Minor Hotels has named Paul Stocker as the new vice president of operations in South-east Asia.
With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Stocker will help take Minor Hotels to the next phase of growth by driving operational excellence, and overseeing commercial processes across the group’s portfolio in South-east Asia.
He joins Minor Hotels from Oakwood Worldwide Asia, where he held a vice president role from 2019.
Accor has announced its new commercial executive committee across three key regional centres: Singapore, Dubai and Sydney.
The committee will be led by Kerry Healy, chief commercial officer for premium, midscale & economy brands in the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Asia-Pacific, who is based in Singapore.
Having been a part of the Accor family since 2011, Healy previously served as chief commercial officer for South-east Asia, Japan & South Korea since 2020. With over 25 years of experience, she will oversee the commercial functions for a diverse region which comprises nearly 1,000 hotels across 42 countries.
Other committee members based in Singapore include Victoria Sertic, senior vice president of brand, marketing & loyalty, and Antony Meguerdijian, senior vice president of sales.
Those in the Dubai office comprise Amro Khoudeir, vice president of digital & distribution, and Sarah Fernandez, vice president of PR & communications.
The new senior vice president of topline performance & business intelligence, Kent Warren, will be based in Sydney.
I started the New Year with a short trip to Sri Lanka, at the behest of Chamintha Jayasinghe, co-founder of Ayu in the Wild experience curator and friend, who charmed me over with stories of her projects that support local community and environmental causes through her earnings as well as the steely persistance of her peers in the travel and tourism industry to revive international arrivals in their own ways amid widespread misconception of the country’s tourism readiness.
Chamintha showed me some of her favourite places to dine, socialise and recharge in Colombo, Galle, Tangalle, Weligama and Hambantota. Everywhere I went was as peaceful and inviting as equivalents in Bangkok, Penang and Singapore, yet at the same time so different in sights, sounds and flavours that they left me making mental notes to return with the family for a long and proper vacation soon.
What a gem! But also, what a hidden gem. Sharing my experience with friends and industry colleagues, I realised that not many know that Sri Lanka can provide a great holiday for gourmands, nature lovers, adventurers, romantics and more. The versatility of the destination also means it is possible for one to have a wildlife adventure, cool highlands retreat, beachfront sojourn and heritage deep-dive all in a single trip.
My time in Sri Lanka got me thinking about the value of destination marketing, especially to correct misconceptions, instil travel confidence and inspire exploration. We saw how destination marketing played out throughout the pandemic and the progressive return of travel freedom. Savvy NTOs continued with marketing to keep the travel dream alive, and when restrictions eased messaging fired up to spur people into action.
However, many of these savvy NTOs have big marketing guns. They ride on the star power of celebrities like Charlie Puth (Singapore), Rose Byrne (Australia), Lee Jae Wook (South Korea) and Roger Federer (Switzerland), splurge on visually-stunning exposures on global media platforms, and invest in numerous travel influencers.
Destinations that are most desperate for the return of tourism but have lost marketing budget or tourism leadership due to their own set of challenges, are finding it hard to make themselves heard in the din of intense destination marketing today. Unless travellers actively seek out the unusual or have a social circle of first-movers, most will likely go for destinations that are most visible or talked about.
As travel returns, we will see who will emerge as winners in this marketing fight.
People around the world are feeling overwhelmingly more optimistic about travelling in 2023 compared to 2022 and, despite some current instability felt globally, nearly three quarters (73%) report that travelling will always be worth it.
The mood is shifting from one of hopeful uncertainty to bold adaptability. Nothing will be off limits, and everything is on the menu as everyone seeks to find the right balance in a world of contradictions.
At a time of general upheaval, where war, increased societal polarisation, rising inflation and urgent concerns about climate change are all continuing to radically change the world, people are finding themselves in a multi-directional tug-of-war, working to reconcile what is important to them with the demands of everyday life. The 2023 travel predictions reflect this sentiment, revealing that the needs of travellers are moving in a lot of different directions to adapt to changing times.
Saving to splurge
With the background of global economic uncertainty, travellers in Asia-Pacific will continue to prioritise travel in 2023, but will be more mindful of how to make the most of their travel budget and what takes precedence.
People will still place carefree getaways at the top of their agenda, with half (50%) of travellers saying that investing in a vacation remains a top priority for them. But being budget conscious is key, with nearly seven in 10 (70%) travellers continuing to spotlight travel while seeking more bang for their buck.
As such, 2023 will see financially-savvy itinerary curation at its finest, with people planning travel budgets more tightly by taking advantage of deals, hacks and smartly-timed travel (63%) and prioritising value for money with discounts and loyalty programmes (64%).
Nearly two-thirds (58%) will look to save money by considering off-season destinations or longer routes on the journey, while the majority (66%) will be planning travel more in advance in the hope of securing a better deal. About two-thirds (64%) believe the best use of their budget is to opt for one or two longer vacations instead of several short breaks. Within this context, many Asia-Pacific travellers are also surprisingly prepared to dial up their spending – and even splurge – on the components of their trip that mean the most to them.
More than half (53%) admit that they plan to be more indulgent in their spending habits while on vacation to make up for the lack of travel during the last couple of years, while 50% plan to spend lavishly to ensure they maximise their trip, and every experience is worth it.
Glamourising the good ol’ days
Amid global instability and the desire for escapism, people intend to carve out travel experiences that hark back to simpler times, with nostalgic getaways (90%) that provide the thrill of reliving the glory days on top of the wishlist in 2023.
There’s a desire – even for millennials and Gen-Zs who never lived it – to disappear into the romanticism of a pre-digital era, with nearly a quarter (21%) of travellers chasing experiences that evoke (faux) emotive memories of days gone past, such as visiting landmarks or attractions featured in iconic retro films or opting for a bus as a primary mode of transport to live the group spirit of school trips.
Asia-Pacific travellers are no longer forfeiting play in favour of rest and relaxation, increasingly seeking the adrenaline rush of theme parks (60%) and drawing on the imagination with activities such as escape rooms, scavenger hunts and building fortresses with giant building blocks.
With millennials now the parents of young kids, there will be an increase in destinations previously popular in the 80s and 90s such as Budva in Montenegro, a glam alternative to St Tropez for celebs in the 80s or Bolzano in Italy, popular for its retro Christmas markets – both destinations which feature on the list of 2023 trending destinations. Millennial travellers will be first to book emerging era-themed accommodations that transport them back to a time they hold close to their hearts and will likely be doing so with family by their side (54%), with multi-generational trips on top of the travel agenda in 2023.
Preppers in paradise
Half (50%) of Asia-Pacific travellers want their travelling experiences to have a more back-to-basics feel, and are looking for ‘off-grid’ style vacations to escape from reality (57%), and switch off and experience life with only the bare necessities (50%). Travellers are also keen to use travel in 2023 as an opportunity to learn survival skills (64%) including how to source clean water (56%), light a fire from scratch (45%), forage for food in the wild (44%) and even prep for an apocalypse (46%).
Expect to see more eco-friendly, earthly stays springing up to accommodate burnt-out city dwellers searching for simplicity, as well as accommodations offering guidance for guests on how to be more self-sufficient, e.g., sourcing and preparing their own meals during their stay. An increase in wilderness survival schools where travellers will learn essential skills needed to live through a cataclysmic event is also predicted to pop up around the world.
Off-grid in 2023 won’t necessarily mean roughing it though. There is a common perception that this means giving up luxuries (59%), however, there is a strong desire to combine the two with 56% only considering travelling ‘off-grid’ if it can be at a more indulgent stay.
And how unplugged is off-grid really for the traveller of 2023? Close to two-thirds (60%) will have a non-negotiable requirement: phone and internet connection at their destination is essential – so expect this cohort to be weathering the wilderness with 5G.
Virtual voyagers
It used to be space travel that was ambitious and ‘outer worldly’. But now that’s happened, what and where next? With over half (54%) of travellers here reporting that they will be turning to virtual reality next year to inspire their vacation choices, travel will enter the ever-evolving 3D virtual space of the Metaverse in earnest in 2023.
With over a third (47%) of travellers keen to embark on a multi-day VR or AR travel experience, the Metaverse will be more than ‘try before you buy’; it will educate, entertain, and inspire people, opening the door for infinite adventure. Travellers will no longer be limited by physics and can experiment with different travel experiences in a year when Metaverse worlds will begin replicating and reimaging destinations.
Moving beyond 2023, haptic feedback, and the use of touch to communicate with users, will make virtual travel a truly immersive experience, delivering a credible sense of 3D touch, such as the feel of soft grains of sand and the warmth of the sun.
Travellers will become bolder in their real-life trip choices, after being able to visit them in the Metaverse first via their online avatars – especially handy for those who might feel anxious about trying somewhere new, with 56% more likely to travel to destinations that they wouldn’t have previously considered after virtually experiencing them.
While the Metaverse will offer a new way to experience travel in the year ahead, it still won’t stop people from booking a ticket to their next destination, as close to half (49%) believe that a virtual experience is not fulfilling enough to check it off the bucket list.
Delight in the discomfort zone
Whether it’s bottled-up energy, pent-up frustration or a new lease on life, the world is ready to dive into other cultures and new experiences headfirst. Over half (57%) of Asia-Pacific travellers want to experience complete culture shock in 2023 – be it travelling somewhere with completely different cultural experiences and languages (51%) or exploring lesser-known cities with hidden gems that aren’t already on the radar (27%) – such as 2023 trending destination Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah on the Malaysian island of Borneo.
With over three-quarters (80%) looking forward to experiencing ‘out of comfort zone’ travel that pushes them to the limits, there will be an influx of niche experiences encouraging people to push their travel escapades to the extreme. Half (50%) are on the hunt for the world’s most exotic delicacy such as the hottest chilli pepper, while 44% want to use their vacation for extraterrestrial exploration on UFO or alien spotting tours.
Unsurprisingly, this ‘culture shook’ traveller is also partial to throwing caution to the wind, with more than a quarter (29%) wanting to buy a one-way ticket in 2023 and follow their instinct wherever it takes them.
From daily grind to great company escape
A step change from the ‘work from anywhere’ policies that are now almost as commonplace as annual leave, employees are increasingly keen to preserve vacation time for complete escapism. A significant amount (67%) want their trips to be strictly work-free in 2023, and while half of them (53%) are not interested in working while away, they would consider clocking in for a company retreat or trip.
As such, travelling for business will be back on the agenda in 2023. But unlike the business trips before Covid, employees are seeking more opportunities to build team camaraderie in real life – and away from the office – reflecting a growing demand to incorporate work travel with productive play.
In fact, 51% of the Asia-Pacific workforce is looking forward to their employer planning a ‘real life’ work trip to bring people together and just over half (57%) would like to see their employer use the money saved from the shift to remote/hybrid working models spent on corporate travel or retreats.
In response, 2023 will see a rise in destination business retreats where the focus will be on strengthening relationships and corporate recreation rather than work. Employers will gamify the retreat experience and immerse staff in a world where teamwork is the only option. Think ‘survivor’-themed trips at luxury cabins or country farmhouses complete with communal cooking and outdoor adventure activities, or crime-centric escapes where spy school, detective courses or CSI simulations double as a sight-seeing scavenger hunt.
Businesses stand to see benefits, too – close to two-thirds (63%) of workers in in this region believe exploring new places will inspire them to be more productive at work.
Peaceful pilgrimages
Travel is set to take ‘mind, body and soul’ wellness to the next level in 2023 – a fully immersive, no-holds-barred approach to attaining peace and pleasure including less conventional ways to feel bliss.
Seeking to recentre the mind, meditation and mindfulness getaways are ever popular with Asia-Pacific travellers (53%), while more than two in five (49%) aim to find peace at a silent retreat and over half (52%) are keen to go on a health hiatus that focuses on mental health, transformative health or that helps with life milestones such as menopause or pregnancy.
China’s foreign ministry said today that it would restore the issuance of all types of visas from March 15 – signalling the country’s complete reopening to foreign tourists for the first time in three years since the pandemic.
Areas in China that were visa-free pre-pandemic, such as Hainan and Guangdong (for foreigners from Hong Kong and Macau), will regain its accessibility.
The authorities also said it would honour visas issued before March 28, 2020 that are still within their validity dates.
TFE Hotels has launched a new global leadership structure which comprises three new global officer roles.
Amanda Hoolihan takes on the role of global revenue officer and will work to enhance TFE’s revenue management practices and drive innovation and results for the group.
Katia Giurtalis has been named the new global marketing officer and will be responsible for steering the global growth of TFE’s brands, and ensuring guest experiences are enhanced through digital technology.
Shahnaz Bakhshay is the new global sales officer, and will focus on developing and implementing global (and local) sales strategies and driving cross pollination of client coverage.
Accor has announced new appointments to its Accor Pacific executive team.
Anne Gill has been named senior vice president commercial, premium, midscale and economy. Having joined Accor in 2019, she previously held the role of vice president sales and connected partners in the Pacific region. Prior to joining Accor, Gill held similar positions with a number of other leading global and regional hotel companies across disciplines.
With 28 years of experience at Accor, Steven Lake is the new senior vice president finance, premium, midscale and economy. He most recently led in growing Accor’s Hospitality Services division incorporating Qantas Lounges, Concierge, Cafés, Kiosks and 3rd spaces in Commercial Office towers.
Angela Howard will take on the position of senior vice president talent & culture, premium, midscale & economy, from March 29. With over 20 years’ experience, she was most recently Holland America Group vice president of talent and culture within Carnival Corporation.
Claire Haigh has been promoted to vice president communications, premium, midscale and economy. Having amassed over two decades of PR and communications experience, she was previously global communications director at Pernod Ricard.
Marriott International has named Yibing Mao as president of the company’s operations in Greater China, reporting to president and chief executive officer, Anthony Capuano.
Based in Shanghai, Mao will lead the next chapter of growth for Marriott in Greater China in her new role.
She joined Marriott in 1996 and held the title of senior vice president & chief counsel, Asia Pacific, prior to stepping down in 2020. In that role, she managed a large legal team across seven offices in Asia that was responsible for more than 700 hotels in the region, and was actively involved in all aspects of the business.
Prior to joining Marriott, Mao held positions at law firms in both the US and Hong Kong, including McGuireWoods LLP, Slaughter and May and Milbank.
Current president of Sabre Corporation, Kurt Ekert, Sabre, will take on the role of CEO from April 27.
He will replace Sean Menke, currently chair of the board and CEO, who will transition to be solely Sabre’s executive chair of the board. Menke joined Sabre in 2015 serving as president of its largest business division, before being promoted to CEO in late 2016.
Ekert joined Sabre in January 2022 as president and oversees all aspects of the company’s business and technology operations.
The Gold Coast is surfing on a new wave for business events, with a growing swell of new products and experiences it has been proud to reveal to event planners over the last year since Australia’s borders reopened.
“People who have been here before don’t know the Gold Coast of today because there’s been so much development with new or cool things to see and do,” revealed Destination Gold Coast’s head of business events, Selina Sinclair.
“We spent A$1 billion (US$671.6 million) on new products and experiences for the city. There are new tour companies, bars, venues, restaurants and some 3,000 new hotel rooms constructed (during the pandemic). We’ve also seen a lot of investment by the theme parks.”
“With that, I feel we definitely stand out in the incentive travel space. But also when you look at the associations sector, the city has invested a lot in some major infrastructure developments,” she added.
For instance, the Gold Coast now boasts a new health and knowledge precinct, which brought in 1,000 new researchers and more than 20,000 students to the city.
In addition to hospitals, the precinct includes Griffith University, ranked in the world’s top two per cent of universities, and Lumina, which is a 9.5-hectare site designated for start-ups and established businesses nurturing bright ideas and collaborations. Inventions to transform cardiology and spinal cord rehabilitation are among its current projects.
“Association sector events looking for a city where they can tap into speakers’ content, and developments in their field whether in education, health, or medical science technology can now find it on our doorstep,” said Sinclair.
“It’s really opened up our ability to host association events even more than before in the Gold Coast and it’s just one of the things that will only elevate the credentials of the Gold Coast to host associations and corporate meetings moving forward,” she continued.
Elevated experiences were certainly highlighted in June at This Is Gold Coast, the destination’s annual industry showcase. On one evening, event planners enjoyed a new sophisticated rooftop entertainment space in Cali Beach Club featuring an igloo bar, hot tubs, open fire pits, and a fire show.
The next day, the planners were transported by helicopter into the Gold Coast’s lesser-known asset – its hinterland, where they had lunch in a beautiful white-themed marquee at the top of the mountains at the Bower Estate.
It was also no coincidence that of the 80 guests, more than 30 per cent were international event planners from the Gold Coast’s top overseas markets of Singapore, Malaysia, the US, UK, New Zealand and Japan.
“International markets represent, in some ways, an untapped opportunity for us. What we’ve also seen (since borders reopened) is a huge influx of requests, particularly from the Asian markets, all looking for an incentive travel destination, with a high percentage coming from direct selling companies, and we are catering for that change,” said Sinclair.
“And now we’re starting to see the big associations coming back, saying their rotation is all mixed up and they’re looking for a destination, and they’re rebuilding for future years from 2023 and beyond,” she continued.
Big events also see an advantage in the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC), where a complete buyout is possible.
“We’ve always been highly successful with our size, because big conventions like the fact that they can take total ownership of our venue,” said general manager of GCCEC, Adrienne Readings.
“They can brand externally and internally, which is important to both associations and corporates. The centre’s design also allows us to open and shut as small or as large as we need, so we’re a multipurpose centre, not just a convention and exhibition centre,” she said.
