Tag: Tourism

Singapore – Digital travel platform Agoda, has unveiled its latest foray in AI storytelling with ‘Travel in Colours’, which invites travellers to explore the world through a kaleidoscope of destinations that mirror the vibrant hues of Agoda’s logo.

Promising users with a colour filled journey, Agoda’s Travel in Colours is a curated collection of travel experiences designed to ignite wanderlust and inspire a viewers’ next vacation.

Specifically, the colours and destinations mirror Agoda’s logo with reds, yellows, emeralds, purples, and blues, giving users a diverse glimpse of locations and cultures for users to see and experience these places from their screens. 

This project leverages the latest AI technology with ChatGPT and Midjourney to create stunning, hyper-realistic images that capture the essence of each location. While not all images are 100% accurate representations, ‘Travel in Colours’ is a playful and inspiring testament to the joy of travel, designed to ignite the wanderlust within.

Talking about this initiative, Matteo Frigerio, CMO of Agoda, said, “We believe that the power of AI can bring a new dimension to travel storytelling, making it more engaging and accessible to everyone.”

“Agoda has always been at the forefront of digital innovation, and with ‘Travel in Colours’, we’re pushing the boundaries of how travel stories are told,” he added. 

Hong Kong – Trip.com and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has announced that it is extending its ‘Hello Hong Kong’ campaign to the Southeast Asian markets of Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. This is part of  HKTB’ global ‘Hello Hong Kong campaign’, which was first introduced earlier this year to encourage travellers to visit Hong Kong.

This collaboration marks the first themed marketing campaign between Trip.com and HKTB outside of mainland China after the pandemic, and will see travellers from the four countries enjoy a discount when they make Hong Kong hotel bookings on Trip.com during the promotion period, with no minimum spend requirement.

In addition, travellers to Hong Kong who make their hotel or air ticket bookings through Trip.com can also claim a special ‘Hong Kong Night Treats’ voucher worth HKD100. 

Visitors will be able to enjoy Hong Kong’s vibrant nightlife and indulge in its culinary treasures with the voucher, available for use in participating restaurants and bars across the city after 6pm – allowing them to take their taste buds on an unforgettable gourmet journey after dark.

Edison Chen, vice president of destination marketing and strategic alliances at Trip.com Group, said, “Southeast Asian travellers have traditionally enjoyed visiting Hong Kong, as shown by the visitor numbers – in the first nine months of 2023, five of the top eight short-haul visitor arrivals in Hong Kong were from Southeast Asian countries, with visitors from Malaysia growing by more than 90 times compared to the same period in 2022.”

He added, “Our Trip.com data from the same period also bears this out, with the four countries participating in the Hello Hong Kong campaign ranking in the Top 10 markets booking trips to Hong Kong. We are happy to partner the HKTB to welcome more travellers from Southeast Asia to Hong Kong.”

China – Global travel service provider Trip.com has announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the China International Culture Association (CICA) to promote the country’s inbound tourism.

In this new partnership, Trip.com becomes the official partner of CICA for its newest ‘Nihao! China’ campaign. The MoU covers the strategic framework agreement for the implementation of the campaign, including the filming and production of global promotional videos and the digital communication campaign.

As the official partner, Trip.com Group will promote the campaign on its platforms across various markets. Partnering with Chinese cultural centres, tourism boards, and other organisations, it will curate engaging content to showcase specific offerings and services showcasing the unique attractions, experiences, and beauty of China.

Additionally, the partnership also looks into building a service platform for inbound travel and organising activities agreed upon by both sides. Over the next three years, Trip.com Group plans to invest in platform technology, marketing and promotion, and product integration to accelerate the development of inbound tourism in China.

The partnership agreement between Trip.com and CICA aims to foster and promote cultural exchanges and establish friendships between the country and visitors from around the world. It looks to position China as a unique and welcoming destination rich in history and cultural heritage.

Prior to this MoU, several measures to boost tourism were also announced by the Chinese State Council, which include optimising visa and customs clearance policies and increasing international flight capacity and routes to key destinations. The new partnership is expected to further promote the internationalisation of China’s inbound tourism.

James Liang, co-founder and chairman at Trip.com Group, shared, “With the aim of boosting inbound tourism, Trip.com Group will leverage its technological expertise to enhance the ease of access for incoming visitors. Additionally, we will consolidate resources to foster tourism promotion while highlighting the distinctive tourism attractions of China to draw in global visitors.”

Singapore – Singapore Airlines has unveiled their latest campaign, which features a new stop-motion animation across social media, aiming to capture the essence of a wanderlust experience with their sonic identity comprising three instrumental tracks played on board SIA flights and in SilverKris Lounges.

Titled ‘The Sound of Singapore Airlines: A melodic journey awaits’, the new 30-second film captures the SIA Business Class cabin in a charming, handmade music box that takes the shape of a suitcase, bringing viewers on a trip through scenic landscapes and vibrant cities, accompanied by the airline’s signature melodies to evoke fond memories of travelling with Singapore Airlines.

Created in collaboration with Copenhagen-based director Marcus Møller Bitsch, the film’s handmade music box is inspired by the airline’s Business Class cabin. Each prop, including the iconic SIA cabin crew sarong kebaya uniform, was carefully hand-crafted and integrated into the film’s storyline.

Speaking about the project, Bitsch shared, “When I got the brief, I immediately thought it was a fantastic opportunity to use stop-motion animation to show the attention to detail and dedication that Singapore Airlines strives to bring to their customers.”

Meanwhile, Loo Yong Ping, deputy executive creative director of TBWA\Singapore, commented, “With the world embracing the wonders of AI, we wanted to do things differently by reviving the art of craft making to weave a sensory experience through music. We’re thrilled to witness this film come alive.”

Singapore – Leading multi-attraction pass provider Go City has officially signed a memorandum of understanding with Weixin Pay, a widely recognised payment function in the Weixin app, in an event today at the Capitol Kempinski Hotel, Singapore.

Such first-of-its-kind collaboration marks a significant milestone for the two as it will boost the global tourism sector in the country, allowing Chinese tourists to immerse themselves in a wide variety of visiting places across 30+ cities in Go City’s portfolio.

This also includes a three-year joint marketing plan in which both parties will allocate resources to adopt the usage of both the Go City Weixin mini programme and Weixin Pay.

Neville Doe, group chief financial officer of Go City, shared his enthusiasm for this partnership, stating, “This exciting partnership with Weixin Pay is a testament to Go City’s commitment to revolutionising the travel experiences for our customers. We’re incredibly excited to team up with a world-class leader in digital payment solutions to better serve our Chinese customers.

“Our mini program is already enhancing the purchase and usage experience for these customers, and this partnership takes this incredible proposition to greater heights. Together, we’re set to open up a world of fresh possibilities, such as special deals and unique experiences, for these travellers across Southeast Asia and beyond,” he added.

Following this remarkable feat, Etienne Ng, regional director, Southeast Asia for Weixin Pay, commented, “We are excited to collaborate with Go City, a pioneer in the tourism industry. This partnership aligns with our aim to provide Chinese users with seamless and secure payment options, enriching their travel experience in Singapore and the rest of the region, and represents a significant step towards achieving that vision for our users.”

Meanwhile, Dawn Jeremiah, vice president, marketing and e-commerce at Go City, also said that the establishment of Go City last September has already brought exponential revenue growth from Mainland Chinese consumers month after month.

“We’ve seen a 1.5x growth in September and October versus 2019 and a 2x growth this month versus 2019. exponential growth particularly to Singapore, followed by London, Sydney, Bangkok, Oahu, New York, Barcelona, and Paris. This year’s Golden Week saw our pass volume sales grow to 4x, average basket size grow by 25%, and lower refund rates, all compared to that of 2019,” she ended.

For the next few months, this strategic partnership is expected to revolutionise the exploration of Singapore’s top destinations, ensuring affordability, accessibility, and an authentically enhanced experience.

Singapore – Following the momentum of a two-year Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed in April 2023, as well as their previous partnerships, experience and travel services platform Klook and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have decided to scale up partnership efforts with joint investments of over S$2m to drive inbound tourism to Singapore.

Through this initiative, Klook and STB launched an integrated events marketing campaign to raise awareness of the diverse range of leisure events in Singapore, and will be rolling out a second initiative anchoring on STB’s latest brand campaign ‘Made in Singapore‘.

With a vast array of events to occur in Singapore such as the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium, Jumptopia, ZoukOut, and Singapore Comic Con, Klook introduces unique product bundles to enhance the overall experience and facilitate further discovery to encourage visitors to explore Singapore in a more holistic way, in turn driving strong returns for the local tourism and economy.

For the second initiative, the marketing and tactical partnership between STB and Klook in Southeast Asia will focus on digital content powered by Klook’s network of ‘Klook Kreators’, which are micro and nano content creators and affiliates that aim  to drive engagement and conversion.

By using its Kreator channel to create authentic content, Klook is planning to leverage the power of social media to connect travellers to the best of what Singapore has to offer. From beauty and fashion to food, this digital-led campaign aims to engage and inspire social media-savvy travellers in Southeast Asia to experience the unique local Singapore flavour for themselves.

Talking about the partnership, Sarah Wan, general manager of Klook Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, said, “Singapore has been a key destination leading travel recovery within Southeast Asia, and we’re excited to once again partner STB. We aim to inspire travellers by highlighting how Singapore makes unexpected, diverse and unique experiences possible.”

Meanwhile, Terrence Voon, executive director, Southeast Asia of STB, said, “We are delighted to team up with Klook to strengthen Singapore’s position as a compelling travel destination and leading events hub in Southeast Asia. Our new initiatives aim to drive tourism recovery and highlight distinctive experiences that make each journey to Singapore memorable. They will also complement STB’s new Made in Singapore campaign, which showcases how our city transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences.”

Singapore – The board of directors of Genting Singapore has approved a S$6.8b investment to propel its integrated resorts brand Resorts World Sentosa as a premiere tourist destination in Asia.

“We are confident that this investment will firmly anchor RWS as the most sought-after tourism destination in Asia, and propel the Group’s strong future growth. This investment will be funded through internal resources,” the company recently stated.

According to the company, its development on The Waterfront has received government’s provisional permission with construction set to commence in 2024. Moreover, it will comprise approximately 700 hotel keys and experiential  lifestyle content in a captivating blend of biophilic architecture that is designed by award winning firm Benoy.

In addition, the transformation of the Forum, the Minion Land in Universal Studios Singapore and the Singapore Oceanarium spaces are progressing well and expected to soft open in early 2025.

The new announcements comes after Genting Singapore recently announced the results of its third business quarter earnings, which saw benefit from the sustained recovery of travel and tourism as it grew 31% quarter-on-quarter to $350.4 million.

Singapore – Global travel service provider Trip.com and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to renew their global partnership for three years. 

Under the MOU, both parties will expand their collaboration and embark on joint campaigns to boost inbound travel to Singapore and promote more in-depth and lesser-known tours and experiences in Singapore. 

In addition, Trip.com Group will also leverage its expertise and resources to promote Singapore’s MICE offerings and explore digital innovations that enhance visitors’ experience in Singapore.

Both parties will launch marketing campaigns in mainland China and other key markets including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and Korea, and also promote the various offerings, experiences and activities in Singapore, including new products relating to wellness and sustainability. Trip.com Group will also customise new itineraries for specific groups of travellers, including families, with the objective of enhancing their experience in Singapore.

Melissa Ow, chief executive at Singapore Tourism Board, said, “The STB and Trip.com Group have forged a longstanding partnership since 2012. Moving forward, we endeavour to deepen our collaboration to elevate Singapore’s status as a leading destination for leisure and MICE travellers. Additionally, we will expand the scope of our partnership to include exchanges on digital solutions and innovation, and jointly develop more in-depth travel products to diversify our destination offerings.”

Meanwhile, Jane Sun, chief executive officer at Trip.com Group, commented, “Singapore has always been one of the most popular destinations for Chinese and other international tourists, and we have been collaborating with the STB to promote tourism and showcase the beauty of this beautiful country.”

She added, “Hosting our annual flagship Global Partner Summit – with its over 2,000 delegates – in Singapore earlier this week reflects our commitment to the local tourism sector and we will utilise our strengths, including content marketing, AI and innovation, to further strengthen Singapore’s position as a destination of choice.”

Singapore – With the launch of its new travel campaign ‘Shall We Just Go?’, Changi Airport Group aims to show that one can enjoy the thrill of travelling without the hassle of planning every minute of the trip.

Featuring six enchanting mystery destinations, anyone who is ready to fly within 30 days can participate and the lucky winners will be whisked away to a mystery destination for the payment of just S$1.

Each of the mysterious destinations in the 12-week campaign is served by direct flights from Changi Airport within a four-hour flying radius. Competition participants simply have to indicate that they can take off in the next 30 days, and will be in the running for the draw.

With the campaign being open to all Singapore residents, two lucky winners will be selected every week, with one of them being a Trust Bank customer. Two more winners will be selected towards the end of the campaign and winners can choose their holiday destination from any of the six. Additionally, this prize package includes a pair of return air tickets and S$500 worth of Trip.com vouchers for accommodation.

Launched in partnership with travel agency Trip.com and Trust Bank, Changi Airport’s ‘Shall We Just Go?’ campaign features offerings by Trip.com, and travel solutions by Trust Bank to help the winners attain a worthwhile and meaningful travel experience. 

Lim Ching Kiat, executive vice president for air hub and cargo development of Changi Airport Group, said, “Here at Changi Airport, we believe that travel should be an exhilarating adventure. ‘Shall We Just Go?’ aims to capture the joy of spontaneity and anticipation of travel, blended with the ease of embarking on journeys without preconceived notions and meticulous planning.”  

“We see this campaign as the start of a movement aimed at promoting ‘simpler’ travel, leveraging the wide connectivity that Changi Airport offers as an air hub, affordable airfares, and the numerous lesser-known destinations in the region waiting to be uncovered for that unique experience you can call your own. The campaign also supports our airline partners and the myriad of destinations that they fly to,” he added. 

‘Shall We Just Go?’ is part of a broader campaign under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between CAG and Trip.com Group to spur travel. The MOU deepens the partnership between the two companies, tapping into Trip.com’s reach in the world’s largest outbound travelling market and Changi Airport’s strong connectivity to cities in the Southeast Asian region, many of which are popular with both Singapore and Chinese travellers.

Singapore – Hyatt’s hotel concept chain Andaz in Singapore has launched a digital treasure hunt map called ‘The Authentically Local Story Hunt’ which invites guests to embrace the role of story hunters and gain fresh perspectives while exploring the vibrant neighbourhoods in and around the hotel.

Conceptualised alongside local creative and production studio UNCANNY, the campaign motivates participants to transition from being mere tourists to embracing the identity of a local, inviting them to extend their stay and immerse themselves in the vibrant tapestry of Singapore.

Participants in this captivating adventure can engage in the hunt by accessing the story hunt digital map on their mobile devices and venturing to curated venues scattered across the city. These venues are marked by distinctive red dots featuring QR codes. 

By scanning these codes, they unlock captivating tales revealing the hidden gems of the locale, intricately woven into Singapore’s rich cultural tapestry. Additionally, they have the opportunity to indulge in exclusive offers provided by the venues through the digital map

To kick off this exciting campaign, the hotel has extended invitations to three pairs of Story Hunters hailing from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. They will embark on their adventure across five carefully chosen local neighbourhoods: Joo Chiat, Kampong Glam, Marina Bay, Chinatown, and Little India. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnE3P4yd560

Moreover, the adventure will be chronicled in a five-part video series, featuring the Story Hunters along with the commentary of host and local personality, Rosalyn Lee. The video series will be shared on the Story Hunt website and YouTube channel throughout the campaign period, inspiring interested viewers to follow their escapades and witness the charm of the local cultures through their eyes.

Federica Brugnara, executive assistant manager for sales and marketing at Andaz Singapore, said, “Launching the campaign has been a meaningful endeavor for the hotel associates as it represents our commitment to shaping a transformative guest experience and contributing to the vibrant tapestry of Singapore’s tourism.”

She added, “By inviting both locals and global visitors to participate on the story hunt, we encourage deeper connection with the city’s rich cultural heritage and neighborhoods. The campaign extends beyond hotel marketing. It also celebrates the authentic stories that make the city unique. It’s an invitation to explore beyond the familiar, to challenge preconceptions, and to embrace the soul of the little red dot.”

Meanwhile, Qi Hao Shum, co-founder and creative Lead of UNCANNY said, “Together with the wonderful team at Andaz Singapore we conceptualised and produced the #AuthenticallyLocal Story Hunt, an integrated campaign that highlights Andaz Singapore’s position as the perfect place to base yourself to explore the hidden stories that make Singapore an amazing tourist destination. 

He added, “The campaign culminates in a digital experience that invites tourists and the public to participate in the Story Hunt themselves and explore the nooks and crannies of Singapore that make the island a one-of-a-kind destination.”

Lastly, Yu Chin Han, co-founder of UNCANNY, added, “This work has been a labour of love for our entire team, creating it has been a wonderful reminder of all the unique & diverse experiences that has made me proud to call Singapore home.”