Shopee e-commerce platform branches into hotel bookings
Shopee has teamed up with Agoda and Booking.com to launch Shopee Hotel, enabling users to search, book and get instant confirmation for more than one million accommodation properties worldwide, all through the Shopee app.
Consumers will benefit from greater savings and exclusive travel deals, while being able to discover top landmarks near their chosen hotels, which can inspire exploration of local enclaves, neighbourhoods and attractions.
Meanwhile, hotel partners can take advantage of wider reach and greater visibility on the Shopee app.
Shopee Hotel will be rolled out across seven markets – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines – just as domestic and international travel begins to resume in most markets across the Asia region.
Agoda’s search data in September 2021 revealed that searches for domestic stays have risen by over 57 per cent compared to May. There has also been an increase of 37 per cent more users in South-east Asia searching for international destinations.
Terence Pang, chief operating officer at Shopee, said the company is eager to support the recovery of local travel and tourism businesses by promoting staycation ideas with hotel partners.
Damien Pfirsch, chief commercial officer at Agoda, said: “Travellers know and trust Agoda and Booking.com to help make travel easier, because we are passionate about using our technology to connect people with the widest choice and greatest value deals, whether they are in Asia or across the world. This partnership with Shopee, the first with a regional e-commerce partner, will conveniently bring these great deals to Shopee customers, on a platform they are familiar with.
“At the same time, we can better support our hotel partners and tourism operators by connecting them to the biggest online community of shoppers in South-east Asia. Such partnerships will help accelerate the recovery of the domestic and global travel and tourism industry in the long term.”
WorldHotels to manage Layan Green Park in Phuket
Layan Green Park Group’s first property in Phuket, Thailand will be managed by WorldHotels, under its Distinctive collection.
The four-star, 403-key property, set to open in December 2022, is the first new-build in Thailand to receive the EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification.
According to a press statement, the hotel will “provide eco-life with upscale facilities” and a range of recreational experiences for families and children. Two restaurants are planned, and they will rely on locally sourced products and seasonal ingredients. A lounge bar, pool bar, spa, gym, and landscaped grounds with jogging paths, yoga terrace and three freshwater swimming pools round off the hotel’s range of guest facilities.
It sits 700 meters from Bangtao Beach and 20 minutes away from Phuket International Airport by car.
Olivier Berrivin, managing director, Asia Pacific, WorldHotels, said: “WorldHotels is always seeking strong and professional partners to work with, and the Layan Green Park Group has shown its skill and vision by developing its first property in Phuket. I have no doubt that this remarkable new resort will delight our guests and enhance the entire destination.”
Discova’s Susan Ogden to lead innovation focus and expansion
DMC Discova has appointed Susan Ogden as its global director of supply and distribution, a new role that integrates three key departments, Product, Connectivity, and Business Solutions, with the expertise of technology and business systems.
Ogden’s appointment sheds light on the company’s expansion plans, through the implementation of global solutions and processes to streamline product to market capability.
Prior to the appointment, Ogden helmed Discova’s worldwide expansion strategy, laying the foundations for the company’s ambitious plans for growth since 2020. A year prior, she was global product and strategy leader, and had joined the company from Flight Centre Travel Group, where she was a celebrated leader for over 20 years.
She said: “Discova has always been a forward thinking organisation with a bright future, so I’m really excited for the opportunity to build on our strategy for expansion. We’ve had some very interesting projects bubbling away during the travel hibernation period and I can’t wait to start bringing them to life as the world re-opens.“
She revealed that technology will be an important focus, and the aim is to “provide our partners with access to a world-class product range for their tailor-made or group customers, and enable them to transact and collaborate with us in any way they prefer – whether that’s by email, phone, online booking portal or direct API integration”.
Discova’s managing director Suyin Lee, emphasised that “the future for Discova is expansion”, and plans have been defined over the last 18 months.
“(Ogden) is an expert in this field, and having already established our path into many more destinations, she is the perfect person to lead us forward in the product-to-market space,” Lee added.
UNWTO, tourism organisations stand with Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action
More than 300 tourism stakeholders have signed up to the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action, which recognises the urgent need for a globally consistent plan for climate action in tourism.
Signatories, which include Accor, Asian Ecotourism Network, Intrepid Travel, and Skyscanner, commit to measure, decarbonise, regenerate and unlock finance. Additionally, each signatory commits to deliver a concrete climate action plan, or updated plan, within 12 months of signing.
Speaking at the ongoing 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili stressed that “while many private businesses have led the way in advancing climate action, a more ambitious sector-wide approach is needed to ensure tourism accelerates climate action in a meaningful way”.
He added that “the Glasgow Declaration is a tool to help bridge the gap between good intentions and meaningful climate action”.
The Glasgow Declaration was developed through the collaboration of UNWTO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Visit Scotland, the Travel Foundation, and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, within the framework of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme committed to accelerate sustainable consumption and production patterns.
“WTTC is delighted to be a supporter and launch partner to the Glasgow Declaration and thereby add our voice, the voice of the global private sector, to this important collective call for heightened ambition in the travel and tourism sector. The Glasgow Declaration is a real opportunity for travel and tourism to unite and show true leadership as we strive towards Net Zero”, said Julia Simpson, president and CEO, WTTC.
“Through the Glasgow Declaration, the One Planet Network‘s Sustainable Tourism Programme offers a common platform to catalyse climate action in tourism. This Initiative is fundamental to create the right momentum to accelerate climate action in tourism through sustainable consumption and production”, said Jorge Laguna-Celis, head of the One Planet Network Secretariat, economy division, UNEP.
The launch event at COP26 featured a panel discussion underscoring the importance of increased climate action and ambition in the tourism sector, with contributions from David W Panuelo, president of the Federated States of Micronesia; Iván Eskildsen, tourism minister for Panama; Jan Christian Vestre, minister of trade and industry for Norway; Patrick Child, deputy director general for the Environment at the European Commission; Darrell Wade, co-founder and chairman, Intrepid Group; Jeremy Smith, co-founder of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency; and WTTC’s Simpson.
2021 Macau Grand Prix gets firm backing from six tourism companies
This year’s Macau Grand Prix will return from November 19 to 21 with six races sponsored by major integrated tourism and leisure enterprises in the destination.
The races with their title sponsors are: SJM Formula 4 Macau Grand Prix, Sands China Macau GT Cup, Galaxy Entertainment Macau Guia Race, Melco Macau Touring Car Cup, MGM Greater Bay Area GT Cup, and Wynn Porsche Carrera Cup Challenge.
The Macau Grand Prix season will also feature numerous public events, such as the Family Carnival at Tap Seac Square on November 6 and 7, where children can learn about behind-the-scenes work on the races; the Car Show at Tap Seac Square on November 13 and 14, where race cars are displayed; the Macau Grand Prix opening ceremony at the same venue on November 13; live broadcast of the races at various locations throughout the local community; and Grand Prix photo contests.
All activities will be conducted in strict compliance with health and safety measures set by the health authorities.
As the Macau Grand Prix is recognised as the destination’s most important sports tourism brand, the Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee hopes that hosting the event this year as scheduled will send a clear message that Macau is safe to visit and that the event will promote the development of different industries, thereby boosting the local economy.
Global broadcast of the event will also serve to positively promote Macau’s image, noted the press statement.
Tickets for the event have gone on sale since October 26, with prices ranging from MOP50 (US$6.20) for November 19 to MOP400 to 1,000 on November 20 and 21 race days.
In consideration of the pandemic’s impact on spending power, special discounts will be offered on tickets this year to encourage residents and visitors to join in the festivities.
New hotels: W Xiamen, Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long and more
W Xiamen, China
Set in Xiamen’s trendy, downtown East Business District, the new 293-key W Xiamen pays tribute to the city’s tropical surroundings, natural harbour draws, and her transformation from an industrial port city to a modern music mecca.
A strong artistic sense is convey from the entrance, with the Living Room (the lobby) built as an electric forest made of neon glass pillars along with an interactive art piece centrepiece that plays flute notes every time guests approach. Guestrooms and suites bear feature walls that use digitally rendered artworks to bring the city’s tropical nature indoors by means of shifting pieces of a colour puzzle.
Over at W the Store, the iconic look of Gaojia opera singers is reimagined as contemporary art, with hypnotic faces rendered in oil paint on curved metal walls.
W Xiamen’s four distinctive dining concepts present innovative fare and eclectic beverage offerings. At pool bar HEAT, music curator Marc Lussier spins as guests sip on Champagne in a hot tub. On the menu are modern street food-inspired bar bites and cocktails that pay homage to the island’s ancient Amoy heritage.
At the Living Room, guests can recharge at SOUNDSCAPE over organic brews and healthy beverages to the soundtrack of W-curated music.
Thrill-seekers can dive into a fusion of Cantonese and Minnan flavours at MIN YEN, which hosts private Cognac tastings paired with mystery menus.
For all-day dining, NINE is an upscale food hall by day with nine interactive stations and a premium destination for premium steaks and seafood at night. In the afternoons, NINE serves a sophisticated high tea that highlights Fujian’s tea culture with a selection of rare infusions, along with customised craft beers.
Other facilities include meeting venues, a 24/7 fitness centre, and a spa.
Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long, Vietnam
The 1,008 room and suite Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long is now open and welcoming travellers to experience the UNESCO World Heritage destination of Ha Long Bay.
The waterfront hotel overlooks the iconic, island-studded seascape, with accommodation designed to take in panoramic views of Ha Long Bay. All come with private balconies and feature timeless Vietnamese style décor with contemporary flair and upscale amenities.
A Perfect Staycation offer is now available for booking until December 2021, for stays through March 31, 2022. Perks include daily international breakfast buffet, a set lunch or dinner, a free upgrade to the next available room category, as well as an early check-in at 12.00 and late check-out at 18.00.
Kingsford Hotel Manila, Philippines
Local hotel chain Megaworld Hotels and Resorts has soft-launched Kingsford Hotel Manila in the entertainment city of Paranaque.
Available now are 529 rooms across four categories, three dining outlets and a 300-pax function hall.
Guestrooms are perfect for business and leisure travellers looking for an ideal space to recharge, celebrate, and stay up to date with friends and family. Guests with special needs will be taken care of too.
The hotel also boasts an outdoor pool, a fitness centre designed to keep guests active even in the new reality as well as 300 Mbps Wi-Fi connection.
It is eight-minutes away from Ninoy Aquino International Airport via the express way, and is a stone’s throw from casinos, amusement parks, shopping malls, theatres, and convention venues.
Grand Mercure Malang Mirama, Indonesia
Grand Mercure Malang Mirama draws inspiration from the harmonious combination of deeply rooted local wisdom, art and culture while conveying the Malang landscape surrounded by majestic mountains.
Located just 10 minutes away from the exit toll gate of Singosari, 15 minutes from Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport, and in close proximity to many tourist destinations as well as the business district, this new hotel is a perfect choice for business and leisure travellers alike.
There are 264 rooms and suites with picturesque views, all adorned with local artwork and outfitted with high-tech solutions, including a smart TV and high-speed Wi-Fi
Dining facilities include Trimurti, a multi-cuisine all-day dining restaurant, Lan Hua Chinese restaurant, Ebisu Japanese restaurant, Coffee Café, Sky Lounge and Executive Lounge.
Families or fitness enthusiasts can enjoy the outdoor swimming pool, gym facilities, jacuzzi, spa and sauna.
Corporate groups are supported by convention facilities which can accommodate up to 2,200 guests, as well as parking spaces for up to 500 vehicles and 20 buses.
Dream Cruises marks first anniversary of post-pandemic cruising in Singapore
Dream Cruises will celebrate its first year milestone in resuming cruise services for the Singapore market on November 6 with World Dream, an achievement that has resulted in expanded market demographic and onboard guest spend as well as creative product breakthroughs.
Since its inception in 2020, World Dream has welcomed close to 200,000 Singapore residents aboard with over 150 Super Seacation voyages. Demand remains strong, with most sailings for the remaining months of 2021 almost sold out, while a strong momentum is registered for early-2022.
The milestone is shared with Dream Cruises’ fifth anniversary as a brand, making November a “truly special” month, commented Michael Goh, president of Dream Cruises.
“We are deeply appreciative of the continuous support from the Singapore Tourism Board, the local authorities, and the general public, which enabled us to provide Singapore residents with an alternative and safe vacation experience over the past year in these unique circumstances,” said Goh in a press statement.
Throughout the past year, Dream Cruises maintained its engagement with the local tourism sector across various networks, including vendors for provisioning to bunkering, cruise terminal operators, medical service providers, and travel partners. It also contributed to job creation, including opportunities for Singaporeans.
It was also a year of product creativity, as Dream Cruises rolled out several first-of-a-kind initiatives to revitalise the tourism sector. Notable initiatives include Asia’s first Halal-friendly cruise ship, which was certified by both the United World Halal Development and the Global Vegetarian Certification Services in December 2020; a platform to showcase Made with Passion local lifestyle brands onboard World Dream; and a partnership with KrisFlyer – Singapore Airlines’ frequent flyer programme – on an exclusive chartered cruise for members as well as the option to earn KrisFlyer miles on Dream Cruises packages.
To combat pent-up wanderlust, World Dream crafted thematic cruises that presented Singapore residents with experiences of popular destinations such as South Korea, Thailand and Japan. This concept will be extended into the year-end school holidays and the festive season, with World Dream hosting A Nordic Christmas Adventure special from November 17 to January 1, 2022. Festive traditions of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland can be enjoyed onboard through special attractions, activities and gourmet feasts.
According to Dream Cruises, these initiatives has expanded its market reach, converting more Singapore residents into cruise fans as well as attracted more younger travellers, such as millennials and Gen X-ers as well as couples with no children or families with non-school-going young children. With a wider market demographic, guest spend on World Dream in Singapore has risen by 37.5 per cent in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic in 2019.
Sabre debuts personalised retailing suite for airlines
Sabre Corporation has released the first two products in the company’s Retail Intelligence suite – Sabre Air Price IQ and Sabre Ancillary IQ for the dynamic pricing of airfare and ancillaries, respectively.
Powered by Sabre Travel AI, which integrates Sabre technology with Google Cloud’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology and advanced machine-learning services, Retail Intelligence enables airlines to dynamically provide offers to travellers based on preferences, marketplace insights and purchase probability.
Sabre Travel AI is a creation of the Sabre + Google Innovation Framework, formed through Sabre’s strategic partnership with Google.
“We are facing a rapidly changing world and the travel ecosystem looks very different than it did just 18 months ago,” said Wade Jones, chief product officer, Sabre Travel Solutions.
“Traveller expectations for relevant and personalised offers are growing, and airlines are more focused than ever on becoming sophisticated retailers. Relying on traditional strategies based on historical data patterns isn’t enough – airlines need intelligent solutions driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning. This is what we are offering with Sabre’s Retail Intelligence suite of products.”
Sabre Air Price IQ increases airlines’ pricing agility and precision by allowing airlines to adapt quickly to changing marketplace conditions. Considering traveller segment and trip intent from the shopping request, the product supports an airline’s efforts to maximise revenue opportunities while providing a seamless experience to travellers.
Sabre Ancillary IQ uses machine learning to present ancillary offers based on multiple factors, including real-time shopping data and purchase probability to increase incremental revenue opportunities and traveller satisfaction. As a result, airlines can deliver increased value and more choice to their travellers.
The products are expected to boost airlines’ incremental revenue by up to three per cent when combined with upcoming products being added to the Retail Intelligence suite in 2022.
Sundar Narasimhan, president, Sabre Labs and Product Strategy, said: “As travel retailing becomes more complex to meet increasingly sophisticated consumer expectations, the rules-based technology in use across the industry today will no longer deliver satisfactory results.
“To truly modernise travel retailing, the industry requires intelligent systems that allow for continuous learning and scaling at speed. At Sabre, we are focused on equipping our customers with those AI-based solutions that will modernise the way we shop, book and experience travel, delivering incremental value for our customers and the travellers they serve.”
Sabre and Google are developing other innovative new technology that delivers modern, data-driven, omni-channel solutions that enable highly personalised traveller experiences.
Blazing a trail
As one of the first tourist destinations in the world to relax entry requirements to facilitate tourism recovery, the Maldives has led a shining example in a post-pandemic world of travel and tourism.
With the Maldives’ golden jubilee of tourism coming up in 2022, the destination will continue to bask in the spotlight. A series of activities are lined up to celebrate the milestone, with marketing efforts kicking off in November 2021.
Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director of the state-run Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), said consistent destination development and marketing have established Maldives as a fierce competitor on the global travel market.
Despite travel challenges, the MMPRC has maintained aggressive marketing and ensured presence in several international trade fairs and roadshows.
Numerous partnerships have also been struck in 2021 to drive travel bookings. From July 2021 until June 2022, Visit Maldives and Qatar Airways will jointly promote the destination as a safe-haven for travellers from Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. With travel portal TripZilla, Visit Maldives will ensure that the destination remains top-of-mind among South-east Asian travellers.
In the year ahead, MMPRC will focus on courting the millennials, which make up 40 per cent of the global travel market. According to the Maldives Visitor Survey, nearly half of the visitors to the Maldives are below the age of 35 years, with 60 per cent of them discovering the destination on the Internet.
“This is an opportune time for the Maldives to reap the benefits of these trends by identifying our strengths, and refining our approach,” he said.
While the Maldives has first-mover advantage in courting travellers in the post-pandemic era, Dilip Rajakariar, CEO of Minor Hotels Group, warned that 2022 would be a competitive year as many other destinations reopen to global tourism.
Having said that, Rajakariar expects a “solid year” for the Maldives, building on the strong demand seen in 2021.
Most of the destination’s 200-plus resorts are open for business, and expectations are high that the target of 1.2 million arrivals will be met in 2021. The Maldives has set a 1.5 million arrivals target for 2022.
Emirates and TAP Air Portugal have further expanded their codeshare arrangement with 23 more destinations since November 2, bringing their customers seamless connectivity to over 90 points.
TAP Air Portugal places its code on popular Emirates flights to four additional Asian destinations – Vietnam’s Hanoi and Japan’s Narita, Osaka and Haneda.
Emirates places its code on TAP Air Portugal operated flights to 19 additional destinations via Lisbon, such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Salvador.
The latest exercise follows on from both airlines’ inking of an MoU in March 2021 to expand their codeshare partnership. Back then, the expansion saw TAP Air Portugal placing its code on Emirates’ flights to Taipei, Tokyo, Osaka, Mumbai, Delhi, Dhaka, Male, Jakarta, Denpasar, Manila, Hanoi, as well as Barcelona and Mexico City, while Emirates did the same for TAP Air Portugal’s flights to cities in the Americas and Africa.
Adnan Kazim, chief commercial officer, Emirates Airline said: “By leveraging our mutual networks through codeshare flights, we enable our customers to travel to more places on a single ticket with a one baggage policy and fare conditions. We look forward to bringing more benefits to our customers through this partnership”.
Silvia Mosquera, chief commercial & revenue officer of TAP Air Portugal said: “TAP Air Portugal is pleased to be able to implement this expanded partnership with Emirates, allowing our customers greater geographic access, with particular emphasis on destinations in the Middle East and Asia.”
Emirates and TAP Air Portugal are also exploring ways to enhance co-operation on their respective frequent flyer programmes, including reciprocal earning and redemption opportunities and popular benefits such as lounge access.