STB curates experiences with Mastercard to boost local spending
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Mastercard have jointly launched 16 new and exclusively-curated local tourism and lifestyle experiences, as part of their new domestic marketing campaign.
These experiences include sailcations, staycations, movie experiences, local adventures, and gin creation workshops.
Bringing together the SingapoRediscovers campaign and Mastercard’s Priceless Singapore platform, the Rediscover Priceless Singapore campaign will support domestic tourism businesses and promote local brands.
The campaign is based on a joint study done by STB and Mastercard which found that families and young professionals make up more than half of local cardholders.
During Covid-19, domestic spending by families held steady with around 30 per cent of their spend channelled towards dining, retail, attractions, and accommodation categories. Young professionals’ domestic spend grew by 14 per cent, with around 30 per cent of their spend going towards dining, retail, and accommodation categories.
Using these insights, STB and Mastercard curated 16 diverse experiences across these categories. Some of the experiences feature local lifestyle brands, for instance, sampling gins and creating a personalised bottle of gin at Brass Lion Distillery or savouring Straits Preserves’ Ginger Garden Tea, alongside the brand’s signature marmalade and nut butters.
Mastercard cardholders will also get to enjoy a wide range of deals across dining, retail, attractions, and accommodation categories, including 1-for-1 promotions, discounts, and value-added gifts.
The 16 experiences will run till January 31, 2022. Price ranges from S$45 (US$33) to S$5,992, and experiences can be purchased at www.priceless.com/RediscoverSG.
Correction: This article has been updated to show that the 16 experiences will run till January 31, 2022, instead of January 31, 2024 as previously stated.
Hilton grows APAC footprint with two new signings
Hilton has signed two deals that will see the group opening its first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Osaka, Japan; and a Conrad hotel in Chongqing, China.
The two management agreements were inked with Orix Real Estate Corporation and Chongqing Jiafa Industrial Co., respectively.
Alan Watts, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton, said: “The strong growth momentum in Asia demonstrates the resilience of Hilton’s luxury brands amidst a dynamic operating landscape as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also signals great confidence from the owner and investment communities in the strength of our luxury brands.”
Hilton currently operates 30 hotels under the company’s group of luxury brands – Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and LXR – in Asia-Pacific, with a further 17 hotels in its development pipeline, due to open over the coming years.
SIA, Scoot resume flights to India
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost arm Scoot will restart flights between Singapore and India, under a vaccinated travel lane scheme (VTL) marking the resumption of scheduled flights between the two countries after nearly two years.
From November 29, SIA will operate daily VTL services from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai to Singapore. The flights are open for booking, and will be indicated as VTL flights on the airline’s website accordingly.
Additionally, SIA will progressively operate non-VTL services from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi and Kolkata to Singapore from November 29.
Scoot will operate four weekly non-VTL services between Singapore and Hyderabad from November 30, and three weekly non-VTL services between Singapore and Tiruchirappalli from December 2.
SingapoRediscovers Vouchers scheme extended till end-March
The deadline for Singaporeans to use their SingapoRediscovers Vouchers (SRVs) for eligible attractions, hotels and tours has been extended until March 31, 2022, but bookings must still be made by December 31.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Monday (November 22) that it had announced in April this year that the SRV scheme would end on December 31. “However, we understand that some Singaporeans may not have been able to use their SRVs due to reduced group sizes and capacity limits at tourism establishments,” it said. “This extension allows Singaporeans more time to enjoy their SRV experiences.”
This is the second time that the SRV scheme has been extended, following an earlier extension from end-June to December 31.
The voucher scheme was launched last July to boost the tourism sector amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the scheme, every Singaporean aged 18 and above was given S$100 (US$74) worth of tourism vouchers, which can be used on hotel staycations, attraction tickets and tours.
In line with the latest extension, the five authorised booking partners – Changi Recommends, GlobalTix, Klook, Traveloka and Trip.com – will add more booking slots.
Singaporeans can also bring their original identification documents to book their experiences at the physical SRV booking counters across Singapore before December 31.
From January 1, the authorised booking partners will no longer accept tourism bookings made using SRVs, and all physical SRV counters will be closed.
Those who wish to donate their vouchers can do so via the five authorised booking partners which offers donation options or through the physical booking counters.
STB reminded Singaporeans that reselling or exchanging the SRVs for cash is strictly not allowed. “STB conducts regular checks to ensure the SRVs are used for their intended purposes and will not hesitate to take action against businesses or individuals that abuse the SRV scheme,” it said.
As of November 1, close to 1.3 million Singaporeans have used their SRVs at least once, making over 1.6 million transactions. Collectively, about S$256 million in vouchers and additional expenditure have been spent under the scheme.
Expedia offers Covid-19 tests to Singapore travellers
To ease the pre-travel preparation process for Singapore travellers, Expedia and Raffles Medical Group have teamed up to offer pre-departure Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at a rate of S$124 (US$90).
Outbound travellers who book any travel service through the Expedia Singapore app or website, and need a pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test, can now take one at any of the 36 participating Raffles Medical Clinics in Singapore.
To be eligible for the PCR tests, Expedia customers are required to book any travel offering through this link: www.expedia.com.sg/lp/b/rmg. Once a booking is complete, they can proceed to schedule an appointment for their pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test through www.rafflesmedicalgroup.com or the Raffles Connect App.
Customers will be asked to present their NRIC/FIN and Expedia.com.sg itinerary at the selected clinic on the day of their test.
Since the launch of the vaccinated travel lanes (VTL), Expedia has observed strong demand for travel to VTL destinations among Singaporeans, with search data showing high interest for travel in the year-end holiday period.
Expedia Group’s managing director and senior director of government and corporate affairs, Asia, Ang Choo Pin, said: “The growing confidence in international travel is good news for the travel industry, but we understand that the additional steps and costs of a mandatory pre-departure Covid-19 test may add stress to travellers. Expedia’s goal is to help travellers get the most out of every trip, by providing all their travel needs on a single platform.
“We hope this important collaboration with Raffles Medical Group to offer pre-departure Covid-19 tests will help ease pre-travel planning stress so that our travellers can better enjoy their holidays.”
IHG makes trio of appointments for first voco hotel in Singapore
IHG Hotels & Resorts has revealed the senior leadership team at voco Orchard Singapore ahead of the hotel’s rebrand from Hilton Singapore on January 1, 2022.
The appointments will see Mark Winterton return to Singapore as general manager, and see Sahil Rahat step into the role of director of sales & marketing. Walid Ouezini will also start as hotel manager in January 2022.
Winterton returns to Singapore after a three-year stint with IHG Australia, to spearhead the pre-opening conversion operations.
He first moved to Asia in 2007, and has since successfully launched new IHG hotels such as Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay and InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay, and rebranded the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park in Thailand.
Next, Rahat will lead the charge of developing and executing the overall commercial strategies of the hotel. Prior to joining voco Orchard Singapore, Rahat held dual responsibilities as director of sales, marketing and revenue, and acting director of operations at Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre. Having been with IHG for more than 10 years, he brings a wealth of experience across the different markets and all aspects of commercial deliverables.
Lastly, Ouezini has led operations at the Orchard Road Hotel since he joined as hotel manager in 2019. He has been instrumental in spearheading major projects for the hotel. Post-rebranding, he will continue to take on the role as hotel manager effective January 1, 2022, and lead daily hotel operations.
Ouezini started his career in F&B and has over 18 years of hospitality experience across luxury and lifestyle brands in France, Tunisia, Maldives and South-east Asia.
Marking the brand’s debut in South-east Asia when it opens on January 1, 2022, voco Orchard Singapore will offer 423 contemporary rooms, four restaurants and bars, and more than 1,750m2 of meeting and event space.
Voco Orchard Singapore will be IHG’s 12th hotel in Singapore and its seventh brand in the country where it joins Regent, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express.
Azerai Can Tho welcomes new GM
Azerai Can Tho in the Mekong Delta has appointed Nicolas Pillet as its new general manager.
The French national brings a strong culinary background to Azerai Can Tho, having studied cuisine as part of his hospitality education in Nantes. Pillet has worked with several internationally recognized brands in his career, including the Eastern & Oriental Express, where he was general manager of South-east Asia’s only luxury sleeper train, and most recently as the general manager of Amanoi, the Aman property in Ninh Thuan, Vietnam.
Bruce Ryde to lead Kimpton Margot Sydney as GM
Australia’s first Kimpton property, Kimpton Margot Sydney has announced that Bruce Ryde has joined the hotel as general manager.
Ryde has a long history of both operating hotels and leading global brands across Asia Pacific. Most recently, Ryde worked with owners John and Karina Stewart on their holistic wellness brand, Kamalaya, in Thailand, where he helped expand Kamalaya’s diverse range of solutions, improving its digital reach and launching an online platform, Kamalaya Connect.
Previously, the Australian managed the luxury brand strategy for Marriott International’s brands, amongst them The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels as vice president Asia Pacific. Prior to that, Ryde held the same position with IHG, overseeing the InterContinental brand as well as the launch of the Hotel Indigo and Kimpton brands in Asia Pacific.
Ryde will also act as the brand guardian for Pro-invest Group’s growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio.
Kimpton goes to Khao Yai
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a deal with Nusasiri Public Company to open its third Kimpton hotel in Thailand, following the brand’s debut in Bangkok last October and its signing in Koh Samui this April.
Opening in 2024, the 100-room luxury wellness resort Kimpton Khao Yai will offer scenic mountain views across all of its 70 rooms and 30 pool villas. Guests will enjoy Kimpton’s innovative culinary experiences in its restaurants and locally-inspired drinks in its lobby bar, along with its famed daily Social Hour. Other facilities include a 50m² meeting space, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and resort centre.
Situated north of Khao Yai National Park and within Pak Chong, Kimpton Khao Yai will be part of the Nusa MyOzone Project, a 242ha integrated resort which will house an 18-hole golf course, retail and recreational facilities including an organic farm, hotels and residences, and a private airport.
Guests will enjoy easy access and proximity to nearby waterparks, adventure theme parks, award-winning vineyards and golf courses, as well as outdoor adventure experiences in Khao Yai National Park.
Currently, IHG operates 29 hotels across eight brands in Thailand, with another 34 properties in the pipeline. The company aims to double the size of its estate in Thailand within the next five years and grow its luxury and lifestyle portfolio in the country by 50 per cent.
Editor’s note: Khao Yai was erroneously spelt Khai Yai in the original post.We apologise for the error.
Travel booking platform Klook has formed a joint venture with ZA Tech Global, the technology venture founded by ZA International, that will accelerate the availability and accessibility of travel-related insurance to consumers across the globe.
The agreement will synergise Klook’s global presence and hyper-localised go-to-market strategy, alongside ZA Tech’s experience in insurance innovation and technological know-how.
With this joint venture, insurers will be able to partner with Klook to feature their insurance products on the platform. The agreement will see Klook work closely with insurers to design products that address the pain points of consumers in this new normal.
Klook will partner with insurers AXA and Chubb to kickstart travel-related insurance products on its platform by the end of this year, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
ZA Tech will export its proprietary solution Fusion to Klook’s platform to create a seamless digital experience for travellers and the ecosystem partners; while Klook will leverage ZA Tech’s customer insights to various markets to strengthen product innovation, customer engagement and increase insurance penetration.
“The pandemic has changed the way we travel, with customers demanding increased assurance when they travel once cross-border travel resumes,” said C.S. Soong, vice president, corporate development at Klook.
“We are excited about this milestone partnership with ZA Tech, as this is the first time any travel player will be rolling out a full suite of travel-related insurance on a multi-market level. With this, we can further simplify customers’ travel journey, enabling them to discover, book and purchase all they need during their travels from travel-related insurance to experiences.”
Young Yang, general manager of ZA Tech Southeast Asia, added: “Travel is a journey to explore and we want to make customers’ every step count with insurance protection. To that end, we are inspired to embed insurance in customers’ travel experience with ZA Tech’s insurtech innovation and enable the broader community to get insured.”