Climate action blueprint for destinations in the works
Two global tourism bodies have come together to develop a blueprint for climate action in destinations.
The blueprint, helmed by the Future of Tourism Coalition (FoTC) and Tourism Declares, will combine the frameworks, tools, best practice and resources required for destinations to deliver action plans that align tourism with the need to reduce global emissions by at least half by 2030. Its publish date has been timed to coincide with the UN Climate Change Conference in November, and is intended as a free, practical resource for anyone to use.
The hope is that it will be adopted as the standard approach to scale up climate action and transform the industry. Other climate action blueprints are also being created by Tourism Declares for accommodation providers and tour operators.
Supporters and members of both tourism bodies will help co-create the destination blueprint, and a smaller group of “Destination Climate Leaders” will be identified to lead the process. Progress will be shared regularly on both group’s websites and other channels to encourage wider consultation and contributions from anyone working on this issue.
Jeremy Smith, co-founder of Tourism Declares, said: “It is essential that 2021 is a turning point for our industry, the year when delivering against science-based Climate Action Plans becomes standard practice for travel and tourism organisations.” Alongside the FoTC, both groups will “co-create a new, low-carbon, destination blueprint”.
Jeremy Sampson, chair of the FoTC, added: “We’ve been working closely with Tourism Declares since we launched last summer, as climate change is the big issue that cuts right across our 13 guiding principles for the future of tourism. We would like our two initiatives to align as seamlessly as possible, as we need engagement, insights, experience and expertise from all parts of our diverse industry to find the best solutions for tomorrow’s tourism.”
AHRA names new board of directors
The ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHRA) has appointed a new board of directors at its recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) held virtually for the first time.
The new office bearers will serve a term of service from 2021 to 2023. AHRA members unanimously elected Eugene Yap of the Hotel & Restaurant of the Philippines as the president for the second term, in another first for the association.
Yap said: “We are optimistic of a healthy recovery for the tourism and hotel industry with positive developments and deployment of vaccinations across the region. (South-east Asia) is an important market for not only the world, but also its very own member states, and this will be the key to our economic recovery for the next two years.”
Meanwhile, Ben Montgomery from Thai Hotels Association will take on the role of first vice president; Chenda Clais from Cambodia Hotel Association, as second vice president; and Hariyadi B.S. Sukamdani from Perhimpunan Hotel dan Restoran Indonesia (PHRI), as third vice president.
Assuming the position of secretary general is Margaret Heng from Singapore Hotel Association, while Christina Toh from Malaysian Association of Hotels will be the honorary Treasurer.
The AGM was attended by members from nine countries, with each member country represented by respective national hotel and restaurant associations sharing situation updates, strategies as well as outlook of the tourism and hospitality industry for the year ahead.
Despite the pandemic’s devastating impact on the industry, AHRA said that it remains “strong and determined” in rebuilding the industry through sharing of resources and strategic collaborations across the region. Part of AHRA’s roadmap to recovery includes industry support events with focus on tourism safety and health, sustainability, human resources and productivity, as well as a regional hospitality conference set for 3Q2021.
Marriott Bonvoy puts purpose into travel
Marriott International has launched Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy, a programme that aims to offer meaningful travel by helping tourists forge connections with local communities in their host destination.
Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy kicked off on Tuesday with a pilot at 15 Marriott International hotels across Asia-Pacific, offering purpose-driven experiences that focus on three pillars: Environmental Protection to support the resiliency of the natural environment due to environmental degradation, pollution and climate change; Community Engagement to create a positive impact in the communities where the group’s properties operate through cultural education or volunteerism; and Marine Conservation to restore and preserve marine ecosystems and species.
Current experiences range from planting saplings at the JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa in India to coral propagation, transplanting, and restoration at the Sheraton Maldives Fullmoon Resort and Spa in the Maldives. Other ways that travellers can make a positive impact in host communities include food redistribution in Bali, and beach cleanups in Sanya.
All these experiences are guided by Marriott’s sustainability and social impact platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
On the motivation behind the carving out of Good Travel under the Marriott Bonvoy programme, Bart Buiring, chief sales and marketing officer of Marriott International Asia Pacific, said: “This umbrella creation within Marriott Bonvoy would make it easier to search and identify these specific experiences. Some of them have been around, while some of them are new. But the time to launch them is now, as people become more conscious of learning and engaging in more meaningful travel.”
Over time, Buiring shared that Good Travel will be expanded to most of Marriott’s Asia-Pacific destinations. But first, he pointed out, feedback from travellers on current experiences was needed, while the engineering of new experiences within hotels or cluster hotels is ongoing.
Hotel Equatorial Penang succumbs to Covid
The five-star Hotel Equatorial Penang, which has been in operation for more than 30 years, is set to shut its doors for good by March 31, the latest hospitality casualty of Covid-19.
In an internal memo to employees, general manager Alan Ong said the decision was made due to the “adverse business conditions caused by Covid-19”, reported the Malay Mail.
The hotel’s last day of operations has yet to be decided, but it will be before March 31, he added.
“Until we officially cease operations, all of you shall remain as employees of the hotel and we remain committed to upkeep the strong heritage and name of Hotel Equatorial Penang,” Ong said in the letter dated January 25.
Despite having chalked up “huge losses”, the company said that it will still pay severance benefits to employees, with details to be announced later.
Klook gains US$200 million in Series E funding round
Travel and leisure booking platform Klook has raised US$200 million in additional funding through a Series E round led by Aspex Management and other investors.
Sequoia Capital China, Softbank Vision Fund 1, Matrix Partners China, and Boyu Capital, who are existing investors, also participated in this round of funding.
Investment confidence in Klook stems from its “resilience and adaptability despite the market headwinds”, said Hermes Li, CIO and Founder of Aspex Management.
“We believe the transition toward digital bookings will only accelerate post Covid-19, and that Klook’s ability to reinvent itself as a one-stop-shop for experiences and services across the region puts it in prime position to capitalize on this trend,” Li added.
Throughout 2020’s travel crisis, Klook re-prioritised its core strategic strengths to tackle the impact of the pandemic on the business. The company focused on two main areas – digitising the experiences booking sector, and launching new verticals such as staycations and car rental.
Some of the new tools piloted in 2020 included a free-to-use Contact Tracing System for Philippine partners, Attractions Plus module to support attractions and major establishments, and Klook Live!: Interactive livestream mobile feature, which allows users to experience merchants’ offerings up-close through entertaining and interactive instant video content.
At the height of the pandemic, Klook onboarded 150 per cent more activities compared to the same period in 2019.
Key markets where Covid-19 restrictions have eased, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, have witnessed increased spending on local experiences, with bookings reaching near pre-pandemic levels as locals start exploring domestically.
“Despite a challenging 2020, we have shown our mettle, turning challenges into growth opportunities with agility and constant innovation. We’ve observed over the past year that consumers have a pent-up desire to explore and enjoy themselves, despite international travel being paused. Instead, they are turning inwards – exploring new and unique experiences right in their backyard,” said Ethan Lin, CEO and co-Founder at Klook.
“This new capital further strengthens our leading position to take us from defense to offense, as domestic tourism becomes ubiquitous and international travel gradually returns.”
With this new capital, the company will accelerate the development and roll-out of its merchant SaaS solutions, which will empower any merchant to build, manage, and scale their business with Klook.
“We are setting out to reimagine the next digital leap for the experiences sector which has traditionally been fragmented with offline practices or legacy systems that do not truly address the realities of a post-Covid world. Since day one, Klook has been working closely with our merchants, both big and small, to identify common pain points that we can solve together. With this new funding, we have additional ammunition to accelerate our technology innovation, and truly transform and empower this space for future growth,” added Eric Gnock Fah, COO and co-founder at Klook.
Thailand targets US$100m from foreign film productions in 2021 to lift travel recovery
Thailand’s tourism authorities have been wooing regional and international film crews to the country’s shores, with a goal of generating three billion baht (US$100 million) from hosting such productions this year.
Film productions with a budget of over 100 million baht, featuring well-known directors or A-list actors, are being targeted, reported the Bangkok Post.
According to recent data from the Tourism and Sports Ministry, Thailand welcomed a mere 6.7 million international visitors last year, generating 332 billion baht – down 82.63 per cent from the previous year.
The Chinese market accounted for the biggest fall, with visitor numbers plummeting from nearly 11 million in 2019 to just 1.2 million.
Thailand’s plan to attract foreign film companies to shoot productions in the country is one of many measures taken by the country to reboot its once-booming tourism sector ravaged by the pandemic.
Anant Wongbenjarat, director-general of the Tourism Department, was quoted by the report as saying that international productions can “generate income for locals, despite the tourism slowdown”.
According to the Tourism Department, Thailand hosted 176 foreign film productions in the country last year, raking in 1.73 billion baht for the local economy. The bulk came from China, followed by India, the UK, the US and South Korea.
The number of foreign productions was a far cry compared with the 4.86 billion baht generated by the 740 foreign film crews in the country in 2019.
After the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration granted special entry permission to film crews last August, 53 film productions were based in Thailand during August and December, contributing 1.14 billion baht to the economy, according to the report.
This month, four more film productions are underway, set to generate 186 million baht, it added.
Another nine productions, accounting for a combined budget of 850 million baht, have sought to film in Thailand during 1H2021, which would help create 800 jobs for locals.
Maldives revives calendar of fam trips
Journalists representing leading publications in the Middle East arrived in the Maldives on Tuesday, the first of many fam trips to be hosted by Visit Maldives this year as the destination ramps up tourism recovery efforts.
The six-day study trip is focused on family, safety and affordability, and demonstrates stringent Covid-19 safety measures that are in place.
Visit Maldives said the resulting editorial coverage would be circulated physically more than 95,000 times, with an online reach of more than 3.7 million.
Other marketing activities aimed at the Middle East will include joint promotions with notable tour operators and prominent airlines, participation in key travel trade fairs in the Middle East and roadshows covering the GCC&KSA region. Additionally, Arabic-language focused digital, social media and virtual activities are in the pipeline, aiming to maintain the destination presence and promote the Maldives as the most preferred destination within the market.
In 2020, 26,288 tourists visited the Maldives from the Middle East, which was a considerable drop from 2019’s 60,003 footfalls.
However, with core markets from the region leading post-lockdown tourism growth in the Maldives, and with arrivals growing day by day, Visit Maldives is confident of achieving pre-pandemic arrival numbers this year.
Thailand to warmly welcome inoculated travellers
Foreigners who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 will be welcomed with open arms by Thailand through a new campaign set to launch in 3Q2021.
Titled Welcome Back to Thailand Again, the campaign is the country’s bid to reclaim lost international arrivals throughout the pandemic. According to Chamnan Srisawat, president of Tourism Council of Thailand, Thai travel operators have started talks with agencies in potential markets, such as China, to restart destination marketing and prepare for future trips.
More than one billion people across the world are expected to be vaccinated by the end of June 2021, which could bring about a return in travel demand.
If the campaign proves successful, it could save up to 400,000 hotel jobs and 400,000 in related businesses across Thailand.
In 2020, 6.9 million foreigners travelled to Thailand, down from 40 million in 2019. It is predicted that Thailand will only see 10 million footfalls this year.
The way forward
By Mimi Hudoyo and Pamela Chow
Indonesia
The Covid-19 vaccine roll out across the world has raised hopes of business recovery among Indonesian travel agents, most of whom are regarding 2021 with cautious optimism.
Budijanto Ardiansjah, vice chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), said the widespread availability of Covid-19 vaccines is the turning point for the industry, as inoculated consumers will have confidence to return to travel.
Budi Tirtawisata, group CEO of Panorama Group, hopes people in the travel and related industries will get vaccinated early, as they are in direct contact with customers and travellers. He revealed that the private sector is discussing the possibility of purchasing vaccines for their employees. Should the government give the nod, this would enhance the national vaccination programme.
However, the current optimism barely masks the fact that travel agencies are among the worst hit by the pandemic in Indonesia’s travel and tourism industry.
Both ASITA and the Indonesian Travel Agents Association (ASTINDO) have reported that more than 90 per cent of their members are in a very bad shape, and some five per cent have given up on their business.
Pauline Suharno, secretary general of ASTINDO, said members in the secondary cities are suffering the most, as they do not get as many staycation and corporate travel business compared to those in Jakarta.
“Even (travel agencies in) a big city like Surabaya are suffering,” she said.
To ride out the storm, many have chosen to shrink operations. Pauline, who is also the commissioner and director of her own agency, Elok Tour, has had to close a number of brunch offices.
Budijanto said retrenchment was usually the last option, as travel companies wanted as many staff on deck as possible to ramp up operations quickly when conditions improve.
“Many companies are surviving on their savings,” he added.
To maintain staff morale, travel agencies and industry associations have rolled out various training programmes on topics such as digital marketing and destination updates.
At ASTINDO, education is centred on Indonesian product updates to help members make the best out of domestic tourism opportunities. According to Pauline, most ASTINDO members specialise in ticketing and outbound.
Temporary diversification into other businesses has also proven useful to keep staff occupied. Elok Tour has created a marketplace for staff to sell food products, and arranged to support a number of hospitals with their PCR test service.
Similarly, Panorama Group started the Orange Kitchen marketplace, which initially sold only food products and has now opened up the platform for clients to sell their products, such as cosmetics.
“This is a way for us to maintain our close relationship with our clients and business partners,” said Budi Tirtawisata, CEO, Panorama Group.
Singapore
Members of the community in Singapore have found reprieve in pivoting towards new business models and, in some cases, entirely new segments altogether. DMC Discova, which has offices in Asia and the Americas operating under the Flight Centre Group, is supporting its staff through a variety of remote retraining and alternative business courses.
Its managing director for Asia, Suyin Lee, shared: “We’ve had to right-size our operations and reduce our cost base, which has impacted some of our great people. However, we’ve continued to train our people and our guides, and are providing financial support and business skills training to those wanting to launch a side business in the interim. We’re also helping our communities launch programmes which will provide alternative work and revenue in the absence of international tourists.”
Lee revealed that Discova’s travel partners have been “seeing an uptick in travel enquiries for the second part of the year”, but in the meantime, it has retrained a core part of its workforce in Asia to support domestic tourism and prepare for travel resumption.
Meanwhile, homegrown and household name Dynasty Travel has also adeptly adapted its workforce to cater to the burgeoning domestic market. During the quarantine last year, its staff engaged in a charity baking drive in order to raise funds and foster team morale.
With Singapore loosening activity restrictions, product development planners – who once handled destinations such as Europe, America, Australia, Japan and South Korea – now plan sightseeing tours for local residents.
“Local itineraries include staycations and visiting a mask factory (for guests to) learn how to wear the right mask to protect ourselves. We also work with tourism boards in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and New Zealand to keep our customers informed of the latest news through webinars and video streaming,” described Alicia Seah, director, public relations & communications, Dynasty Travel.
It has combined its Group Tours and Free and Easy departments, retraining its staff to sell across a range products, and partnered with private healthcare provider Raffles Medical Group. The latter allows future travellers who sign up for Dynasty Travel packages to pre-book and perform their swab tests at any of the group’s 36 clinics in Singapore.
“The role of travel agencies will become more critical as we begin to offer an entire travel package focused on meeting safety requirements before and after the trip,” expressed Seah.
For agencies struggling with transforming their businesses, the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) is mediating a series of discussions between its members and government agencies to facilitate cross-business collaborations.
President of NATAS, Steven Ler, told TTG Asia: “Since July last year, many agencies have been working on how to create more local tours and variations of virtual tours. Some members have gone into hibernation, while some have transformed their businesses to get into the domestic market.”
Ler said that although NATAS runs at cost and has not been able to provide funding support, it has worked with government agencies, such as Singapore Tourism Board, to help push out schemes to subsidise affected industry members.
Since April 2020, the Singapore government has provided wage support for employees of impacted sectors – including tourism and aviation – covering up to 75 per cent of their monthly wages last year, and up to 50 per cent for 1Q2021.
Ler added: “In the next six to 12 months, we will continue to look at how agencies can collaborate with businesses in other sectors, and work with the government to get more support. We would like to see a collaborative effort from (our member) agencies and government ministries, in order to fund some bridging resources to help agencies transform – and perhaps even move beyond local into regional partnerships.”
Cordis Hangzhou, Sci-Tech City, China
Located in the heart of the high technological and integrated complex, Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City, Cordis Hangzhou is a luxury hotel which features 186 rooms and suites, including the 190m2 Presidential suite which houses a living room, dining area, private kitchen and bedroom. Two signature restaurants and a bar are on offer. Chinese restaurant, Ming Court, features Cantonese and local cuisine; while the all-day dining restaurant, Cordis Market, offers a customised, cook-to-order interactive buffet experience. Elsewhere, The Bar serves curated fine wines, vintage whiskeys and cocktails, alongside bar snacks and finger food. For recreation, there is a heated indoor swimming pool, spa, and 24-hour gym. Six meeting and event venues on-site include a business centre and a 600m2 pillarless grand ballroom which can accommodate up to 300 guests and is divisible into three individual rooms. The other four meeting rooms feature natural lighting and an unblocked city view.
Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The opening of Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh marks the first Hyatt hotel in the Cambodian capital and the debut of the Hyatt Regency brand in the Kingdom of Wonder. With 247 guestrooms including 43 residential-style suites, Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh is the largest internationally branded hotel in the city. Guests have a choice of five dining venues, including Market Café Restaurant & Lounge, an all-day dining concept serving buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and à la carte options; Metropole Underground, a metro-themed bar offering live music and local beers; and a speakeasy-style bar, The Attic, specialising in handcrafted cocktails and grand cru wines. Elsewhere, the FiveFive Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, boasting an open-plan dining setting and live DJ performances, serves sustainable seafood, locally-sourced meats and produce, as well as cocktails.
A total of 1400m2 of meeting and event space is available on-site, including the Regency Ballroom that can accommodate up to 490 guests and boasts floor-to-ceiling windows. Meanwhile, nine meeting suites and social spaces provide flexible arrangements. Additionally, The Poolhouse features an outdoor barbecue area and an open terrace, accommodating up to 70 guests. Recreational facilities include a 22m outdoor infinity pool, a poolside bar, a Himalayan salt room and a steam room, alongside a spa and 24-hour gym.
Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu Thamel, Nepal
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has made its entry into Nepal via the 90-room Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu-Thamel. Located in the centre of Kathmandu, the capital and largest city in Nepal, the newly-built hotel is part of a rejuvenation project of the city’s commercial centre. Guests can choose from a variety of F&B outlets, including the Pateo restaurant and bar; the outdoor El Beso Caro offering scenic city views; as well as Chocos N Subs, serving light meals and coffee. Other amenities include a rooftop plunge pool, a spa and salon, as well as a fitness centre. The hotel also features a versatile meeting room to accommodate up to 60 conference attendees or 80 banquet guests.
The Royal Park Canvas – Kobe Sannomiya, Japan
The newest venture of Royal Park Hotels and Resorts Company aims to connect travellers and locals in Kobe, a bustling city filled with unique small shops and restaurants. Seated in Sannomiya, the centre of Kobe city, the 170-key lifestyle hotel wants to appeal particularly to couples and families who appreciate an authentic environment and like to connect with the local culture. As such, one of the hotel’s prime features is the Canvas Lounge, a space providing tea and coffee that is open to hotel guests and locals alike and is meant to stimulate exchange and communication.