Tag: Travel booking

Singapore – Singapore’s transport company ComfortDelGro has added a new line of service – a non-emergency transportation service aiming to cater to the mobility needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities (PWD). 

The latest service offering will be provided by its newly-formed subsidiary, ComfortDelGro MedCare, which specializes in the medical escort transport business for the elderly and PWDs. ComfortDelGro will be rolling out a whole new fleet of wheelchair-accessible minibusses. 

Lim Tien Hock, the CEO of ComfortDelGro MedCare, commented that accessibility is a challenge faced by people with mobility issues, such as the elderly and those with disabilities, and that in response, ComfortDelGro MedCare was formed with the aim of not only expanding the company’s transport solutions but also adopting inclusive practices to serve this under-served community in Singapore. 

“ComfortDelGro MedCare will ensure that people with mobility issues can get from where they are to where they want to be, safely and reliably. With such transport options, we can help enrich their quality of life and enhance their connectedness to the broader society,” said Lim.

The minibusses will come with raised roofs and are retrofitted with automatic hydraulic lifts, safety retractors, and forward-facing seats to ensure both wheelchair users and their caregivers can sit comfortably. Each minibus is said to accommodate up to three wheelchairs and five seated passengers.

The new medical transport service is not the company’s first venture into non-emergency patient transport, where in 2018, it acquired Australia-headquartered National Patient Transport (NPT). The company said that now that it has brought the service to the Lion City, it will be leveraging the Group’s experience in Australia. 

ComfortDelGro MedCare ensures that its drivers are trained who can administer first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, as well as operate an automated external defibrillator (AED). The company also said that staff are trained to help wheelchair users and passengers with dementia. Furthermore, the drivers are put through a driving assessment by the company’s own Driving Centre. 

ComfortDelGro inititally has 10 minibusses for the new service, with more to be added as demand grows. Healthcare or daycare centers, medical institutions, social service agencies, and members of the public can book the entire minibus for one-way or two-way trips, or at an hourly rate ranging from S$63 to S$75, depending on the time of their booking. 

During the peak periods, which are weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. SGT and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. SGT, a one-way transfer is priced at S$113 , while the fare is S$225 for a two-way transfer. Meanwhile, off-peak bookings are available on weekdays from 11:01 a.m. to 2:59 p.m. SGT, which is priced at S$95 for a one-way transfer, and S$189 for a two-way transfer.

All bookings must be made two days in advance via its website or WhatsApp. The payment for the services can also be made online or via PayNow.

Singapore – Singapore’s multi-national land transport company, ComfortDelGro, has announced that it will be launching its one-stop app for mobility and lifestyle called ‘Zig’.

Through the app, Singapore residents will be able to connect and commute conveniently, as well as discover new experiences in and around Singapore. Its interactive map-based interface allows users to search for lifestyle services – from making dining reservations, placing click-to-collect orders at selected Food & Beverage (F&B) merchants, purchasing tickets at entertainment outlets and attractions, to finding great deals. Furthermore, each user experience can be customized to fit a user’s personal preferences – whether they are adventure seekers or creatures of habits.

“In a digital world, mobility is no longer just about simply transporting people from point A to point B. It is about bringing services to people wherever they are, whenever they need. This is the first time we’re rolling out such an all-in-one lifestyle and mobility app that we hope will provide our commuters with more choices,” said Yang Ban Seng, managing director and group CEO of ComfortDelGro.

The app will be partnering with restaurant booking platform Chope and travel booking platform Klook to offer users a combined network of over 1,500 dining options ranging from Asian, Mexican to Western cuisines, as well as over 300 entertainment deals such as hotel staycations and even kayaking excursions.

Zig is also aiming to convince users to explore “hidden gems” in districts and neighborhoods by partnering with local food and beverage joints such as MXG Classics, cake shop PIVOT, and Japanese eatery Gyu Nami.

“The user experience of Zig, with its fun persona and bold visual aesthetic, has been designed to give users a whole gamut of features to make lifestyle discovery fun, socially interactive, and most importantly, more convenient,” Yang stated.

ComfortDelGro will be adding more services to the app once it has been launched, including a rewards program slated for release in the second quarter of this year.

Singapore – Digital travel platform Agoda has launched GoLocal Tonight, a new feature to allow users to create and plan their spontaneous travel itinerary, a direct response to the increase in demand for last-minute travel searches for same-day and next-day overnight hotel stays. 

Through the platform, travelers looking for spontaneous last-minute travel can benefit from even greater savings from Agoda’s GoLocal Tonight deals when they make a same-day booking.

With the launch of GoLocal Tonight, thousands of hotel and accommodation providers across Asia Pacific have signed up to offer travelers up to 30% additional discount off last-minute reservations.

Agoda-GoLocal-Tonight-Feature-Survey

Data from Agoda noted that Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are the top three Asia Pacific markets to embrace the impromptu travel experience searching for same-day check-ins. These markets are followed by travelers from Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, India, the Philippines, South Korea, and Singapore.

“There’s a growing group of travelers choosing last-minute adventures – couch dwellers who might make spontaneous decisions to either watch a show or book a staycation for the thrill of it. GoLocal Tonight appeals to this new segment of canny, impulse travelers who are looking out for and are incentivized by low prices to take advantage of same-day deals. It’s a win-win for both partners and travelers,” said Enric Casals, regional director at Agoda.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Travel and leisure booking platform Klook has successfully concluded its Series E round investment, led by investment fund Aspex Management. The recently concluded investment round has raised US$200M in additional funding, which will be used to develop Klook-powered merchant Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.

Klook’s merchant SaaS solutions power millions of bookings for more than 2,500 merchants worldwide. Doubling down on its SaaS solutions will enable even more merchants who have had a challenging year to transform and accelerate their business by easily creating an online storefront powered by Klook. This is supported by a backend engine that manages ticketing, distribution, inventory management, marketing, and more. 

“Despite a challenging 2020, we have shown our mettle, turning challenges into growth opportunities with agility and constant innovation. We’ve observed over the past year that consumers have a pent-up desire to explore and enjoy themselves, despite international travel being paused. Instead, they are turning inwards – exploring new and unique experiences right in their backyard,” said Ethan Lin, CEO, and co-founder at Klook (center).

He added, “This new capital further strengthens our leading position to take us from defense to offense, as domestic tourism becomes ubiquitous and international travel gradually returns.”

At the height of the pandemic, Klook onboarded 150% more activities compared to the same period in 2019. With this new capital, the company will accelerate the development and roll-out of its merchant SaaS solutions. Designed to bridge the gaps faced by merchants today, these tools will empower any merchant to build, manage, and scale their business with Klook.

“The travel industry has undoubtedly been hit hard by the pandemic, but Klook has shown resilience and adaptability despite the market headwinds. We believe the transition toward digital bookings will only accelerate post-COVID-19, and that Klook’s ability to reinvent itself as a one-stop-shop for experiences and services across the region puts it in prime position to capitalize on this trend,” said Hermes Li, CIO, and founder of Aspex Management.

Meanwhile, Eric Gnock Fah, COO, and co-founder at Klook (left) commented, “We are setting out to reimagine the next digital leap for the experiences sector which has traditionally been fragmented with offline practices or legacy systems that do not truly address the realities of a post-COVID world. Since day one, Klook has been working closely with our merchants, both big and small, to identify common pain points that we can solve together.”

He added, “With this new funding, we have additional ammunition to accelerate our technology innovation, and truly transform and empower this space for future growth.”

Klook has piloted several of its SaaS tools during the second of 2020 namely ‘Contact Tracing System’ which will be used to trace back clients should the need for tracing ensue, ‘Attractions Plus’ which creates an online itinerary for travel in one app, and ‘Klook! Live’ which is an interactive livestream mobile feature for merchants and users alike.

Singapore – The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and travel booking platform Klook have teamed up to launch a S$2 million domestic marketing partnership to drive the rediscovery of Singapore’s tourism and lifestyle offerings. The partnership is under the SingapoRediscovers campaign, and is inked to last seven months-long starting this September.

SingapoRediscovers is a recently launched campaign, spearheaded by agencies Enterprise Singapore (ESG), Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to support the local lifestyle and tourism business in Singapore and encourage locals to explore different sides of the country. A total of S$45 million has been set aside for the campaign and its supporting marketing initiatives. 

The partnership with Klook will have three focus areas: curated promotions for products and experiences, content development, and digital marketing to boost spend.

Under the partnership, businesses – ranging from hotels and attractions to tour operators and dining establishments – will be encouraged to develop new products and experiences. The aim is to inspire locals and encourage them to explore precincts such as Orchard Road, Chinatown, Civic District, and Katong-Joo Chiat. 

These new products and experiences will also be curated into special bundles with attractive offers to appeal to different interest groups such as foodies, outdoor enthusiasts, and value seekers.  

An example would be pairing a stay at Mandarin Orchard Singapore with an Art Jam session in Orchard Road, or complementing a stay at Hotel Mono in Chinatown with a journey on Trishaw Uncle Guided Tours.

To encourage further exploration around the country, STB and Klook will collaborate on digital marketing efforts, where the parties look to create authentic stories through Klook’s pool of key content partners and opinion leaders. Digital content such as video reviews and livestreams will cast a spotlight on hidden gems and value-for-money promotions, as well as raise the profile of various home-grown businesses around Singapore.

Both parties will also co-invest in other digital marketing initiatives, such as search engine marketing, display, and social media advertising, to widen the reach and searchability of the various promotions and offerings under the campaign.

STB Assistant Chief Executive for Marketing Lynette Pang commented, “Through SingapoRediscovers, we encourage locals to explore Singapore, experience our vibrant tourism and lifestyle offerings, and support home-grown businesses. Klook shares the same aim. We look forward to leveraging their digital marketing capabilities and extensive network of partners to amplify our efforts, as well as encouraging their users to support curated local experiences, quality promotions, and content in the coming months.”

Meanwhile, Marcus Yong, vice president of marketing in Klook for APAC said, “Klook is excited to partner with STB and to be part of SingapoRediscovers. Our mission has always been to empower consumers to experience the best of a destination and through this partnership, we hope to bring back a sense of joy and adventure as locals explore their own backyard.”