Trans-Tasman travel bubble to start on April 19
Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand is set to begin on April 19, revealed New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern during a news conference on April 6.
Arden said that conditions for starting the quarantine-free travel have been met, but cautioned people that they need to be prepared to have their travel plans changed at short notice, including landing and going into hotel quarantine.
Ardern also outlined three responses if a case was detected in Australia: continue, pause or suspend the bubble.
She said that if there was a case linked to a quarantine or border worker who was contained quickly, it would be likely that the bubble would continue.
A pause might be put in place if there was a localised outbreak that led to a short lockdown, like the recent one in Brisbane.
But if there are a number of community cases with an unknown source then the NZ government will suspend the bubble temporarily.
The travel bubble would restrict travellers from certain areas in the event of an outbreak in Australia and is expected to run on a state-by-state basis.
Several Australian states have opened their borders to New Zealanders since last October, but it has been a one-way arrangement due to sporadic outbreaks in other Australian cities.
Since the pandemic began, Australia has recorded about 29,400 Covid-19 cases and 909 deaths, while New Zealand has had just over 2,100 confirmed cases and 26 deaths.
Cross Hotels & Resorts debuts in Japan with seven-hotel deal
Cross Hotels & Resorts entered the Japanese market in a master franchise agreement with AB Accommo Company.
The franchise agreement currently includes plans for seven properties with a total of 844 keys within four years in locations such as Okinawa and Hokkaido.
The inaugural property, located on Kouri Island, will be called Away Okinawa Kouri Island Resort. Kouri is an island connected to the main Okinawa island by a two-kilometre sea bridge. Set to open in July 2021, the boutique beachfront property will offer guests views across the East China Sea.
“Japan is another milestone in our international expansion. Japan has one of the largest increases in international tourist arrivals in addition to very strong domestic travel… We are extremely excited to introduce our brands to Japan and about this strategic partnership with AB Accommo,” said Jens O. Reichert, chief development officer, Cross Hotels & Resorts.
AB Accommo manages 26 hotels, and has a proven track record of cooperation with some of the leading investors and developers in Japan. Meanwhile, Cross Hotels & Resorts operates 21 hotels across three brands – Cross, Cross Vibe and Away – in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Sabre introduces new airline storefront with “shelves”
Sabre has rolled out its new airline storefront, an industry-first capability that makes it easier to comparison-shop complex airline offers in the indirect channel.
The new airline storefront delivers initial shopping results that include airlines’ complete product lines. It eliminates confusion caused by different fare naming conventions and organises a broad set of inventory across multiple airlines to enable improved comparison shopping.
This move is a step towards Sabre’s vision to create a new marketplace for personalised travel.
The new airline storefront capabilities are available via Sabre’s shopping APIs, which travel retailers can leverage to build a bespoke storefront and enhance their customers’ experience.
Kathy Morgan, vice president, offer sourcing, Sabre Travel Solutions, explained in an online media briefing that the new airline storefront provides a framework for “shelves” on which airlines can display content side-by-side to help drive more informed decisions.
“Shelves” are defined by specific attributes such as exchangeability, refundability and baggage allowance that qualify the product for placement on a shelf.
She added: “For airlines, the new airline storefront supports differentiation and more merchandising opportunities in the indirect channel, with flight search results displaying several product offerings for an individual flight.”
Wade Jones, chief product officer for Sabre Travel Solutions, noted: “Airlines have invested in differentiating their brand in a number of ways. While this creates greater choice for travellers, it also presents a challenge – it’s easy to understand the cost, but harder to understand what the experience will be. Sabre’s new airline storefront not only empowers airlines to effectively market their unique product in the indirect channel, it also helps travel buyers communicate the total offer value.”
Sabre has partnered with multiple agencies such as Fareportal, the travel technology company powering CheapOair.com and OneTravel.com; and Espressamente Viaggi, part of TravelMatic, a travel technology company in Italy, to test the new storefront capabilities.
Initial pilot results demonstrate the ability of the new airline storefront to deliver a broader set of upsell opportunities with more transparency into each fare.
In a press release issued by Sabre, Werner Kunz-Cho, CEO of Fareportal, commented: “Our customers demand choice paired with convenience and simplicity – this is not always the case with today’s airline shopping experience. Consumers want to compare products and offers quickly and efficiently, just as they do in a shop. That’s exactly what Sabre’s new airline storefront delivers: it allows us to group products for easy comparison, just as a supermarket arranges similar products on the same shelf. Ultimately, this modern retailing enables us to deliver an enhanced traveller experience that centers around offer value.”
Mimmo Christofaro, CEO at TravelMatic, shared: “In today’s world, travel agents are under increasing pressure to ensure that travellers receive the offer that is right for them based on their specific needs and preferences. As a result, we require a solution that allows for quick and easy comparison across offers to help drive more informed decisions. Sabre’s new airline storefront makes all relevant content available in the initial shop and, as such, we are able to increase agent efficiency and encourage upsell.”
Changi Airport rolls out portal for inbound passengers
Singapore’s Changi Airport Group (CAG) has launched a free online service named Safe Travel Concierge (STC) for travellers planning to fly into Singapore during Covid-19.
This online service lets passengers book their on-arrival Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and checks that they have completed all pre-travel requirements for a safe and smooth entry into Singapore.
After registering for an STC account, passengers just need to add their upcoming trips. Depending on their profile and trip details, they will be shown a customised list of pre-travel requirements to complete.
Besides booking their on-arrival PCR test, passengers can also access services such as the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s electronic Arrival Card and Health Declaration form through STC. Passengers can also stay updated with the latest Covid-19 news within the portal.
CAG’s managing director for airport operations management Jayson Goh said the online concierge service can ease the anxiety of air travel by helping passengers navigate their pre-travel requirements.
Erwann Mahe joins Best Western as MD Asia
Best Western Hotels & Resorts has appointed Erwann Mahe as managing director – Asia.
In this new role, Mahe will be responsible for all aspects of operating Best Western Hotels & Resorts in the region. He will focus his efforts on supporting hoteliers through the upcoming recovery and expanding the brand’s portfolio of hotels throughout Asia Pacific.
The seasoned hospitality professional joins the Best Western Hotels & Resorts team with over 23 years of industry knowledge. Mahe’s prior roles range from managing large-scale Accor hotels to holding executive-level positions, including chief operations officer at Red Planet Hotels and executive vice president of Hotel Investment at The Erawan Group.
Mahe takes over from Olivier Berrivin, who has moved within the BWH Hotel Group parent company to take up the role of managing director of WorldHotels Asia Pacific.
Japan in favour of vaccine passports to restart international travel
As Japan prepares to host the Olympic Games in July, albeit without inbound spectators, the country’s public and private sectors are taking steps to help restart inbound and outbound travel in the longer term.
Most of the activity is related to Covid-19 vaccines and travel passes that will allow travellers to move safely across borders.
Japan has been slower than many other wealthy nations in vaccinating its citizens. The country has been inoculating healthcare workers since mid-February, and is not slated to complete vaccines for everyone aged 65 or older until the end of June.
To encourage vaccine take-up among the working-age population, the government has said it will urge companies to allow staff to take paid leave to get the jabs, and to consider allowing national public servants to take holidays for the same purpose.
Japan will also be issuing digital health certificates to citizens who have been inoculated, according to Nikkei. Japan joins several countries which have embraced vaccine passports for their citizens, such as China, Denmark, and Israel.
The Nikkei report also added that the digital certificate can be managed on a mobile app and will be in line with international standards, allowing the individual to present proof of vaccination at immigration checkpoints.
In the public sector, All Nippon Airways (ANA) plans to trial the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass app, which allows passengers to verify if they meet the Covid-19 testing requirements of their destination and share their test results with airlines and authorities.
“Through our trial, we hope to contribute to the development of the digital solution, which aims to make the travel experience more seamless, secure and contactless,” said Yuji Hirako, president and CEO of ANA and member of the board of governors of the IATA.
Still, the public in Japan remains conservative about overseas travel. Almost three quarters (74 per cent) of people surveyed in Japan in December 2020 said they thought Japanese people should refrain from overseas travel until at least July 2021, according to Statista Research Department. One tenth of the 3,948 respondents said they believed it might be possible for Japanese people to restart overseas travel between April and June 2021.
TTG Conversations: Five Questions kicks off April season with resident sentiments focus
TTG Conversations: Five Questions video series returns for an April season with another strong line-up of travel and tourism industry thought leaders, with TCI Research’s Olivier-Henry Biabaud kicking off the first episode.
Biabaud will be joined by other opinion leaders such as Safe Travel Barometer’s Chetan Kapoor, Singapore Hotel Association’s Kwee Wei-Lin, and renowned architect, interior designer, hotelier and conservationist Bill Bensley.
In this season debut, out today, Biabaud reviews how residents are taking to the concept of tourism pre- and post-pandemic. While resident sentiments have remained largely the same and positive overall, Biabaud’s research team has picked up a recent “slight erosion” in tourism sentiments among residents in cities with a history of overtourism.
Biabaud, who specialises in measuring host community sentiments and their impact on tourism development and management, also discusses with series host Karen Yue the likelihood of host community sentiments impacting destination vaccine requirements for tourists and if destination managers and marketers should also track racial issues which could shape the destination’s image.
Past and upcoming episodes of TTG Conversations: Five Questions video series can be accessed on the TTG Asia Media YouTube channel.
Bali trailing other Indonesian markets in hotel performance recovery
As Indonesia moves through the early part of 2021, the impact from lost international demand on hotel occupancy levels is most obvious in Bali, which continues to trail the country’s regional markets in the recovery process, according to STR’s latest data.
Indonesia finished 2020 in similar shape as its regional peers. Domestic demand was strong enough to lift hotel occupancy from pandemic low points but not sufficient to overcome the void in international travel.
Aside from a Singapore occupancy level lifted by quarantine demand, Indonesia was right in line with other Asia-Pacific countries at 36 per cent for the year.
Business was worse in Bali, however, with occupancy hanging below 20 per cent for much of the year. At the same time, Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, and Surabaya rose to greater levels thanks to those markets’ heavier reliance on domestic demand.
Occupancy levels for all cities started to pick up in June after the end of a three-month “emergency period” implemented by the Indonesian government. Occupancy spikes at the end of 2020 were aligned with New Year’s celebrations, while additional higher periods in Bandung correlated with national holidays such as the Islamic New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday celebrations.
To counter lower occupancy levels, Bali’s hoteliers have been able to somewhat rely on room rates to drive revenue per available room (RevPAR). For 2020, Bali’s ADR was 91 per cent higher than the national average.
Regardless, when indexing RevPAR to 2019 levels, Bali remains much further behind other key markets in the country. Because of the pandemic impact on 2020 data, 2019 serves as the benchmark as hoteliers measure their recovery.
The most recent preliminary data from February shows that Bali is still averaging daily occupancy below 35 per cent. While the country’s vaccine campaign, which began in mid-January, supplies reason for optimism, there is still no timetable for a reopening to foreign visitors. That eventual reopening will provide the boost that Indonesia’s hoteliers most need.
Vietjet restarts international flights
Vietjet has resumed regular international flights connecting Vietnam’s major hubs with Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei, since last Friday (April 2).
Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok are scheduled to depart every Friday, and the service from Hanoi to Seoul (Incheon International Airport) is scheduled to depart from April 15.
Meanwhile, the flights from Hanoi to Tokyo (Narita International Airport) are scheduled to depart from April 6, while the services from Hanoi to Taipei are scheduled to depart from April 11.
All services from Vietnam will only serve passengers who meet the immigration regulations of the host countries and territories. These travellers are usually Vietnamese citizens studying, working, or visiting relatives overseas, or foreigners returning home from Vietnam.
Passengers are advised to seek detailed information at the embassies and diplomatic agencies of related countries to complete required procedures and paperwork to ease the immigration process on arrival.
In a recent interview, the director of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shared that personal and leisure travel will likely return during the second half of this year. And I’m sure I don’t just speak for myself when I admit to a little cry of joy at the prospect of being able to cross borders once more.
But before rushing to book your next flight, there’s another reality that travellers of 2021 and beyond must face before embarking on new adventures – one of which I’m sure we’re all acutely aware of. According to Sabre’s APAC Travel Sentiment Survey, health and safety is now would-be travellers’ top concern – and rightly so.
It goes without saying that travel and tourism businesses will need to implement the right measures to reassure, protect, and gain the trust of customers as we slowly return to the skies and the seas.
And data will be critical in helping us achieve this.
Supporting vaccination efforts
First and foremost, vaccination against Covid-19 is indisputably one of the main strategies for travel to resume. And in the high-tech and data-driven era we live in now, companies like Lenovo are constantly innovating and designing new tools and solutions to assist medical professionals.
From developing precision medicine for customised treatments, to accelerating human gene analysis, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High Performance Computing (HPC) provide much-needed support to researchers all over the world. Specifically to Lenovo, our Genomics Optimization and Scalability Tool (GOAST) has already effectively sped up the processing of a human genome from what was previously 150 hours to just 48 minutes. This greatly improves efficiency as scientists race to develop vaccines to combat Covid-19.
Making processes safe and secure
But even with vaccines in place, there’s not yet enough data to suggest how long they might be effective and how much they can cut transmission rates – not to mention the potential for outliers. So, particularly in the early days, to mitigate risks, minimising interhuman contact in travel must continue to be a top priority to ensure safety.
For countries to reopen and welcome visitors, new technology can be adopted at various checkpoints for smooth, seamless, and safe travel. For instance, AddFor, Lenovo’s AI solutions partner provides smart solutions like: FEVERCheck, which measures body temperature without contact; FACEFind, which uses biometrics for identification and access into restricted areas; and SOCIALdistancing, a real-time tool that automatically calculates the distance between individuals and reports violations of regulations.
Closer to home, facial and iris scans are quickly replacing fingerprints as the main mode of identification, doing away with traditionally high-touch machines. Keen to secure the nation’s position as an aviation hub, the Singapore government continues to invest in more on-arrival testing and biosafety systems, and the adoption of these contactless scans show no sign of slowing down.
Enabling seamless travel across borders
Smart travel in the post-pandemic world will entail seamless data sharing across borders. As frequent travellers seek entry into various countries, vaccinated and regularly tested individuals may soon be exempted from serving quarantine. With data sharing agreements in place, tech can enable easy identification of these eligible travellers – potentially improving the experience for both individuals and businesses like airlines and accommodation.
Elevating the future travel experience
Of course, everything we’ve discussed so far looks at that which is imminent – but if applied innovatively, data can allow us to safeguard and enhance the travel experience of tomorrow. By harnessing and effectively using technology, travel businesses will have opportunities to deliver next-level services to stand out from the competition.
For example, whether it is offering travel packages tailored to specific interests, the use of helpful voice assistants, or smart features that automatically set up guest rooms according to their preferences, travellers in the future stand to benefit from even more personalisation.
As travel looks to not just recover, but to grow and thrive post-pandemic, it is clear that data and tech will continue to play integral roles in strengthening the industry. Be it personalisation to elevate experiences, or smart solutions that make checkpoints safer, the potential that technology offers is limitless. With the adoption of new and ever-improving innovations, the world may indeed come out of this crisis better prepared to weather future storms – potentially never needing to close our borders again.