GTA signs $2 million (SGD) exclusive marketing agreement with SilkAir

29 Apr 2015  2037 | Business & Trade Fairs

Global travel distributor GTA has signed a $2 million (SGD) memorandum of understanding with SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines and Asia’s most awarded regional airline. The year-long agreement will see the two companies collaborate exclusively on marketing initiatives to bring more traffic to Singapore.

GTA is already one of the largest generators of travel into Singapore, distributing accommodation options, ‘in destination’ services and a rich range of experiences to a network of tens of thousands of travel agents worldwide. Last year, it helped bring nearly a million tourists to Singapore. Experienced people with expertise in selling destinations and local knowledge of source markets, give GTA the ability to reach around the world and match accommodation and experiences to the different preferences of travellers.

Daryl Lee, GTA’s Regional Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, says: “With increasing competition from neighbouring destinations, visitors to Singapore fell 3.1 percent to 15.1 million in 2014, the first drop since 2009. We want to improve awareness among travel agents of all that Singapore has to offer travellers and particularly address misconceptions that it is expensive."

“Connecting 48 locations with value for money travel to Singapore, our partnership with SilkAir is certain to bring dividends to the country’s tourism industry.”

SilkAir's Vice President Commercial, Mr Ryan Pua, commented: "SilkAir looks forward to this partnership to increase inbound traffic from our 48 SilkAir destinations into Singapore. Through this joint marketing initiative, we hope to delight more passengers with our full service experience, which includes complimentary 30kg and 40kg baggage allowance for Economy and Business class passengers, in-flight meals, seat selection and SilkAir Studio, SilkAir’s wireless in-flight entertainment system."

The agreement comes as GTA launched the first partnership in a new strategic program last week to increase awareness of the appeals of Singapore, highlight value for money travel and drive visits to the destination from key markets in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions. 22 three- to five-star hotels from five international and home grown hotel brands – Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Far East Hospitality, Fragrance Hotel Management Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa and The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore – will benefit from enhanced marketing to travel agents in Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and the UAE as well as secondary cities in China, India and Indonesia thanks to GTA’s extraordinary reach.

Each of the hotels in the partnership has identified a special selection of value for money, ‘hidden gems’, which will be included in dedicated Singapore Seminars for agents. Such as:

- the unique skyline view through the octagon bathroom windows at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
- the exclusive Club Lounge with private infinity pool on the 22nd floor of Oasia Hotel Singapore
- underwater views of 50,000 marine animals from the duplex Ocean Suites at Resorts World Sentosa
- the infinity roof top pool experience at Parc Sovereign Hotel Tyrwhitt
- the 100th anniversary of the Singapore Sling being celebrated at Raffles Singapore

Adds Daryl: “With a strong network in many markets already, we can easily help hotels and destinations take action in the face of emerging opportunities. Our first strategic partnership pools GTA’s resources with those of our best hotel and attraction partners, so that together we can welcome many more visitors from around the world.”

sourced:traveldailynews.asia

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