Tag: Hong Kong

Hong Kong – Asia news company South China Morning Post (SCMP) has announced that its ‘Advertising and Marketing Solutions Team’ will be rebranded as ‘SCMP Advertising’, which brings a greater focus on the company’s emphasis and strength in focus on digital innovation to help drive impact for brands and partners.

Through the identity revamp, SCMP positions itself as an insight-driven brand partner committed to driving client success across APAC, after being the first news publisher in Asia to launch a first-party data platform in SCMP Lighthouse and brand suitability tool in SCMP Signal. These digital tools have garnered positive feedback from clients who can look forward to new and updated features when SCMP launches their next iteration this year. 

SCMP Advertising aims to help brands and partners to make an impact with readers seeking to understand global issues from an Asian perspective. The news company’s expanding international audience has allowed advertisers new opportunities to connect with globally-minded readers, with a reach of nearly 51 million monthly readers globally. 

Furthermore, SCMP Advertising connects thought-leading editorial content with brands across print and digital media platforms and develops leading digital marketing solutions, and runs campaigns that deliver results.

“SCMP Advertising’s rebranding reinforces our legacy as a trusted partner that works with brands to make an impact with readers. This is a significant step in our evolution that showcases our commitment to industry innovations that drives performance and our commitment to our clients,” said Elsie Cheung, chief operating officer at SCMP.

In addition to the aforementioned objectives, SCMP Advertising offers a comprehensive portfolio of integrated offerings with 360-degree multiplatform coverage and campaign effectiveness. In addition to its first-party data platform, SCMP Lighthouse, to support its clients with purposeful intelligence that delivers more effective and efficient campaigns to highly-targeted audiences. 

At the same time, SCMP holds brand safety as a top priority and has developed the publisher-built brand suitability tool SCMP Signal to ensure partners’ messages are placed in the optimal context. SCMP Advertising’s offerings includes its brand-storytelling team Morning Studio which continues to give leading clients across APAC a voice through bespoke content marketing solutions.

The SCMP Advertising revamp follows the recent appointment of Darryl Choo as the new company’s regional sales director for APAC, which entails him to identify new business opportunities, and define strategies to generate new growth opportunities.

Shanghai, China – Atelier Pacific, a Hong Kong-based multidisciplinary design studio, finally expands outside of Hong Kong into Shanghai, as well as collaborating with tramway system Hong Kong Tramways in presenting their ‘Art Tram’ design as a form of tribute to the positive energy Hong Kong is known.

The studio’s expansion to Shanghai falls also under their 25th anniversary of business in Hong Kong, where they will be offering a wealth of experience in public space design, including venues as varied as museums, malls, and railway stations. The studio aims to bring its expertise to the Greater China region, applying it to the design of spaces for the post-pandemic era.

Speaking about the expansion and the new project collaboration, Nic Banks, founder and director of Atelier Pacific, believes that collaboration has become more essential than ever in ensuring growth and innovation in the design industry.

“As a company, collaboration with our clients is at our core – we have done so effectively for more than two decades and it has allowed us to achieve high levels of success throughout the Asia-Pacific region. As we open our new office in Shanghai, we look forward to further expanding our business throughout the Greater China region, while continuing to provide our clients with the unparalleled quality of service that we are renowned for,” Banks stated.

Their collaboration with Hong Kong Tramways features trams that are donned with cartoon-esque fantastical views of the city, showcasing its unique characteristics and culture in a fun and engaging way for the public to enjoy, while also drawing attention to Atelier Pacific’s contribution to the cityscape. 

Throughout the design, familiar scenes are present, such as a group of friends playing mahjong on the side of the street, celebratory lion-dances, and roast ducks hanging by the window of a local restaurant. Key Atelier Pacific projects for clients such as the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Louis Vuitton, MTRC and others, are also featured, highlighting the studio’s collaborative client approach to success.

Despite the pandemic, Banks noted that the circumstances has allowed them to rethink their purpose and value, as well as creating more visions that best represent the creative mindset designed for their clients beyond commercial design projects.

“We wanted to contribute something non-commercial and invest in a design that would bring a positive message to the Hong Kong people at the start of the year and the start of our next 25 years of business. Hong Kong Tramways was the ideal partner to make this happen. Our entire team was involved in this meaningful project from beginning to end, devoting their professional design skills to create art that’s purpose was to unite and bring happiness to Hongkongers,” Banks explained.

Hong Kong – As technology plays a big part in the ongoing transformation of the travel industry, RateDock has launched a travel platform that connects demand partners to an array of properties that use different connectivity partners with one simple connection.

RateDock aims to empower connections between hotels and travel agencies. It works as a direct interface between the accommodation provider, connectivity partner, and the demand partner, seamlessly connected through the RateDock platform.

The demand partners of RateDock are travel agents, tour operators, and DMCs, as well as travel SMEs. It supports purely from a technical level to facilitate the connection, and it should be noted that all commercial terms and relationships are managed between the accommodation and the demand partner. 

Furthermore, other benefits of the accommodations also include cost-saving support through business matching and direct partnership, as well as ensuring full control of distribution. Using the existing connectivity partner, the property can increase the number of demand partners with one simple connection which improves speed to market and optimizes revenue generation. 

“By connecting to Ratedock, we want to make it easier for properties to automate rate, availability, and booking management processes. On the other hand, demand partners can receive live rates and availability which will improve their ability to compete in the market,” said Marco Bacchilega, the founder and CEO of RateDock.

Hong Kong – Ad-Lib.io, a global creative management platform, has announced that it will be expanding its presence to Hong Kong, and has also added two new members to its regional team as the company expands its focus on the Greater China region to enable further global growth.

Randal Foo takes the helm as RVP of Sales in APAC and Rishima Mohindru as the platform’s client partner for Hong Kong and Greater China.

Foo joins Ad-Lib.io from his previous sales positions at enterprise tag management Tealium and customer engagement company Cheetah Digital, where he served as regional sales and head of sales respectively. He brings to the company nearly 15 years of sales and digital marketing experience in the Asia Pacific region. 

Ad-Lib.io-Hong-Kong-Expansion-Appointment-New-Hires
(Left) Randal Foo, RVP of Sales in APAC; (Right) Rishima Mohindru, client partner for Hong Kong and Greater China.

Meanwhile, Mohindru comes from media company Omnicom Media Group, where she served as lead of APAC recently. She brings to the company her experience in helping brands expand their digital footprint while growing their online business through her deep understanding of the industry spanning from execution to strategy.

Both new hires will report to Rupert Privett, head of APAC at Ad-Lib.io.

“APAC advertisers face huge challenges delivering effective creative for their campaigns due to limited resources to produce and adapt relevant creative across multiple formats, channels, audiences, cultures, and markets,” Privett said.

He added, “To have the most impact, APAC advertisers need tools to simplify their production and targeting processes and we are proud to be uniquely positioned to help them achieve their goals.”

Hong Kong – Due to the prolonged economic impacts brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the confidence rate among small and medium businesses (SMBs) is at an all-time low, according to a new survey from professional accounting body CPA Australia.

Only 16% of surveyed Hong Kong small businesses reported growth last year, and only 21% expect their business to grow this year. Furthermore, the survey also stated that the weak outlook is reflected in the cautious approach of Hong Kong small businesses’ increasing their headcounts. Only 12% of respondents expect to increase staff in 2021, compared to the APAC survey average of 36%.

In addition, Hong Kong small businesses are also less inclined to innovate, with only 8.5% of respondents stating they will introduce new products or services in 2021, compared to the average of 23% in the APAC.

“For two consecutive years, expectations of business growth among Hong Kong small businesses have been the lowest of the surveyed markets. 53% of respondents identified COVID-19 as having had a major negative impact on their business operations in 2020, and 65% of them expect to need one year or more to recover,” said Janssen Chan, 2021 divisional president for Greater China at CPA Australia.

When asked what major actions businesses took in response to COVID-19, small businesses in Hong Kong were most likely to have sought government support and subsidies (33%), reduced capital expenditure (32%), and reduced staff numbers and costs (22%).

The response is also reported in other findings that beginning or increasing the focus on online sales was one of the key actions taken by small businesses in many of the markets surveyed.

“The relief measures announced by the SAR Government supported small businesses to combat the worst of the pandemic. According to the survey, 44% of the respondents sought external funds for business survival. Using government grants as the main source of external finance jumped from 9% in 2019 to a record high of 33% last year,” Chan added.

Chan also noted that the government’s initiative to issue electronic consumption vouchers, as announced in the Hong Kong Budget, is one great opportunity for SMBs in taking advantage of e-commerce and digital payment options. He also recommended reopening applications to the Distance Business Programme to continue driving digitalization and technology adoption of small businesses.

The Distance Business Programme is an initiative by the Hong Kong government to support enterprises in adopting IT solutions to continue their business and services during the epidemic.

“While business innovation may involve additional expenditure in the short term, small businesses in Hong Kong should be more proactive in reassessing their resource allocation and consider innovating through the adoption of technology. This could enhance their long-term competitiveness and help them keep pace with their peers in other Asia-Pacific economies,” Chan added.

The survey recommended Hong Kong businesses to consider certain measures such as managing cash flow and debt closely paying attention to the cost of external financing, leveraging government support schemes to increase the adoption of technology, as well as to identify, invest in and adopt new technologies to keep innovating. 

Hong Kong – HSBC’s mobile payment platform PayMe has announced today a strategic partnership with payment technology and software services provider Global Payments Inc., in an aim to expand the merchant coverage of PayMe, making payments simpler for both businesses and consumers in Hong Kong. 

The partnership will allow merchants to connect with PayMe users by simply adding PayMe for Business in their Electronic Cash Registers (ECR) system. A QR code will then be generated automatically at checkout. 

For consumers, they will only have to scan the QR code with their PayMe app and authenticate the payment. 

The PayMe app will be supported by Global Payments’ leading data analytics platform. Through this, merchants can now access real-time PayMe transaction reports digitally via the Global Payments Merchant Portal and process instant refunds with a few clicks, which will enable merchants to enhance operational efficiency in cash management and reconciliation, as well as further simplify customer experiences. 

Kerry Wong, head of HSBC’s PayMe, commented that they are thrilled to forge a new strategic partnership with Global Payments, which plays an important part in the merchant expansion plan of PayMe for Business. 

“This also provides a convenient payment collection solution to Hong Kong businesses as they adapt to the accelerating trend of digital transformation. We will continue our commitment to make payments simpler for merchants and consumers in both online and offline scenarios,” said Wong. 

Meanwhile, the President of Asia Pacific’s Global Payments, Konrad Chan, said, “We have always been at the forefront of payment technology innovation and are committed to providing our merchants with distinctive payment solutions to satisfy the evolving needs of consumers in Hong Kong.”

Starting today, PayMe is an available payment option at sandwich chain store Pret A Manger, Japanese café Panash Bakery & Café (applicable for dine-in at Café locations only), coffee shop Pause It, and pizza specialist Dough Bros. Pizza & Doughnuts branches across the city. More businesses using Global Payments’ payment services will be able to deploy PayMe for Business in the near future.

Singapore – Location technology platform Foursquare has appointed a new regional head for its Southeast Asia and Hong Kong operations, former head of sales of martech Playground XYZ Tim Castle.

His new role will revolve around working closely with brands, agencies, and advertisers in this region to further the expansion of Foursquare across Southeast Asia, following the company’s recent rebranding stage, and various strategic acquisitions for the past two years, the companies namely Placed and Factual.

Prior to his new role, Castle spanned multiple roles among regional hubs, including in the UK and Australia, where he led new business initiatives at GroupM, AOL, which is now Verizon Media, and most recently at Playground XYZ, where he was responsible for expanding the business’s mobile rich media and measurement solution into new markets across Asia.

“Location services are critical to any enterprise’s technology stack. Foursquare has continued to push the boundaries of what’s possible with location technology with their full range of capabilities to help businesses scale, and create better customer experiences and business outcomes,” Castle said, commenting on his recent appointment.

Castle will report directly to Aditi Kohli, managing director of Foursquare Asia-Pacific.

“Tim’s appointment marks an exciting new step for Foursquare in the region. As we continue to gain momentum with our innovative enterprise products and proprietary location technology and data, we will deeply benefit from Tim’s years of expertise in driving new business growth across multiple markets,” Kohli stated.

Hong Kong – Uber Eats in Hong Kong has expanded to Tsing Yi, an island in the urban area of Hong Kong.

Elisa Janiec, general manager of Uber Eats Hong Kong, said that they are thrilled to introduce Uber Eats to Tsing Yi, as they believe that delicious food is a convenience that everyone across Hong Kong should enjoy.

“My team and I are committed to investing with our partners and the F&B community to unlock more innovative and delightful food choices for Hong Kongers,” said Janiec.

The island Tsing Yi is packed with eateries and food stores. Uber Eats will be bringing a line-up of local favorites such as local cha chaan teng from Bun Hui Cafe or Daniel’s Restaurant, Chiu Chow deli from Yummy Yummy, and chicken pot from Luk Kee, among others. All-time favorites are also available, such as Saizeriya Italian Restaurant, Nam Kee, Tamjai, and Bafang Dumpling. Meanwhile, as food delivery grew to become an integral part of Hong Kongers’ daily lives amid limited physical contact, Uber Eats has observed a shift in its users’ eating habits. 

Hong Kong recently celebrated 2021’s stay-at-home Chinese New Year holiday last February 12 to 16, and during the celebration, Uber Eats recorded a 50% year-on-year increase in order volume. 

Furthermore, as Hong Kongers further adapts to the new normal, the food delivery platform has observed an 800% increase in healthy food orders during the dine-in restriction periods, as people are ordering more from vegan, vegetarian-friendly, and healthy restaurants available on the app. Another consumer behavior shows on Uber Eats’ data, where Hong Kongers are starting supper at 6:00 pm, and are generally ordering 22% more food items to enjoy with their family in the comfort of their own home, which employees rarely do before the new work-from-home set-up.

Hong Kong – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), a statutory body in Hong Kong that promotes, assists and develops the country’s trade, has once again invited Leon Lai, a Hong Kong-based actor, to act as Ambassador for the 2021 Entertainment Expo.

The HKTDC is a statutory body in Hong Kong that aims to organize international exhibitions, conferences, and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. It also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports, and digital news channels.

HK superstar Leon Lai commented, “The pandemic has created a new normal for the local film and television entertainment industry. I am proud to act as Ambassador for the expo during this particularly challenging period to continue promoting Hong Kong’s entertainment industry.”

On the other hand, the HKTDC also enlisted the support of the renowned multimedia directing duo Tsui Brothers to shoot the promotional video for this year’s expo, with the theme “Gazing to the Future”.

The 2021 Entertainment Expo will be held from March 15 to April 12, 2021, comprising six events that cover a global mix of film, TV, music, and digital entertainment. The events include the Entertainment Asia Forum, and Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), among others.