Travelport’s new tool helps agents track airline safety measures

July 30, 2020

Travelport has launched its Airline Health & Safety Tracker, which allows travel agents and travellers easy access to the most up-to-date information on airline health and safety measures.

The free-to-use tool, which is available to both Travelport customers and the wider industry, highlights at a glance the safety measures being undertaken by more than 80 of the world’s largest airlines.

Both online and offline travel agencies can access the data through the Travelport Covid-19 Smartpoint Plugin, Travelport’s API-based merchandising solution, Branded Fares Data File, and the company’s Covid-19 Resource Hub, which is also available to the general public.

Kyle Moore, global head of customer strategy and marketing, Travelport, said that the tool “will help travellers to match their travel needs with the safety measures they expect, bringing back confidence in travel and supporting a strong industry recovery”.

The Travelport Airline Health & Safety Tracker monitors the use of seven safety measures: mandated use of face masks, socially distanced seating, temperature checks before boarding, improved air filtration, enhanced cleaning programmes, reduced onboard F&B services, and mandated traveller health certification or declaration. The data is presented in a simple visual format and is updated by Travelport on a weekly basis.

In the Travelport Covid-19 Smartpoint Plugin, which can be downloaded from Travelport Marketplace, the information is available alongside details on government restrictions, lockdowns and safety measures – updated on a daily basis by global travel safety intelligence provider, Safeture.

As the airline safety information is also available through Travelport Branded Fares Data File, Travelport’s online travel agency, corporate booking tool, and travel meta-search customers can easily integrate Travelport Airline Health & Safety Tracker data into their own booking tools.

Additionally, all of the information is available on the Travelport Covid-19 Resource Hub, along with comprehensive information on travel restrictions across the world; airline, hotel and car policy trackers; direct links to Travelport support services, and guides to the best way to use technology during the crisis.

Dream Cruises restarts Taiwan sailings; unveils Flexi-Feast dining concept

By TTG Asia

July 30, 2020

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Dream Cruises celebrated the restart of its cruise service and return to Taiwan during a special inaugural ceremony to launch Explorer Dream’s new Island Hopping itineraries tailored for the Taiwan market.

Departing from Keelung, the new cruises will call into the popular ports and islands of Peng Hu, Matsu Island and Kinmen as well as Hualien.

Taiwanese guests can now enjoy short cruise getaways with Explorer Dream’s island-hopping itineraries

The event was attended by a number of important guests from Taiwan, including the minister of transportation and communications, Lin Chia-lung; the minister of health & welfare, Chen Shih-chung; the mayor, Keelung government, Lin Yuchang; the director general of Maritime and Port Bureau, MOTC, Kuo Tien Kuei; the deputy director deneral of Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Chuang Jen-Hsiang; business partners, the media and representatives of Genting Cruise Lines.

Dream Cruises’ island-hopping cruises on board Explorer Dream will showcase Taiwan’s culinary and cultural heritage. For a taste of Taiwan, collaborations have been forged with the Council of Agriculture to provide local produce on board Explorer Dream and a new order-to-home service for their 2020 Top 100 Premium Agricultural Products on the ship.

Additionally, guests can sample local brands including Sharetea, Taihu Beer, Tien Hsia San Chueh Noodle Cuisine, Formosa Chang, SunnyHills and Mark’s Teppanyaki from Marriott Taipei for everything from bubble tea to local craft beer and popular Taiwanese cuisine.

Making its debut is the new Flexi-Feast dining concept which allows passengers to choose from a wider range of venues and to dine at their leisure, helping to provide peace of mind for guests by easing bottlenecks at certain venues for a more spacious, comfortable environment on board.

Local travel experts have also been recruited as Dream Ambassadors to offer assistance and guidance to guests in their native languages.

Chinese travellers take a shine to South Korea

By TTG Asia

July 30, 2020

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South Korea is captivating the attention of Chinese travellers, with recent data from ForwardKeys revealing an increase in the number of flight searches made from China to South Korea.

Since late March 2020, there has been an increase in the number of flight searches made to South Korea, said the report, which compared flight searches from China to Asia against those from China to South Korea.

ForwardKeys data indicates growing interest in South Korea among Chinese travellers; shoppers strolling along Myeongdong, *Seoul’s* shopping mecca, pictured

Data also showed that South Korea is on a steady road of popularity against its Asian counterparts such as the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

“One of the reasons why South Korea may appeal so much to the Chinese travellers is the fact that it is one of the few countries in the world to have managed and controlled the outbreak of Covid-19 in a safe way,” said Lorena Garcia, senior analyst at ForwardKeys.

“The relative closeness and increasing frequency of flights between China and South Korea could be other contributing factors to explain this surge of interest,” added Nancy Dai, Asia expert.

The ForwardKeys flight search tool also revealed that the dramatic jump in airfares since 2019 hasn’t slowed down the number of searches. On the week starting June 29, the average airfare was US$706 – more than double the price of US$284 from a year ago.

Beyond South Korea, from China, other top searched destinations in June include Japan and Thailand. In addition, the trend for flying later or last-minute reflects how the uncertainty of flight schedules and travel restrictions has impacted the booking patterns and habits out of China.

“Since the outbreak of the pandemic, we have noticed that the average Chinese traveller has gone from two booking months in advance to booking just four days before their flight,” said Dai.

Garcia concluded: “Monitoring such travel trends is not just interesting for us analysts, but useful to share with our clients and audience, particularly the ones impacted by hotel bookings, duty-free shopping, and airlines.

“Knowing who is looking to fly, when and where, can save your business money in the investment you make in advertising, product development to even staffing.”

Greenview Portal gains GSTC-Recognized status

By TTG Asia

July 30, 2020

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The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has awarded Greenview Portal for the Hospitality Industry the GSTC-Recognized System status, making it the first sustainable tourism management system to achieve the accreditation.

This marks GSTC’s formal expansion of its recognition programme to apply to not only standards but also management systems. Last year, the council awarded Hilton LightStay the GSTC-Recognized status for its own portfolio, helping pave the way for expanded use of GSTC.

Greenview Portal first sustainable tourism management system to achieve GSTC-Recognized system status

GSTC CEO Randy Durband said: “By using GSTC-Recognized systems, hotel and tourism companies will now be able to embed the GSTC Criteria, which includes the full range of environmental and social considerations specifically developed for the tourism sector, throughout their management processes and set them on the path of continuous improvement and towards certification.”

The Greenview Portal is an industry-specific system developed by Singapore-based consultancy Greenview that allows hotel companies to track, measure and improve in areas of environmental sustainability and social responsibility at property or multi-site level. The online platform allows hotel owners, operators, and affiliations to track, benchmark, report and improve on various aspects of environmental and social performance.

Greenview founder and CEO, Eric Ricaurte, said: “The investor community’s interest in environmental, social and governance performance is growing and we are seeing governments proactively pursue solutions to destination management across the value chain. In addition, consumer demand for clearly identifiable sustainable products is increasing, and as a result so is OTA interest in providing relevant content.

“The GSTC provides the consistent framework under which results can be achieved. This recognition will enable our hotel and hotel company clients to ensure their sustainability programmes are fully aligned with the GSTC Criteria and address this stakeholder interest, while delivering tangible value with a practical system.”

Users of the Greenview Portal that have made significant progress in their adherence to the GSTC Criteria, will be able to achieve certification following an external audit by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.

Trip.com’s live-stream sessions in Singapore and China rake in over US$2.72m for Singapore hotels

By TTG Asia

July 30, 2020

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Singapore hotels and attractions are seeing strong demand both domestically and overseas, especially among outbound Chinese travellers, despite the uncertainties amid the prevailing pandemic.

Trip.com Group said in a press statement that it recently recorded sales of over 12,000 room nights for Singapore hotels amounting to a gross merchandise value of more than S$3.75 million (US$2.72m) over two recently concluded livestreams in Singapore and China.

Trip.com sees over 12,000 room nights for Singapore hotels sold in two recent live-stream events, with Marina Bay Sands emerging as the top performer in the Chinese market during the Boss Live session

James Liang, co-founder and chairman of Trip.com Group, said: “In a post-Covid world, travellers would be looking to visit places where they feel safe and assured of the government’s handling of the situation. Singapore has demonstrated its capability in handling the outbreak and it is no surprise that we are seeing such strong demand for Singapore hotels and attractions in both the domestic and overseas markets.”

The livestream sessions, part of Trip.com Group’s recently launched Travel On campaign, are designed to provide additional visibility for hotels and attractions in various markets across Asia and rejuvenate the travel industry.

Trip.com Group CMO Bo Sun added: “We will continue to work closely with our local partners to promote Singapore’s diverse offerings domestically and around the world. We will also collaborate with the Singapore Tourism Board on other initiatives for overseas visitors at a later stage. Market-specific recovery plans have also been developed in consultation with our global partners to ensure a safe and calibrated resumption of international travel once the global situation stabilises.”

Top performers in the Chinese market during the Boss Live session hosted by Liang included Marina Bay Sands which sold out 2,600 rooms, Resorts World Sentosa – Hard Rock Hotel, and Fairmont Singapore. Singaporeans were also quick to snap up room nights for staycations at Parkroyal Collection Pickering, Singapore; Shangri-La Hotel; and The Outpost Hotel Sentosa during the livestream on July 21.

Packages sold via the livestream all come with a Flexibooking Guarantee and are fully refundable prior to redemption, another initiative by the group to mitigate uncertainty and restore confidence in travel.

Rejuvenate and recalibrate

By TTG

July 30, 2020

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Brought to you by Gangwon Provincial Office

Yearning to take off on the next incentive trip or team building exercise as working from home takes a toll on physical and mental health?

In assisting planners for the next corporate getaway – be it to connect with one’s inner soul or embarking on an exhilarating adventure in the great outdoors – Gangwon Provincial Office presents a selection of retreats and activities that allow guests to rediscover themselves, and emerge refreshed.

Park Roche Resort & Wellness

Sugam Lab, a collaboration between the resort and Ace Bed R&D Institute, matches body type measurements to individual bedding for a guest’s duration of stay. Body composition and stress level measurements are then used to recommend personalised wellness programmes and outcomes analysed with a scientific approach.

Wellness programmes are also divided into three themes, starting from improving one’s daily habits, to reigniting passion and motivation, to revolutionary mediation techniques. Guests are also encouraged to participate in activities that calm their mind; for instance, painting stone or patterning mandala, practicing calligraphy and making herbarium.

Donghae Mureung Health Forest

A forest where no one would object losing themselves in, guests traverse a skywalk-type bridge to access this sanctuary; while soaking up sweeping views of the Mureung Valley, a must-see destination for its commanding scenery.

Guests may also choose from a variety of single-day or overnight (of up to 4) programmes. While single-day programmes lean more to craft making, overnight programmes can accommodate from 2 – 8 pax. Sit back and enjoy the views of the beautiful lake garden, sign up for healing or detoxing programmes led by well-trained instructors, or visit the Oseonnyeotang Outdoor Pool, which draws water from the Mureung Valley, in summer.

Yangyang Surfyy Beach

Blessed with a geographically coastal location, it’s surf’s up at South Korea’s first private beach for surfers located in Yangyang’s Hajodae beach.

There is something for everyone here, from surfing lessons to sussing out local produce at the traditional Yangyang Market – taking place every five days – get there early to beat the snaking queue for the stall peddling fish cake boiled in red crab broth.

For visitors who seek some zen from the hipster vibe, go to Naksana Temple, one of the few Buddhist monasteries overlooking the east coast and experience a variety of temple stay programmes such as Dadam (dialogues over a cup of tea) with monks.

Chuncheon Chosunilbo Marathon

The 2nd oldest marathon in Korea held every October coincides with the autumn season. Organise a team run to take in scenic Chuncheon; as the marathon course – adorned in maple leaves – meanders along captivating views of Soyanggang River, Lake Soyang and Lake Uiam. Half, full and 10km courses are available.

Having come to the capital city of Gangwon, bond at Soyanggang Skywalk, an observatory facility set over Uiamho Lake. The 156m walking path made of transparent glass offers visitors a thrilling experience as if they were walking on the lake.

For more information on other destinations and activities in Gangwon, email Nuri Kim, tourism marketing manager, Gangwon Tourism Kuala Lumpur Office at kim.nuri@ymail.com.

Guangzhou issues US$4.29m in vouchers to spur domestic travel

By TTG Asia

July 29, 2020

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Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau has partnered with Tencent Cloud Computing (Beijing) to issue vouchers totalling RMB30 million (US$4.29 million) to Chinese residents as part of efforts to stimulate spending on tourism and culture.

The first batch of vouchers, which can be used at participating tourism and culture businesses in the city, including travel agencies, hotels, homestays, B&Bs and attractions, were released on July 17.

Guangzhou aims to boost consumption by issuing vouchers to Chinese residents; Huacheng Square in Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou pictured (Photo Credit: Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau)

Residents across China can enter the activity page on WeChat at 14.00 and 20.00 daily to stand the chance to obtain the vouchers, each valued at between RMB30 and RMB100. They should be registered on WeChat under their own name and have had the account with their real name authenticated.

Upon receiving the vouchers, they can use one voucher per purchase at participating businesses if the purchase value exceeds the amount stated on the voucher.

The impact of the vouchers on spending and other factors will be assessed before plans for potential follow-up initiatives are drawn, shared Chen Yongliang, deputy director, Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, at a recent press conference.

One travel supplier participating in the initiative is GZL International Travel Service. Its vice president, Wen Qian, shared at the press conference that customers can use the vouchers when purchasing any of GZL’s travel products, including group tours and pre-bookings of single travel products for FIT travel.

The company plans to publicise the vouchers and redemption guidelines across its marketing channels, and engage in relevant staff training, so the voucher distribution can achieve maximum impact, shared Wen.

As one of the first cities in China where stimulus measures for spending on culture are tested out, Guangzhou intends to provide insights on the effectiveness of driving overall consumption through stimulating tourism and culture spending, shared Chen.

– Translated by Angela Teo; this article was first published in TTG China

IHG sets foot in Halong Bay come 2023

By TTG Asia

July 29, 2020

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InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is set to debut the InterContinental brand in Halong Bay, Vietnam, with the signing of two new properties.

InterContinental Halong Bay Resort and InterContinental Residences Halong Bay, developed in partnership with Ha Long Investment and Development, a member of BIM Group, marks IHG’s expansion into the Quang Ninh province, Vietnam.

InterContinental Halong Bay Resort

1 of 3

Slated to open in 2023, InterContinental Halong Bay Resort will feature 175 guestrooms, while InterContinental Residences Halong Bay will be made up of 60 apartments, ranging from one- to three-bedrooms, and 41 villas.

Guests and residents alike will be able to enjoy five restaurant and bar outlets, four pools, a gym, kids’ club and spa. Event hosts can avail the property’s six meeting rooms, with the largest room able to accommodate up to 500 people.

Guests can own an apartment or villa at InterContinental Residences Halong Bay, allowing their residence to benefit from inclusion in a rental programme, with apartments and villas available for third-party guests to book through IHG’s global channels.

On top of immersive resort facilities, the property also boasts its very own private beach. Leisure guests will enjoy convenient access to attractions including theme parks, water parks, beaches, integrated resorts, golf courses, popular shopping areas and night markets. Business travellers can benefit from the property’s proximity to MICE and convention centres, deep sea port operations, and upcoming commercial clusters.

IHG currently has 14 hotels in Vietnam across four brands, with plans to open 15 hotels in the next three to five years.

Japanese restaurateur uses AI to stay ahead of the game and drive sales

By Kathryn Wortley

July 29, 2020

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A restaurateur in one of Japan’s hardest hit tourism spots is leveraging technology to limit financial losses induced by the pandemic.

Haruki Odaijima is utilizing AI and other innovations to generate sales and diversify his business, Ebiya, located near popular tourist attraction Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture.

Odaijima’s use of AI tools has driven up sales and reduced food waste at his restaurant

Odaijima’s AI system tracks foot traffic levels and demographics in the vicinity of his restaurant to assess customer visit rate, with 95 per cent accuracy.

Pre-Covid-19, the system had tripled Ebiya’s productivity, grew profits fivefold and reduced its food waste by more than 70 per cent.

In early April, it alerted him to the sharp drop in visitors to Ise Grand Shrine, prompting him to temporarily close Ebiya on April 7. Other local restaurants stayed open hoping for patrons, resulting in greater losses, until the government asked businesses to suspend operations on April 20.

Now, with lower footfall in the area, one of the system’s key benefits is assisting with targeted marketing.

“If the customer visit rate is low, we can change the signboard in front of the restaurant or give out promotional flyers (to attract the different demographics)”, said Odaijima. Examples include student discounts, which have increased student customers to 18.4 per cent, up from 4.6 per cent.

“We believe that we need to make decisions based on statistical data, instead of intuition and experience like in the past. By doing so, we can operate in the best way,” he said, adding that Ebiya used an abacus and handwritten accounts when he assumed ownership in 2012.

“By relying on data management, statistics and technology, we can take more time to improve our services and develop new products – work that only humans can do.”

Ebiya has diversified its portfolio by launching virtual tours of Ise Grand Shrine amid the prevailing travel slump

With visitor numbers unlikely to return to normal for some time, Odaijima has also introduced an online shopping experience and a virtual tour of Ise Grand Shrine, both delivered by staff via video conferencing.

He is also selling the concept to other businesses, like factories, so they can also offer online tours or demonstrations.

PHIST 2020 to spotlight sustainability agenda amid pandemic

By TTG Asia

July 29, 2020

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This year’s edition of PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Asia’s largest sustainable travel and hospitality event, which will take on a virtual format in light of the Covid-19 situation, will spotlight how the industry is tackling sustainability issues in the midst of the pandemic.

Over 1,200 of the industry’s leading figures are expected to attend this online gathering – originally slated to take place in Phuket on September 7 – which will include keynote addresses, interactive sessions, educational workshops and a green exhibition.

Like the two previous editions of PHIST, the one-day event, organised by the Phuket Hotels Association, Greenview and C9 Hotelworks, will drive the agenda for environmental action in a post-Covid-19 world.

Delegates will hear about the post-crisis efforts to prevent overtourism, the dynamic shift away from mass markets, strategies to conserve natural attractions, the quantification of green travel, farm-to-fork dining, rewilding, renewable energy, and more.

Running from 09.00 to 18.30, the free-to-join conference will include talks from trailblazing figures on the latest travel trends, educational masterclasses on renewable energy, post-Covid-19 hygiene, green meetings and corporate sustainability for small hotels.

Participants will also have digital networking opportunities with speakers, experts and other delegates. In addition, an interactive Virtual Green Groove exhibition showcasing eco-products and services from tech providers will be on show.

This year’s keynote speaker, Bill Bensley, the creative director at BENSLEY and the mastermind behind many of Asia’s most eclectic and eye-catching properties, will discuss the subject of sustainable hotels. He will be joined by the eminent marine biologist Thamrongnawasawat, president of the Phuket Hotels Association Anthony Lark, as well as the CEOs of two luxury hotel groups – Neil Jacobs of Six Senses Hotels, Resorts & Spas and James Riley of Mandarin Oriental, among others.

To learn more about PHIST 2020 and to register for the event, please visit phist.phukethotelsassociation.com.

Travelport’s new tool helps agents track airline safety measures

Dream Cruises restarts Taiwan sailings; unveils Flexi-Feast dining concept

Chinese travellers take a shine to South Korea

Greenview Portal gains GSTC-Recognized status

Trip.com’s live-stream sessions in Singapore and China rake in over US$2.72m for Singapore hotels

Rejuvenate and recalibrate

Guangzhou issues US$4.29m in vouchers to spur domestic travel

IHG sets foot in Halong Bay come 2023

Japanese restaurateur uses AI to stay ahead of the game and drive sales

PHIST 2020 to spotlight sustainability agenda amid pandemic

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