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Category: Living

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Living news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • CK Hutchison and Meitu Form Strategic Alliance

    CK Hutchison and Meitu Form Strategic Alliance

    CK Hutchison Holdings Limited (“CK Hutchison”) announced a strategic alliance with China’s leading image processing and social sharing platform, Meitu Inc. Striving to combine beauty with social media, Meitu will partner with CK Hutchison’s retail division, A.S. Watson Group, and Hong Kong telecom subsidiary, 3 Hong Kong, to build a brand-new business model integrating social media and retail. This cooperation will bring together the many facets of user experience, user system, technology research and development, precision marketing, and big data with business strategy.

    Leveraging Meitu’s artificial intelligence technology and CK Hutchison’s expertise in retail and telecom, the alliance will bring a refreshing and interactive online and offline shopping experience to customers of the millennial generation. Canning Fok, Group Co-Managing Director of CK Hutchison, said, “This partnership further enhances our customer connectivity, improving CK Hutchison’s online and offline interaction with customers. Meitu users can try beauty products virtually on their mobile phone and get product recommendation through advanced artificial intelligence. In addition to expanding the customer base in China and Hong Kong, Watsons aims to provide the best shopping experience for its patrons. 3 Hong Kong customers can design personalised products and enjoy a new, onestop mobile shopping experience through our cooperation with Meitu. We are confident of this partnership and believe that it will create a three-way win for customers, Meitu and CK Hutchison.”

    Bryan Cheng, Chief Operating Officer of Meitu, added, “With a huge number of female online users from Meitu and strong female customer base from CK Hutchison, the partnership can further improve the value of Meitu’s user platforms while combining beauty with social media, strengthening the connection and interaction with our customers as well as making them look more beautiful.”

    Meitu and CK Hutchison’s 3 Hong Kong will partner to introduce “MeituDIY” customization service to Hong Kong, and 3 Hong Kong’s customers will be the first to experience this onestop value added service to create personalised products. After editing photos through the Hong Kong version of the Meitu app, users can print their photos directly on mobile phone cases, clothes, umbrellas, cloth bags, cups and mouse pads, creating unique personalised products and presenting them as gifts to relatives and friends.

    CK Hutchison’s Watsons Hong Kong will take the lead in introducing Meitu’s “Magic Mirror” which offers around 600 makeup products from international makeup brands. Backed-up by big data technology, customers can try different makeup looks, download the previews, try-on products while enjoying the online and offline shopping experience anytime, anywhere. “Magic Mirror” offers a variety of fashionable makeup styles recommended by beauty advisors, helping customers to choose their favourite makeup style for work or dating.

    Meitu’s “Magic Mirror” will first be launched in Watsons Hong Kong’s Mongkok Bank Centre and Cameron Road branches in late-October this year, and then will be introduced to around 30 more Watsons stores in the first half of 2019. With Meitu’s facial recognition and AI analysis technology, users will be able to apply real time makeup virtually. Through big data technology, Watsons can recommend the right products based on customers’ habits and behaviour in the Meitu app, which will eventually enhance customer connectivity.

    Meitu’s BeautyCam app has also been upgraded with the feature of making product recommendations via skin analysis, helping to match users with the right products that are available at Watsons. This feature will be activated in Mainland China by late-October this year while Hong Kong users can enjoy the feature in the first quarter of 2019. The BeautyCam app is a professional one-stop-solution for beauty enthusiasts to know the needs of their skin, and at the same time effectively increase the transaction value of Watsons customers.

    Furthermore, Watsons China will begin its cooperation with Meitu Social Media in lateOctober, enabling the retailer to get closer to their target customers by delivering tailor-made messages. The cooperation not only helps Watsons reach the right audience, but also helps bring an innovative social media experience to them.

    Watsons China will launch an official account on Meitu social media in November this year. When customers edit their photos using features like “face-lift” and “acne-removal”, Watsons will recommend products that suit each customer’s needs. This allows the retailer to match customers with the right products available at its stores, driving consumer conversions. Through Meitu social media, Watsons can interact with users by encouraging word-of-mouth recommendations on Watsons products. As a result, users can browse hot items and related information online.

    The cooperation between Watsons China’s loyalty programme and Meitu will bring mutual benefits to both parties, riding on the collective network of Meitu’s 350 million monthly active users and quality customers from Watsons online and offline channels. The strategic alliance unfolds opportunities in recruiting new loyalty members, and brings more transaction by recommending the right products according to big data and user habits and behaviours in the Meitu app. To attract more new members, Watsons China will promote their joint membership card through its online and offline platforms while the Meitu app will encourage its users to become Watsons members.

  • Alibaba A.I. Labs Launches Hospitality Robot

    Alibaba A.I. Labs Launches Hospitality Robot

    The robotics industry is revolutionizing the world, and Alibaba A.I. Labs is raising the stakes in this cutting-edge industry with the announcement of launching service robots for the hospitality sector starting in October. Alibaba A.I. Labs is the department leading consumer AI product development at Alibaba.  Hotels have until now depended entirely on human labor. But the Labs’ service robot – from delivering meals to taking laundry to guests – demonstrates what guests can expect at hotels in the future. Guests talk to the robot via voice command, touch and hand gesture, and its responses are driven by AliGenie, the software that powers Alibaba A.I. Labs’ smart speaker, Tmall Genie.

    “We are excited by this tremendous development that is helping us bridge the gap between guest needs and the response time that they expect. Alibaba A.I. Labs’ robot is the next step in the evolution towards smart hotels. In addition, it is solving pain points in the hotel sector, such as enhancing service efficiency, with our leading AI technologies,” says Lijuan Chen, General Manager of Alibaba A.I. Labs. “The robot will be the ultimate assistant for hotel guests who want everything quickly and conveniently at their fingertips.”

    The technology that drives the Labs’ service robot is state-of-the-art, combining aluminum casing with multi-sensor data functionality and parallel computing for lightning quick responses. It also includes a semantic map, autonomous navigation system to identify obstacles, communication systems to control elevators, and identity verification via facial-recognition technology.

    The robot’s height is less than one meter, while its walking speed reaches one meter per second. After a trial at a hotel, Alibaba A.I. Labs will assess its suitability for other areas, including hospitals, restaurants and office services.

    According to the International Federation of Robotics, the global market for service robots are on the rise. The market is expected to grow from 20% to 25% from 2018 to 2020, while the sales forecast 2018-2020 indicates a cumulative volume of around 27 billion U.S. dollars for the professional service segment.

    Following the unveiling of the robot, Alibaba A.I. Labs also announced Tmall Genie Auto, the latest initiative in smart mobility and expanding the Tmall Genie ecosystem.

    Tmall Genie is the most popular smart speaker in China, with over 5 million units sold since its launch in 2017. It ranks number three in total shipments in the global smart-speaker market.

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  • Deliveroo To Give Free Insurance to Riders in HK

    Deliveroo To Give Free Insurance to Riders in HK

    Deliveroo announced a completely free, first-of-its-kind insurance package for all on-demand self-employed Deliveroo riders in Hong Kong and worldwide. Starting from October, Deliveroo riders will be able to claim costs if unable to work as a result of an on-the-job injury. This move makes Deliveroo a leader in providing on-demand riders with the flexible work they value and the security they deserve.

    Deliveroo has worked with leading global insurers to tailor policies which meet the needs of riders. In Hong Kong, all Deliveroo riders will be automatically enrolled onto a personal injury policy from leading insurance provider Marsh; whether on bicycles, scooters or making deliveries by foot. This will apply to all riders whilst they are online and logged in to the Deliveroo app, including up to one hour after logging off.

    The accident and injury cover is wide ranging, with measures including:

    • HK$77,000 for accidental medical expenses
    • HK$385 for each night in hospital
    • Up to HK$3,850 per week for temporary incapacity
    • Loss of sight, hearing, speech or limbs due to accidents are covered
    • HK$346,500 for accidental death/permanent disablement

    Brian Lo, General Manager Deliveroo Hong Kong, said: “Riders are at the heart of our business and this new industry-leading insurance package is hugely important for all those who ride with Deliveroo. Riders deserve security while they’re out on the road. We want to make sure that riders are protected in case anything goes wrong while they are working, and that’s why we are so delighted to be announcing this important package. Deliveroo riders are heroes and we want to give something back. We are growing quickly and hope more and more people will choose to work with us.”

    Qasim Khan, a rider with Deliveroo, said, “As a rider who loves working at Deliveroo, I am always worried about my safety when I’m out and about to do deliveries. The accident and injury insurance gives riders a peace mind. We will feel more safe when we are working on road. Most importantly, our families will also feel safe about us being part of this company!”

     

    The move to offer free insurance to riders comes as Deliveroo reveals the company’s rapid growth in Hong Kong over the first half of 2018. Deliveroo’s total number of riders in Hong Kong is 2,000, which has more than doubled in six months. The business expects this to grow to 2,800 by the end of 2018. Deliveroo has also significantly increased its number of partnering restaurants by nearly 50% in six months, to 3,500. Restaurants which use Deliveroo see their revenue boosted by up to 25% and dinner orders by 20%, in the past quarter, enabling more opportunities for business development and new hires.

    With further expansion set to continue in the months ahead, Deliveroo is now looking for more riders and walkers to join the company and enjoy its well-paid, secure, flexible work that can be combined with other responsibilities such as studying. The free and automatic insurance coverage will be starting in October. Current riders and walkers who successfully refer someone new to Deliveroo in Hong Kong will receive up to HK$2,500.

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  • 40 travel agents join Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair 2018

    40 travel agents join Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair 2018

    More than 40 travel agencies, including five pilgrimage agencies, are joining the second phase of the Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair (GATF) 2018. The event, held by the flag carrier in partnership with Bank Mandiri, is held at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Senayan, South Jakarta, from Friday to Sunday. Various travel packages are offered by the agencies, including for the umrah as well as for cruise and winter vacations. Garuda Indonesia promises competitive prices for international as well as domestic routes. The South Korean capital city of Seoul, for instance, can be visited with round trip fares starting at Rp 2.7 million (US$177), while a return ticket to Raja Ampat in West Papua can be bought for Rp 2.1 million.

    Other programs available throughout the biannual event are Happy Hour, which offers up to 80 percent discounts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Best Deal with up to 50 percent discounts, an additional 1,000 miles for GarudaMiles customers and 30 percent discounts on prepaid baggage.

    Pikri Ilham Kurniansyah, Garuda Indonesia’s commercial director, speaks at the opening ceremony of the second phase of the Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair (GATF) 2018 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Senayan, South Jakarta, on Friday.

    Having joined the GATF in 2017, Bank Mandiri also presents numerous special offers, including a 50 percent discount with fiestapoin, zero percent installments for up to 12 months using their credit card and up to Rp 2 million cashback using their credit or debit cards.

    One of the visitors, Citra, 27, from Bekasi, West Java, praised the variety of travel agencies there. “It’s worth it [coming to the travel fair], especially if you’re on a budget,” said Citra, who plans to fly to Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara. “The place is also comfortable.”

    The GATF has been held in 30 cities since last September. It targets total transactions of Rp 448 billion, including Rp 218 billion in Jakarta.

    Collaborating with the Tourism Ministry, Garuda Indonesia has also conducted the Wonderful Indonesia – Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair (WI-GATF) abroad to lure foreign travelers to Indonesia.

    Pikri Ilham Kurniansyah, the airline’s commercial director, said its WI-GATF event in Shanghai, which ended in early September, had generated 8.5 million yuan ($1.3 million) in sales, and the airline was focusing on the WI-GATF this year by adding Singapore and Australia as forthcoming venues.

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  • President and CEO of Vietjet honored with ASEAN Entrepreneurs Award 2018

    President and CEO of Vietjet honored with ASEAN Entrepreneurs Award 2018

    President and CEO of Vietjet, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao was recently honoured as one of two winners of the ASEAN Entrepreneurs Award 2018 for her significant contributions in bolstering the economic trade exchange between South Korea and ASEAN at the 19th World Knowledge Forum held in Seoul, South Korea.

    The awards ceremony was co-organized by the ASEAN – Korea Center and Maekyung Media Group, one of the most influential media groups in Korea.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Lee Hyuk, Secretary General of the ASEAN – Korea Center said, “We are very delighted that President and CEO of Vietjet, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao was selected as one of two winners of the ASEAN Entrepreneurs Award 2018. This is an acknowledgement of Vietjet’s high-quality operation, its creative services and meaningful contributions during the past few years. I firmly believe that the award will serve as a springboard for Vietjet to promote its business and to expand its presence in Korea as well as make greater contribution to the economic and trade cooperation between ASEAN and Korea.”

    On delivering the Vietjet story at the Forum, Vietjet Vice President Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh said, “Vietjet commenced its debut flight connecting Vietnam and South Korea in 2013, and since then, it has been our great pride to have positively contributed to the development of travel and trade exchange between the two countries. As of 2017, the passenger turnover to and from both countries reached over five million passengers, a triple increase compared to that of 2013. The number of airlines commencing routes in the Vietnam to South Korea network increased from three in 2013 to ten in 2017. There were around 750 flights per week, eight times higher than that of 2013. Vietjet itself carried more than two million passengers, many of whom were first–time air travellers. Realising people’s flying dreams has certainly been our greatest pleasure.”

    Established in 2000, the World Knowledge Forum gathers over 200 political heads, business leaders and prominent public figures to discuss pressing global issues and seek ways to promote a balanced prosperity of the global economy.

    This year, the forum had the pleasure of hearing from world renowned speakers which included the likes of Janet Yellen, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (2014-2018); Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia; Wang Zhenghua, President of Spring Airlines; and many other outstanding speakers.

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  • Vietjet Inks Financing Agreements for Fleet Expansion Worth US$1.2billion

    Vietjet Inks Financing Agreements for Fleet Expansion Worth US$1.2billion

    Vietjet signed and exchanged an aircraft financing agreement with Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company Limited (MUL) – a member of Japan’s leading finance group Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), and France-based banking group BNP Paribas. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and several high-ranking Japanese and Vietnamese dignitaries. The agreement paves the way for MUL and BNP Paribas to finance Vietjet’s acquisition of up to five brand new aircraft, worth US$614 million, according to the manufacturer’s listed price.

    Additionally, Vietjet also signed a Memorandum of Understanding valued at US$625 million according to the manufacturer’s listed price with France-based banking group Natixis and some Japanese equity underwriters to facilitate the financing for five additional aircraft.

    These deals were made under a financing plan for Vietjet’s future ownership of the aircraft.

    The acquisition of these aircraft is part of a new-and-modern aircraft contract signed earlier between Vietjet and Airbus, including A321neo aircraft, which incorporates the latest in engine design, advanced aerodynamics and cabin innovations. According to the aircraft manufacturer, A321neo engines offer a significant reduction in fuel consumption — at least 16 percent from day one and 20 percent by 2020 — as well 75% reduction in noise and 50% in emissions.

    All aircraft financed will be delivered to Vietjet in the last quarter of 2018 or early 2019.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vietjet’s Vice President Dinh Viet Phuong said, “The critical financing agreements signed once again confirms the confidence of leading Japanese financiers in Vietjet as the airline prepares to launch new routes to Japan soon. Also, these deals will greatly contribute to Vietjet’s plan for fleet expansion and network growth in the coming time, thus helping to better connect Japan and Vietnam. We are proud to have leading and renowned financing partners accompany us on the airline’s growth path. Together we are all fully committed to bring greater added values to the community.”

    Under the terms of the agreement, Vietjet and all financing partners will also work together to share best practices for the operation and management of the airline, boosting effectiveness and encouraging sustainable growth.

    Vietjet currently operates the latest generation narrow body aircraft fleet, which has helped the airline achieve an impressive operation performance rating of 99.66% for technical reliability.

    The airline’s flight safety performance and ground operation indicators are also amongst the top in the region while operating costs are among the lowest in the world.

    Vietjet was recently listed by Airfinance Journal as one of the world’s 50 best airlines for healthy financing and operations, achieving a better ranking than many of the world’s most prestigious airlines.

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  • Deliveroo for Business Celebrates 2nd Birthday in Hong Kong with Revamped Services

    Deliveroo for Business Celebrates 2nd Birthday in Hong Kong with Revamped Services

    Winning over hungry office workers to achieve a sensational 75% year-on-year growth in Hong Kong, Deliveroo for Business is now being revamped to give business customers even more delectable benefits. Companies that sign up for an account with Deliveroo for Business between today and December 31, 2018, will get a special ‘new joiners treat’ to celebrate.

    Deliveroo for Business provides bespoke food delivery services to over 7,000 corporate customers around the world, with office orders arriving for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in as little as 15 minutes. Erasing the time and hassle of traditional workplace meal expensing, Deliveroo for Business lets workers make one-click meal payments using their set budget allowance, instead of saving and submitting a stack of receipts at the end of the month. Finance teams can view the office’s monthly mealtime spending in one single spreadsheet, rather than sorting through hundreds of expense forms.

    Special catering orders are a cinch with Deliveroo for Business. A dedicated team is ready to assist with all kinds of events; from a simple internal lunch for 40 colleagues to a three-day convention with hundreds of guests. Either way, everyone will leave with a full and happy stomach.

    Deliveroo for Business is now being extended in Hong Kong to add a host of new features and services, offering even more chances for people to eat amazing food not just in their homes.  Deliveroo seeks to be the definitive food company, offering people food whenever and wherever they want it, and this is a vital part of the company achieving that vision.

    New services which will be available for businesses in Hong Kong to take advantage of include:

    • Hotels: Deliveroo for Business offers a hotel room service so that hungry travelers can select whatever dishes take their fancy and place the order via the hotel, with food arriving in under 30 minutes. This is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to explore Hong Kong’s local culinary scene from the comfort of their hotel and gives business travelers another delicious option when they don’t have the time to run out and grab a bite to eat. Madera Groupin Hong Kong is already using the service, with a second-edition menu coming soon, and Deliveroo expects more hotels to come on board soon.
    • Events: Deliveroo for Business now offers catering services for large-scale events. In Hong Kong, the team has catered for 300-person breakfast conferences and most recently the ICON APAC Annual Conference at the Hyatt. Around the world, the team catered the largest drone racing championship in the world last August and will be catering their first wedding this December in London. Deliveroo for Business in Hong Kong is now taking bookings for catering Christmas parties.
    • Fruit Baskets & Snacks: Businesses will be able to use Deliveroo to arrange for regular deliveries of fruit and snacks to their offices, fueling workers with healthy foods.

    Brian Lo, General Manager of Deliveroo Hong Kong, said, “Deliveroo for Business is reinventing the way people interact with food at work, as more and more companies pinpoint food as a key retention tool in an increasingly competitive employment market. We’re delighted to bring even more great food to busy workers in Hong Kong, who are famous for eating lunch ‘al desko’. Our new range of services for hotels, events and more expands Deliveroo for Business even further to fuel more opportunities for businesses to give their best to employees, guests, and customers.”

    Mr. Lucas Lai, Head of Madera Hospitality Management of Madera Group said, “As a hotel group with a reputation for offering guests a warm and caring stay, we understand the need to anticipate their desires and provide the utmost levels of comfort and convenience. Working with Deliveroo is a fantastic way to offer even more dining options to our guests, putting a world of yummy cuisine at their fingertips and providing an even better experience every time they stay with Madera.”

    In Hong Kong, lunchtime orders are by far the most popular amongst business customers (70%), who order for team meals, lunchtime learning sessions, internal training and client meetings. Asset management companies, financial service firms, and international law firms account for the majority of business users. Business customers love to order from Chinese and Cantonese restaurants the most, with sushi, Vietnamese and healthy salads rounding out the top 10 cuisine preferences by spending. The legal profession eats the most healthily, with their top two most-ordered restaurant types being salad and vegetarian.

    Deliveroo for Business launched in September 2016 following a huge trend of office workers ordering Deliveroo to their desks, tired by the same lackluster choices on offer for lunch. The launch also helped businesses who are looking for new ways to retain talent. Currently, the service is being used by 7,000 companies in 12 markets, including Hong Kong.

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  • Philippines island Boracay reopens for test run following huge cleanup

    Philippines island Boracay reopens for test run following huge cleanup

    Boracay, one of the world’s most famous beach destinations, has reopened for a limited-numbers test run almost six months after closing for a cleanup operation to reverse the fortunes of the resort island once labeled a “cesspool” by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. The sun was out to welcome a small group of tourists from the province of Aklan, where the island is located, and other parts of Western Visayas. The group was invited to test the newly improved facilities, which include a comprehensive overhaul of the island’s outdated and insufficient sewerage.

    The resort island, which was shuttered in April for six months for rehabilitation work, is scheduled to reopen further later this month — labeled a “soft opening” by authorities. Its famous white-sand beaches were signed off in August as “very clean” and safe for swimming, according to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu. While the cleanup has left the beaches immaculate and the waters crystal clear, significant work needs to be done to get the road system up to speed before larger numbers of tourists are allowed back on the island.

    Tourists asked to manage expectations

    On Monday, Cimatu told  in a Facebook Live-broadcast panel, which featured the four secretaries who make up an inter-agency task force, that the sewerage and drainage for 68 accommodation establishments cleared to open was “100%” complete. The system overhaul cost over 1 billion pesos ($18.5 million), Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said during the discussion. While some road surfaces were not yet completed they would be “significantly finished” — 75-80% — by the wider opening on October 26, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said.

    The full rehabilitation could take up to two years, the panel said, and while Romulo-Puyat praised reform efforts she said tourists should “manage expectations” during this period. Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año told Coren and Webb that almost 200 illegal structures had been demolished, many voluntarily and by their owners.

    Strict laws

    The new-look Boracay will be subject to rigorously enforced by-laws, the panel said, including limits to combustion engine transport, a ban on single-use plastics and offshore zones for watersports, providing a 100-meter (328-feet) swimming area from shore. Deckchairs and tables, as well as beachside entrepreneurs like masseuses and snack and drink vendors, will be banned from the beach, as will the famous fire dancers, who will have to make do with LED lights instead of the kerosene-soaked torches they used before the shutdown.

    The island should be a model of sustainable tourism, Romulo-Puyat said, and the panel stated that following the overhaul the famous island could regain its crown as one of the world’s best beach resorts.

    “We can make Boracay one of the most prestigious tourist destinations in the world,” Año said. Romulo-Puyat added that “when (the rehabilitation) is all done,” Duterte will visit the island, perhaps next year.<

    Economy needs a kickstart

    The island’s residents have been eagerly awaiting the return of the tourists and were thrilled to welcome the advance party — the last six months have been a struggle for many, especially the large numbers who rely on tourism for their livelihoods.

    During the cleanup operation, many of the 11,000 residents participated in the government’s “cash for work” program, which paid a daily minimum wage of 323 pesos ($6). In August, Lilibeth Panganiban, who sells rice cakes on a street corner, told that she’s seen her daily income drop from 1,800 pesos to 500 pesos, or even less.

    Overdue cleanup

    The archipelago nation of the Philippines boasts well over 7,000 islands. Among them, Boracay had become almost a byword for white-sand beach paradise.

    But with the influx of tourists that began in the 1980s, the island has struggled to maintain its idyllic allure. Last year almost 1.7 million tourists, including a significant number of cruise line passengers, visited the island during a 10-month period, according to the governmental Philippines Information Agency. Among the problems caused by the island’s long-running tourism boom were unregulated development, and pipes carrying raw effluence directly into the sea.

    In a survey of the island’s sewerage facilities prior to the closure, the vast majority — 716 of 834 — of residential and business properties were found to have no discharge permit and were presumed to be draining waste water directly into the sea, according to a report by the official Philippines News Agency.

    In February Duterte directly called out the alleged mismanagement of the island, accusing those responsible of turning it into a “cesspool.”

    “As long as there is shit coming out of those pipes draining to the sea, I will never give you the time of the day (to return)” to the island, he said at the time.

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  • Vietjet Sends Aid to Earthquake and Tsunami Victims in Indonesia

    Vietjet Sends Aid to Earthquake and Tsunami Victims in Indonesia

    In response to the devastating events that hit Indonesia recently, Vietjet kicked into action to provide aid relief for the earthquake and tsunami affected victims. A special flight VJ2611 themed “Love connection” landed in Jakarta (Indonesia) yesterday carrying nearly 7 tons of relief aid which included canned foods, blankets and basic necessities.

    The flight not only transported Vietjet’s relief cargo, but also symbolised the love and empathy of Vietnamese people towards those affected by the recent events.

    This was an emergency response initiative conducted by Vietjet within the span of three days, in which the airline’s leaders and employees sought to quickly organise the flight, handle technical preparations, complete the flight permit, as well as launch a voluntary donation campaign throughout the airline to make the flight possible.

    On the evening of 28 September, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Sulawesi, triggering dozens of aftershocks and a tsunami that devastated the coastal areas of Palu and Donggala. Authorities estimated at least 1,300 people were killed and the death toll is expected to rise. Around 16,700 people have been displaced and 2.4 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

    In 2013, Vietjet operated two flights which transported relief cargo as well as brought Vietnamese victims home safely after super typhoon Haiyan destroyed many cities in the Philippines. The airline also organized many relief flights to Vietnam’s central region after the floods, and initiated a “Spread the Love” campaign offering free flights to bring underprivileged people home to celebrate the Lunar New Year holidays.

    Volunteering and charity work has become a part of Vietjet’s DNA and corporate culture as the airline continues to share the love and support disaster-hit victims and underprivileged people.

  • Gozoop retains Mumbai City FC’s integrated marketing duties for the third year

    Gozoop retains Mumbai City FC’s integrated marketing duties for the third year

    Gozoop, one of India’s leading integrated marketing agencies, has retained the integrated marketing mandate for the Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Mumbai City FC for the third time. As part of the mandate, the agency will take charge of the mainline, digital and content creation duties for the brand.

    The strategic partnership will see Gozoop playing a pivotal role in conceptualizing 360 degree marketing and communication strategies for MCFC. Over the next season, they will be responsible for creating and executing some unique activations and campaigns for the professional football team to engage their fan base across mediums and reach newer audiences. The agency will also be working with the ISL franchise on a range of video offerings including real-time fan engagement during matches.

    Commenting on the win, Ahmed Aftab Naqvi, Gozoop CEO & Co-founder said, “We have been helping top sports brands reach, engage and delight their fans across the world for a decade now with our best-in-class digital and creative capabilities. Throughout our association with Mumbai City FC, our focus has always been on pushing the boundaries and exceeding expectations to create a multi-dimensional plan for marketing the brand across new-age channels. We are looking forward to give our best to the team once again. Mumbai City FC is very special for us especially since we are based out of Mumbai. We have a team which specialises in sports and will be giving in their best to make this season a successful one in every way possible.”

    Indranil Das Blah, CEO of Mumbai City FC added “Gozoop’s understanding of our Team, category, passion for sports coupled with their understanding of the sports fans from Mumbai, made them the perfect partner for us. This is the third year of our association and we believe that our work will be able to better our relationship with fans even further across all touch points.”

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  • More travellers are going solo, either for business or leisure

    More travellers are going solo, either for business or leisure

    With longer working hours, constant digital contact and increasing obligations, it’s no wonder more people are treating themselves to solo trips to (temporarily) get away from it all! According to a survey by Agoda, one of the world’s fastest-growing online travel agents (OTA), travellers are choosing to go solo to take respite from the stresses of modern living.

    Agoda’s ‘Solo Travel Trends 2018’ survey, conducted by YouGov, found that relaxation and time to unwind is the number one motivator for solo leisure travel globally (61%), which compares to 48% when traveling with friends. Solo travellers surveyed also ranked getting away from routine (52%) and exploring new cultures (45%) as top motivators.

    Age gap between Asian and Western solo travellers

    Interestingly, Asian solo travellers are more likely to be younger – Millennials (41%) and Generation Zers (38%) – while in the West, solo travel is more prevalent among Baby Boomers (39%) and Generation Xers (24%).

    Western solo travellers are more likely to indulge in solo travel for longer periods, more often taking trips for 4-7 nights (34%). In addition, Western solo travellers are twice as likely to go on trips of 14 nights or more (20% versus 10%). The Millennial and Generation Z Asian solo traveller tend to take shorter 1-3 night solo trips (46%).

    Trend towards more screen time

    Unsurprisingly, solo leisure travellers spend more time in front of their laptops and phones than any other traveller type –  two hours a day (119 minutes), which compares to 15% more time than when travellers are with friends (100 minutes) and 26% more time than if they are with family (86 minutes).

    Asian solo travellers are the most digitally connected and are more than two times as likely to spend four or more hours a day in front of their screens than their Western peers (31% versus 12%).

    Cosmopolitan destinations dominate the charts

    Whether for business, leisure or ‘bleisure’ (a combination of business and leisure travel), independent solo travellers are all heading to cosmopolitan cities around the world. According to Agoda’s booking data, Bangkok (Thailand) is the top destination for Asian solo travellers this year, while London (United Kingdom) is number one for Western solo travellers. Both cities have a lot of attractions to keep any solo traveller busy, from shopping and nightlife to culture and dining.

    Tokyo (Japan) is a popular choice for both Asian and Western travellers, hitting the top three for both groups. With various food, culture and accommodation options, from capsule hotels to homes and luxury 5-star retreats, the city has a lot on offer for every kind of solo traveller.

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  • Philip Morris to begin selling Korean-made heated tobacco unit

    Philip Morris to begin selling Korean-made heated tobacco unit

    Philip Morris Korea Inc. said Thursday that it will begin selling its tobacco sticks, called Heets, produced at its factory in South Korea later this month.

    To this point, Philip Morris Korea imported Heets for sale in South Korea.

    Philip Morris Korea has expanded its production facility in Yangsan, the first facility in Asia to manufacture heated tobacco units for its tobacco heating device IQOS. Yangsan is a city located about 420 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

    The share of Heets, tobacco sticks exclusively for IQOS, was reported at 8.1 percent of South Korea’s total tobacco market in August.

  • Lotte’s Shin returns to work after early release

    Lotte’s Shin returns to work after early release

    Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin returned to the office on Monday, getting back to work immediately to resolve issues that were put on hold while he was imprisoned until Oct. 5.

    Shin was spotted heading to his office on the 18th floor of Lotte World Tower in Songpa District, southern Seoul, Monday morning without responding to questions from reporters.

    The 62-year-old Lotte head’s return to work comes just eight months after he was sentenced to 30 months in prison in February for bribing former President Park Geun-hye. On Friday, the Seoul High Court replaced the prison sentence with four years of probation.

    On his first day back, Shin was scheduled to meet with top executives for business updates, including heads of Lotte Group’s four main business units and Vice Chairman Hwang Kag-gyu, who was the de facto leader of the conglomerate during Shin’s vacancy.

    “We plan to speed up examinations of business agendas that were put on hold in order to normalize the company’s management,” a Lotte spokesman said.

    Shin was a core decision maker for multiple large-scale projects inside the group, and his imprisonment put a halt on many of those plans. Earlier this year, Lotte was looking into investing a total of 11 trillion won ($9.6 billion) in domestic and foreign companies, but the decisions had to be postponed.

    Among the large-scale construction projects waiting to restart is Lotte Chemical’s massive oil complex in Indonesia, in which the company planned to invest 4 trillion won by 2023. This was the largest ongoing investment when Shin was detained in February. Lotte finalized procedures in purchasing land for the site last year, but its construction was indefinitely postponed.

    Another problem left to untangle is the Lotte World project in Shenyang, China. The ambitious 3-trillion-won plan to build a mall, theme park, hotel and residencies inside one complex was stopped during construction by Chinese officials in November 2016. The apparent reason was safety violations, but it was thought to be part of unofficial sanctions on Lotte for having approved a land swap with the then-government for the deployment of the U.S.-led Thaad antimissile system.

    Lotte’s organizational reform also has a chance of moving forward now that Shin is back in control as he can mediate between Korean and Japanese shareholders. Since 2016, Shin has led efforts to cut cross-shareholding among affiliates and rearrange them under Lotte Corporation, a Korean holding company.

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  • IKEA India not to hike prices of low-end furniture products

    IKEA India not to hike prices of low-end furniture products

    Swedish furniture giant IKEA Sunday said it would not raise the prices of low-end furniture and furnishing products if the company costs increase due to Centre’s recent hike in customs duty on some furnishing items to curb imports of non-essential goods.

    “For now, we have not seen any repercussions, but if there is continuation of costs due to hike in customs duties on furniture and furnishing items, then at some point of time we would have to pass it (burden) on to customers, but we may do it on higher-end products, not lower-end,” Patrik Antoni, Deputy Country Manager said.

    “So, customers can still be hopeful,” he said.

    Patrik said IKEA is a global company and it would appreciate global trade, but would not be happy with trade barriers such as customs tariff or import duties.

    He also said trade barriers will only affect ‘ease of doing business,’ which will in the long run affect customers.

    The Central Government had on September 26 hiked customs duties on as many as 19 items, including jet fuel, air conditioners and refrigerators, with an aim to curb imports of non-essential goods.

    IKEA imports most of the products it sells, and many are covered by the latest customs duty hike which includes tableware, kitchenware and household items made of plastic and travel bags, among others.

    The total import bill on account of shipment of such items into the country last fiscal was Rs 86,000 crore.

    Curbing non-essential imports was part of the five-pronged steps announced by the government to check widening current account deficit and capital outflows.

    IKEA is planning to invest nearly Rs 3,000 crore in the next three years to open three fulfillment centres (packing warehouses) in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi.

    The company would open the centres as an omni-channelling brand with large IKEA stores, city centre stores and online presence.

    IKEA is set to open its second store in Mumbai later this year and would hold a ground-breaking ceremony on October 11 in Bengaluru.

    By 2025, there would be over 25 stores across cities such as Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Chennai and Kolkata with both online and offline approaches.

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  • Hanoi preparation plan for SEA Games 2021

    Hanoi preparation plan for SEA Games 2021

    Hanoi plans to upgrade the Hang Day stadium into an international sports complex for the SEA Games 2021.

    Capital city authorities have outlined this plan in a recent report to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, saying the upgrade is required because the condition of Hang Day stadium on Trinh Hoai Duc Street has severely deteriorated in recent years.

    The new complex would cost over VND6.3 trillion ($270.4 million), with funds raised from investors who operate the stadium for 50 years, the report said.

    The sports complex will be built on an area of 32,000 square meters, expanding the current area of 22,000 square meters.

    A deal for the upgrade was signed in March by domestic private firm T&T Group which manages the stadium, and French firm Bouygues Construction.

    The headquarters of the city’s Department of Planning and Investment nearby will be moved to another location to make space for the new complex.

    It will be the second international sports complex in Hanoi, after the My Dinh stadium in Nam Tu Liem District.The new stadium will have a capacity of 20,000 people, with several additional facilities including cinemas, event centers, parking basements and convenience stores.

    The Hang Day stadium is a multi-purpose facility which was first established for Hanoi’s École d’Education Physique (Hanoi’s School of Physical Education) in 1934. It was later expanded in 1958.

    In 2017, it was placed under the management of T&T Group, a corporation involved in finance, real estate and agriculture sectors.

    Hanoi will host the 31st edition of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), which is scheduled to last 17 days, as well as the Para Games, for 11 days, from October to December in 2021.

    A total of 16,000 people are estimated to participate in the event, 11,000 of them athletes.

    This is the second time that Vietnam will be hosting the SEA Games after the first instance in 2003.

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