Whenever Malaysian professional conference organiser Place Borneo conducts business events, its activities provide opportunities for local craft women to earn an income through the sale of handmade conference bags, beaded lanyards and other gifts for speakers and VIPs.
Place Borneo does this through collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Sarawak, such as Tanoti and Helping Hands Penan.
Place Borneo works with NGOs to purchase attendee accessories and speakers/VIP gifts from local women weavers and artisans
Tanoti is a congregation of Sarawakian women weavers and artisans dedicated to the production, promotion and proliferation of handcrafted fabrics. Helping Hands Penan is dedicated to the welfare of the nomadic Penan tribe, whose women are great basket weavers who produce beautiful bags from rattan and jungle produce.
Founder and CEO, Mona Abdul Manap, said conference organisers generally love the idea of supporting local communities this way.
“They can easily buy cheaper bags and souvenirs from China, but they don’t mind spending more for a worthwhile cause that will provide an income for women,” she said.
Place Borneo makes it a point to include the community in its conferencing activities, “if not by way of education or knowledge transfer, then in the form of other economic means such as this”.
“This effectively extends the impact of conferences on Sarawak’s development,” she added.
Place Borneo also finds opportunities to bring the community and their supporting NGOs onto the conference site, where they can display and sell their products.
“With international conferences, there is an opportunity for these NGOs to gain recognition for their cause and for the women, a chance to get future orders from local and international delegates for events they are planning in their home country.
“The more orders they get, the more they will earn. They are skilled artisans, and proud of their heritage. We try and help them to market their handicraft and earn a living from it,” she said.
This story is part of an International Women’s Day series published by TTG Asia and TTGmice, where we highlight organisations in our industry that are committed to supporting gender parity in the workplace and beyond as well as uplifting the quality of life for womenfolk in the communities they interact with through their operations.
Accor is expanding its partnership with Boutique Corporation Public Company to debut the ibis brand in the destination, with the opening of Chiangmai Nimman Journeyhub in mid-2023.
The hotel will feature 143 guestrooms, a restaurant and amenities such as a swimming pool and gym.
The 12th ibis hotel Chiangmai Nimman Journeyhub set to open in mid-2023
Located within walking distance of the trendy Nimman neighbourhood, guests can conveniently access the city’s popular coffee destinations, vibrant dining scene, live music bars, and the charming Old Town.
Chiang Mai serves as a gateway to Thailand’s vibrant ancient cultural sites, lush natural wonders, vibrant arts scene, and dynamic restaurant and café offerings.
ibis Chiangmai Nimman Journeyhub will be the 12th ibis hotel in Thailand.
The Travel Corporation (TTC) has women empowerment programmes that touch not only its workforce but also the communities it interacts with through its tourism and hospitality business.
Within the company, TTC walks the talk on gender parity by having 50 per cent of leadership roles held by women, and 56 per cent of the overall organisation workforce filled by women.
TTC’s Trafalgar and Insight Vacations tour brands offer programmes designed for female travellers and that showcase women-led businesses in the destination
“The company’s commitment is reflected in our How We Tread Right (HWTR) strategy and aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) on gender equality, established in 2015,” stated Annaliesa Chapman, senior vice president, people and culture.
TTC’s gender parity efforts in Asia-Pacific takes the form of the I.D.E.A initiative – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Action – which includes a Women’s Identity Circle. The Women’s Identity Circle acts as an inclusive and supportive community for Women of TTC and allies, and its overarching strategy includes cultivating a supportive and welcoming environment, targeted recruitment, and maintaining a balance in diverse executive leadership.
I.D.E.A has hosted seminars where TTC’s female leaders from all levels come together to share career experiences and lead open discussions on a wide range of topics, such as salary negotiations, issues around maternity and preparations for the next role.
“The goal of these initiatives is connecting internal peer, which fosters future connections to leadership opportunities,” said Chapman, who added that I.D.E.A will roll out even more interactions and events to “educate leaders on unconscious bias and how it impacts our global workforce, and to challenge the status quo of women in the workplace”.
The TTC Women’s Mentorship Programme is also set to launch this year.
Chapman emphasised that empowering female leadership can benefit the entire organisation.
She said: “Inclusivity, high-performance and business success work in tandem. When an organisation creates a diverse and inclusive environment, and is focused on equity, an increase in retention, collaboration, innovation, and profits follow across the business.
“Showcasing a diverse perspective internally – age, ethnicity, or gender identity – connects us better with our external guests. This is especially relevant for the travel and hospitality industry, which enables people to experience different cultures and walks of life.
“We recognised that the passion and collaborative spirit of the women of TTC is a key to the ongoing success of the organisation. These qualities positively influence the development and future growth of our global partnerships.”
TTC’s gender parity beliefs extend beyond the company, as seen in its support of women-owned businesses through its tourism brands and product lines.
Trafalgar recently launched a new Women’s Only Tours series, which showcases locally-female run businesses in the destination. These join the existing Wander Women tours offered by Insight Vacations, which are curated by an-all female team and seek to introduce travellers to successful women in destinations around the world.
“Women can inspire and uplift each other. Our aim is to celebrate women’s successes in their communities, be they small or large, through shared experiences,” Chapman told TTG Asia.
These efforts are also aligned with TTC’s HWTR strategy and the UNSDG on gender equality.
“Our guests can choose to participate in experiences aligned with the UNSDG and actively seek out travel designed to make a positive impact. When guests join us on trips that aligned with the UNSDG, they are helping us to prioritise community-based enterprises — from supporting women-owned businesses, experiencing unique farm stays that utilise regenerative agriculture practices, or learning about ancient cultures that carry on their traditions by sharing their stories with others,” she said.
Besides supporting women empowerment through tourist experiences, the company also works with organisations to benefit the wider community. An example is its collaboration with The Amy Foundation, a non-profit in the Western Cape region of South Africa that offers development and empowerment programmes for people aged five to 35 living in at-risk communities. The Youth Skills Development programme imparts life skills to children and young adults to prepare them for employment and day-to-day living.
This story is part of an International Women’s Day series published by TTG Asia and TTGmice, where we highlight organisations in our industry that are committed to supporting gender parity in the workplace and beyond as well as uplifting the quality of life for womenfolk in the communities they interact with through their operations.
About 380 million people in 13 countries gained an interest in visiting Japan as a result of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to a February 2022 report released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
The Tokyo 2020 Games – JNTO’s tourism promotion legacy study outlined the country’s tourism-related activities that were carried out in relation to the Games and the impact they had on key markets.
Japan National Tourism Organization’s reports that nearly 380 million people in 13 countries are interested in visiting Japan as a result of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games
JNTO’s strategy to maximise the potential of the Games was to promote travel to Japan’s regions, particularly for nature and outdoor activities, and to position Japan as an accessible destination, with improved infrastructure for people with disabilities or mobility issues. It identified China, France, the UK and the US as priority markets based on their interest in the Tokyo 2020 Games and potential for growing the number of visitors to Japan in the future.
During the Games, a Japan Showcase was held at the Tokyo Media Center to promote regional attractions in collaboration with 32 local governments and DMOs across the country. Digital advertising and online content was strengthened, with new promotion of sports and outdoor activities as well as highlights of the 47 prefectures and their accessibility.
JNTO worked with Olympic gold medallist Ashton Eaton to produce a digital advertisement showing him experiencing nature, the outdoors and cultural activities in various parts of Japan. This was shown in 12 countries from March to October 2021. More than 70 per cent of viewers surveyed said the advertisement inspired them to visit Japan.
In a related survey carried out by the National Broadcasting Company, which holds exclusive rights to broadcast the Olympics in the US, 95 per cent of commercial viewers reported having a positive impression about Japan and 40 per cent said they would consider Japan for their next overseas trip.
With the Indian school holidays coming around between April and June, Tourism Australia has rolled out initiatives to rebuild Indian arrivals lost over the last two years of travel freeze.
Tourism Australia will soon launch joint promotions with its eight key distribution partners – MakeMyTrip, Pick Your Trail, Thomas Cook, SOTC, Kesari Tours, Kulin Kumar Holidays, Travel Tours and Veena World – alongside Asian flag carriers to encourage an Australian summer holiday among Indians.
Tourism Australian Exchange 2022 in Sydney this May will welcome select Indian travel agents on hosted status
“One of our strategic priorities now is to facilitate the recovery of the entire distribution ecosystem because (without that) we won’t be able to drive the same amount of volume which we enjoyed pre-Covid,” said Nishant Kashikar, country manager, India & Gulf, Tourism Australia in an interview with TTG Asia.
The tourism board is planning to host some 20 travel agents from India at the upcoming Tourism Australian Exchange 2022 from May 14 to 18 at the International Convention Centre in Sydney.
“This will allow Indian travel agents to interact with their Australian counterparts besides witnessing the readiness of the destination to welcome tourists,” said Kashikar, adding that pre/post-show fam trips will be arranged for the attendees.
Australia is also looking to revive the Indian business events market, and will do so through the Business Event Australia (BEA) Showcase in Mumbai on March 10 and 11. The tourism board has invited 15 top event agents from across India to interact with Australian stakeholders.
The ICC T20 Cricket World Cup from October 22 – November 13, 2022 is expected to build up hype around Australia among Indian travellers, who are known to adore the sport.
“We want to promote travel for the games and beyond the games. We would be able to bring back demand and increase the attractiveness of the destination through the sporting event,” remarked Kashikar, adding that the cricket games would attract much corporate interest too, as companies could host their dealers and employees at the event.
Kashikar said Tourism Australia is eyeing high-value travellers from India, as they are more “immersive” and have “an affinity towards some of Australia’s key strengths, like food and wine, nature and wildlife, coastal experiences, and sustainable tourism”.
India was Australia’s fastest-growing tourism source market for three years before the pandemic. In 2019, Australia welcomed almost 400,000 visitors from India, and it was the sixth most valuable market for tourism spend, contributing over A$1.8 billion (US$1.3 billion).
Shanghai will welcome the first ever FILA-branded lifestyle hotel, a result of a collaboration between Hyatt Hotel Corporation and ANTA Sports Products Co.
Joining the JdV by Hyatt portfolio, FILA HOUSE Shanghai aims to bring a vibrant new experience to the local hotel scene. By blending the sports brand’s free-spirited attitude and style with the hospitality brand’s reflections of the local urban location and opportunities for guests and locals to interact in distinct spaces, FILA HOUSE Shanghai will “create a one-of-a-kind experience that appeals to young travellers seeking to live in the moment”.
FILA HOUSE Shanghai will join the JdV by Hyatt portfolio to bring a vibrant new experience to the local hotel scene
FILA HOUSE Shanghai will be developed as part of the new Shanghai headquarters of ANTA Group in the West Hongqiao Business District. With excellent transportation links and a vibrant community of business and industry, the area is fast establishing itself as a centre of Shanghai international trade.
The eco-friendly complex, sprawled across five buildings, is envisioned to be a destination for sports retail and for showcasing the latest trends in sports apparel. The infrastructure will comprise offices, shops, F&B outlets and more. This is expected to open by 2024.
Reopening a destination after a lengthy tourism freeze requires the collaborative effort of government agencies, the tourism board and private sector stakeholders, reflects Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, chief operating officer of the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines.
In this episode of TTG Conversation: Five Questions, Velasco-Allones recounts the footsteps leading to the Philippines’ resumption of international travel on February 10, sheds light on hiccups and lessons learnt along the way, and details what is next as the country fights a hyper competitive destination marketing war now.
Klook is rebranding to cement its position as a leading superapp for travel and leisure, and to champion a new future of travelling from 2022.
“As we enter a new era of travel, this rebrand is our commitment to bring joy back to our customers who have missed the magic of traveling and be their go-to travel and leisure app at home or abroad,” said Eric Gnock Fah, chief operating officer and co-founder.
Klook will continue to strengthen its presence as a travel and leisure super-app to enable more moments of joy with the best experiences
The company’s ongoing efforts to curate and provide a wider range of experiences for its customers both at home and abroad have more than quadrupled the number of products and services since the pandemic.
Doubling its global travel presence to over 1,000 destinations in 2021, Klook is paving the way for the much-anticipated recovery of international travel as cross-border travel gradually resumes with vaccinated travel lanes and the easing of travel restrictions.
Featuring three categories – play, stay and move – customers can look forward to new offers, such as hotels and staycations, car rentals, attraction passes, and services including Covid-19 testing and travel-related insurance.
Klook will also launch Flickket, a new brand to accelerate the digital transformation of its merchants. Flickket will provide dedicated technology solutions to support them in digitising faster and expanding their product distribution globally.
Pierre Lang, an industry veteran with over three decades of experience, has joined Kamalaya Koh Samui in Thailand as general manager.
The German has previously worked for international hotel brands including Alila Hotels & Resorts, Armani Hotels & Resorts, Park Hyatt, and Grand Hyatt, in countries such as Germany, Dubai, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Maldives.
Rezio, an online booking system in Asia for attractions, tours and activities, has rolled out its new brand tagline Empower Your Travel Business.
The new tagline reinforces the company’s positioning and purpose to empower tour and activity companies to digitalise their businesses, and be able to sell products through B2C, B2B, and OTAs.
Rezio adopts new brand tagline to emphasise its purpose to empower tour and activity companies to digitalise their businesses
Tour and activity company owners will be able to launch their own digital shopfront, enabling consumers to book their activities directly on their e-commerce platform. Business owners are also able to use the system to manage and control their inventory in real-time, scaling up their business with minimal manpower, which enables them to resell to the agents, corporates and other businesses without concerns about overbooking.
“We are now giving the empowerment back to the merchants, hence our new tagline refers to us giving the authority back to the merchants to make key decisions in their sales and distribution to aid them in their business recovery,” said Jasmine Lin, CEO of Rezio.
Currently, the company supports more than 1,200 merchants globally with more than 15,000 experiences in their portfolio. The travel SaaS company is expected to double that number in 2022 to aid more companies in digitalising their business in line with the travel recovery.
