities, and just 52% have seen options that are inclusive of all types of travellers.

Seven in 10 consumers would choose a destination, lodging, or transportation option that is more inclusive, even if it is more expensive

A travel brand’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, and accessibility is influencing consumers’ purchasing decisions, with seven in 10 consumers saying they are willing to pay more for inclusive travel options. Furthermore, 78% of consumers said they have made a travel choice based on promotions or advertisements that they felt represented them through messaging or visuals.

The Inclusive Travel Insights Report: Understanding Traveller Values & Opportunities for Marketers, builds on the recent findings about environmentally responsible travel highlighted in the Sustainable Travel Study, revealing that people are increasingly seeking ways to have more meaningful and conscientious travel experiences.

The study included 11,000 representatives aged 18 and above in 11 global markets – Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, the UK and the US.

Accessibility in travel
92% of consumers agree that it is important for travel providers to meet the accessibility needs of all travellers, especially the older generations, with 54% of Baby Boomers and Generation X, compared to 49% of the general population.

Diversity in travel
Seven in 10 consumers would choose a destination, lodging, or transportation option that is more inclusive, even if it is more expensive. In addition, 78% have made a travel choice based on representation in travel advertising, promotions, or advertisements they felt represented them through messaging or visuals – with millennials at a high of 84%.

Local culture and community engagement
64% of consumers are interested in learning more about travel options that support local cultures and communities.

More than two in five consumers have purchased from local communities and/or minority groups while travelling in the past two years, while 46% visited local cultural or historical sites.

Nearly two-thirds of consumers would choose a travel option that supports local cultures and communities, even if it was more expensive.

In summary, marketers need to be thoughtful and represent a variety of perspectives and diverse imagery, recognising that diversity can include races, genders, ages, families, couples, abilities, activities, and more.

Use inclusive, welcoming, and respectful language across all marketing and travel listings, while also highlighting amenities and accessibility for travellers of all backgrounds and all abilities.

When using video, feature closed captioning and subtitles, and use legible fonts and contrasting colours to ensure content can be read by all.

Jenn McCarthy, senior director of brand marketing, Expedia Group Media Solutions said: “Our findings show that consumers today are paying close attention to whether travel brands are authentically demonstrating a commitment to inclusion, diversity, and accessibility. A better understanding of how people perceive and value inclusive travel will help foster more inclusive and diverse travel experiences for all.”

Sakurajima erupts

By TTG Asia

July 25, 2022

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Sakurajima, one of Japan’s most active volcanoes, erupted today for the second straight day, spewing ash and stones and triggering an evacuation order.

The highest alert has been issued for Sakurajima

The volcano in Kagoshima Prefecture first erupted on Sunday evening.

While the national meteorological agency does not expect another major eruption, a high level five alert has been raised. It is the first time that level five has been issued at the volcano since the system was introduced in 2007, reported NHK.

Leading changes inside and out

By Marissa Carruthers

July 25, 2022

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What are Destination Mekong’s (DM) priorities for 2022?
Now that we are reaching a post-pandemic situation, new narratives, business models, visions and mindsets are needed. In this context, DM is planning to launch programmes for the resilience and recovery of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) tourism sector. We have to have our feet on the ground to re-connect with GMS tourism players, our community.

At the Destination Mekong Summit in October, we announced the incorporation of DM as a full-fledged company in Singapore. Moreover, we are in the process of incorporating DM as a non-profit enterprise in Phnom Penh since Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism has offered to host our executive offices.

Since taking over as CEO, what have you and the new executive team been doing differently?
During the first half of 2022, the executive team set the necessary organisational structure and governance to stand as an independent, efficient and transparent regional Destination Management Organisation. Simultaneously, we have been developing DM the same way as a start-up, or rather an impact enterprise. Consequently, we have focused on strengthening our brand awareness and exposure, building a strong community and highlighting our value proposal in order to attract funds and resources.

The team has also worked on the elaboration of a roadmap for consolidation of our existing initiatives and programmes, and the identification of new business development opportunities while sending a strong message of confidence and resilience to all industry stakeholders in the region – with a special emphasis on micro, small and medium enterprises. Our overarching aim is now to champion the whole Mekong sub-region as an attractive sustainable destination.

What new initiatives and frameworks is DM working on?
New projects include the Mekong Micro-Certification Programme, a skills development toolkit for tourism sustainability and marketing, and Mekong Discovery Centres, an online and offline network of smart, eco-friendly, multipurpose and multi-branded tourism hubs aimed at supporting the sustainable development and marketing of secondary, developing and emerging travel destinations in rural and semi-urban areas in the GMS.

We have also appointed special advisors to support the development of innovative cooperation frameworks between the Mekong and Republic of Korea and Japan, two major source markets, with investors and development funders for the region.

Over the coming months, DM will pursue efforts to build a strong and resilient network of members and partners. However, its business model will not and cannot depend on membership fees only. It will mainly rely on the sale of innovative products and solutions, consulting and training services, advertising, and collaborations with organisations committed to corporate social responsibility and environmental, social and corporate governance.

What are some of the biggest challenges faced by GMS tourism players currently?
The near post-Covid time, also marked by the invasion of Ukraine and raising concerns over climate change among other global crises, have created new challenges and opportunities for GMS as well as DM. The easing of travel restrictions in GMS has yet to produce significant results and we can still feel reluctance from long- and mid-haul travellers. It is difficult to make projections in these uncertain times but hopefully we can expect a significant rebound within the next years, provided we make it not only desirable but irresistible.

Presumably, we will never revive the same situation as pre-Covid but we don’t want that. We want to promote an innovative model of tourism that is not obsessed by volumes but rather by value creation, with better contribution to local communities and their environments. We have to come up with smart and sustainable ways of doing tourism. I believe we should also develop an Asian way, even a South-east Asian way, of envisioning and practicing sustainable tourism.

How is DM helping to stimulate travel rebound in GMS?
GMS remains one of the world’s most promising tourist destinations and its fundamental assets have not been washed away by the pandemic. However, it seems hard to keep smiling when one has lost almost everything, including hope, and in some ways the sense of hospitality.

For these reasons, we will keep highlighting the contribution of tourism to the well-being and empowerment of local communities. This involves better distribution and dispersion of physical and financial flows, improved infrastructures, more climate-resilient facilities and services, more connectivity and accessibility, and the development and marketing of appealing community-driven destinations and experiences that can be included in multi-country itineraries.

Finally, as we intend to strengthen our capacity to deliver outstanding services and solutions to our community, we must secure the necessary resources, human and financial, so we can operate in a sustainable way.

Sports festival brings vigour to Desaru Coast

By TTG Asia

July 25, 2022

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Serena Yang claimed the top Malaysian female finisher prize with a time of 5:28:57, achieving her target of finishing below six hours

The Desaru Coast Multisport Festival, held from July 22 to 24, brought back the thrill of live action sports to Malaysia, with the IRONMAN 70.3 series drawing 2,062 participants over the weekend.

The Festival featured the IRONMAN 70.3, 5150 Triathlon series, IRONKIDS and the SPRINT distance races.

Among participants, 47.5 per cent were Malaysians and the rest were from overseas. International participation hailed from almost 50 countries.

International tourists’ interest in Thailand soars: Airbnb

Moove, Uber to launch ride-hailing fleet in India

Yotel to open first hotel in Japan

Time for a break at Sofitel Singapore City Centre

NSW government lands SIA through Aviation Attraction Fund

Dorsett invests in purposeful hospitality

Inclusive travel is impacting the choices travellers make: Expedia

Sakurajima erupts

Leading changes inside and out

Sports festival brings vigour to Desaru Coast

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