THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology industries, and to keep track of developments in these sectors as businesses adapt and reset to meet challenges in the era of coronavirus.
Malaysia Airlines to introduce digital travel health pass in move to reopen safe travels
Malaysia Airlines is the latest carrier to join “the battle by airlines to open borders” with its planned rollout of a digital travel health pass.
The Malaysian national carrier said the pass, which will incorporate some modules of the IATA Travel Pass, has been developed “on the basic principle to allow travellers to be in control of their journey while travelling around the world.”
Passengers will be able to create a digital passport on the airline’s mobile app, verify their test/vaccination requirements and status, as well as share their “OK to Travel” status with the relevant authorities.
“This digital identification on the app will pave the way for Malaysia Airlines’ passengers to eventually take advantage of contactless technology options throughout the travel processes,” added the carrier.
Passengers can easily make appointments with certified medical partners to carry out a Covid RT-PCR test, or include their Covid vaccination certificate on their mobile phones, making the process of tackling their travel requirements more straightforward.
According to Malaysia Airlines, the digital pass is part of its commitment to provide safe travels to its passengers during the pandemic. It is also the one-step solution in ensuring all passengers can travel safely while maintaining that all the necessary precautions are taken in limiting the spread of the virus.
Malaysia Aviation Group chief executive officer Izham Ismail said the pass would instil confidence in passengers, and provide access to an easy-to-navigate way to prepare for their upcoming travels.
Nick Careen, IATA’s senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security, stated that as the IATA travel app is built with data privacy, security and convenience it is “a solution that both governments and passengers can trust, whether it is standalone or incorporated into an airline’s own travel app.”
Malaysia Airlines is working with the relevant authorities to roll out the health pass, and will be sharing more details in the coming weeks.
Groups360 launches direct booking solution for group with IHG
Groups360 has released GroupSync Engage, described as “the hospitality industry’s first integrated direct booking solution for groups to include both meeting space and guestrooms.”
The first brand to launch this instant online booking solution on the platform is IHG Hotels & Resorts. The solution will initially be made available to about 30 IHG hotels in the US in the coming weeks.
This initial rollout also marks the first of many deployments of GroupSync Engage with IHG during 2021.
Announcing the rollout in a statement, Groups360 said GroupSync Engage offers a “breakthrough online booking solution” for meeting and event planners and hotel brands. Event planners can now book guestrooms, meeting space, or both in a convenient online transaction.
“We believe that the future of booking meetings will be direct and online, especially for smaller and less complicated events. Our collaboration with IHG will extend to more IHG Hotels & Resorts throughout the US and Canada in 2021,” said Kemp Gallineau, CEO of Groups360.
He noted that the GroupSync Engage solution enhances the relationship between planners and suppliers by offering, for the first time, real-time availability and group rates for both meeting space and guestrooms, so planners can book a meeting or event completely online.
“Simplifying booking eases the planners’ workload and frees up hotel staff and resources, which are mission-critical issues during this period of recovery for the hospitality industry,” he added.
The instant booking capability also allows customers to customise their event by selecting food and beverage options, audio visual needs and meeting room configuration. According to Groups360 this is ideal for meeting planners who need meeting space and guestrooms for city-wide conventions or sports tournaments.
“We are always looking for ways to make the lives of meeting planners easier and more efficient – allowing them to instantly book a meeting space will eliminate the need to create an RFP (request for proposal),” said Derek DeCross, senior vice president, global sales at IHG Hotels & Resorts. “We know not all planners are booking meetings right now, but together with our recently enhanced Meet With Confidence programme, GroupsSync Engage is just one more way we’ll be ready when they are.”
RedDoorz provides free temporary accommodations in ‘Pay It Forward’ campaign
Hotel management and booking platform RedDoorz has teamed up with Singapore-based charity organisation Daughters Of Tomorrow (DOT) in a CSR campaign to provide free accommodation for underprivileged women.
RedDoorz calls on Singaporeans to take part in the initiative by donating their unused SingapoRediscovers Vouchers (SRVs) to provide free accommodation for DOT beneficiaries who come from economically-challenged environments and require temporary accommodations.
The platform will match every room night donated by the public during the campaign.
The initiative is part of Trip.com’s “Pay It Forward” campaign, which calls on Singaporeans to donate their SRVs to selected charities and organisations via their platform. Donations can be made through Trip.com’s website here.
“RedDoorz strongly believes in the importance of supporting our communities and we hope that through this initiative we can provide much needed help for people who might be more vulnerable during these tough times,” commented its vice president of operations Adil Mubarak.
Cheryl Chen, fundraising and events manager of DOT, disclosed there had been an increase in the number of women seeking emergency housing due to less-than-ideal situations at home. “The ‘Pay It Forward’ campaign will help provide these women with interim housing while they find alternative permanent housing solutions.”
DOT was set up in 2014 with the aim to support underprivileged women to find gainful employment and have a better future. Its beneficiaries are women aged 20-60 from low income families, mostly living in government-subsidised flats and facing multiple stressors that affect their job prospects and ability to break out of poverty. The organisation helps these women through skills-training, job-bridging and support programmes.
• Featured image credit: kanyakits/Getty Images
