While the reopening of its borders to international tourism remains uncertain, the Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) is sparing no effort in engaging the travel trade in Greater China during this downtime.
Apart from updating trade partners on product and destination knowledge, it also identified business opportunities and assisted both Queensland industry and Chinese travel trade partners wherever possible.
In fact, TEQ’s office in Greater China has recently developed an idea to promote and sell consumer goods to generate small but critical revenue for both Queensland tourism operators and travel trade partners in the Greater China region. Dubbed Project Perk Up, a range of Queensland products were introduced and distributed via Chinese travel trade staff to consumers during the lockdown period. To date, 13 key travel trade partners in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have generated more than A$64,000 (US$47,100) in retail revenue from the project.
Moreover, TEQ has conducted a series of livestream programmes with different themes, aimed at delivering Queensland destination information and experiences to help support trade partners in China. As of November 11, a total of 18 livestream sessions have been held to 6,441 participants, with total viewership of 14,594. Similar travel trade training programmes have also been and will continue to be delivered in Hong Kong and Taiwan, through both online and offline methods.
TEQ CEO Leanne Coddington told TTG Asia: “TEQ has worked closely with our key partner, Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), to connect Queensland operators and suppliers with Hong Kong trade and media partners to source and introduce Queensland products to consumers, ensuring that consumers are able to still get a taste of Queensland whilst they are unable to visit.
“We see great potential in developing e-commerce opportunities in Hong Kong. As a result of our partnership with TIQ, there are increasing numbers of Queensland products now being sold in Hong Kong such as wagyu beef from Kur-Cow Barnwell Farm, Bundaberg ginger beer, lobster tail, scallop, King prawns, heath products, chocolates, eggs and vegetables.”
Last Monday (November 30), the government agency organised its annual Greater China Industry luncheon in a hybrid format, drawing about 111 trade representatives from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Taiwan (99 from mainland China, three from Hong Kong and nine from Taiwan).
Speaking remotely from Queensland, Coddington cited a ‘test’ project with Ctrip featuring top Queensland hotels and airline deals that has generated over 1,000 leads for air ticket and hotel vouchers in less than a month. Additionally, the agency has also rolled out Queensland Moments, a WeChat activity inviting partners to share their past vacation photos taken in Queensland, to trigger happy holiday memories of the Australian state.
She said: “TEQ has been keeping its finger on the pulse of its key international markets. We have been adapting to the ever-changing climate this year, and working to inspire our trade partners, stakeholders, media and consumers through aspirational content and engaging events. Our current strategies in Hong Kong and China are simple and straightforward: keep the industry engaged and to position Queensland at the top of trade partners’ and consumers’ minds when they are considering their next international holiday once Australia’s borders reopen.”
TEQ group executive – global marketing, Michael Branagh, opined that although international travellers are unable to visit Queensland for now, the agency is working to understand them better and exploring innovative ways to continue engaging with them.
He said: “Our team in Greater China has developed projects such as Q Style and Beautiful Reconnection, which are UGC (user-generated content) campaigns, aiming to keep Queensland top of consumers’ minds via key opinion leaders. We believe that the businesses which have the strongest understanding of their consumers, and their future wants and needs, will be in the best position to compete in what will be an incredibly crowded market, as global travel rebounds.
“With the support of Tourism Australia, we are working with Ctrip and Trip.com to deliver a campaign, targeting the Australian-based Chinese community. We know this community is important to our tourism recovery, represents a large and valuable target segment, travels frequently, and is a key influencer for travel decisions made by visiting friends and relatives.”
During the event, a slew of TEQ stakeholders gave an online update on their latest happenings. For instance, Tourism Whitsundays CEO, Tash Wheeler, unveiled new developments in the region, including Reefsuites by Cruise Whitsundays boasting Australia’s first underwater accommodation, InterContinental Hayman Island Resort which opened in late 2019, and the newly refurbished Coral Sea Resort at Airlie Beach Day. As well, Juliet Alabaster, general manager of business and major events at Brisbane Economic Development Agency, shared new itineraries and products to excite Chinese visitors, such as a camel ride and camel farm experience.
Location
The iconic hotel stands in the prime area of Marina Bay, skirting the busy commercial districts. Despite its central location, the hotel served up a relaxing escapade, complemented by convenience, accessibility and sweeping city views.
The integrated resort is stocked with shops and restaurants running the gamut from local fare to Michelin-starred restaurants, spoiling guests with pampering choices for a comfortable and indulgent stay.
Rooms
Three towers of rooms present a variety of vistas, from Gardens by the Bay to Singapore’s iconic cityscape. I was given the Premier King Sky View Room, a 44m2 space complete with seating area and arresting city view. Its spacious bathroom boasted a large deep-soaking bathtub, as well as split shower and lavatory – especially convenient for sharing guests.
Due to Covid-19, all towels in the bathroom were individually packed in plastic for hygiene purposes. I personally wished to see a more environmentally friendly, biodegradable alternative, especially as there was no card to indicate my preference to reuse my towels.
F&B
The integrated resort is bursting at the seams with award-winning restaurants, celebrity chef-helmed establishments and Michelin-starred offerings. On my visit, I had the privilege of enjoying several dining experiences, with three standout affairs: Japanese concept Koma, casual a la carte buffet at Rise and a contemporary Italian-American rooftop dinner at Lavo. All restaurants now provide disposable paper envelopes with which to store our masks.
Koma opened last year under the helm of Tao Group, which also operates the dramatic Marquee Nightclub. Enjoying a meal in Koma feels like dining in a private Japanese garden, with dedicated waiters and fusion Asian meals delighting the senses. Although sushi and sashimi are staples of Japanese dining, it would be remiss not to try some of its fusion fare. My personal favourites include the flavourful yellowtail ginger jalapeno, charred barbecued short rib and savoury miso-glazed eggplant.
At Rise, its popular buffet has been reconfigured into a more ‘pandemic-friendly’ concept. While dishes are now ordered and many served a-la-minute, the restaurant itself still displays its enticing spread and the chefs continue to prepare meals in full view of eager guests, protected by glass barriers. Dishes do take longer to arrive now, but freshness is ensured.
Finally, Lavo presented an unforgettable experience to top off the memorable staycation. At 57 storeys above the city, the Italian-American restaurant served a varied menu of surprising and delightful treats. My meal started off with an intriguing presentation of tuna tartare, served in mini cones but big on flavour. The penne seafood alfredo that followed was a deceptively simple, but creamy and lip-smacking dish. Though filled up by now, I chowed down the final prize: Oreo zeppole, double-stuffed and fried Oreo bites served with a bowl of malted vanilla milkshake.
Facilities
Being an integrated resort, Marina Bay Sands is fully fitted with conveniences and indulgences alike. The Premier King Sky View Room afforded me a faster and quieter check-in experience at the Check-In Lounge, as well as access to the exclusive Club 55 lounge.
The Infinity Pool – no doubt a centrepiece of the property – operates differently now with the pandemic in mind. Guests must book a slot to visit the pool, which is cleaned every other hour before the next cohort of visitors. Timings are limited, so guests are encouraged to book a slot as soon as they have made a room reservation.
Additionally, all entrances and exits of the hotel, the Shoppes, the train station and the ArtScience Museum are marked by SafeEntry gantries, and guests must scan their national identity card, or their TraceTogether app or token, in order to enter or leave that portion of the resort.
Guests looking for an extra experience can keep an eye out for the soon-to-come Sustainability & Art Guided Tour. This new offering takes guests through the lesser-known details of massive art installations and designs commissioned for the resort – some that even contribute to its environmental efforts. These include the iconic Rain Oculus, which collects and distributes rain water to an internal filtering system, as well as ‘hidden’ light sensors that optimise indoor lighting according to daylight.
Service
Hospitality is invariably a key product of this Sands property. Throughout my dining experiences, waitstaff and even chefs were happy to explain the concept of their dishes. Even housekeeping staff were extremely friendly and accommodating, checking on my preferred timing for cleaning as well as offering me extra minibar top-ups and amenities.
This outstanding service is what contributes to the signature experience, and sets the bar high for a luxury staycation.
Verdict
With its unforgettable dining experiences and hospitality, alongside its wealth of guest offerings such as the upcoming tour, Marina Bay Sands has maintained its standing even for a discerning local crowd. Its packages and promotions now make it a good deal for a pampering long weekend.
Number of rooms 2,561
Rate From S$540 (US$403)
Contact details
Tel: 65 6688 8868
Email: room.reservations@marinabaysands.com
Website: www.marinabaysands.com