Singapore – Popular hotel and integrated resorts Marina Bay Sands has rolled out new features in its mobile app in order to improve guest experience. Some of the features include allowing mobile check-ins and the launch of digital keycards for hotel guests.

These new services kick off a significant programme under the integrated resort’s customer service roadmap to elevate the end-to-end digital experience across all touchpoints of the guest journey. These new functionalities and many more features are now available on Marina Bay Sands’ mobile application for both Android and Apple users.

Upon making a reservation with the hotel, guests can use the Marina Bay Sands mobile app to log in with a membership ID and carry out steps to complete the check-in process. First users must scan a government-issued identity document, then take a selfie photo to verify identity via facial recognition technology, followed by confirming personal details, and lastly activate digital keys for room and lift access upon arrival at the hotel.

In addition to mobile check-in and digital key access, guests can request in-room amenities and order in-room dining through the app. At the end of their stay, guests can also verify their room bill and check out, without having to queue at the lobby or drop off physical keycards. 

For Paul Town, chief operating officer at Marina Bay Sands, the aim of the new mobile app features is to not only transform the conventional check-in experience, but to also allow guests to truly maximise their time and start discovering the property from the moment they arrive. He also adds that they have big plans for their digital offerings and are investing heavily to enhance the overall customer journey across even more touchpoints.

“Marina Bay Sands has always embraced technology in our constant pursuit to enhance service standards and convenience for our guests. Regarded as a breakthrough for a standalone hotel of our scale in Singapore, our new mobile offerings will enable an effortless end-to-end guest experience to create new value for our customers. These innovations will also enable our team members to take on higher-value tasks such as rendering more personal service to our guests,” Town said.

Bangkok, Thailand – Global hotel chain Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has expanded its presence in Thailand with four new hotels in the capital city of Bangkok. They are Ramada By Wyndham Bangkok Sukhumvit 87 and Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Bangkok Sukhumvit 48 and two hotels located in the heart of Bangkok’s central business district – Wyndham Bangkok Queen Convention Centre and Wyndham Garden Bangkok Sukhumvit 42.

All four hotels in Bangkok are signed under a licence agreement with Siamese and Kew Green Company Limited – a joint partnership between local property developer, Siamese Wealth Company Limited and international hotel management operator, Kew Green Hotels.

The addition of the four new hotels will bring the company’s total operating portfolio to 17 hotels in Thailand, located in Bangkok, Phuket, and Krabi.

Joon Aun Ooi, president for Asia-Pacific at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are honoured by the trust and confidence that Siamese and Kew Green Company Limited have in us for Thailand. Today, I am thrilled to mark the official debut of our Wyndham, Wyndham Garden, Ramada by Wyndham, and Ramada Plaza by Wyndham brands in Bangkok through our partnership with Siamese and Kew Green Company Limited. Bangkok is an exceptional travel destination that is home to historical landmarks and world-class cuisines.”

Meanwhile, Khun Kajonsit Singasansern, CEO at Siamese Asset Company, commented, “We are confident in Thailand’s position as a world-class tourism destination and we look forward to delivering world-renowned Thai hospitality alongside our partners, leading international hotel management company, Kew Green Hotels. As a prominent and award-winning property developer, we look forward to bringing together our collective expertise with the launch of these exceptional properties.”

Danang, Vietnam – United States-headquartered hotel chain Radisson has unveiled its fourth hotel branch in the city of Danang in Vietnam. The new branch joins its other branches in Vietnam, namely Radisson Blu resorts in Phu Quoc, Cam Ranh and Radisson Hotel Phan Thiet.

The opening of Radisson Hotel Danang comes just weeks after Vietnam fully reopened its borders to fully-vaccinated international travellers from all around the world.

Remco Vaatstra, general manager at Radisson Hotel Danang, said, “I am delighted to welcome guests to Radisson Hotel Danang, introducing an exciting new era of hospitality to this stunning seafront city. This launch sends a welcoming message that Danang is open for business and ready to host visitors from all around the globe. With our delightful accommodation and amenities, just steps from the beach and surrounded by attractions, Radisson Hotel Danang will become one of the city’s most popular places to stay, meet, dine and unwind.”

Meanwhile, Andre de Jong, vice president of operations for SEA and Pacific at Radisson Hotel Group, commented, “It gives me great pleasure to unveil Radisson Hotel Danang, as we introduce our industry-leading upscale brand to one of Asia’s most dynamic and desirable destinations. Radisson promises ‘Simply Delightful’ stays with a full range of facilities for business and leisure travellers alike. With Vietnam now fully reopened for domestic and international travel, I am confident that this outstanding new hotel will become a compelling choice for guests in Danang.”

Radisson Hotel has a large presence in Asia-Pacific, including in the markets of India, Indonesia, China, and the Maldives.

Singapore – Shopee has taken a new direction to their evolving e-commerce platform, this time partnering with online travel agencies and hotel booking platforms Agoda and Booking.com to offer its newest hotel booking offering on the Shopee platform, aptly called Shopee Hotel. 

Through this exclusive partnership, Shopee users will now be able to access one of the largest online inventories of hotels, resorts, homes, and apartments supplied by Agoda and Booking.com. The new feature will be rolled out across seven markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

In addition, Shopee Hotel will provide users with greater savings and exclusive travel deals, while also increasing the reach and visibility of hotel partners to boost domestic and international tourism. 

“The launch of Shopee Hotel is timely in meeting the needs of consumers, as domestic and international travel gradually re-opens in the region, and more people are planning holidays. Agoda’s search data in September revealed that searches for domestic stays have risen by over 57% compared to May this year. There has also been an increase of 37% more users in Southeast Asia searching for international destinations,” Shopee said in a press statement.

The platform allows the planning of travel itineraries within the app as well. As users browse for accommodations, they will be able to discover top landmarks near their chosen hotels, which can help them to explore local enclaves, neighborhoods, and attractions.

“We are pleased to partner with leading travel platforms, Agoda and Booking.com to launch Shopee Hotel, which serves to provide our users with easy access to a wider variety of travel products and experiences. We also look forward to supporting the recovery of local travel and related tourism industries by promoting fun staycation ideas together with hotel partners. We invite everyone to travel safely and earn greater savings by booking their next holiday through Shopee Hotel,” said Terence Pang, chief operating officer at Shopee.

Meanwhile, Damien Pfirsch, chief commercial officer at Agoda, noted that with travelers knowing and trusting Agoda and Booking.com to help make travel easier, their partnership with Shopee will help accelerate the recovery of the domestic and global travel and tourism industry in the long term.

“This partnership with Shopee, the first with a regional e-commerce partner, will conveniently bring these great deals to Shopee customers, on a platform they are familiar with. At the same time, we can better support our hotel partners and tourism operators by connecting them to the biggest online community of shoppers in Southeast Asia,” Pfrisch said.

USA – Global travel has been on its toes ever since countries have been slowly opening up on the back of aggressive vaccination drives. In line with this, travel brands are gearing up to once again touch base with travelers and remind them of what they have to offer for consumers’ repressed wanderlust. 

The Ritz-Carlton, the global luxury hotel chain headquartered in the US, is one of them and in partnership with long-time agency partner Team One, the hotel chain is bringing to Asia-Pacific a campaign highlighting travel as a ‘gift’. 

Truly in these times, the capability to travel can only be seen as a boon. Titled ‘A Gift Like No Other’, the campaign presents visually appealing sceneries and iconic recreational activities spotlighting how travel presents as a gift of ‘escape’, ‘discovery’ as well as ‘tranquility’ and the like.

The 90-minute long-form ad of the campaign, ‘A Gift Like No Other’.

Through the years-long partnership of Team One and the global hotel company, both have been capturing The Ritz-Carlton’s ‘Let Us Stay With You’ ethos for their US-based campaigns. The campaign, which is the first work the agency spearheaded for the brand for the APAC region, is an extension of the said expression. 

According to Team One, the campaign was informed by insights from The Global Affluent Tribe™, its pioneering research program which examines the lives of affluent people across the globe. The study found that these types of travelers are passionate about exploring, observing, and challenging the different facets of life, fully understanding that personal interests and new experiences are essential to an authentic life. 

Team One’s CEO Julie Michael said, “In creating this campaign, our team leaned into these important insights by showing how travel today is about much more than the destination, and staying at a Ritz-Carlton hotel or resort uniquely enables the gift of creating enduring memories.” 

Meanwhile, Jennie Toh, vice president for brand marketing and management for Marriott International in APAC, the hotel chain’s parent company, commented, “It is the shared human experience of giving and receiving that sustains some of life’s most meaningful connections. This campaign brings this concept to life, connecting with a desire from our guests for immersive and enriching experiences.” 

Toh adds, “This is a wonderful opportunity to rediscover the incomparable gifts that come with travel, exploration, and learning, combined with the legendary service and personal connections delivered by the Ladies & Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton.”

The campaign aims to create awareness for the luxury brand and its newest hotel in the Maldives, and hotels in China, Japan, and Bali, helping the hotel group stand out as a unique player in a market that’s become crowded with other luxury properties. 

The integrated campaign includes a variety of elements spanning digital, OOH, print, and social. Aside from the main 90-minute spot, additional 30- and 15-second spots have also started to roll out across various international markets including Japan, China, and the Maldives.

Hong Kong – Following the company’s recent logo revamp to mark its 50th anniversary, Shangri-La Group has recently announced a new family experience brand called ‘Fam.ily™’ which aims to create best-loved experiences for multi-generational families as well as provide support for customers on their parenting journeys.

The recent brand launch speaks to the group’s strong Asian heritage and strong family culture, as well as reaffirming the brand’s commitment to evolving with customers to fulfil ever-changing demands and delivering on the brand promise of heartfelt hospitality. 

The ‘Fam.ily™’ brand houses a variety of new and existing programs specially designed to enable family guests to realise their Shangri-La franchises, both individually and with one another, as they explore, bond and grow together.

In regards to the brand’s logo, it comprises two parts: ‘fam’, the shortened word for ‘family’, and ‘ily’, the abbreviation for ‘I Love You’, connected by an infinity symbol. At the centre of the symbol is a heart-shaped knot, symbolizing the love shared by family members and the strong ties that bind them. The logo reflects Shangri-La’s commitment to go beyond service by inviting guests to be part of an integrated family-centric experience.

According to Hui Kuok, chairman of the Shangri-La Group, the recent brand launch reflects the company’s perception of the family being the heart of the Shangri-La brand culture and treating their guests like family remains a hallmark of the Shangri-La identity.

“With the launch of our new Fam.ily™ brand, and as we continue to introduce thoughtfully-designed family offerings, we hope to deliver the best-loved experiences that will bring families closer together, and create precious and lasting memories for our family guests,” Kuok stated.

Through Fam.ily™, guests can take part in a wide variety of activities that have been specifically designed to encourage learning through play and shared experiences through co-discovery across generations. This summer, pilot Fam.ily™ programmes will be rolled out at four properties across Mainland China.

In addition, Fam.ily™ will offer a unique mix of active and creative family experiences, including staying in themed family suites that have been thoughtfully designed to accommodate multigenerational groups, as well as activities for children who can take a memorable adventure to a jungle, castle, outer space or underwater wonderland from the comfort of their rooms.

To support customers in their parenting journeys, Fam.ily™ strives to facilitate learning and communication among parents by building a supportive community where they can connect and exchange experiences with one another through multiple channels, such as online chat groups and family events. 

Fam.ily™ also harnesses Shangri-La’s own insights and expertise by engaging thought leaders and experts in parenting and child development to share their knowledge with the Fam.ily™ community. These experts will share ideas and tips for fostering bonds across generations and achieving work-family balance.

Singapore – Super app Grab and Marriott International, Inc. has today announced a wide-ranging strategic partnership that will see both companies integrating their offerings to bring premium hospitality experience into the hands of consumers in Southeast Asia. This will the global hotel brand’s first extensive integration with a super app platform in Southeast Asia, as well as Grab’s most comprehensive agreement with a hospitality group to date.

Under the terms of the parties Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Marriott International will integrate into Grab’s platform in phases across food delivery, payment, transport, loyalty, and rewards, as well as advertising. Marriott International will also have access to Grab’s sizable customer base via GrabFood, GrabPay, and GrabAds, enabling them to serve a growing pool of customers who are increasingly transacting online. 

Meanwhile on Grab’s side, GrabFood will feature approximately 600 restaurants and bars from Marriott International’s portfolio in six different Southeast Asian markets. In addition, customers will be able to conveniently pay for their dining experiences through GrabPay at selected Marriott International hotels. Customers will earn GrabRewards points for all transactions on the Grab platform, which can be converted to Marriott Bonvoy points and vice versa.

Marriott Bonvoy is the travel program of Marriott International that encompasses the company’s global portfolio of 30 hotel brands and premium home rental offerings, Homes and Villas by Marriott International. Once in place, Grab customers will be able to redeem their converted points for exclusive member benefits at over 7,400 hotels and resorts in 135 countries and territories.

APAC President of Marriott International Rajeev Menon said the collaboration is one way we the company is designing a more seamless travel experience by leveraging the expertise of a super app in the region 

“Marriott International is constantly looking for ways to innovate and bring value to travelers and Marriott Bonvoy members as part of our partnership strategy,” said Menon.

Meanwhile, Group Managing Director for Operations at Grab Russell Cohen commented, “We are excited to partner with a world-renowned hospitality group like Marriott International that is at the forefront of delivering customer-first hospitality experiences. The breadth of our collaboration reflects our value as a platform of choice in supporting global brands on their digitalization journey in the new normal, and in particular, represents a milestone for our fast-growing GrabAds business.”

Other initiatives within the partnership include:

  • GrabPay: Piloting in Q1 2021, first in Singapore, travelers will be able to make cashless payments through GrabPay at participating Marriott International hotels. F&B outlets that accept GrabPay can soon also access Grab’s Merchant Discovery feature to notify guests in the vicinity of participating hotels about ongoing promotions and events. This will help businesses increase sales, grow customer loyalty, and drive more foot traffic to physical outlets. 
  • GrabAds: Grab and Marriott International will jointly create impactful marketing campaigns that are relevant and personalized to customers. With GrabAds’ solutions, Marriott International can connect with customers in a targeted way through audience data, integrated marketing communications across touchpoints, and track campaign performance in real-time. 
  • GrabRewards: Starting in Q1 2021, Grab customers and Marriott Bonvoy members will be able to enjoy two-way points transfer. This will allow consumers to convert GrabRewards points to Marriott Bonvoy points and vice versa, enjoying flexibility and benefits on GrabRewards, Southeast Asia’s largest rewards platform by users, with nearly 800 merchants. 

Both companies will also launch more loyalty initiatives in the coming months, including dining rewards at Marriott’s F&B outlets. 

The strategic partnership will begin in Singapore in November 2020, with Marriott International and Grab to roll out more products and services across Southeast Asia in multiple phases.