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St Regis opens beachside resort in Goa

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TTR WEEKLY
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Marriott International Hotel

HONG KONG, 1 December 2022: St. Regis Hotels and Resorts, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 hotel brands, has opened its latest hotel St Regis Goa Resort, in India.

 The resort stands between the Sal River and the Arabian Sea near India’s southwestern coastal city of Goa. It is famous for its palm-fringed tropical beaches, historic Portuguese-era architecture, seafood and distinctive culture.

“We are delighted to celebrate the opening of our second St. Regis property in this enchanting haven in India, and Goa is a special destination where guests will find themselves surrounded by unspoilt nature and infinite sandy beaches,” said George Fleck, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts.

Located approximately a one-hour car drive from Goa International Airport, The St. Regis Goa Resort stands in a 49-acre parkland fringing Mobor Beach on the shores of the Arabian Sea. The area between the Sal River and the ocean is recognised as a sanctuary of freshwater lagoons and forests.

The resort features 206 rooms, including 46 suites offering private terraces overlooking the tranquil lagoons or the golf course. The group appointed Satish Kumar, general manager of The St. Regis Goa Resort.

Radisson Hotel Group expands in Thailand

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 December 2022” Radisson Hotel Group is accelerating the expansion of its portfolio in Thailand with the signing of Radisson Resort & Spa Hua Hin, a beachfront resort with Destination Group, due to open in February 2023.

This marks the expansion of RHG’s partnership with the Bangkok-based Destination Group, a private equity real estate investment company, following the recent opening of the Radisson Resort & Suites Phuket in September 2022.

Thailand has been identified as a key focus market for Radisson Hotel Group, aiming to double its hotel portfolio by 2023.

“Strong partnerships are key to our growth, and it gives me great pleasure to announce the signing of Radisson Resort & Spa Hua Hin with the Destination Group as we continue our growth momentum in Thailand. Our upscale Radisson brand is a perfect fit for the resort, which enjoys an excellent beachfront location in Hua Hin that will cater to the rising demand for leisure. We look forward to expanding our strong collaboration with partners like the Destination Group to launch exceptional hotels in sought-after destinations across the country,” said David Nguyen, Managing Director, Indochina and Strategic Partnerships, Southeast Asia & Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group.

The 243-key Radisson Resort & Spa Hua Hin will become the Group’s sixth property in Thailand when it opens in February 2023.

Agoda plants trees to green Bangkok

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 December 2022: Agoda, a global digital travel platform, is partnering with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to improve Bangkok’s green infrastructure with the ‘Urban Tree Planting’ Initiative.

To launch the partnership, Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok and Omri Morgenshtern, Chief Executive Officer, Agoda, planted trees at Phutthamonthon Sai 2 Park in Thawi Watthana District along with park officials, Agoda executives and Agoda volunteers.

(Right) Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok and (left) Omri Morgenshtern, Chief Executive Officer, Agoda.

The Thawi Watthana district is home to the Utthayan Road, which is regarded as the most beautiful road in Thailand, and Phutthamonthon Sai 2 Park is adjacent to the popular Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market.

Agoda’s Urban Tree Planting is a CSR Initiative developed to boost sustainable growth in Bangkok, combining support for the BMA’s ambition to expand the capital’s green areas by planting 1 million trees within four years with Agoda’s CSR & Sustainability mission of accelerating sustainable travel.

Agoda has pledged to donate 10,000 trees. The remaining trees will be donated to the BMA and Pom Prap Sattru Phai District’s official treebanks to be planted throughout Bangkok.

In addition, Agoda is currently collaborating on two further CSR Initiatives with the BMA – the City Guide Launch and the Tech Workshop Series – aiming to make Bangkok a top livable city to work and play for everyone. The City Guide Launch will raise awareness of BMA’s 12-month, 12-festival initiative and promote the city as a global tourist destination. The Tech Workshop Series is intended to build and nurture local tech talent by upskilling undergraduate students in Bangkok with digital skills.

Omri Morgenshtern Chief Executive Officer Agoda commented: “Agoda aims to make travel easy and accessible for everyone, and we also believe that we have a responsibility to ensure that travel is sustainable and has a positive impact on the planet and on local communities.”

In Thailand, since the pandemic, Agoda has supported multiple government agencies in a variety of efforts. These include promoting tourism and destinations, hygiene and safety standards, domestic recovery campaigns and tech integrations to ease travellers’ journeys.

Top spots for Thai travellers

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 December 2022: Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom make up the top five most desired international destinations for Thai travellers, according to Visa’s Thailand’s Travel Intentions Study 2023 – Outbound Edition*.

The study, conducted among 2,000 Thai respondents, revealed the top three considerations when choosing an international destination to visit are the cost of travel (65%), the weather (49%), and a need to explore new places (48%).

Pipavin Sodprasert, Country Manager for Visa Thailand, said: “The pandemic has created a pent-up demand and energy among Thai travellers to satisfy their hunger for travel after not being able to venture abroad for so long. With more countries reopening their borders, we wanted to take a closer look at how Thai travellers are rediscovering their international destinations and navigating a world of uncertainty.”

The study also found people are putting the travel barriers of the pandemic behind them, with just over one-third (35%) concerned about the reopening policy of their preferred destination and just over one-fifth (23%) worried about the pandemic situation when planning their trip.

The top three reasons for going on an overseas trip are to explore new places they’ve never visited before (61%), spend more quality time with family and friends (42%), and revisit their favourite destination (36%).

When it comes to planning their trip, the majority of Thai travellers are keen to organise the whole trip by themselves (41%), while others choose to go on a flexible individual tour (21%) or a packaged group tour (11%).

Most people expect to make one trip (53%) in the next twelve months, although some plan two (31%) or three trips (11%). The most popular length of stay for Thai travellers when venturing abroad is between five to seven days (39%), between eight to ten days (22%), and longer than two weeks but less than a month (12%).

The survey also found that people are willing to pay more for a better experience. Better food (56%), better, hassle-free service (52%), and visiting a more exotic destination (36%) are the top reasons for Thais spending a little extra on their international trip. On average, Thai travellers expect to spend just under THB45,000 while on their leisure trip, a little more than the expected spend of just over THB40,000 on a business trip.

When making payments overseas, the most preferred payment methods are payment cards (69%), cash (61%), mobile contactless and digital wallets (57%). Respondents to the study said the top three benefits of using digital payments while travelling are security (60%), convenience (56%), and the ability to keep track of expenses (49%).

“It’s clear that Thai travellers are ready to leave many of their pandemic-related concerns around travel behind them. We hope that by releasing these insights, we can help the industry, our partners, and clients get a clearer understanding of consumer travel behaviour so collectively we can better support Thai travellers as they venture out to explore the world again,” said Pipavin.

*Thailand’s Travel Intentions Study 2023 – Outbound Edition was conducted by YouGov among 2,000 Thai respondents online in November 2022

Emirates reimagines retail travel

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 30 November 2022: Emirates has officially opened its ‘Emirates World’ retail store experience in the heart of Jumeirah, one of Dubai’s most vibrant communities.

‘Emirates World’ store debuts in Dubai but the airline plans to invest AED100 million over the next three years as part of its retail strategy in key cities across its route network.

Located in Jumeirah Town Centre, the airline’s redesigned 3,000-square-foot retail store is an open and fluid space for customers to shop for all their travel needs in a lounge-like environment. It will also offer customers all of Emirates’ signature products via VR/AR technologies.

Emirates World was officially inaugurated on Monday with a special ribbon cutting by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group. Also in attendance was Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, and senior Emirates commercial executives. 

Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said: “Emirates World sets a new standard for the travel retail store experience and embodies our commitment to provide customers with best-in-class products and services across every touchpoint. The opening of this latest concept store expresses our retail vision for the future and marks the first of several stores we’ll be opening in the coming years across our network. It’s also part of our larger retail strategy to make the store experience more convenient, engaging and personal. We’ll employ a mix of the latest technology coupled with personalised one-to-one service from our highly knowledgeable travel consultants. Our open, welcoming and functional space will also allow customers to discover our products like premium economy seats, in addition to a host of other elegantly displayed experiences.”

The Emirates World store features a free-flowing open floor plan that allows customers to immerse themselves in the interactive experiences on offer. Light and modern furniture is spread throughout the store, and generous touches of greenery add to the relaxing environment. Emirates’ experienced travel consultants will be on hand to provide expert advice for customers’ end-to-end travel needs without the need to take multiple tokens. Team sizes have also been doubled at the Emirates World Store to ensure fast-moving queries and shorter wait times.   Travel consultants have been cross-trained, ensuring a one-stop shop that includes airline ticketing, Emirates Holidays and Skywards consultant support, and customers can take advantage of smart technology like self-service screens that reduce wait times and enable faster service.

The centrepiece of the ‘Emirates World’ product experience is the airline’s in-store Premium Economy Class seat display. Customers can relax, recline and experience Premium Economy, so they know what to expect when travelling in this highly sought-after cabin class.

Customers who prefer a virtual experience can take selfies against a selection of Emirates product backdrops, including the A380 onboard lounge and First Class private suites, courtesy of the latest interactive screen technology. Customers can also enjoy the airline’s onboard cabins with virtual reality offering accurate, life-size experiences as they immerse themselves in their surroundings. LED screens flank different areas of the Emirates World store, showcasing the latest Emirates products and promotional offers.

Customers can also browse through a curated selection of Emirates Official Store merchandise and travel accessories. They can also refresh and relax with an exceptional selection of coffees, teas and other refreshments prepared by Costa Coffee baristas, who have created two unique drinks for the Emirates World retail store.

In addition, the Emirates World retail store will be a venue for the travel and tourism industry to come together for workshops, talks and other interactive sessions. Multiple Destination workshops are kicking off in December with the Thailand, Seychelles and Israel tourism boards.

The Emirates World retail stores concept will roll out across the airline’s network over the next three years. The retail store experience models will fall into three categories: the full-fledged Emirates World concept, the Travel Store model, and Travel Kiosks. Retail store models will be determined by customer requirements in each market, including strategic positioning, venue footfall, and evolving customer trends.

For more information, visit: www.emirates.com

(Your Stories: Emirates)

Tourism Philippines promotes Davao

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 30 November 2022: Tourism Philippines, a social media campaign rolled out by the Department of Tourism, is pushing the sights and sensations of the Davao region.

The promotion zooms in on the spectacular natural scenery to focus on high-altitude mountains, unspoiled islands, pristine beaches, caves, rivers, agricultural plains and valleys. But Davao is also positioned as a  melting pot of cultures and traditions.

Tour operators and travel consumers who work out their own holiday itineraries are pointed to the key attractions that are top of the must-visit list for Davao.

Check out what you can explore more in the Davao region through these listicles:

Davao in a Day: 24 hours in Davao City – https://www.7641islands.ph/explore/davao-in-a-day-24-hours-in-davao-city/

Davao: An intersection of culture and adventure – https://www.7641islands.ph/explore/davao-an-intersection-of-culture-and-adventure/

Davao City, on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, is a coastal gateway city near 2,954m-high Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak. People’s Park is home to colourful indigenous sculptures and lighted fountains in the city centre. It’s also home to Durian Dome, named after the pungent, spiky fruit that grows in abundance in Mindanao.

The international airport in Davao City, Francisco Bangoy International Airport, is the largest in Mindanao and the third busiest in the country after Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Mactan–Cebu International Airport.

There are domestic flights to Davao from Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo and Zamboanga. Pre-Covid-19 international airlines served Davao from Doha, Hong Kong, Manado, Quanzhou, and Singapore. However, some routes have not resumed since the Covid-19 rules eased earlier this year.

(Background source: Wikipedia).

Trip.com birthday deal a big hit

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 30 November 2022: The launch of Trip.com’s 11.11 campaign packed with travel savings captured the attention of more than 3 million customers across 15 major markets, the online travel agency reported.

The campaign was launched following the celebration of the global travel brand’s 5th anniversary. Traffic to Trip.com during the two-week promotion in mid-November reached a new high as bookings with the global travel service provider hit a new record, with year-on-year growth surging by 84%.

Markets participating in the campaign across Asia Pacific included Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand. During the sale campaign, Trip.com saw average bookings rise by 68% and traffic jump by 54% for its available promotion inventory.

Trip.com COO Schubert Lou said: “Trip.com has every reason to celebrate its success this year with fantastic take-up of travel bargains across Asia Pacific and other regions around the world during our 11.11 campaign.

“The growing popularity of the Trip.com app with our loyal customers shows Trip.com’s journey to deliver deals to destinations, fantastic flights, hard-to-beat hotel offers, and exciting events is continuing to produce results.

Downloads of the Trip.com app also hit a new high during the campaign. On 11 November, Trip.com was the number one app in the free travel app rankings on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.

Trip.com head of performance marketing Han Feng commented: “We continue to see incredible growth in the reach of Trip.com’s all-in-one app offering. Leveraging the incredible deals available across 15 markets, we engaged new and existing users to download the Trip.com app.”

The destinations which saw the largest growth during the campaign period were Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangkok, Osaka, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, as these popular holiday hotspots welcomed back international travel and tourists.

In Singapore, flash sales released in mid-November jumped by 115% in just 24 hours and those for Universal Studios Singapore and two ‘Exclusive Ticketing Partnership’ mega-events sold out. This drove sales to soar for attraction products over the four-day sale period and showed 238% week-on-week growth.

In Hong Kong, bookings hit record highs. Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong and Häagen-Dazs were named the sales winners.

In South Korea, flash sale deals for four- and five-star premium hotels, alongside flight and hotel offers, proved popular, with flight bookings on South Korean low-cost carrier T’way Air more than doubling (representing a growth of 110% week-on-week). Total bookings on 11 November jumped by 260% year-on-year.

Trip.com traffic in Thailand hit record highs, with app installs increasing sharply, ranking number one on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in the Travel app category mid-November. Bookings on 11 November jumped by 210% year-on-year, while the Trip.com Thailand site saw a record number of visitors.

Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 24 languages across 39 countries and regions in 31 local currencies and sites.

(Source: Trip.com)

Oakwood Studios Bangkok changes owner

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 30 November 2022: Oakwood Studios Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel, a newly built 177-key hotel, has been sold with JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group advising on the transaction.

The hotel was acquired by Worldwide Hotels Pte Ltd, and the transaction was advised by members of JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group’s Asia Pacific and Thailand teams. This is the fourth hotel that WWH has acquired via JLL and follows the acquisitions of Travelodge Bangkok, Travelodge Pattaya in Thailand, and Travelodge Dongdaemun in Seoul, Korea.

The Oakwood Studios Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel features 177 rooms, a restaurant, a swimming pool and a fitness centre. It is being offered the benefit of 100% foreign freehold ownership via the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) promotion.

“This transaction attests to investors’ confidence in the Bangkok hotel market and its long-term investment fundamentals. We’re delighted to have advised on the transaction as WWH increases their strategic footprint in the lucrative Thailand hospitality sector,” said JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, Asia senior vice president of investment sales Orn Yomchinda.

The newly built hotel is located in Bangkok’s Thong Lor district, one of many tourism hubs with multiple high-quality restaurants, eclectic bars, coffee shops and a lively nightlife scene close to Sukhumvit Road.

“Thailand has rebounded strongly from the pandemic lows and has reclaimed its place of one of the world’s most evergreen hotels markets,” said JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group senior managing director, head of investment sales, Asia Pacific Nihat Ercan.

“JLL remains confident in the broader Thailand hospitality sector with the investment volume expected to exceed THB10 billion this year, on par with the 10-year average recorded between 2012-2021.”

The Oakwood Studios Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel sale is the third transaction in Thailand that has been completed by JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group since the onset of the pandemic. The Oakwood Studios Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel transaction follows the recent sales of Kimpton Kitalay Samui and Citadines Sukhumvit 23.

Oceania offers booking incentive

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 30 November 2022: Oceania Cruises, a culinary and destination-focused cruise line, has a Black Friday online sale that offers voyages, including free Pre-Paid Gratuities valued at USD500.

The deals are valid on 64 itineraries in 2023 and 2024, and the sale remains open for bookings until 14 December 2022. Sailing locations include the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, with itineraries ranging from seven to 24 days.

In addition to the limited-time offer, guests will also receive the OLife Choice amenities offer. They can opt for free shore excursions, a free house beverage package or free shipboard credit on top of the free pre-paid gratuities.

“The Black Friday Sale, coupled with our flexible OLife Choice offer and Reduced 50% deposits, gives Asian travellers a chance to take advantage of even greater value when booking their next dream voyage,” said Oceania Cruises SVP & managing director Asia Pacific Steve Odell.

The cruise line’s reduced 50% deposit offer only applied for bookings made during the Black Friday Sale until today, 30 November 2022.

India: Travel insurance moves up the agenda

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TTR WEEKLY
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MUMBAI, 30 November 2022: Indian travellers identify the heightened importance of travel insurance post-pandemic, according to a recent survey by leading tour operator Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its group company, SOTC Travel.

The survey covered over 1000 consumers spread across India’s top metros. Travel consumers surveyed were residents in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Patna, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Mysuru, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam and Guwahati.

The critical finding suggested that while the pandemic increased the need for travel insurance, the continued demand to include insurance reflects the growing maturity of the Indian market.

Data analysis revealed valuable insights on customer requirements linked to travel insurance:

Strong requirement

86% of respondents identified travel insurance as necessary in the post-pandemic era, compared with 75% highlighting health and safety as the primary concern in the 2020 First Holiday Readiness Travel Report.

80% of Indian travellers are keen to obtain travel insurance for themselves and their families, even if it is not mandatory during their travel or while obtaining visas.

Covid 19 coverage

Covid-19-related cover, including hospitalisation, treatment and quarantine, is essential for 69% of the respondents while planning their travel.

Insurance preference

A significant share of insurance preference is for international destinations (60%), while 38% of respondents are interested in taking out travel insurance for domestic and international destinations compared with less than 1% pre-pandemic to around 20% currently for domestic destinations.

Crucial factors when selecting your travel insurance

Insurance coverage should include cancellation, delay, pre-existing medical conditions, Covid-19 coverage, hotel quarantine, and emergency hotel extensions. They remain a top priority for over 50% of the respondents.

  • Coverage costs – expenses play a major role when considering travel insurance, as 20% indicated that the insurance pricing should be reasonable.
  • Insurance company – the name of the insurance company or reputation in the market is considered important by 18%
  • Additional factors – claim settlement percentage, cashless hospitalisation, flight/trip cancellation, hassle-free reimbursement, delay, lost luggage/theft, and reliability are also important.

Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel president & group head – marketing Abraham Alapatt said: “The pandemic changed several norms in the travel industry with health and protection gaining importance.

“The fact that customers continue to see value in comprehensive travel insurance is less an indicator of continuing concerns about the pandemic and more to do with a more mature customer mindset. This is more akin to customers in mature economies, where travel insurance is seen as a “must have” and not just good to have.”

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