Singapore – Travel Alliance is set to launch a cross-border telco rewards programme for its customers with ride-hailing and delivery company Grab and travel brand Trip.com.

Travel Alliance, comprised of Singtel, AIS, Globe, HKT, Optus, Taiwan Mobile and Telkomsel, is set to roll out the rewards programme starting January next year.

Through the partnership with Grab and Trip.com, customers of Alliance members can save on accommodations, flights, rides, and food deliveries.

The launch reflects Travel Alliance’s aim of providing incentives to its customers when travelling, including for transport, dining, merchandise, and lifestyle services. Since Travel Alliance’s establishment in February 2024, Grab and Trip.com are the first to become partners that provide rewards for customers.

As part of the rewards programme, Travel Alliance customers can gain discounts from Trip.com hotel and flight bookings. Additionally, they can also upgrade to Trip.com’s top-tier status, enjoying rewards such as access to VIP lounges and upgrades for car models when travelling.

Meanwhile, Grab is set to launch a Grab Tourist Pack in 2025, providing exclusive deals for Alliance customers.

“As a customer-focused company, Trip.com is delighted to partner with the alliance of seven telcos to bring exceptional travel opportunities to their users across the Asia Pacific region. This collaboration reflects our commitment to making travel more accessible and rewarding by leveraging innovative partnerships. By combining the convenience of our platform with exclusive discounts for the telco customers, we aim to inspire more people to plan the perfect trip for a better world,” Han Feng, head of marketing at Trip.com, said.

“With our presence in over 700 cities across 8 countries in Southeast Asia, Grab believes we can be the one app travellers need for hailing rides, ordering food, dining out or getting emergency supplies delivered to their doorstep. We are pleased to partner the Travel Alliance to support the travel needs of their vast combined customer base,” Chuck Kim, managing director of group business development & strategic partnerships at Grab, commented.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Travel service provider Trip.com has launched a brand campaign at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) through a partnership with advertising company Meru Utama Sdn Bhd (VGI Airports).

Trip.com’s collaboration with VGI Airports is part of its effort to enhance brand visibility in Southeast Asia (SEA). It leverages KLIA’s prominent advertising spaces including aerobridges, walkways, and landside areas.

The campaign aims to inform travellers of Trip.com’s features and travel solutions. The travel service provider helps travellers with flight bookings, hotel accommodations, car rentals, and other experiences.

Through the partnership, Trip.com leverages KLIA as one of the busiest airports in SEA.

Stephane Thong, general manager at Trip.com Malaysia, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Malaysia Airports on this exciting brand campaign. Kuala Lumpur International Airport is a key gateway to Asia and beyond, making it an ideal platform to showcase Trip.com’s offerings to an international audience. This collaboration not only boosts our brand visibility but also demonstrates our commitment to supporting the resurgence of global travel.”

“As the appointed media concessionaire for KLIA, we are delighted to welcome Trip.com as a key brand partner. The synergy of this partnership perfectly demonstrates the power of advertising at one of Asia’s premier airports, with Trip.com’s global reach and innovative travel solutions resonating well with the diverse international audience passing through KLIA’s terminals,” Herman Lim, general manager, of VGI Airports, commented.

Singapore – United Overseas Bank (UOB) has collaborated with Disney Cruise Line to reward its cardholders booking on the ‘Disney Adventure’ cruise.

UOB cardholders in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam can enjoy benefits when they book cruise vacations starting Dec. 10.

The three-year partnership’s benefits also extend to cardholders booking on UOB’s travel partners UOB Travel Planners, Klook, Traveloka, and Trip.com. Benefits vary among travel partners.

As part of the partnership, UOB has launched the ‘Let the Magic Begin’ campaign through activities.

Customers can get a chance to win a 3-night voyage on the Disney Adventure when using their cards to spend, deposit on their accounts, or make transactions using the UOB TMRW app.

UOB is also rewarding character plushies to the first 1,000 cardholders who exceed $2000 in spending in a period of 10 days.

Additionally, customers can collect stamp cards inspired by the seven areas inside the Disney Adventure cruise line. UOB will reward limited-edition Disney Cruise Line-themed items to those who finish the stamp collection from Dec. 1 to Jan. 12, 2025.

Meanwhile, UOB cardholders can also earn rewards when visiting and purchasing at Jewel Changi Airport’s ‘The Gift of Disney Cruise Line at Jewel’ holiday event.

“UOB is thrilled to team up with Disney Cruise Line on our quest to provide cardholders with unique privileges for their Disney Adventure cruise vacations in this first-of-its-kind collaboration in the region. This fits hand in glove with the slate of artists we have assembled thus far, including the biggest names in Western entertainment, the K-pop scene and Mandopop royalty, the most dramatic theatre productions and hottest music festivals,” Jacquelyn Tan, head of group personal financial services at UOB, said.

“This is testament to our promise of offering marvellous privileges and access to aspiring ASEAN consumers, to fulfill their myriad lifestyle preferences, and underpinning our strategy to drive growth in our customer base closer towards our 10 million ambition in three years,” Tan added.

“As Disney Cruise Line brings its magical cruise vacations to Asia for the first time in December 2025, we look forward to welcoming travellers in the region to experience beloved stories and characters from Disney, Pixar and Marvel brought to life,” Sarah Fox, vice president and regional general manager for Southeast Asia at Disney Cruise Line, commented.

“Through this collaboration with UOB, consumers will have even more options to plan and book their Disney Adventure cruise vacations seamlessly. We can’t wait for guests to create exceptional memories with their family and friends onboard the Disney Adventure,” Fox said. 

Singapore –  A vast majority of Singaporean travellers (96.4%) are considering sustainable travel, travel service provider Trip.com Group’s report reveals. The figure surpasses the global average of people considering sustainable travel at 92%.

However, while sustainability awareness is high, only a smaller percentage of Singaporeans have acted upon it, unveiling a gap. According to the report, only 64.7% of travellers have practised sustainable travel. This gap highlights the travel industry’s challenges in promoting and meeting the aim of sustainability in travel.

The report surveyed 9,867 travellers from 109 countries, including Singapore. It found that many travellers face barriers such as cost, confusion, and doubts about the authenticity of sustainable options. It underscores the need for the travel industry to provide clearer and accessible sustainable options to meet the growing demand from travellers.

While some travellers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable options, most have limits. In Singapore, 41% of travellers are willing to purchase the premium option. Globally, the figure rises to 42.5%, but with limits. Only 21% are willing to pay up to 5% more, and fewer people are willing to pay 10% or more.

Despite this, travellers increasingly seek sustainable options online. 61% of Singaporean travellers are routinely looking for these options. Consequently, 81.8% of them expect more information about sustainable options from online travel agents while 65.3% prefer to see sustainable tips.

According to the report, the top options for sustainable travel for Singaporeans include greener transportation, sustainable accommodations, single-use plastics, and food waste reduction.

Among Gen Z, 73% are considering purchasing sustainable offers from travel agents, showing their environmental motivation.

Trip.com Group aims to bridge the gap by offering more sustainable options and partnering with sustainability organizations. They also plan to reduce their own environmental impact.

“As we enjoy the planet’s natural wonders, it is our duty and responsibility to protect and preserve these treasures for future generations. We are encouraged by the growing awareness of sustainable travel, and will continue to collaborate with, and empower, our stakeholders in building a sustainable future,” Jane Sun, chief executive officer at Trip.com Group, said.

Singapore – Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel) has signed a three-year partnership with Trip.com to enhance Singapore’s appeal as a premier travel destination, offering new and immersive travel and leisure experiences for visitors.

Through this partnership, Jewel will utilise Trip.com’s vast global network to attract a broader international audience, boosting travel to Singapore and increasing visitor numbers to Jewel. Meanwhile, as Trip.com expands its global footprint, this collaboration will also enhance its brand visibility among Jewel’s diverse mix of international and local guests.

As part of the new co-marketing initiatives, Jewel will launch targeted campaigns on Trip.com to drive more visitors to Canopy Park and boost spending at Jewel’s premium retail offerings.

Jewel and Trip.com will also launch a new ‘Trip.com Light & Music Showcase’ in October, designed by renowned Los Angeles-based water feature designer WET. The showcase, inspired by Trip.com’s mission to enhance global travel experiences, will feature a captivating narrative centred on travel, offering a visually and auditorily immersive experience aimed at connecting audiences worldwide.

Additionally, visitors can look forward to more new immersive experiences. Starting 7 October, Trip.com will launch “Traveller’s Wonderland,” an interactive travel-themed pop-up event set within Jewel’s lush indoor gardens.

“Traveller’s Wonderland,” a first-of-its-kind experiential display, will transport visitors on a global journey without leaving Jewel. The exhibit will highlight iconic attractions from China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Thailand—top travel destinations for both Singaporean and international travellers. Through four immersive displays, visitors will experience vibrant cultures and stunning landscapes, providing numerous photo opportunities.

To complement “Traveller’s Wonderland,” a social media event will offer visitors the chance to win prizes by sharing their photos from the exhibit. Prizes include flight coupons, Jewel’s Canopy Park tickets, and travel merchandise. Trip.com app users can also take part in an online scratch card game for a chance to win a trip for two to Australia, tickets to Universal Studios Japan, and more.

James Fong, CEO of Jewel Changi Airport Development, said, “We are pleased to partner Trip.com in our efforts to drive tourism in Singapore and promote Jewel as a must-visit destination to international travellers through Trip.com’s global reach. The synergy between our two brands presents opportunities for strategic collaboration, and we are confident of solidifying Jewel’s position as a premier destination for travellers through the various co-marketing initiatives.”

Bo Sun, chief marketing officer of Trip.com Group, added, “The Jewel Rain Vortex is an iconic global attraction, and Trip.com is thrilled to partner with Jewel Changi Airport to create immersive new experiences that elevate the travel journey. This collaboration will allow us to engage with and delight visitors of all ages from Singapore and around the world, and we look forward to debuting this spectacular experience in October.”

This partnership comes as Jewel Changi Airport experiences significant growth, with footfall up nearly 15% and foreign visitors increasing by over 20% from January to June 2024. In August, Jewel set a record with more than 1 million visitors during the National Day weekend.

Bangkok, Thailand – Trip.com Group has launched its new Asia Live Streaming Centre at its Bangkok office, set to deliver daily content that highlights Thailand’s tourism offerings.

Attended by representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and business partners, the launch represents a major expansion of the Group’s content marketing strategies. It aims to deliver top travel inspiration and deals to adventurers via livestreaming, transforming how partners and consumers connect to elevate the tourism industry.

The Asia Live Streaming Centre will function as the Group’s regional hub, initially broadcasting daily content in Thai on Trip.com Thailand’s social media channels, with plans to expand to English content for international audiences in subsequent phases.

Additionally, Trip.com intends to collaborate with hotels, local attractions, and businesses across Thailand to highlight a variety of travel products and deals. The livestream will spotlight premium offerings, including those featured on Trip.Best, a curated ranking list on Trip.com that helps global travellers choose the top experiences at each destination.

The livestreaming content is also set to boost exposure and create new sales channels for the Group’s business partners, complementing existing initiatives like mega sales, influencer collaborations, and food tourism campaigns as part of a comprehensive marketing strategy.

Bo Sun, chief marketing officer at Trip.com Group, said, “We are pleased to have the Tourism Authority of Thailand and business partners witness this milestone with us today, as we collaborate closely to showcase and offer the best travel experiences for our users. The new livestreaming centre aims to capitalise on Thailand’s active social media user base and status as a top travel destination in the region. The move has the potential to elevate travel in the Asia region to new heights, as we leverage the power of livestreaming to engage with passionate travellers.”

Trip.com’s strategic launch of its new livestreaming hub in Thailand capitalises on the country’s advanced livestreaming ecosystem and diverse travel offerings. The Group plans to expand this content to Trip.com sites across Southeast Asia, with a rollout scheduled for Q1 2025. The long-term goal is to extend this livestreaming initiative to additional markets where it is gaining momentum.

Singapore – Global travel services provider Trip.com Group has signed two strategic memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with leading hospitality brands in Southeast Asia, namely Megaworld Hotels & Resorts in the Philippines and Vinpearl in Vietnam, reinforcing its commitment to the region.

These strategic partnerships with Megaworld and Vinpearl are driven forward by Trip.com Group’s ‘Local Focus, Global Vision’ ethos, aimed at enhancing the travel experience for inbound and domestic travellers.

Through these partnerships, MHR and Vinpearl will receive comprehensive marketing support from Trip.com Group through targeted campaigns, new hotel showcases, and enhanced product content. This also includes exclusive package rates & member rates, prioritised access on Trip.com’s platforms, and offering customers competitive rates and exclusive deals, particularly targeting higher-tier members.

By fostering this collaboration, Trip.com Group ensures optimised exposure, making it easier for travellers to discover and book their stays, thereby boosting the appeal of these top-tier accommodations.

Furthermore, Trip.com Group equips hotel partners with tools and data insights to adjust dimensions in real time, ensuring competitive rates that attract bookings. The programme also includes features to help hotels improve their search result rankings based on price competitiveness, customer reviews, and booking conversion rates.

Talking about the partnerships, Boon Sian Chai, managing director and vice president of international markets at Trip.com Group, said, “We have collaborated on several programmes with Vinpearl in recent years, and this MOU is a natural extension of our excellent relationship. We are equally excited to embark on a new journey with MHR. Going forward, we will further enhance the travel experiences for our customers globally while also showcasing the beauty of the destinations in Southeast Asia and their offerings, including accommodation.”

Meanwhile, Loleth So, group commercial director, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, commented, “We are excited to embark on this collaboration with Trip.com Group, a global leader in online travel. This alliance will amplify our reach in the global market and attract more international travellers to our properties. We look forward to working together to deliver an authentic Filipino experience for all our guests through the Sampaguita, our signature brand of service.”

Hana Ngo, deputy CEO, Vinpearl Group, also added, “Our partnership with Trip.com Group over the years has been extremely successful, and we are thrilled to bring our cooperation to the next level. Together, we will elevate Vinpearl’s presence in the global market, delivering unparalleled value and unforgettable experiences to our guests.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Vietjet Air has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with global travel service provider Trip.com Group to leverage both parties expertise and resources in making travel more convenient for travellers worldwide.

In this new collaboration, passengers will be able to easily access Trip.com Group’s products and services, such as hotels, airport transfers, attractions, and activities, on Vietjet Air’s official website.

Meanwhile, Vietjet Air will receive Trip.com’s innovative technologies, including its virtual interline solution, that can expand the airline’s global network footprint. Additionally, the travel service provider will impart valuable insights to Vietjet Air on optimising its customer experience.

The data integration initiative between both parties will enable customers to enjoy numerous benefits, such as loyalty programmes. The partnership allows members of Vietjet SkyJoy and Trip.com Rewards to accumulate reward points in exchange for gifts, flight tickets, and other incentives from various third-party products and services.

Vietjet Air and Trip.com’s MOU comes as both parties lay down their commitment to prioritising customer satisfaction by creating a seamless travel experience and offering a comprehensive range of travel content, products, and deals.

Yudong Tan, chief executive officer of flights at Trip.com Group, said, “We are delighted to partner with Vietjet Air, a leading low-cost airline, to offer travellers seamless experiences when planning and booking their trips with a comprehensive range of travel products and deals. We have worked with Vietjet on successful campaigns to promote Vietnam as a destination of choice for travellers, and we believe our mutual commitment to prioritising customer satisfaction is a testament to both companies’ customer centricity. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with Vietjet Air.”

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.”