THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology industries, and an update on how businesses in these sectors are adapting and resetting as they prepare for post-pandemic travel.
Malaysia Aviation Group rolls out one-stop travel and lifestyle platform
The Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has jumped onto the e-commer bandwagon with the recent launch of Journify, an integrated one-stop travel and lifestyle digital platform to provide end-to-end travel solutions.
MAG said the digital platform represents its third business, the other two being airlines and aviation services. Its current airlines business portfolio comprises Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and MASwings (rural air service), as well as AMAL by Malaysia Airlines – a one-stop pilgrimage travel solutions centre.
According to MAG, Journify is “your personal travel advisor, trip planner and e-commerce provider.” Consumers can plan for a customised travel experience and shop for products and services via Journify on journifyshop.malaysiaairlines.com, which allows them to shop for products and services.
These include discovering tourist attractions, arranging for a local tour guide at the destination, getting specialty coffee from an artisan café, or purchasing merchandise and have them delivered to their doorstep
The platform has over 10 categories of merchants and points of interest, from cafes and restaurants to entertainment outlets, attractions and shopping malls.
MAG said Journify has also introduced the “first-of-its-kind flagship experience” through the Journify2U service. It allows customers departing from the KL International Airport to have their products purchased on the Journify app delivered to them at the boarding lounge.
The aviation group claims the Journify2U service is “the first ever innovative offering in the world, integrating the air travel experience with e-commerce, presenting an absolutely seamless and effortless experience.”
“Launching on a beta platform Journify promises more features and functionalities that will be added progressively,” it added.
MAG group chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail said Journify marked a “significant milestone in the group’s transformation journey towards becoming Asia’s leading travel and aviation services group delivering customised and digitalised end-to-end travel solutions.”
He disclosed the digital platform was an initiative created, conceptualised and designed by the internal talents within MAG with skills developed in the travel and hospitality scene.
“I truly believe Journify would be the future gateway to discover unique offerings that integrate multiple functions and features, expanding the Malaysian Hospitality experience beyond our customer’s journey and their day-to-day lives,” he said.
AirAsia’s BigPay to enter into Thailand
Close on the heels of AirAsia’s acquisition of Indonesian unicorn Gojek’s Thai operations, fintech company BigPay is setting its eyes on Thailand.
Having stamped its footprint in home ground Malaysia and Singapore the business unit of AirAsia Digital (the digital venture arm of AirAsia Group) said its foray into Thailand would bring it “one step closer to becoming a pan-ASEAN financial services company”.
BigPay intends to work with GoPay, the digital wallet on the Gojek app, and the Bank of Thailand to get the required licenses to operate. Both parties will be working closely together with the bank to ensure a smooth transition while GoPay is winding down its operations in Thailand.
Salim Dhanani, CEO & co-founder of BigPay, said the Gojek’s acquisition has presented the company with a “unique opportunity to enter into Thailand at an accelerated pace.”
“Our goal is to launch with all of BigPay’s core features, from payments to international remittance, but also to fully localise our user experience to appeal specifically to Thai consumers,” he added.
BigPay aims to go live in the first quarter of 2022, provided it receives the necessary regulatory approvals.
The fintech company has also applied for a Digital Banking licence in Malaysia with a consortium of strategic partners.
Over the past four years BigPay has launched a number of regulated financial products, from e-money and international remittance to micro insurance and budgeting. In the coming months it will add new services including responsible credit and micro savings.
Cleartrip expands partnership with Sabre
In anticipation of a surge in online bookings with travel recovery OTA Cleartrip has extended its agreement with Sabre Corporation.
Under this new deal Sabre becomes Cleartrip’s global distribution system (GDS) partner, to help the OTA create booking experiences and is part of the OTA’s strategy to streamline its GDS relationships.
Sabre said its Bargain Finder Max API will help Cleartrip create customised booking experiences for travellers by tailoring search results for the most relevant fares based on a range of itinerary preferences.
“Our mission at Cleartrip is to make travel simple for our customers by leveraging best-in-class products and technologies. This mission is even more relevant as the travel recovery plays out in our key regions,” said Amit Taneja, Cleartrip’s chief commercial officer.
Added Sean McDonald, vice president, online travel at Sabre: “The online sector is at the forefront of travel’s recovery, so there is a huge opportunity for Cleartrip to act fast and position itself for growth. Cleartrip’s decision to streamline its GDS strategy and focus on its partnership with Sabre will enable the OTA to tap into expected growth in demand both during the recovery and beyond.”
• Featured image credit: Malaysia Aviation Group
