Asia Pacific Tourism Recovery Trends & Outlook Post-Event Report: Paving the Aviation, Hospitality, and MICE Industries’ Yellow Brick Road to 2021
Organized in partnership with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, PATA’s first ever hybrid event - Asia Pacific Tourism Recovery Trends & Outlook made its debut on December 7 at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel, Bangkok. With 19 speakers from multiple sectors, 12 speaking physically and 7 participating virtually, the event united audiences online as well as guests joining in-person. Seeing that the Asia Pacific region will be the first to reopen travel businesses among all destinations, it is crucial that all stakeholders are equipped with an understanding of trends and indications to prepare for welcoming recovery in 2021.
The three-hour event kicked off with welcome remarks from PATA CEO Dr Mario Hardy who also introduced the launch of the PATA Marketplace, PATA’s members-only digital showroom, followed by opening remarks by Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB):
“Our meeting today happens when the future of our industry is at a major turning point. I believe everyone agrees this is the most challenging chapter of the history of the tourism sector. But on the brighter side, we still have each other’s company to go through this together, to work together is definitely what will be required.”
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) delivering opening remarks.
The first session was presented by Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Deputy Governor for International Marketing of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), who shared how Thailand is coping and making breakthroughs in the times of COVID-19. The session covered the numbers from the past and present, as well as initiatives currently taken to revive the industry.
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Deputy Governor for International Marketing of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) presenting on “Thailand Tourism Update & Outlook”.
Aviation
In the next session, Joanna Lu, Head of Consultancy Asia from Ascend by Cirium dived deep into the Asia Pacific aviation industry, revealing that 30% growth compared to last year has made cargo the dominating yielding sector in the times of pandemic. While the industry slowly recovers, she predicted that it wouldn’t be fully back until 2024. She suggested: “think more about business vulnerability than business scope”.
Joanna Lu, Head of Consultancy Asia, Ascend by Cirium presenting on “Air Travel Trends in APAC”.
The third session featured a panel discussion on “Aviation Outlook and Trends” which was moderated by Dr. Mario Hardy, looking into some of the most discussed topics in detail. Komkrit Ngamwongwirot, Director of Key Account and Ancillary Product of Bangkok Airways and Richard Englemann, Vice President of Asia And Oceania of Japan Airlines shared their observations on the outlook of aviation industry from the perspective of airline operators, confirming that the market will indeed change, with even the prospect of an industrial revolution happening post-COVID, with renewable energy, touchless technology, and AI leading the opportunities. Englemann also noted that consumers’ priority concerns have shifted from connectivity and pricing:
“We now have an obligation to provide and market what we are doing, to provide duty of care and safety and health.”
“Aviation Outlook and Trends”, onstage: Komkrit Ngamwongwirot, Dr Mario Hardy, on screen top: Richard Englemann, on screen bottom: Beatrice Lim
Addressing the hot topic of vaccines, Beatrice Lim, Director of Industry and Regulatory Affairs of AAPA explained that the challenge is how fast carriers can distribute them to the widest possible geography, and how capacity and regulations can be adjusted to accommodate this unique delivery. She assured that the industry is already in the process of discussing with governments on the issue.
“Aviation Outlook and Trends”, onstage: Komkrit Ngamwongwirot, Dr. Mario Hardy, on screen: Beatrice Lim
When being asked about the future of the aviation industry - one that has been hit the hardest in these tough times - the experts are confident that it will be back, just maybe not the same as how it was. Lim concluded:
“What we think of [as] critical is that governments introduce consistent and coordinated measures based on objective risk assessments to help restore confidence in air travel. The desire to travel definitely remains strong.”
Hospitality
Leading into the first session on hospitality, Bernard Kee, Regional Manager of Southeast Asia from STR walked the audiences through statistics and trend predictions for the industry. Despite current forecasts being lower than expected as the virus situation remains unresolved, opportunities lie in the weekend spikes of domestic travels.
Bernard Kee, Regional Manager of Southeast Asia, STR presenting on “Hotel Performance in Asia Pacific”.
In the following panel discussion on “Hospitality Outlook and Trends”, one key takeaway is that numbers and recovery trends in different destinations and regions part ways. Dr James Mabey, Professor of Practice of Hotel Development and Strategy of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University reminded all hoteliers that “it’s much more about knowing specific markets of the individual ecosystem we are working in, rather than the global tourism comeback.”
“Hospitality Outlook and Trends”, onstage L/R: Aaishah Bohari, Dr. James Mabey, Antony Meguerdijian, Wimintra J. Raj, on screen right: Dr. Jennifer Cronin
The session was hosted by Wimintra J. Raj, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, of Hotelintel.co. exploring answers to genuine questions and provoking swift all-round discussions among panelists. As many are concerned about the human capital market in this sector, Dr Jennifer Cronin, President of Wharf Hotels mentioned the foreseeable future as being workforce optimization: the major overhaul of various levels to reduce hierarchy. One consensus from the session is that the industry will bounce back as travel needs are not diminishing. Antony Meguerdijian, Vice President Sales & Partnerships, South East Asia, South Korea & Japan of Accor Hotels and Resorts commented:
“It’s been a tough year, but there [is] good stuff coming out of it as well. We just have to remember the good things and move them forward.“
MICE
In the last panel discussion on “The Future of MICE”, Senior Vice President - Development and Innovation of TCEB, Supawan Teerarat, enlightened the audience with the measures that Thailand is currently undertaking to encourage and support the local MICE industry, including technology and financial support for reskilling and upskilling workers in related sectors.
“The Future of MICE”, onstage L/R: Max Boontawee Janasuwan, Supawan Teerarat, Alisha Anne Somanas, on screen top: Danny Levy, on screen bottom: Naomi Mano
Moderated by Alisha Anne Somanas, Thailand Correspondent of TTG Asia, the session took a close examination at MICE industries in various destinations, mainly Thailand and Japan, as they adapt to current and post-COVID situations. Danny Levy, Managing Director of APAC of WBR, and Naomi Mano, President and CEO of Luxurique Inc., both agreed that the path to a successful online event is to replicate the human interaction of physical events in virtual environments, retain the chemistry of people meeting each other and not lose the special features your physical events would have. “Communication, competency, customers,” Max Boontawee Janasuwan, CIS, CITP of Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE Thailand) proposed at the end of the plenary, “keep the customers aware that we are thinking of them.”
The mutual agreement among all speakers and sessions is that what is implemented at this moment is bound to stay; no matter if it is masks, safety measures, technologies, or virtuality. The essential action to take is stay positive, learn from this experience, and make your business flexible to survive in and be ready for the forever-changing industry. The evening closed with a networking session during happy hours for some mingling and proper facetime at the Firefly Bar of Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel, Bangkok.
Networking session at Firefly Bar.
Aaishah Bohari, Director of Sales & Marketing, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok delivering closing remarks.
Great appreciations to TCEB and the Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok for partnering with PATA in this event, as well as all the speakers and attendees that took part. Hopefully everyone (online and offline) enjoyed this fruitful event and found something insightful to bring home. Stay tuned for our next event coming up in February 2021: PATA Beyond: Travel Recovery Solutions!
