Catalysing Travel and Tourism in Asia A TravelRave 2015 Report Catalysing Travel and Tourism in Asia FOREwORd TravelRave Provides Key Insights of Asia Opportunities for Industry in Transition Into its 6th year, TravelRave 2015 saw some over 11,000 TTG Asia Media is proud and privileged to partner the travel industry leaders and professionals from around Singapore Tourism Board (STB) for a second year to the world descend in Singapore from 19-23 October. produce this report. The Asian Business Travellers Report, a Singapore TravelRave, spearheaded by STB, is regarded as Tourism Board (STB) commissioned research in Asia’s premier travel and tourism week. Once again, it partnership with McKinsey & Company, Amadeus and provided thought leadership on what is shaking up the Visa was also released during TravelRave. industry and how leisure, MICE, China and business STB, together with TTG Asia, are happy to share travel are being affected. the highlights of original research findings and key This year’s line-up of stellar speakers and insights featured across TravelRave 2015 events, that panellists spoke about an industry in transition, will help the industry hone strategies to tap into the the disruption to businesses and the different burgeoning opportunities in Asia. opportunities that have emerged. With Singapore’s international appeal, strategic They presented a landscape of how online travel location and access to key Asian markets, we are and technology, economic and social integration well-positioned to serve as a regional hub and and the growing power of business travel in Asia, thought leader for the region, providing synergies including China’s MICE market, and the crucial role of across content, markets and networks for business women in the workforce shaking things up. delegates. I hope this report provides invaluable insights to Come 2016, Singapore continues to host a year- you and your business. long line-up of exciting travel and tourism business events and we look forward to your participation. Andrew Phua Michael Chow Director, Exhibitions and Conferences Travel Trade Publishing Group Publisher Singapore Tourism Board TTG Asia Media CONTENTS 3 6 8 15 19 21 24 Event Trending at Online Asian China Human TravelRave Highlights TravelRave Travel & Business MICE Capital & Partners Technology Travel Future Leaders 2 Catalysing Travel and Tourism in Asia E v E n T HIgHLIgHTs TravelRave 2015 Catalysing Travel and Tourism in Asia TravelRave once again provided an invaluable platform for industry professionals to gain strategic knowledge, and for thought leaders to exchange insight into the region’s multi-faceted environment. Travel buyers were also able to explore and discover exciting products Asia has to offer and travel suppliers were able to introduce interesting new developments. Singapore’s role as a key MICE hub continues to expand. Spearheaded by the Singapore Asia Travel Leaders summit Hotel Management singapore summit Tourism Board (STB) with the The annual Asia Travel Leaders summit new at this year’s Hotel Management support of its many partners, (ATLs) continued to focus on three Singapore Summit were a productivity TravelRave’s concentration of key content pillars, namely consumer, technology showcase session, an owner’s business events also provides innovation and talent to culminate in tangible dialogue session and the introduction of a new ample opportunities for attendees collaborative initiatives for the region. For interactive Q&A webapp. 2015, a macroeconomics new pillar — The productivity technology showcase to connect with industry leaders, re- particularly on economic developments and featured practical case studies and solutions establish and expand their network greater economic cooperation in South-east to help hoteliers boost efficiency and of contacts. Asia — was included in light of the ASEAN overcome the manpower crunch, the owner’s Following are the week’s event Economic Community launch in 2016. dialogue focused on bridging the gap between highlights. Top Asian and international travel and hotel owners and general managers, and the tourism captains of industry gathered again at Q&A webapp empowered delegates to raise the sixth edition of ATLS to inspire purposeful sensitive questions anonymously. dialogue in response to key issues facing the Part of the Hotel Management Asia industry. Summit series, the Singapore event is aimed This by-invitation event is an intimate at sharing success stories, exchanging best discussion among 30 to 40 eminent business practices and resolving controversies in a leaders who have strong interests in the neutral, closed-door environment. development of the travel and tourism The year’s summit centered on major industry in Asia, and seeks to help lay the issues that would have a significant impact on foundation for collaboration and initiatives in profitability. response to the key issues discussed. STB continued its partnership with Visa Worldwide and Google on the consumer and innovation pillars, and forged a new partnership with Amadeus Asia Pacific, allowing the summit to generate original insights into Asian business travellers. The summit also featured a lunchtime dialogue with Christoph Mueller, CEO, Malaysia Airlines, about the airline’s future direction and plans. 3 Catalysing Travel and Tourism in Asia E v E n T HIgHLIgHTs TravelRave 2015: Catalysing Travel and Tourism in Asia Hotel Technology Conference ITB Asia RaveOn! Tours Billed as the Trade Show for the Asian Travel The 2015 Hotel Technology Conference (Hotel This year’s RaveOn! Tours presented an array Market and launched in 2008, the three-day Tech) incorporated more interactive features of authentic local offerings and experiences. event held at Sands Expo and Convention than ever before with roundtable discussions Whether guests were a museum fan or a Centre, Marina Bay Sands attracted close to and a real-time Q&A webapp. cultural junkie, there was something catered 10,300 attendees from 108 countries. By empowering the attendees to ask for everyone. There were 760 exhibitor organisations the questions that are important to them, they On the Arts & Architecture tour, from 73 countries, 880 buyers and more than were able to influence the direction of the delegates were taken to the new National 4,710 minutes of high-powered conference discussions and extract the insights they need Gallery Singapore and the newly refurbished content. from expert speakers, while the roundtable Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall. They enjoyed Reflecting the growing importance of discussions provided the opportunity to crowd a drive through of the museum precinct the online travel space, keynote panellists this source ideas and best practices from peers, and had cocktails at The South Beach­­ — a year included executives from Tuniu, Ctrip, on practical and controversial subject matters. luxury and lifestyle hotel of design. The Airbnb, Agoda, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Uber, In partnership with Savioke, Relay by tour showcased local architecture and Venture Republic Global and MakeMyTrip. savioke – the acclaimed robot that delivers conservation, new developments and art/ ITB Asia’s comprehensive conference amenities efficiently – made its Asian debut. sculpture installations in the city. programme included presentations Delegates were able to interact with Relay and On the City in a garden tour, delegates by GfK, STR Global, Google and other see the future of “frontline staff” in action. visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens and leading companies on current trends and By showcasing pioneering solutions Capitol Singapore. This was to highlight the opportunities, as well as a panel discussion such as Relay, highlighting local innovations recent UNESCO heritage title bestowed on with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and and discussing challenges with a problem- the former and the greening effort in the leading Chinese players to highlight China’s solving approach, hotel technology and city. The tour of the redeveloped and newly growing importance in the travel industry. operational leaders were able to candidly opened Capitol Singapore, a prime lifestyle In new partnerships, CAPA – Centre share their experiences and envision the conservation example, included dinner at for Aviation launched the inaugural CAPA future. local food outlet Palette, a site inspection of Aviation Outlook forum, while DestinationElite Capitol Theatre and a Deepavali Light Up drive organised the show’s first Luxury Travel & through at the nearby Little India precinct. Hospitality Forum. In furthering the MICE partnership with K.I.T Group, the focus this year was on Asia’s association landscape, while a dedicated Incentive, Conference and Event (IC&E) conference was held in partnership with the Incentive Conference and Event Society Asia Pacific (ICESAP) featuring buyers and intermediaries from the IC&E space as key speakers. 4 Catalysing Travel and Tourism in Asia E v E n T HIgHLIgHTs TravelRave 2015: Catalysing Travel and Tourism in Asia 2015 singapore Experience Awards TravelRave Leaders gala web in Travel TravelRave Leaders gala – a gathering of the web in Travel (WIT), launched in 2005, is There were 80 finalists across three award Who’s Who in travel – was held at the newly the longest-running event for executives categories of Customer Service, Experience revamped Capitol Theatre, after the historic discussing matters relating to technology in and Marketing & Media, and 27 outstanding individuals and organisations were building reopened