WebBeds, the world’s second largest B2B accommodation provider, has ended 2019 on a high by hosting a trio of important international events in Asia Pacific. These occasions allowed the company’s senior executives to meet with hundreds of hotel partners in Thailand and Japan, thank them for their support and introduce them to innovative new marketing tools, paving the way for a bright future in 2020 and beyond.
Led by Daryl Lee, WebBeds’ CEO for Asia Pacific, many of the group’s regional leaders travelled to Bangkok, Tokyo and Osaka in November and December 2019 to talk face-to-face with local hoteliers and reaffirm WebBeds’ commitment to each market.
On 13th November, WebBeds welcomed more than 200 of its partners to the Paragon Cineplex at Siam Paragon, the lifestyle mall in the heart of Bangkok. Top executives including Daryl Lee, Sun Kok Sheng, WebBeds’ Chief Commercial Officer for Asia Pacific, Bernard Chionh, Chief Financial Officer for Asia Pacific, John Stucci, President for the Pacific, Cheryl Cheang, Vice President of Marketing for Asia Pacific, Linda Kim, General Manager for South Korea, and Jintana Porntanapat, General Manager for Thailand & Indochina, were on hand to greet guests, strengthen relationships, and share market intelligence relating to the Thai capital’s performance in 2019.
WebBeds also reinforced its brand positioning following the high-profile acquisitions of JacTravel and Destinations of the World in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and showed hoteliers how its expanded distribution network and impressive range of platforms can help to promote their properties more effectively.
Then on 10th and 12th December, WebBeds travelled to Japan to host two major gatherings in Tokyo and Osaka. Daryl Lee and Sun Kok Sheng were joined by Vincent Leung, the group’s Managing Director for Hong Kong, Philippines & Japan, who was on hand to chat to local partners and discuss how WebBeds can help Japanese hotels take advantage of the opportunities provided by the 2020 Summer Olympics. Both occasions were attended by over 100 hotels and other key clients including TL Lincoln, a channel manager that shared the stage with WebBeds.
These events also celebrated the Japanese launch of the WebBeds Destination Index, a brand-new online tool that uses multiple data sources to track market trends and generate unique insights. The overall aim is to provide a snapshot of each destination and generate projections for the future. Following its global launch in Hong Kong in October 2019, this intelligence tool will now be introduced to several Japanese cities including Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, for the benefit the entire travel trade.
Finally, guests in Tokyo and Osaka were treated to a traditional kagami biraki sake ceremony, which represents harmony, strong relations and good fortune – a highly appropriate and auspicious occasion as WebBeds prepares to enter a new decade with its Japanese partners.
“2019 has been highly successful for WebBeds and it was great to end the year by meeting our important clients in Thailand and Japan. Overall, the Asia Pacific’s tourism and hospitality has performed well and experienced sustained growth this year. While local factors have affected some areas, the overall outlook for the region remains positive. With the backing of WebBeds and innovative tools like the WebBeds Destination Index, hoteliers will be able to maximise their performance and capitalise on the many opportunities being created all across Asia Pacific. We look forward to hosting even more events next year,” Daryl Lee commented.
“It was great to see the WebBeds team in Bangkok and wonderful to be able to meet so many of their senior executives. We have always found WebBeds to be a strong partner that generates a significant amount of business for our hotel. This forum allowed us to gain an even better understanding of their business and how we can benefit from working together. Talking to Daryl and his team has given us renewed confidence for the future,” said Ms. Tabatha Ramsay, Corporate – Vice President Commercial of Centara Hotels & Resorts.
“2020 will be a milestone year for Japan, as our country prepares to host the Summer Olympics. This makes it even more important that we are fully prepared, and I was very interested to learn about the WebBeds Destination Index, which will really help us to understand the market conditions and plan for the future. WebBeds really seems to care about the needs of its partners, and we will be delighted to work with them in the years ahead,” said Mr. Hiroto Sato, Director of Sales of Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo.
.jpg){kind=tracking}