WeChat https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/tag/wechat/ Informing, connecting and developing the world’s travel industry professionals. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:23:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 What can you learn from OYO, Grab, Google and leading hotels at Direct Booking Summit https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/what-can-you-learn-from-oyo-grab-google-and-leading-hotels-at-direct-booking-summit/ Fri, 10 Jan 2020 05:00:51 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=532603 The post What can you learn from OYO, Grab, Google and leading hotels at Direct Booking Summit appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

The Direct Booking Summit: Bangkok taking place on 19-20 February has announced a world-class line up of speakers who will share their hotel marketing, revenue and distribution expertise exclusively at the event. Alongside executives from innovative technology giants such as Grab, Line, Facebook and Google Travel, the summit delegates will hear from hotels of all […]

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The Direct Booking Summit: Bangkok taking place on 19-20 February has announced a world-class line up of speakers who will share their hotel marketing, revenue and distribution expertise exclusively at the event.

Alongside executives from innovative technology giants such as Grab, Line, Facebook and Google Travel, the summit delegates will hear from hotels of all sizes on how they drive their direct bookings. On the line up so far are hoteliers from OYO, ONYX Hospitality Group, JPark Island & Resort, Discovery Hospitality, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts and many more.

Looking forward at future opportunities hotels may have in their digital marketing is a key theme of this year, epitomised by a session on super apps, led by Shawn Heng, regional head of business development and Grab for business at Grab and Pruthisith Prateepavanich, head of technology innovation at LINE Corporation. In an engaging debate, the two will assess the impact of WeChat, Grab, Line and Traveloka on hotel distribution – and reveal the surprising ways you can use them to drive more direct bookings.

Revenue managers will be able to benefit from key discussions at the summit, including a debate on the benefits and consequences of OTA discount schemes and short-term rate manipulation. In her keynote talk, Blessy Townes, vice president and head of digital at Discovery Hospitality will share how you can easily adapt a data-led approach to one of the most effective direct booking strategies – content marketing.

If you want to succeed on travel’s most influential platform – Google – the summit has included sessions for both beginners and advanced users with interactive sessions for hoteliers on getting started on the platform.

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China’s WeChat enables in-flight mobile payment https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/chinas-wechat-enables-in-flight-mobile-payment/ Fri, 26 Jul 2019 12:16:08 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=513856 The post China’s WeChat enables in-flight mobile payment appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

China’s popular social media platform WeChat has made in-flight mobile payment possible by post-landing settlement. WeChat Pay has rolled out a pilot in-flight mobile payment service for passengers taking two flights carried by Spring Airlines. WeChat Pay users with a credit score above 550 can apply for the service, which enables them to make purchases […]

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China’s popular social media platform WeChat has made in-flight mobile payment possible by post-landing settlement. WeChat Pay has rolled out a pilot in-flight mobile payment service for passengers taking two flights carried by Spring Airlines.

WeChat Pay users with a credit score above 550 can apply for the service, which enables them to make purchases without access to the internet during the flight and pay automatically via their accounts after landing. The service will be promoted to other flights to improve the in-flight shopping experience.

China is the world’s largest mobile payment service market, with both tech and financial giants promoting their own tools to facilitate easier payments for daily shopping, dining and commuting.

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Travel tech this week: WeChat joins super app race with new mini program and more https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/travel-tech-this-week-june-27/ Thu, 27 Jun 2019 01:50:32 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=509182 The post Travel tech this week: WeChat joins super app race with new mini program and more appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

This week, WeChat and City of Helsinki launched a mini program for Chinese tourists. Meanwhile, a company called Nuvola introduced facial recognition for the hospitality sector.

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This week, WeChat and City of Helsinki launched a mini program for Chinese tourists. Meanwhile, a company called Nuvola introduced facial recognition for the hospitality sector.

WeChat MyHelsinki mini program

Designed especially for Chinese visitors, the WeChat MyHelsinki mini program is the first city app in the world to combine preferred personal recommendations, mobility planning and purchase options for travellers. The new service has been jointly developed by Chinese internet service giant Tencent, the City of Helsinki and Mobility as a Service pioneer MaaS Global.

Chinese tourists travelling to Helsinki will be able to use the WeChat mobile service to review local recommendations about the best restaurants, shopping, events and sights in town, plan how they will get from their hotel to the attraction of their choice, and pay for transportation – all within one mobile service. The digital service has been developed to respond especially to the needs of independent Chinese travellers, focusing on the whole city as an experience.

“By collaborating with Tencent and the world’s leading Mobility as a Service (MaaS) provider Whim, we have been able to develop an innovative user-based service that is the first of its kind in the world. The mobile service will help us ensure that visitors gain easy access to the best locally recommended experiences our city has to offer. It’s like having a personal guide but in a digital format, the experience is the same – in Helsinki, you can be sure that everything will go smoothly and that you will enjoy your stay,” says Tia Hallanoro, director of brand communications & digital development at Helsinki Marketing.

Mini programs are web-based apps on WeChat that enable purchases within the service. The app does not have to be downloaded separately, as it is included within WeChat, an all-in-one application with over a billion users.

“The number of Chinese visitors travelling overseas is growing rapidly and travel patterns are in real transition. Among those travellers in-depth travelling has become a trend. With Helsinki mini program, a comprehensive and reliable one-stop service, Tencent wants to serve them as well as possible,” states Zhan Shu, general manager of the Tencent Governmental Affairs and Tourism Center.

Whim’s mobile service enables Chinese visitors to purchase all the travel tickets they need – using a single app. The Whim offering will be launched in two phases: the first phase consists of public transportation, and the second phase, available later this year, expands the service to include taxis, rental cars and city bikes.

Nuvola’s facial recognition

Nuvola, pioneers of custom-designed service optimisation and guest engagement software, announced today the addition of Kairos by Nuvola to its suite of hospitality-focused solutions. The first hospitality software company in the US to offer facial recognition technology, Nuvola partnered with Kairos, a leading facial recognition company, to create a unique, AI-backed solution that expedites and personalizes a guest’s experience from check-in to departure. Layered with added security capabilities, the exclusive solution will reduce wait times during transactional moments that require name recognition throughout the guest journey.

“Our mission is to bring new technologies to the world of hospitality that can be used as a solution to ease ongoing industry-wide focus points by enhancing operational aspects like security and providing a frictionless experience for each different guest touchpoint,” said Juan Carlos Abello, Nuvola CEO.  “Facial recognition software is a game changer for the industry. By introducing Kairos by Nuvola into the guest journey, our customers will be able to create a heightened level of personalized service and open up a new realm of service options.”

Hospitality partners who deploy Kairos by Nuvola will expedite their check-in and check-out processes, reduce time spent during transactional moments, enhance security practices, and significantly elevate the overall guest experience. Created by Kairos, the facial recognition software will be fully integrated into Nuvola’s comprehensive optimization system and will be supported by best-in-class security camera hardware.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Nuvola to bring our software to the hospitality industry,” said Mary Wolff, chief operating officer at Kairos. “We’re excited to see the hospitality industry leverage the benefits of facial recognition. Through our partnership with Nuvola, we’ll be ushering in a new era of innovation to improve and optimize the guest experience.”

Grab X Splyt

Grab App

Grab and Splyt Technologies, the London-based, global mobility marketplace, have announced an enhanced collaboration to give travellers convenient access to ride-hailing services anywhere in the world.

Grab and Splyt already enable international travellers to book Grab rides across 336 cities in eight Southeast Asian countries through their preferred apps. Ctrip and AliPay customers visiting Southeast Asia can already take Grab rides through their own apps, via a solution powered and enabled by Splyt. Splyt is also working with Booking Holdings to integrate ride-booking into their OTA platforms. Booking.com consumers will be able to book Grab rides through the Booking.com app by Q3 2019.

Southeast Asia receives 130 million international visitors a year, a number that is expected to hit 155 million by 2022. As Splyt continues to bring more partners on board, working with them to integrate mobility directly into platforms, more travellers will be able to access Grab’s diverse range of safe and affordable transport options without having to download another app.

“As the world’s largest mobility marketplace, we bring renowned providers and platforms together to provide customers with world-class, quality transportation in over 1,000 cities. Our partnership with Grab is driven by a shared vision of offering seamless mobility that caters to the demands and needs of global travellers. We’re excited to work with Grab, the leading ride-hailing provider in Southeast Asia, adding their diversified range of transport solutions and breadth of coverage to the global marketplace we are growing,” said Philipp Mintchin, Splyt CEO.

Grab and Splyt will also work together to give Grab users access to ride-hailing options everywhere in the world. Targeted for completion next year, this second phase of the partnership will integrate Splyt and Grab’s global network of mobility partners into the Grab app. Grab users travelling beyond Southeast Asia can continue to book rides through the Grab app, and have them fulfilled by Splyt’s partners. Travellers can use their app in their native language and even pay in their home currency. Grab also plans to add features such as in-app travel tips, restaurant reviews and attraction recommendations, to offer an even richer travel experience to its users.

“This partnership will unlock a world of options for the increasingly well-travelled Southeast Asian, letting them roam easily across the world through an app they already know and trust. At the same time, we’re excited to enable more international travellers to explore the beauty and diversity of Southeast Asia through safe and efficient transport options, whether in a taxi, private car, or even local favourites such as TukTuks and motorbikes,” said Mark Porter, chief technology officer for transport at Grab. “Splyt has a unique vision of wanting to make travel a truly interconnected global experience, and we look forward to working with them to help make it easy to get from A to B, anywhere in the world.”

As part of Splyt’s recent USD 8 million Series A funding round, Grab has also invested into Splyt. This investment will be used to accelerate Splyt’s expansion into new markets, improve its proprietary technology, and strengthen its wide network of institutional demand and supply partners for ground-based transportation. The round is considered the largest Series A funding within the transportation connectivity platform segment and brings the total raised by Splyt Technologies to over US$14 million. Mark Porter also joins Splyt’s Board of Directors. He lends his leadership in shaping Grab’s technology and strategy to Splyt’s 50-strong team.

“We see this investment from Grab as a natural next step in developing and deepening our strategic partnership. As a global leading mobility marketplace, Splyt will continue to maintain its neutrality and agility, while leveraging on Grab’s regional footprint to enhance our capabilities. This will take both companies further in our journeys to solve existing pain points for travellers,” added Mintchin.

FCM’s Sam

Sam, FCM’s ground-breaking “Smart Assistant for Mobile” is now available to its clients in the Middle East.  An industry first, Sam is a technology that entirely enhances a traveller’s experience whilst on the go. The mobile app blends a powerful mix of Artificial Intelligence with the expertise of real FCM travel consultants to deliver personalized, relevant information to business travellers’ mobile devices through a chat-based interface. The highly interactive, travel-savvy app supports business travellers with all aspects of travel via a conversational interface to answer questions, make recommendations and perform actions before, during and post trip.

Sam dovetails with FCM’s entire approach to supporting customers; from delays to security alerts, Sam keeps travellers informed and safe, giving them access to travel risk management and comprehensive risk solution, traveller tracking and emergency assistance 24/7 from FCM staff out of hours.

Lastly, whilst Sam has only just become available in the Middle East, early data show clients are happy using it.  FCM has seen a retention of 80% in month one, which is far higher than the average of 50%.

Ciarán Kelly, managing director Middle East & Africa of FCM Travel Solutions, commented: “As a leading global TMC, we are the first to offer AI to our business travellers, and our Middle Eastern clients are now using Sam’s ground-breaking interactive and supportive features while they are on the move. Sam supports the business traveller, and the Travel Arranger in an organization, understanding and reacting to their circumstances and enhancing their overall travel experiences. Our focus has been simple, make travellers happier and empower the people that have an impact on the travellers’ journey.

Sam aggregates all the information a traveller needs at the point when the user needs it, offering a seamless end-to-end experience across all aspects of travel.  However, Sam is designed to augment rather than replace our human consultants. Far from dry software, the app has an emotional connection with the users; a professional and friendly approach, much like our travel consultants. FCM’s approach is about blending the latest technology with personal and professional service.”

For more travel tech stories, click here.

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The rise of super apps and why they are a bigger threat than Google https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/the-rise-of-super-apps-and-why-they-are-a-bigger-threat-than-google/ Thu, 18 Apr 2019 05:14:16 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=500970 The post The rise of super apps and why they are a bigger threat than Google appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

If we compare the travel industry to the Amazon jungle, I think of Google as the crocodile or anaconda, the ferocious predator on top of the food chain patiently waiting to ambush its prey, in this case the OTAs. Meanwhile, I think of super apps as the piranhas lurking in the water – smaller in size but equally deadly.

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The post The rise of super apps and why they are a bigger threat than Google appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

If we compare the travel industry to the Amazon jungle, I think of Google as the crocodile or anaconda, the ferocious predator on top of the food chain patiently waiting to ambush its prey, in this case, the OTAs. Meanwhile, I think of super apps as the piranhas lurking in the water – smaller in size but equally deadly.

I caught up with Venture Republic Group and LINE travel.jp CEO Kei Shibata at the recent Digital Travel APAC in Singapore and we talked about the rise of super apps and the threat they pose to the smaller players. We seek for that one name in travel that resolves all of the pain points of the traveller from beginning to end. Grab, Traveloka, LINE, and WeChat could be the Holy Grail we are looking for.

Expanding app services

In a panel, Shibata showed a video of China’s super app WeChat, an app that Chinese use almost everyday, not only for messaging but for daily activities as well such as ordering food and other services. WeChat has 1.08 billion monthly active users and has a market penetration in China of 79%. WeChat is slowly moving in the travel space by offering rail tickets for domestic travel. Thanks to its business model, the possibilities are endless.

Meanwhile, the messaging app LINE is also on its way to becoming a super app in travel as it offers services for the new experiential travel funnel. While LINE remains faithful to its core service, messaging, it has also added a number of services such as payment and insurance.

“LINE is getting into a variety of different verticals and services. (Maybe like WeChat), it is now offering not only travel services but also shopping, food delivery, payment, news, insurance, jobs, music, comics, voice assistant, mobile phone/telecom… the list goes on,” Shibata said.

Kei Shibata showed off the company’s Inspire-Research-Plan & Book-Explore-Share funnel, which revealed that travellers no longer just plan, book and go. People want inspiration, ideas and travel tips before booking their trip.

Meanwhile, Traveloka’s products aim to address customer needs and solve their pain points: bus and shuttle, flights, top-up and data packages, airport transfer, hotels, eats, car rental, attractions and activities, movies, and trains.

I asked Shibata-san why is it easier for messaging apps to offer other services and eventually become a super app. He explained that booking for travel is a seasonal thing while messaging apps are apps used daily. He emphasised that apps should be relevant and should give people a reason to download it.

Experience matters

Travel and expense management provider KDS conducted a survey and revealed that 74% of the respondents would prefer one platform that would take care of all their travel needs from flights to hotels to tours.

While the KDS survey reveals that people want to see a single platform, it also reveals that only 34% of the people who want a single platform actually use them. That is fewer than the 37% of corporate travellers that book their travel through suppliers’ website.

Robyn Grassanovits, vice president of travel services, Cirium, said: “Delivering what the traveller paid for and taking care of the traveller from end-to-end” should be the top priority. She stressed that customers do not care about the technology happening behind the scenes as long as they get their desired services and it is easier for them.

Most apps have loyalty programs that serve two purposes. It singles them out from other apps and attracts consumers, and to know more about their customers so they can be re-targetted.

Google is here to stay and it knows more about the traveller than any company thanks to its ocean of data from its metasearch, but the company that can cater convenience and best customer service can trump this juggernaut.

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5 reasons why the travel industry is always talking about China https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/5-reasons-why-the-travel-industry-is-always-talking-about-china/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 11:37:26 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=500851 The post 5 reasons why the travel industry is always talking about China appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

The travel industry is obsessed with Chinese travellers trying to attract millions of travellers.

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The post 5 reasons why the travel industry is always talking about China appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

The travel industry is obsessed with Chinese travellers trying to attract millions of travellers. Everyone is watching the lucrative Chinese travellers as the number of Chinese tourists that travelled abroad rose by 7% to 130 million in 2017. These tourists also spent USD 115.3 billion during their trips. With a strong number in outbound tourism, travel companies are curating their products towards this group.

Chinese travellers are known for being big spenders while they travel. Over the past few years, the emergence of the newly rich middle class and the rising disposable incomes, the Chinese travellers are the main source of tourism cash over the world.

Below are the five reasons why everyone in the travel industry talking about China

High-speed rail

China's high-speed rail network will reach 20,000km by 2020
China’s high-speed rail network will reach 20,000km by 2020

China is building the new silk road, the ancient trade route that connects China to the West and the route responsible for oriental silk getting in Europe. Announced in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, a brand new double trade corridor is set to reopen channels between China and its neighbours in the west: most notably Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

China built high-speed rails, which consists of a network of passenger-dedicated railways, that connect every part of China, even Hong Kong. By the end of 2018, HSR extended to 30 of the country’s 33 provincial-level administrative divisions, the exceptions being Macau, Ningxia, and Tibet.

The high-speed rail makes it easier for travellers to get from point A to point B. It also transformed the orthodox flag-following tours to more DIY trips. It also gives rise to FITs – free, independent travellers.

Rising middle class

By 2030, it is forecast that two-thirds of the global middle class will be living in Asia. In contrast, North America and Europe will only account for a fifth of the world’s middle-class population. In the next 10 years, the number of middle-income earners will balloon five times up to 3.2 billion and will be the biggest group of consumers that companies should take notice.

Some of the important factors of the rising of the middle class, according to Graham Brown, are:

  • Wages are going up – The middle class now has money thanks to a more competitive salary and the nurturing environment for start-up companies. Therefore, the middle class now has purchasing power.
  • Seeking experience – After the middle class established their life and put a roof over their heads, travel is what they start spending their money on. The travel industry will benefit middle-income wagers seeking personalized experience when they are on a trip.
  • Asians are the consumers of what they produce – It is a usual sight in Asian countries where a large number of tourists are also Asians. Tourist buses cruise the roads and a pack of Chinese tourists explore the area. Asia is ok on its own, a place where people consume what they produce.

Low-cost carriers

Thanks to a number of low-cost carriers, it increases the competition that has kept the ticket prices affordable for the rising middle class.

China’s low-cost carriers are thriving and poised for further growth as their larger rivals struggle to turn a profit during tough times. With a business model based on cheap air tickets and reduced operating costs, the budget airlines are maintaining profit margins at a time when the mainland’s aviation industry is haunted by weaker yuan and rising fuel costs.

According to some industry experts, some long haul operators may copy some of the cost-cutting tactics.

Super apps

Asia has always been a treasure trove – a market of billions as half of the world’s population reside in the biggest continent. However, from being known for cheap shoes and garments and knock off cellphones, Asia is now a famous breeding ground for tech start-ups and middle class loaded with cash.

WeChat is an incredible app that has 1.08 billion active users every month, with users’ age range of 15 to 40 years old. Almost everyone is using WeChat and is used everyday. Other apps are trying to copy WeChat’s success like LINE, Grab and Traveloka.

Global vs Local

Asia is a market of its own that is run by Asians for Asians. The reason why Asian companies, from one-man start-ups to juggernauts like Alibaba and Ctrip, trump western companies in Asia is because Asians know how to play and work in their home court.

Dipping your hands into the Asian market requires more than translating your app into 2,197 languages used in the continent. Asian companies know the market better and they tweak their technologies to adapt to their lifestyle and not the other way around.

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How The Grand, York raised 130% more revenue from Chinese guests https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/the-grand-york-chinese-market/ Tue, 05 Feb 2019 02:00:35 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=494047 The post How The Grand, York raised 130% more revenue from Chinese guests appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

The Grand, York

The Grand, York, recognised an opportunity within the Chinese market and developed a host of tactics to help welcome Chinese guests.

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The Grand, York
The Grand, York
The Grand, York

Chinese travel throughout the UK is booming. With York named as the fourth fastest growing city in the UK for room nights booked by Chinese visitors between 2015 and 2017 — increasing from 870 to 6,723 room nights being booked from 2015 to 2017 — this represents a rise of over 770%. Additionally, China is the second top country visiting York with 9% of all overseas tourism to the city.

The Grand, York, recognised this opportunity and developed a host of tactics to help welcome Chinese guests. In doing so, the hotel has grown total revenue with the Chinese market by an impressive 130%. Here is a list of what they have been up to:

VisitYork

A VisitYork collaboration was established featuring a promotional video that helped the hotel reach 500,000 viewers. With a visitor guide translated into Mandarin showcasing the best of York, the video had its own information sheet demonstrating key details about the hotel.

International travel PR

The hotel became part of UKInbound and China Travel Outbound‘s schemes through representation under the VisitYork brand. These organisations host Chinese media and travel bloggers throughout the UK.

Ctrip

The hotel hosted a profile on the booking website, becoming the top-ranked hotel for Chinese visitors in York. With most Chinese visitors booking 4-5-star hotels between 16 and 30 days in advance (17.6%), or only 1-3 days in advance (16.9%), The Grand, York worked on the platform to raise awareness and convert to bookings.

Wechat

Accessed through a scannable QR code at the concierge desk, Chinese visitors can access a mini website providing key information, translated menus, and facilities details through the popular social media app.

Weibo

A Weibo profile was launched in Mandarin, helping the hotel gain 27,168 followers in 18 months. Weibo is a microblogging platform that has become popular in China.

Mandarin lessons

Mandarin Lessons - The Grand, York

Five members of the hotel’s team have taken and passed their language exams with the York Chinese School in Mandarin to improve the customer experience, with plans to enable further team members to undertake the classes in the year ahead.

Chinese adaptations

To best serve Chinese visitors, The Grand, York has introduced Chinese signages, translated menus, Chinese friendly food and drink options, and established a welcoming environment for guests who, for the first time, overtook the US as the leading inbound market.

These strategies were applied by The Grand York, which opened as a hotel in 2010 and added 100 new rooms in March 2018 as part of its GBP 15 million expansion and refurbishment scheme. It has doubled its capacity for accommodation and offers two in-house restaurants.

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The Grand, York The Grand, York Ctrip’s mobile app Mandarin Lessons – The Grand, York
Travel tech this week: Instaroom new AI, BoG in Europe, and more https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/5-tech-developments-instaroom-new-ai-bog-in-europe-and-more/ Thu, 29 Nov 2018 07:04:16 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=488634 The post Travel tech this week: Instaroom new AI, BoG in Europe, and more appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Digital disruption is not too far from the travel industry either. We scout the latest happenings in the travel tech world each week. Here are the five tech developments of this week.

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The post Travel tech this week: Instaroom new AI, BoG in Europe, and more appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

People say that technology is the main driver of change, which is true for the travel industry. It seems that new technologies emerge every week that aims to improve the existing process or to replace primitive methods making things a whole lot easier.

Here are the five tech developments this week:

The Landmark London accepts WeChat, Alipay

The Landmark London has announced the launch of WeChat Pay and Alipay payment systems. The Landmark London is one of the capital’s first hotels to incorporate the pioneering technology, which will allow guests with WeChat or Alipay accounts to pay for their entire hotel experience through the applications.

This includes room and suite bookings, spa treatments and all food and beverages served in the hotel’s iconic Winter Garden, the Great Central Bar and Restaurant and the Mirror Bar, ensuring a seamless and “home-from-home” experience.

Instaroom debuts AI FAQ bot

Instaroom, an AI-powered messaging platform built for managing complex customer journeys, transactions, and bookings for hoteliers, has launched its new artificial intelligence FAQ Bot, designed to intuitively answer commonly asked customer questions and reduce hotel management costs.

The new FAQ Bot, which now comes with premium subscriptions, can be integrated into a hotel’s homepage and reduces incoming inquiries by up to 40%, consequently decreasing inbound phone calls and emails.

Expedia helps Thai businesses’ mobile strategy

Expedia Group urges Thai businesses to revisit their approach to mobile since a successful mobile strategy presents one of the biggest profit opportunities. In Thailand, the smartphone penetration continues to grow at a rapid rate. By 2021, smartphone will be used by nearly 80% of the country’s total population, up by more than 10% of today’s rate. What’s more impressive is that half of all online purchases in Thailand were made through mobile devices last year.

Expedia Group has seen 250+ million cumulative app downloads as of the end of 2017, up 40% from the previous year, reaching significantly more users than the typical hotel brand with less than 15+ million downloads.

Cybersecurity in aviation

According to the 2018 Air Transport Cybersecurity Insights, 89% of airline CIOs plan a major program around cybersecurity initiatives in the next three years, up from 71% last year. This is even higher for airports, with 95% of them planning major programs by 2021. Business continuity, through the protection of operational systems and processes, remains the priority for more than half (57%) of airline and airport executives.

As a result of the heightened focus, spend on cybersecurity is increasing year-on-year, reaching USD 3.9 billion in 2018. Global IT provider SITA found out that airlines spend an average of 9% of their overall IT budget on cybersecurity this year, up from 7% in 2017. Similarly, airport investment in cybersecurity in 2018 is set to rise to 12% of their overall IT budgets in 2018, up from 10% last year.

Book on Google now live in Europe

Book on Google (BoG) is now available to European users who can book hotels around the world via Google’s European points of sale such as google.de, google.fr or google.it. The new markets launched by Google are Germany, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Norway, Poland and Sweden, which have been added to those existing: the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

Book on Google is the interface of Google Hotel Ads, which allows customers to make their reservations without having to leave Google at any time. It tries to avoid friction and possible customer leaks that occur when changing pages to book (especially when on mobile).

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Swych launches Travelex Pay for WeChat https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/travelex-pay-wechat-app/ Mon, 22 Oct 2018 02:42:45 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=485335 The post Swych launches Travelex Pay for WeChat appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Leading cross-border financial services firm Travelex has partnered with Swych, the global digital gifting platform, and launched Travelex Pay within the WeChat app.

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The post Swych launches Travelex Pay for WeChat appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Cross-border financial services firm Travelex has partnered with Swych, the global digital gifting platform, and launched Travelex Pay within the WeChat app.

The partnership brings cashless shopping at hundreds of US retailers to WeChat’s one billion monthly users, targeting over 800 million WeChat Pay users, especially those travelling from mainland China. The program enables WeChat users to utilise digital gift cards offered by Swych to easily spend at US retailers directly within the WeChat app and use funding methods available inside users WeChat Pay account.

Travelex Pay provides a smart digital checkout experience within the Wechat app. For completing the purchase of goods at a participating Swych retailer in the USA, an electronic gift card is generated through WeChat Pay app by the user, and the user’s WeChat Pay wallet account is instantly debited in their home currency.

The cashier then scans the barcode or enters the number at checkout and the retailer gets paid instantly in USD. Gift cards can be created by the user either while at the checkout or at any point before purchase.

Swych’s retailer network, which has more than 700 major retail partners globally, covers all popular shopping categories including the luxury segment, department stores, big box, dining, fashion, entertainment, sports, electronics and travel. Swych’s advanced payment processing, fraud management and strong anti-money laundering controls further make the solution a perfect fit for solving this large pain point for Chinese shoppers in the US.

This is equally advantageous for retailers who benefit from accepting a new payment method at checkout that extends coverage to more than three million Chinese travellers that come to the U.S. annually. In 2016, tourists from mainland China are reported to have spent USD 30 billion in the United States; this figure is expected to double to USD 60 billion by 2020.

Travelex Pay will simplify shopping for Chinese travellers by offering a convenient shopping experience that is instant, digital and within their favourite mobile app that they regularly open multiple times a day.

“A frictionless and zero-fee payment option”

CEO and founder of Swych, Deepak Jain, said: “Chinese tourism in the U.S. is increasing – both in number of people and the amount of money spent. With more than 90% of Chinese tourists expressing interest in using mobile payments overseas if given the choice, Swych, Travelex, with WeChat Pay, have combined service offerings to fill the demand for a frictionless and zero-fee payment option. This is yet another innovation aimed at furthering cross-border commerce and making Swych the most advanced digital gifting platform in the market.”

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Tiqets and QYER launch WeChat mini-program for museums and attractions https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/tiqets-and-qyer-launch-wechat-mini-program-for-museums-and-attractions/ Tue, 09 Oct 2018 03:49:27 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=484213 The post Tiqets and QYER launch WeChat mini-program for museums and attractions appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Casa Batlló in Barcelona

Ticketing platform Tiqets has announced its exclusive partnership with QYER, making it possible to book tickets within the mini-programs using WeChat Pay.

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Casa Batlló in Barcelona
Casa Batlló in Barcelona
Casa Batlló in Barcelona

Ticketing platform Tiqets has announced its exclusive partnership with QYER, making it possible to book tickets within the mini-programs using WeChat Pay.

QYER is a Chinese outbound travel platform with 88 million registered users. Through the partnership, travellers will be able to write notes, exchange experiences and book tickets on the mini-program.

The first venue to go live on WeChat is Casa Batlló in Barcelona. The new service with QYER and Casa Batlló will provide Chinese visitors with a convenient way to access Gaudi’s masterpiece.

“To help Chinese travellers to explore the world”

Yi Xiao, CEO of QYER, said: “We’re excited to work together with Tiqets and Casa Batlló as its first cultural venue. As the largest Chinese outbound travel platform, QYER has massive amounts of reliable travel information and smart travel tools to help Chinese travellers to explore the world. We believe that our partnership will not only offer travel conveniences to Chinese tourists but also promote tourism and intercultural communication between China and European countries.”

Tiqets x QYER

QYER chose to partner up with Tiqets due to its strong direct relationships with venues and seamless digital ticketing process. With the new partnership, QYER will be connected to Tiqets, providing instant ticket delivery to Casa Batlló using WeChat Pay. Furthermore, the mini-program will also provide visitor-information about the venue — adding value to the overall experience.

Luuc Elzinga, CEO of Tiqets, said: “We are hugely proud of our close relationships with amazing venues like Casa Batlló. This collaboration with QYER and Casa Batlló aligns perfectly with Tiqets’ mission to make culture more accessible to everyone, and we are very excited to see how this project evolves.”

As other international venues have struggled to connect with Chinese travellers, the mini-program collaboration between Tiqets and QYER will mark a new way to increase exposure of cultural venues to the hundreds of millions of Chinese people who use WeChat every day. More venues will be rolled out in the near future.

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Casa Batlló in Barcelona Casa Batlló in Barcelona Tiqets x QYER
Helsinki enhances future services to connect with Chinese visitors https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/helsinki-enhances-future-services/ Mon, 10 Sep 2018 05:36:24 +0000 https://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=481259 The post Helsinki enhances future services to connect with Chinese visitors appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Helsinki-Tencent-Cooperation

Helsinki Marketing, Tencent and Finnair have signed a cooperation agreement to launch a travel solutions project in the WeChat mini program ecosystem, with an aim to enhance digital services for Chinese travellers.

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Helsinki-Tencent-Cooperation
Helsinki-Tencent-Cooperation
Delegates from Helsinki Marketing, Finnair and Tencent at the signing ceremony

Helsinki Marketing, Tencent and Finnair have signed a cooperation agreement to launch a travel solutions project in the WeChat mini program ecosystem, with an aim to enhance digital services for Chinese travellers.

Earlier this year, Helsinki, the capital city of Finland, and internet giant Tencent launched the WeChat MyHelsinki mini program, developed to respond to the needs of independent Chinese travellers. With an array of new initiatives including plans to collaborate with key Chinese companies, Helsinki is has set an ambitious goal to become “the most functional city in the world”.

“At the forefront of creating future services”

On 6 September 2018, the mayor of Helsinki, Jan Vapaavuori, visited Beijing along with a delegation of official representatives, and said: “With people around the world more able and willing to explore new places, Helsinki and our partners both in China and in Finland are striving to be at the forefront of creating future services that meet with the needs of Chinese visitors.”

The number of Chinese overnight stays in Helsinki has more than doubled within the past three years from 108,000 in 2014 to 221,000 in 2017.

WeChat MyHelsinki
WeChat MyHelsinki

As more and more Chinese seek to find local and authentic experiences, the WeChat MyHelsinki mini program serves as a guide with its multiple useful functions. It makes Helsinki the first city in the world to combine tailored personal recommendations, mobility planning, and purchase options for travellers in one service.

Through the app, Chinese travellers visiting Helsinki will be able to review local tips about the best restaurants or attractions in town, plan their transportation, and pay for both transportation and restaurant bills.

To further support the program, the mayor of Helsinki and his delegation will also participate on the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit in Qingdao on 7-9 September 2018. Helsinki has also been chosen as the host city of the network’s annual Summit in August 2019.

Helsinki Airport
Helsinki Airport

Finnair and Helsinki Airport is also leading the way for the Chinese by persistently working to develop connections between China and Finland. Currently, almost 40 weekly flights from Helsinki to seven different cities in Greater China are available from Finnair.

The national carrier has also been at the forefront of tailoring its service to Chinese customers by being the first airline to introduce online payment platform, Alipay, onboard its flights. Alipay is now also widely accepted in travel services in the whole of Finland.

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Helsinki-Tencent-Cooperation WeChat MyHelsinki mini program WeChat MyHelsinki Helsinki Airport Helsinki Airport
Tencent proposes WeChat e-passport for HK and mainland China https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/tencent-wechat-e-passport/ Wed, 13 Jun 2018 05:15:15 +0000 http://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=472132 The post Tencent proposes WeChat e-passport for HK and mainland China appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Tencent Holdings Limited’s CEO Ma Huateng suggested the introduction of an electronic pass system for a hassle-free travel between Hong Kong and Mainland China.

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Tencent Holdings CEO Ma Huateng suggested the introduction of an electronic pass system, built into the WeChat platform, for easier travel between Hong Kong and mainland China.

Ma initially proposed the idea during the National People’s Congress in March. He said that the e-card ID system would work just like APEC Business Travel Card to streamline border check-points for talents working in Greater Bay Area. Currently, travellers between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau are required to have special permits, similar to visas, even though they are part of the same country.

 

Ma Huateng, Tencent Holdings

The chair of Tencent noted that the ID systems of China, Hong Kong and Macau were not connected and this proposed idea will facilitate people’s movement within the bay area region. If approved, the e-card ID system will use a feature of WeChat known as “mini program” to allow users to link their Chinese ID card to their travel permits.

His idea was met with scepticism citing that speeding the border crossings violates the one-country, two-systems framework.

Ma is crossing his fingers that the central government and authorities from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau would consider this solution. However, authorities have not replied yet from this proposal.

The Chinese government is very open when it comes to technological development. President Xi Jinping once said that the internet is one of the most important sectors that the government tend to overlook. He also encouraged the country’s technology entrepreneurs to “demonstrate positive energy in purifying cyberspace”.

Meanwhile, Pony Ma has been a champion of developing Hong Kong and other former colonies into the so-called “Greater Bay Area” into San Francisco of the east.

The e-card ID system is only the start as the company has ambitious plans for WeChat such as enabling users to check into hotels and set up bank accounts. WeChat currently has 963 million monthly active users, closing in on 1 billion users.

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hong kong ma huateng
Chinese tech giant Tencent inks deal with Dubai officials to promote smart tourism https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/tencent-dubai-tourism-partnership/ Mon, 21 May 2018 09:17:49 +0000 http://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=469538 The post Chinese tech giant Tencent inks deal with Dubai officials to promote smart tourism appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Tencent, the tech conglomerate responsible for WeChat and other top mobile apps, has signed a deal with Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing to spearhead smart tourism and enhance Dubai’s reputation as a preferred destination.

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MoU signing ceremony between Dubai Tourism and Tencent
MoU signing ceremony between Dubai Tourism and Tencent

Tencent, the tech conglomerate responsible for WeChat and other top mobile apps, has signed a deal with Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing to spearhead smart tourism and enhance Dubai’s reputation as a preferred destination.

Part of the US$500 billion club, Tencent is a major internet value-added service provider in China which owns the popular WeChat and Weixin (for mainland users) among other top mobile applications. It’s the biggest tech group in the country – think Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat all rolled into one – run by the wealthiest man in China, Ma Huateng aka Pony Ma.

Poshu Yeung, vice president of Tencent International Business Group (IBG), and Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), signed the MoU as a continued commitment to promoting Dubai tourism.

Through the partnership, DCTCM will make use of Tencent’s expertise in consumer engagement and aim to further elevate marketing outreach efforts to Chinese consumers. Tencent will enhance Chinese visitors’ travel experience in Dubai through its digital platforms in China, as well as give insights via WeChat, of travellers’ consumption behaviour.

Dubai is Tencent’s first strategic partner in the Middle East, an important flagship city in promoting smart tourism.

A Chinese boy playing a mobile game inside the WeChat app

Poshu Yeung, VP of Tencent IBG, commented on the partnership: “Harnessing Tencent’s technologies and platforms, and utilizing Dubai Tourism’s local influence and network, this partnership will further build the success of our collaboration with Dubai Tourism to promote this unique city. We look forward to enhancing overseas travel experience in Dubai with local partners and driving the tourism industry along the Belt and Road.”

As of the first quarter of 2018, WeChat and Weixin have a total of more than 1.04 billion active monthly users and this will offer Dubai Tourism an excellent platform to reach out to Chinese travellers. Tencent IBG’s Social Ad Solutions will enable it to optimise the return on media investments and reach out to the key target audience segments.

Issam Kazim, CEO of DCTCM, commented: “Dubai is increasingly winning the hearts of Chinese tourists as a thrilling and exotic destination. We at Dubai Tourism are excited to strengthen our relationship with Tencent to further utilize its hugely popular and respected platforms.”

China pavilion at Global Village in Dubai
China pavilion at Global Village in Dubai

WeChat’s relationship with Dubai Tourism started in November 2017 when it rolled out the CityExperience Mini Programme (much like the Helsinki mini programme launched in February with the City of Helsinki). The programme could be enhanced with Tencent Cloud’s suite of smart travel solutions to provide functions such as AI-powered (Artificial Intelligence) customer service, which will continue to incorporate advanced offerings such as cloud computing, IoT (Internet of Things), AI and big data to work towards a Smart Dubai.

Kazim added: “Our ongoing partnership to build affinity with our Chinese target audiences has been overwhelmingly successful. Through the extension of our agreement, Chinese travellers will receive targeted social feeds about our city’s offerings and enjoy a more immersive discovery of Dubai.”

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Tencent x Dubai Tourism Mobile game inside Wechat China pavilion at Global Village in Dubai
WeChat Pay launches flagship at New Chitose Airport https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/wechat-pay-sets-shop-new-chitose-airport/ https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/wechat-pay-sets-shop-new-chitose-airport/#comments Sun, 17 Dec 2017 22:59:36 +0000 http://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=435089 The post WeChat Pay launches flagship at New Chitose Airport appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan has the world's first WeChat Pay flagship airport, with two terminal buildings, for both domestic and international services, connected to the payment system. The partnership is a new and innovative way to amplify the influence of the two brands, while providing a smarter and more convenient payment method and service for travellers.

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New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan has the world’s first WeChat Pay flagship airport, with two terminal buildings, for both domestic and international services, connected to the payment system. The partnership is a new and innovative way to amplify the influence of the two brands, while providing a smarter and more convenient payment method and service for travellers.

According to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization, Japan received over 25 million foreign visitors in 2017, including 6.22 million visitors from China, putting the country at the top of the list in terms of the number of tourists visiting the island nation. With the comprehensive cooperation between WeChat Pay and merchants in Hokkaido, Chinese users, who are visiting the island, will have an opportunity to pay for products and services through the WeChat platform just as they so when shopping in their home country. WeChat currently serves over 980 million monthly active users.

 

When shopping at participating merchants, Chinese users can use WeChat Pay to make payments without needing to exchange currencies as WeChat Pay provides a direct conversation from yuan to yen, providing them with a smarter and more convenient shopping experience when abroad. In addition, shoppers may benefit from a random discount of up to 888 yuan (approx. US$134) when the value of the purchase exceeds 200 yuan (approx. US$30).

At the launch event, New Chitose Airport representative director and chairman Takeshi Moriyama said in his speech that with the promotional program on the WeChat platform, Chinese visitors will have an opportunity to experience the charm of Hokkaido’s food culture at the airport and to be able to do so conveniently. Additionally, the tie-up with the payment service provider will help attract more visitors from abroad to Hokkaido and contribute to the rejuvenation of the island.

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Unite and Concur: why WeChat has joined forces with corporate travel giant https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/434323/ https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/434323/#comments Mon, 27 Nov 2017 22:59:43 +0000 http://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=434323 The post Unite and Concur: why WeChat has joined forces with corporate travel giant appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Concur, an SAP company and a global provider of travel, expense and invoice management solutions, today introduced an electronic fapiao (a Chinese tax receipt) solution, developed to integrate seamlessly into China’s WeChat platform. Leveraging Concur's global experience in electronic receipt application and WeChat’s powerful user base, the new solution will provide enterprises and their employees with an effortless spend management experience so as to effectively analyze and manage cost.

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Concur, an SAP company and a global provider of travel, expense and invoice management solutions, have introduced an electronic fapiao (a Chinese tax receipt) solution, developed to integrate seamlessly into China’s WeChat platform. Leveraging Concur’s global experience in electronic receipt application and WeChat’s powerful user base, the new solution will provide enterprises and their employees with an effortless spend management experience so as to effectively analyze and manage cost.

“As a global leader in travel and expense, Concur is committed to promoting the development of electronic receipt solutions around the world. With China accelerating the development of its electronic fapiao system, we have developed a localized e-Fapiao solution tailor made for the China market, combining WeChat’s hundreds of millions of users with Concur’s global expertise,” said John Gibbon, senior vice president of Platform, Concur.

 

“The Concur e-Fapiao solution provides real-time access to an employee’s receipt, streamlining the financial management and travel and expense claims process. It showcases the value of the ecosystem built by Concur, and our network of business suppliers and helps Chinese users process their expenses in an easy, accurate, and paperless way.” said Boonthai Hoh, managing director at Concur Greater China.

“We are very excited that WeChat’s e-Fapiao solution is now part of Concur’s Expense solutions. With Concur’s expertise in travel and expense management, we expect that the solution will allow us to deepen our connection with users and expand the usage of e-Fapiao, which will provide users with a more efficient and hassle-free expense experiences”, said John Zhuo, general manager of Industry Cooperation Department, WeChat Business Group.

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Dusit lures Chinese guests with WeChat Pay https://dev.traveldailymedia.com/dusit-lures-chinese-guests-with-wechat-pay/ Wed, 19 Apr 2017 05:45:02 +0000 http://www.traveldailymedia.com/?p=249557 The post Dusit lures Chinese guests with WeChat Pay appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD.

Dusit has become the first Thai hotel group to enable guests to pay for rooms via the popular Chinese social media service, WeChat. The company has started to accept WeChat Pay, the payment arm of the mobile instant messaging app, which allows customers to settle their account directly via their smartphone upon check-out. Once they […]

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Guests will be able to pay their hotel bill using their smartphone
Guests will be able to pay their hotel bill using their smartphone

Dusit has become the first Thai hotel group to enable guests to pay for rooms via the popular Chinese social media service, WeChat.

The company has started to accept WeChat Pay, the payment arm of the mobile instant messaging app, which allows customers to settle their account directly via their smartphone upon check-out. Once they receive their bill, guests will be able to scan a QR code and instantly have the money deducted from their WeChat Pay account.

The service will initially be available at Dusit’s hotels in China and owned properties in Thailand, before being gradually expanded to other hotels and countries.

“In China’s top-tier cities, approximately 90% of stores now accept WeChat Pay as a payment method and the platform’s reach is starting to expand globally,” said Lim Boon Kwee, Dusit’s chief operating officer. “Chinese tourists are high value market and increasingly significant to our business, so it’s important we do all we can to cater to their needs.

“By implementing WeChat Pay, our Chinese guests will now be able to benefit from favourable exchange rates and occasional exclusive promotions, so we are confident it will be a huge success,” he added.

According to data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), 8.75 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand in 2016, accounting for 27% of the total inbound market.

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WeChat Guests will be able to pay their hotel bill using their smartphone