Tag: Travel

Singapore – Travel technology platform, Bakuun.com, has now rebranded to Bakuun. This rebranding strategy reflects both the evolution of the platform as well as its vision for the future. 

Along with this change in the company name, Bakuun has also launched new brand elements such as a logo refresh, a sleeker and cleaner typeface, and an updated primary and secondary colour palette, as well as a new website with a fresh look, featuring a new design and improved user interface. 

Marco Bacchilega, Bakuun’s CEO, shared that along with other major strategy changes, it has been in their plan to re-brand Bakuun and drop ‘.com’ from its name to make its branding catchier and easier to remember. 

“We are excited to introduce our shortened company name – Bakuun –because it reflects our evolution and adaptability in the current time,” said Bacchilega.

Bakuun said that it will be focusing on delivering end-to-end distribution solutions to increase automation, improve efficiency, and make sure that they remain commercially relevant.

Bangkok, Thailand – As more international borders are starting up to open up again to boost tourism, many foreigners are now searching for their next travel destination. And for this year, the Asian country of Thailand emerged as the most-searched global destination foreigners want to travel to, according to the latest data from digital travel platform Agoda.

According to the data, Japan, the United States and Singapore are the markets most keen to head back to Thailand following the local government’s efforts to revitalise international tourism with initiatives such as Thailand Pass and the Sandbox programme.

Other markets interested in visiting Thailand include the United Kingdom, France, and Switzerland, as well as South Korea, Maldives, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

Damien Pfirsch, chief commercial officer at Agoda, said, “While the government has made great efforts to help streamline the booking experience for travellers gearing to get back out there, with Test & Go, Sandbox and Thailand Pass, it can be daunting and time consuming for international travellers to keep track of these requirements, and the processes needed.” 

Pfrisch added that they have worked on integrating its booking data seamlessly to the Thailand Pass platform in order to help travellers upload booking details automatically, reducing the room for human error.

To aid with this anticipated influx of travellers, Agoda has collaborated with Finema, the technology company responsible for the development of Thailand Pass on behalf of the Department of Consular Affairs, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“At Agoda, we want to make the customer travel experience as hassle-free as possible. We understand that the new world of travel is going to come with its fair share of challenges and want to help make it easier with our tech expertise. With this partnership, and many others we are working on in the region, we hope to help our customers through their pre-departure journeys,” Pfrisch concluded.

Singapore – Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and digital travel platform Agoda, have collaborated on a joint marketing campaign to bring more visitors from Southeast Asia into Singapore.

Through the partnership, Agoda’s technology and travel expertise, data insights and integrated marketing capabilities will be utilised to showcase Singapore’s travel experiences. This marks the first direct partnership between STB and Agoda to better capture travel demand as border restrictions begin to lift in the region. 

Enric Casals, director of Agoda, said, “Globally headquartered in Singapore across our 16 years of operation, our biggest focus has always been in bringing ease to the world of travel. Singapore is a bustling city centre at the heart of Asia with so much to offer its visitors from the region. With this partnership, we are glad to lend our insights and innovative marketing to help STB optimise footfall to our home base.”

He added, “Agoda strives to be a supportive partner to the governments and communities we operate in, and we hope this will be the first in a longstanding partnership with the Singapore government, towards stimulating the tourism economy,”

Meanwhile, John Gregory Conceicao, executive director of Singapore Tourism Board, shared, “As borders gradually re-open, it is important for the industry to collaborate and drive our travel sector forward. That is why we are delighted to collaborate with Agoda in Southeast Asia, which is a significant market that will play a key role in tourism recovery. Here in Singapore, we are reimagining the visitor experience to make each trip a meaningful exploration of our island.” 

“Through this partnership, and with the insights and knowledge that each partner brings to the table, we can reach a wider audience and invite them to rediscover Singapore and our vibrant neighbourhoods, variety of delicious food and unique attractions,” Conceicao added.

Vietnam – VietJet Air, Vietnam’s international low-cost airline, has been named as one of the top 10 safest low-cost airlines for 2022. This is based on evaluation from AirlineRatings, a content hub for relevant airline and travel information.

In the second half of 2021, the airline was also named by the media hub as the Best Ultra Low-Cost Airline in 2021. 

For the current 2022 list, VietJet Air is joined by airlines Allegiant Air, easyJet, Frontier Airlines, Jetstar Group, Jetblue, Ryanair, and Volaris, as well as Westjet and Wizz Air, which is unveiled as a collective list rather than with particular rankings.

According to AirlineRatings, it monitored a total of 385 global airlines for the top list. AirlineRatings uses a 7-star point system where 7 indicates optimum safety level for a particular airline. Airlines are evaluated against a list of criteria such as incident records over two years, crash records over five years, fleet age, results of audits conducted by the governing body of aviation, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and other aviation authorities.

VietJet Managing Director Dinh Viet Phuong commented, “We are proud to keep up with the top safety ranking in the global aviation industry. We have committed to carrying out reliable flight operation while expanding our flight network and diversifying services to provide the best flying experiences to our passengers in the coming time.”

AirlineRatings Editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas commented that while the airline is extremely clever in its marketing, it has a very smart and serious business plan that “brings affordable travel to millions.” 

“VietJet is especially recognized for massive investment into new fleet, system upgrade, and technology adoption to ensure safety in operation and meet passengers’ evolving and convenient flight demand,” said Thomas.

Meanwhile, Air New Zealand was hailed as the world’s safest airline for 2022. This was followed by global airlines from the Middle East, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, while air carriers from APAC such as Singapore Airlines, Qantas, EVA Air, and Virgin Australia, and Cathay Pacific Airways, also entered the main list.

Singapore – Global hospitality campaign Hilton has launched its newest campaign, ‘Travel The World’, which aims to inspire consumers to explore the wonders of their home countries, and discover local alternatives that match the experiences at some of their favorite international destinations.

The campaign reflects the hotel chain’s understanding of sentiment among consumers who are eager to explore something new, yet feel more comfortable traveling closer to home. In addition, the new campaign aims to showcase how domestic travel offers a wealth of similarly wonderful experiences that are a lot more accessible.

“[The] ‘Travel the World’ [campaign] highlights the endless options for international-inspired travel accessible from many Hilton hotels in Australia, Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia. There is no shortage of culture, nature, adventure, and food and wine in these countries and the campaign celebrates them all, highlighting the best travel experiences across the region,” Hilton said in a press statement.

Hilton features a lot of destinations and experiences in this campaign, ranging from experiencing the wine bordeaux region in Australia, exploring water canals in Bangkok, Thailand, or snacking on ‘takoyaki’ on the streets of Osaka, Japan.

Speaking about the campaign, Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director for Asia-Pacific at Hilton stated that they understand that there is a significant pent-up demand to travel or reconnect with loved ones, adding that they continue to adapt to meet the evolving needs of their guests.

“With 500 hotels across Asia Pacific, Hilton has the breadth and depth of properties across 11 trusted brands for travelers to connect with these local experiences, all of which deliver the exceptional hospitality that we are known for. Our latest marketing campaign, ‘Travel the World,’ inspires and connects consumers in large domestic travel markets Japan, Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand to experiences they can have in their home countries that satisfy their international travel ambitions,” George stated.

He also cited an internal study they have made on proprietary consumer research in Asia-Pacific, and found that on average, 34% of families are now more actively looking to book domestic travel versus pre-pandemic.

Live now until 31 January 2022, ‘Travel the World’ is a predominately digital campaign running across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, leveraging a number of digital advertising partners. The campaign includes use of hyper-personalized videos delivered to dozens of unique audiences in real-time through the power of Google’s digital marketing engine. 

In addition, the campaign features both social and digital content including videos, social media, and display advertising with the creative concept and key assets developed by regional advertising agency KVUR, which is based in Singapore.

Singapore – Beer brand Heineken in Singapore has launched a special campaign that lets you share your dream holiday and actually gives you a chance to win it and experience it–the closest to reality.

Done in partnership with travel and leisure booking platform Klook, the ‘Heineken Festive Cheers’ campaign involves a brief quiz to match you to your dream holiday. Heineken lets you be carefree with how you envision your dream vacation–and then matches you with something close within the bounds of the beauty of Singapore.

Prompts include where you wish to go, if whether you’d like to escape or explore the city, and what your sighted R & R involves such as a festive party or a scrumptious spread. 

At the heart of the campaign is a special microsite. From 26 November to 24 December 2021, consumers can head to the ‘Heineken Festive Cheers’ site to wing the quiz and be matched to any of the campaign’s prepared holiday packages in Singapore. In the end, participants will be given an exclusive Klook Promo Code for a chance to win it.

With the focus on local tourism, Gerald Yeo, the marketing director of Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore, Heineken’s parent company, said celebrating the holidays doesn’t need necessarily mean traveling somewhere new and that it’s about making time to meet family and friends.

“We look forward to Heineken being at the heart of many celebrations right here in Singapore this season, giving us even more reasons to celebrate with those who matter,” said Yeo. 

Meanwhile, Sarah Wan, Klook’s general manager for Singapore, commented, “Klook is delighted to partner with Heineken to spread festive cheer and joy this year-end. We have made it our mission to uncover hidden gems, feature local merchants, and to pioneer unique experiences here in Singapore. We are confident that this campaign will help bring more awareness to local merchants and shed light on how much Singapore has to offer.” 

Some of the leisure packages that can be won include a staycation for two at Lloyd’s Inn, a staycation at KēSa House, The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood for two, and a guided hike around Keppel by X-Trekkers, among many others. 

Of course, Heineken will be with celebrators at every step of the way. With each leisure package comes a Heineken Blade and a compact 8-liter countertop draught set-up to make sure winners are able to enjoy their Heineken beer as they revel in the holidays. 

In addition to winning experiences, fans could walk away with special Heineken packages such as a six-pack of Heineken or a six-month supply of Heineken. 

Hong Kong – As part of HSBC’s commitment to helping consumers get closer to their next trip abroad, the financial institution has launched an immersive 3D innovation campaign, aimed at highlighting its EveryMile Credit Card.

HSBC’s EveryMile Credit Card offers cardholders various spending benefits and rewards when traveling. It is also the bank’s first credit card in Hong Kong made from 85% recycled plastic.

The new campaign, which is created in collaboration with creative and CRM agency Wunderman Thompson and media company PHD Hong Kong, brings comedy legend Dayo Wong Tze Wah, superstar Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, and musical phenomenon Mirror’s Lokman and Tiger together for a fun-filled adventure through space. Titled ‘Takes You Further Every Day’, the campaign extends the TVC narrative to the rest of the multi-channel and innovative campaign.

Its storyline also continues with a series of interactive OOH marketing, starting with a first-in-the-industry 3D TV ad of HSBC’s spaceship flying using naked-eye technology.

HSBC said, “The EveryMile Credit Card campaign leverages new technology to attract, engage, and interact with customers but more importantly, the campaign is appealing to a wide range of local audiences with culturally relevant content and generational talents embracing their roles as Space Rangers and ambassadors for EveryMile Credit Card launch.”

The advertisement is currently displayed on a 3D TV screen in the high-traffic district of Causeway Bay at 3 Matheson Street in Hong Kong. 

In addition, HSBC is also inviting audiences to take part in an ongoing interactive game, where participants will be searching for three pieces of the Space Rangers’ flying saucer scattered around the city with a chance to win RewardCash if they succeed in retrieving the displaced parts. 

The locations of the pieces are hidden in the series of integrated takeovers including the 3D installation displayed at Queens Road Central, the 3D TV, and the light show outside HSBC’s main building.

Manila, Philippines – Top player in the Asian travel industry, AirAsia, in the Philippines, has released a new content series for the web, just in time as the region gradually opens up for travel. 

Interestingly, the airline has tapped into the influencer culture, roping in its very own First Officer Rod de Lara and Senior Cabin Crew Bien Geronimo to host the said web series. The series is titled ‘airasia Thrills’ and will be taking viewers to captivating landscapes and uncharted territories as hosts set foot in local destinations such as Zamboanga, Bohol, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao and General Santos.

The series also aims to boost viewers’ excitement and adrenaline as the show will feature extreme activities such as Vinta racing, cross-country motorbiking, scuba diving, and free diving, among others. 

De Lara and Geronimo who are both avid triathletes will be testing their limits on the show, taking on different challenges related to the different destinations.

Steve Dailisan, AirAsia Philippines spokesperson, said, “Now that COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) and some provinces have gone down, we are sure that most Filipinos are eager to travel but don’t know where to start. airasia Thrills will give them a sneak peek of what to do and where to go. We hope that AirAsia Thrills will not only thrill them, but fire their enthusiasm in completing their bucket list.”

Dailisan adds, “We believe that traveling is good for our mental health, and rediscovery of activities, food, and places will complete your thirst for traveling in the new normal. And for those still staying at home, we got you covered as airasia Thrills will take you virtually to different tourist destinations in the Philippines.”

The series has already started 1 October and will run until January 2022. The series can be viewed on its Facebook page ‘airasia Super App’ and its Youtube channel of the same name. 

At the end of the season, lucky viewers can get a chance to win tickets and other exciting prizes from AirAsia partners Samsung, The North Face Philippines, Grind, ROX, and Monster Energy Drink.

Tokyo, Japan – Multinational hotel and lodging company Marriott International and internet services company Rakuten have joined forces in their latest partnership, aimed at enhancing the travel experience for Japanese consumers, whether travelling locally or internationally.

Said partnership, which is scheduled to launch in phases from late-November 2021, is set to open up a world of benefits and elevate the travel experience for Japanese customers in the following ways such as integrated digital travel experience, more perks for registered members, and VIP experiences.

Through the partnership, Marriott International’s travel program Marriott Bonvoy will have direct access to millions of Rakuten members to offer them unparalleled experiences and a diverse portfolio of Marriott Bonvoy’s 30 international hotel brands, and market directly to Rakuten’s customer base with content and promotions that are customized for the Japanese traveler.

Meanwhile, for Rakuten’s part, it will utilize its digital expertise and capitalize on the current growth of Japan’s digital economy, alongside the global scale and the rapid growth of the Marriott Bonvoy footprint. 

This new agreement is designed to create a seamless, integrated travel experience and allow eligible members to enjoy benefits from both Marriott Bonvoy and the Rakuten loyalty program.

“We are excited to work with Marriott International to offer eligible Rakuten members the amazing benefits of Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s industry award-winning travel program. Rakuten customers have come to expect the highest standards of service and convenience, and Marriott is an ideal partner. This groundbreaking alliance will add incredible value for our members, enabling them to tap into the advantages of a global travel program,” said Kazunori Takeda, group executive vice president and president of commerce company at Rakuten Group.

Meanwhile, Rajeev Menon, president for Asia Pacific excluding Greater China at Marriott International, commented, “With a significant number of Japan’s population a Rakuten member, we anticipate this collaboration will allow us to strategically capture a greater share of a strong Japanese travel market and connect these travelers to our expansive portfolio of global brands. We’re delighted to be working with Rakuten to advance the recovery of travel.”

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.