Secret Retreats partners SiteMinder to expand online presence

Singapore based Secret Retreats has begun using the fully integrated solution, Room Distribution Exchange (RDX) powered by global online distributor, SiteMinder, which will provide their properties with a fully integrated, two-way Channel Manager.

With a portfolio of 37 boutique properties across Asia Secret Retreats has also invested in SiteMinder’s commission-free booking engine,TheBookingButton. Together, the platforms will help expand the hotel group’s online presence while taking reservations directly from their respective websites.

The head of sales and reservations for Secret Retreats, Sophie Couturier, said the new partnership with SiteMinder’s RDX platform would improve operational efficiency in an increasingly competitive marketplace. “SiteMinder’s Channel Manager has allowed our properties, some of which are small and remote, to lift their profiles internationally. “

SiteMinder’s sales and marketing director in Asia, Glenn Andrews, said the company’s market-leading technology would help open new markets and provide a greater reach for Secret Retreats.

The company’s pooled inventory system would ensure all of Secret Retreats’ online inventory was distributed across key online booking sites, with reservations from all channels automatically delivered back to the group, with the Channel Manager adjusting availability in the process, saving hours of manual labour, he added.

• Photo: Satri House in Luang Prabang, Laos, one of Secret Retreats’ collection

Full house at ITB Asia 2013

It is about three months before ITB Asia starts and the show is already fully booked.sold out.

Into its sixth year the annual trade event will be held from 23-25 October at Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre. This year it is seeing the return of several exhibitors, as well as many new ones especially national tourist organisations (NTOs). Among the latter making a first time appearance are the Armenian National Tourism Organisation, South Pacific Tourism Organisation, Greek National Tourism Organisation, Beijing Office, Reunion Island Tourism Board and the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation.

“This year we will definitely be seeing more destinations being featured. Following past successes at ITB Asia a number of NTOs are increasing the size of their pavilions, while other exhibitors that have previously shared a stand are committing to having their own booth to enjoy more exposure at the show,” said Nino Gruettke, ITB Asia’s executive director.

He noted that exhibitor demand from Europe, Asia and North America have been particularly strong this year, as the tourism industries continue to focus their attention on the Asia travel market.

A number of exhibitors have also increased their booth space bookings compared to last year. The Chinese and Japanese exhibitors have more than tripled their exhibition space, the US contingent has doubled its presence and Russia has increased by over 70% in the search for more ASEAN travel dollars.

Other new exhibitors at this year’s show include Visit Finland, Kenya Tourism Board and The USA Brand USA Pavilion – Discovery America.

Last year, the show attracted 8,500 attendees representing over 90 countries.

Self-service check-in kiosks for Firefly guests at Subang

Firefly passengers can now self check in their flights as the airline has installed six kiosks at SkyPark Terminal, Subang in Kuala Lumpur as part of its continuous effort to further enhance customers’ experience.

“We intend to alleviate most of the hassle of manual check-in and the queue. especially during peak periods primarily for business people and commuters on the go. With this new system, it will allow real-time automated checks on self-printed boarding passes,” said FireFly chief executive Ignatius Ong.

Passengers with no check-in baggage need not have to queue at the check-in counters to get their self-printed boarding passes verified by counter staff, but instead can proceed straight to the customs, immigration and quarantine access point where their passes will be verified automatically by security officers.

The airline’s IT manager, Jimmy Tan, said the next next step was to develop a mobile check-in facility that would enable passengers to print their boarding passes by just flashing their smartphones with the QR code at the kiosks.

Ong added Firefly was monitoring the usage of the kiosks, and would introduce more of this feature in other Firefly hubs, such as Penang, in the near future.