Changi Airport adds new prize to Be a Changi Millionaire campaign

Source: Changi Airport Group. This year's Be a Changi Millionaire competition offers a chance to win a Volvo sedan as well.

Changi Airport has given its flagship Be a Changi Millionaire* retail promotion a boost this year – with a new car prize in the form of a Volvo S90 T5 luxury sedan on top of the S$1 million cash prize. This the biggest retail promotion in any airport in the world according to Changi Airport.

All shoppers need to do to qualify for the lucky draw is spend S$50 in a single receipt** between 4 May and 31 October 2017. One finalist will be picked each month to go into the Grand Draw, bringing the shopper one step closer to becoming a Changi Millionaire. In addition, a seventh finalist will be picked from qualifying shoppers on iShopChangi – Changi Airport’s online shopping portal – and an eighth finalist will be drawn from the Platinum members of the Changi Rewards loyalty programme. Changi Rewards Platinum card members, those who make a purchase on iShopChangi, or use Alipay to make their payment will see their chances of winning instantly doubled***.

Shoppers who spend more than S$500 multiple purchases over a single day will get a chance to win the Volvo sedan, which is from Volvo’s premium sedan range featuring a turbocharged engine and 8-speed Geartronic transmission.

“The Be a Changi Millionaire promotion has been growing in popularity amongst our shoppers from around the world and is now instantly associated with Changi Airport's exciting retail offers. We are always looking at how to inject more buzz and excitement for our shoppers and with the introduction of the all-new Volvo S90 T5 luxury sedan as an additional prize on top of the million dollars, Changi Airport shoppers now have even more chances to win and to win big,” said Lim Peck Hoon, Executive VP, Commercial, Changi Airport Group.

Four Volvo S90 sedans will be on display at the Be a Changi Millionaire event sites at Changi’s terminals for the entire period of the six-month promotion. Shoppers can also take part in interactive games to win instant prizes such as attractive shopping vouchers from Changi’s retail outlets on-site or at the event*.

With the new prize category, a total of 14 finalists will battle it out for the two big prizes in the final faceoff of the shopping campaign in front of a live audience in early 2018. All finalists will each win a three-night hotel stay in Singapore****, with one finalist eventually bagging the grand prize of S$1 million and another one the all-new Volvo S90. The other finalists for the S$1 million cash prize draw will each win S$5,000 in cash, while those in the car draw will win S$1,000 cash.

The campaign attracted close to 1.2 million entries from participants globally last year. Since its launch, seven Changi Airport shoppers have realised their million-dollar dreams – including Singaporeans Ivan Rantung (2010) and Peh Hock Peng (2012), Australian Jessica Down (2011), Indonesians Irvung Tio (2013) and Ade Iskandar (2016), Irish Linda Tobin (2015) and Japanese Seiichiro Oiyama (2014).


*Website goes live from 4 May 2017.

**On iShopChangi.com or participating retailing and dining outlets in Changi Airport; except money changing facilities, top-up cash card machines, postal services, medical clinics, airline lounges, pushcarts, temporary outposts and Crowne Plaza Hotel.

***See www.iShopChangi.com/millionaire for more information on the chances for each shopping tier. The website goes live 4 May 2017.

****Except for finalists living in Singapore.

posted from Bloggeroid

Wireless@SG makes connecting easier, expands operator pool

Connecting to a Wireless@SG hotspot.

Wireless@SG, the free nationwide Wi-Fi network will now offer a new login experience and new look for both locals and tourists. By end-year, the current user name and password system will be obsolete.

The news was announced at Tech Saturday (Upsized!), Infocomm Media Development Authority's (IMDA’s) annual technology carnival to mark the start of Smart Nation Innovations week. IMDA took user feedback into consideration to streamline the login experience for Wireless@SG in a way that would not compromise security.

Associate Professor Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Singapore Minister for Communications and Information said on the showfloor that the push to make Wireless@SG more pervasive is essential to help people in Singapore connect to and benefit from the digital economy more easily. “There are a lot of services we can offer from the government but also from the private sector,” he said.

The free Wi-Fi service is extending automatic login to non-SIM devices, a move which will eliminate the need for usernames and passwords. Previously, automatic login to Wireless@SG was available for mobile devices with SIM cards by using the EAP-SIM authentication framework. This login method, which removes the need for usernames and passwords, improves security and allows users to be verified through their SIM cards. SIM device owners would enjoy a seamless automatic connection every time they are near a Wireless@SG hotspot.

From now on users with non-SIM devices – including tablets and laptops – will get to enjoy the same convenience if an enhanced Wireless@SG app is first downloaded. The app will guide owners through a one-time setup that will only require their NRIC/FIN (Singapore ID) and mobile numbers. They will then receive a one -time password (OTP) sent via SMS to complete the setup.

Those who prefer logging in through their browsers every time they need to access Wireless@SG will also find the process more streamlined. They only need to enter their mobile numbers to receive an OTP to complete the login process.

Currently, about 90% of Wireless@SG users already enjoy automatic login using their mobile devices. IMDA expects the enhancements to benefit at least 180,000 users who have been using tablets and laptops to access Wireless@SG.

Wireless@SG is also welcoming broadband service provider MyRepublic as one of the operators offering the free Wi-Fi service. MyRepublic is the fifth addition to the group comprising M1, SingTel, StarHub and Y5ZONE.

“A digital economy needs pervasive connectivity that is fast, reliable and secure, and Wireless@SG is one of the projects that will help IMDA realise this vision. We are pleased to welcome a fifth operator on board, and we expect this would help us to deploy more hotspots more quickly in our effort to expand the Wireless@SG network,” IMDA Chief Executive Tan Kiat How said.

"Access to fast, reliable public Wi-Fi is essential to Singapore's progress as a Smart Nation. We are excited to be appointed a Wireless@SG operator and look forward to working with IMDA to deploy and improve Wireless@SG hotspots across Singapore," MyRepublic Singapore MD Yap Yong Teck said.

Wireless@SG was launched in December 2006 with 900 hotspots running at a max speed of 512kbps. Today, there are 10,000 hotspots running at 5Mbps, and these hotspots can be found in public spaces like train stations, libraries, shopping malls and restaurants. Venue owners have been asked to ensure that the estimated number of visitors they receive will each be able to enjoy 5Mbps of bandwidth, which would be enough connectivity to use email, WhatsApp or watch a YouTube video.

IMDA is on track to double its network of hotspots to 20,000 by 2018, reaching more locations such as public hospitals, hawker centres and government service centres.

Interested?

Download the Wireless@SG app to have devices configured to connect automatically to the Wireless@SGx network. The Wireless@SGx network is more secure as it uses industry-based authentication and security standards such as IEEE 802.1x and Wi-Fi Alliance. Data sent over Wireless@SGx network is also encrypted. In addition, Wireless@SGx allows users to log in automatically after an initial one-time setup, whereas Wireless@SG requires users to log in via a browser every time a connection is established. Existing user names and passwords will continue to work but will gradually be phased out.


Watch the Instavideo on the new one-time password login method for Wireless@SG

Tech Saturday (Upsized!) will run until 30 April 2017, 11am to 7pm. Drinks and treats are available for attendees. Smart Nations Innovations Week continues with innovfest unbound on 3 and 4 May

Hashtag: #techsaturday

Editor's note: I have had problems in past years with Wireless@SG prior to this - both in remembering my user name and password in the first place, and in getting a useable Wi-Fi connection thereafter. Trying out the new OTP system was painless and I was able to use Wi-Fi for Instagram on a phone which did not have a SIM card inside it.

posted from Bloggeroid

Avaya identifies gaps in the guest experience

Avaya has announced the findings of its first annual Hospitality Industry Survey, where 72 global hotel brands identified market trends and room for improvement.

Survey respondents aligned around three particular issues as they seek to improve the guest experience: guest engagement, communication and services. Many companies, however, are seeing significant opportunities by taking advantage of mobile, multichannel communications for both guests and staff, and updating standard, in-room devices with cool new applications and capabilities.

Various gaps in the guest experience were identified through the survey:

Engaging guests - more than half (55%) of hospitality companies say they struggle to engage their guests during the booking process, while 70% say they struggle during and after the visit.

Communication between guests and staff leaves a lot to be desired - 60% of survey respondents say the inability of their staff to effectively communicate with guests is a “main factor” diminishing the guest experience at their properties.

Services - six in 10 (62%) of global respondents said the quality of the guest experience at their properties would be significantly improved by enhanced in-room and on-property guest services.

Technology to the rescue

Since most guests are on the move during their stay - as well as a large portion of the staff dedicated to serving them - respondents recognised that mobile apps offer the most compelling opportunity for improving service of any technology (48%). In fact, 81% of respondents are planning to create high-functioning apps over the next five years.

“The guest experience is more important than price when it comes to repeat customers and recommendations. The big question is how do we improve the experience at a reasonable cost, when nearly everything about a hotel has high capital and operating expenses? With Avaya, our hospitality industry customers are finding exciting new ways of engaging guests, creating efficiencies and delight that will help ensure their properties are booked to capacity,” said Frederick Sabty, VP, Hospitality Worldwide for Avaya.

Avaya provides solutions to more than 2,500 hotels worldwide and has existing relationships with nine out of 10 of the world’s luxury hotels.

New Cafédirect 100% Arabica Espresso Roast and Ground Coffee is deep, dark and wonderful

Source: Cafédirect. The new Cafédirect 100% Arabica Espresso Roast and Ground Coffee delivers an intense flavour with a sweet finish. Consider pairing with butter for a decadent experience.

Cafédirect, the 100% Fairtrade hot drinks company introduced a darker roast in its Cafédirect 100% Arabica Espresso Roast and Ground Coffee at the end of March. Created for coffee connoisseurs, this espresso blend uses beans from Peru and Costa Rica to deliver a dark, intense coffee.

Arabica beans from Peru make up a strong base for the coffee, bringing a natural dark chocolatey taste to each sip. The strong roasting process intensifies the taste. Costa Rica Arabica beans counterbalance the Peruvian beans, softening the mouthfeel and giving the coffee a creamy finish.

Cafédirect uses a unique numbering system to indicate coffee strength. The strength of a coffee depends on a number of factors, namely the composition of coffee beans in the blend as well as the intensity of the roasting process. Roast and ground coffees from Cafédirect span the range from 3 to 6. The Arabica Espresso Roast and Ground Coffee is a 6, reflecting its full-bodied taste that promises a flavour explosion, leading up to a naturally sweet finish.

Cafédirect 100% Arabica Espresso is finely ground for easy brewing in an espresso machine, stove-top espresso pot or percolator, or сafetière (plunger).

As a business, Cafédirect is different: Growers have shares in the company and have two seats on the Cafédirect Board of Directors. Cafédirect’s unique approach has seen the company paying fair prices and working directly with smallholder growers so that they can develop their businesses and increase their influence in highly competitive commodity markets.

Through direct, personal and long-term relationships, Cafédirect partners with over 282,000 smallholder growers in 40 grower organisations across 14 developing countries. Under Cafédirect’s Fairtrade business model, 50% of the profits go back to the coffee growers who nurture and harvest the beans. This not only improves the lives of the growers, but the quality of each coffee bean as well.

Criteo quantifies the Singaporean love of travel

+Mobile travel purchase increased 35% from 2011 to 2016, and is expected to continue growing fast

+Respondents browsed travel products online because of accessibility (74%) and convenience (69%)

+Eight in 10 (78%) choose to browse on smartphones instead of desktops/laptops because they can do so on-the-go

Criteo, the performance marketing technology company, has found that mobile travel sales will continue to grow and present the biggest growth opportunity. The findings are from a Criteo-commissioned study* by Euromonitor International, which surveyed 150 Singaporeans to analyse the online travel landscape, as well as browsing and purchase behaviours in Singapore to help travel businesses and online travel agents (OTAs) identify and adopt digital strategies to engage travellers throughout their purchase journey.

The research revealed that travel remains an area that Singaporeans are devoted to – in 2016, Singaporeans took 21.9 million outbound trips, and expenditure on leisure and recreation is expected to have a CAGR of 3.2% from 2017 to 2020. Online travel sales have grown at 7.1% CAGR in the period 2011 to 2016, and totalled S$6 billion in 2016. Mobile travel sales have accelerated, outpacing the growth of online travel sales and will see 19.6% CAGR from 2017 to 2020.

“Singaporeans are tech savvy travellers who are browsing seamlessly across multiple devices to find the best deal before making their purchase. Travel websites and OTAs need to focus on providing a mobile experience that is user-friendly, easy to navigate, has add-on features and secure payment methods. To drive transactions, they need to engage with shoppers during the discovery, search and booking phases,” said Alban Villani, GM, Criteo Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

While browsing online, all shoppers used a combination of OTAs, the vendors’ own website or app and online travel price aggregators. Across all age groups, laptops are the most preferred device for online browsing of travel products and services with this method chosen by 42%, of respondents, followed by smartphones at 33% and desktops at 18%. Of those who choose to browse with their smartphones instead of laptops/desktops, over half say it is more convenient, and 78% said it was because smartphones allowed them to do so on-the-go. Other key online booking habits include:

Laptops are also the preferred device used for booking, with half of all online travel sales made on laptops, compared with 21% on smartphones and 23% on desktops.

Most shoppers still choose to book with laptops as they “prefer to use a larger screen when making purchases” (57%) and “typing a lot of personal information is difficult on a small screen” (43%).

The key drivers for booking via smartphones is being able to book anywhere (58%) and being more convenient than laptops/desktops (33%).

According to Criteo’s commissioned research, Singaporeans took an average of 5.2 trips in the last 12 months, with 63% taking five trips or fewer; almost half were mid-length stays of between three to six days. Over half (52%) of Singaporeans booked their trip between one and four months before departure, and are most likely to do so while at home (79%) on a weekend, although they would already have browsed on weekdays (56%). Other key findings on factors that affect their purchase include:

The biggest driver for online booking is convenience - 88% chose a combination of factors such as time-saving (54%) and being more convenient than a phone or physical booking (54%).

Price also plays a big part in the shift towards online travel purchases, with 44% of respondents believing that online travel providers and OTAs offer a better deal.

Half of all online travel purchases are for accommodation and air travel.
When purchasing online, Singaporeans are most likely to directly book via websites or apps of the airlines and/or lodging (52%) as it would be easier to change or cancel their booking (47%).
They also make direct purchases through OTAs (37%), as they say the website is easy to use (45%).

Online and mobile strategies are crucial for retailers and OTAs to engage with shoppers while they browse and book travel and ancillaries – 85% of shoppers have seen retargeted ads and 52% have clicked on them.

“As online and mobile purchases become more commonplace, travel businesses and OTAs need to invest more in personalised marketing. This means showing shoppers ads that are based on what they have been looking at and displaying recommendations that may complement what they have already purchased. This adds another element of discovery and up to 70% of online shoppers who are served ads in this way go on to view products they had not looked at previously. Retailers who get this right will be able to drive online conversions very effectively,” added Villani.

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post on travel preferences in the Asia Pacific region

*The research process for this study utilises a top-down central research model with bottom-up intelligence to present a comprehensive and accurate picture of the macro-economic landscape and travel industry in Australia, mainland China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam. Both secondary research and primary research are employed in this study. The former includes desk research on publicly available information (such as official statistics, trade press); whilst the latter includes online consumer survey and trade interview discussions with stakeholders in the industry (such as travel agencies, trade associations). Trade data and information collected, where applicable, is validated and cross-checked through both primary and secondary research, with no reliance on any single source to ensure reliability and eliminate bias. The consumer survey was conducted in February 2017 across all 9 markets.

posted from Bloggeroid

Guangzhou companies sign LoIs with Singapore entities

Source: Guangzhou Municipal Government. Cai.

The Guangzhou municipal government has hosted a roadshow in Singapore to discuss openness, innovation and collaboration between the two commercial hubs. Two letters of intent (LoI) were signed, between the Sino-Singapore International Joint Research Institute and Chinese Academy of Sciences Holdings Company,  and between Guangzhou Gas Group, Guangzhou Port Group and industrial group Royal Golden Eagle.

Guangzhou Vice Mayor, Cai Chaolin, who is also Party Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Nansha District Committee, and Director General of the Administrative Committee of the Nansha Development District (Nansha Free Trade Zone), said Guangzhou and Singapore share many similarities, including city scale, cultural background, languages.  “What’s more, our forward-thinking outlook and cooperation through the years have enabled us to pursue meaningful projects together that enrich our economies. What lies ahead is exciting, and we look forward to more collaborations,” he said.

Guangzhou is one of the most important business centres in China and a gateway to the outside world.  In the last five years, Guangzhou’s GDP saw an average increase of 10.1%  with the local service industry’s growth approaching that of developed economies, representing 66.77% of total GDP in 2016. Guangzhou has continued to increase its investment in advancing technologies and talent, and to improve the convenience, effectiveness and efficiency of trade facilitation and services. As a result, the relationship with, and opportunities for, Singapore in the region have been further expanded.

In recent years, Guangzhou has introduced a series of policies to encourage even more innovation in the region, and is providing on-going support for enterprises, startups and talent. Guangzhou also continues to further optimise the local business environment and reduce the burden on foreign enterprises through governmental self-reforms, including the streamlining of administrative examinations and approval permissions.

To develop a more business-friendly environment, Guangzhou has reduced administrative fees, set up government funds, implemented policies to lower insurance rates, and continues to provide incentives for foreign corporations.

“With more than 2,230 years of history, we are surely an ancient city,” said Vice Mayor Cai. “But today, all eyes are on the future and what tremendous things are still to come for the region.”

IIA tackles internal audit challenges in a digital age

The fifth annual Public Sector Internal Audit (PSIA) Conference in Singapore, themed Rising to the Challenges of the Future, focused on change and transformation of the economy.

According to the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), which organised the PSIA, organisations are now facing more challenges in the world of digitisation, cybercrime and technological disruptions. Internal audit therefore becomes more crucial for the enhancement of good public or private sector governance.

To be effective in providing independent assurance, internal auditors therefore need to innovate and equip themselves with new capabilities. This is to keep pace with the changes in the external and internal environments and be able to respond to the new challenges.

Tan Boon Yen, President of IIA, said: “As Singapore continues to evolve to be a SMART nation, the public sector internal auditors need to rise to the challenges of technology innovations, cyber security and big data. To create value and effectively support their organisations to achieve their strategies, goals and initiatives, they need to revolutionise the way they do the audits and leverage on technology.  Stakeholders’ concerns are expected to rise beyond governance, risk and controls.”

The Committee of Future Economy (CFE) has outlined the strategies for the transformation of the internal audit profession. These entail “acquiring and utilising deep skills” and “building strong digital capabilities”. The Working Group on Legal and Accounting Services of the CFE also released its recommendations on strengthening Singapore as a global leader for both the legal and accounting services. Internal audit has been identified as a high growth area within the accounting sector.

The IIA Singapore is an organisation dedicated to the advancement and development of the internal audit profession.

posted from Bloggeroid

Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain adds Presidential Villa

Source: Six Senses. Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain resort.

Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain is situated near the UNESCO World Heritage & Natural Cultural site of Dujiangyan, also known as the homeland of the giant pandas.

Drawing on the region’s roots as the birthplace of Taoism Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain is launching a Presidential Villa that embodies Taoist elements of achieving harmony with nature and the vision of reconnection and self-development.

At the heart of the resort, the Presidential Villa is in close proximity to the main dining and entertainment areas, while surrounded by unobstructed views of the Qing Cheng mountains. The 845 sq m two-storey villa houses four individual suites ranging from 80 to 110 sq m as well as one valet room to accommodate large groups or groups travelling together. Each referring to a Taoist philosophy, the four suites are named 上善 (good), 自然 (nature), 天合 (harmony), and 仁和(benevolence).

The design aesthetics of the Presidential Villa reflects Six Senses’ commitment to sustainable living and preserving heritage and culture. Chinese-inspired, locally made furniture is used, complemented by panelled walls with classic rattan fittings and accents. A collection of naturally-lit, multifunctional areas include a living room, library, dining room (seating up to 10 people), fully-equipped kitchen and spa treatment room. Leisure facilities include a private cinema and an 80 sq m heated outdoor swimming pool with jacuzzi, as well as a round-the-clock butler service.

Interested?

Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain
2, Dong Ruan Road
Qingcheng Mountain Town
Dujiangyan, Chengdu,
Sichuan, 611844
China 
Call +86 28 8728 9871 with enquiries

Emaar guests can tailor their experience with new apps

Source: Emaar. Emaar introduces tailored apps integrated with the back end to enhance customer experience. 

• Address Hotels + Resorts, Vida Hotels and Resorts, Palace Downtown and Manzil Downtown Apps tailored on their guest profiles & preferences are now live; Rove Hotels App to go live shortly

• Integrated with backend systems to offer management teams crucial real time data for enhancing guest experience

The Emaar Hospitality Group has launched five native apps in line with its mobile-first approach and its ambition to be an industry leader in using technology to enhance the guest experience. The apps focus on individual hotels under the group as opposed to conventional industry practices, and assure end-to-end digital connectivity with the hotel for guests over their mobile phones. 

The introduction of the new apps is in line with the new Emaar digital strategy of driving enhanced customer experiences, and are part of a series of other digital initiatives being implemented by Emaar Hospitality Group. They draw on the tremendous potential offered by the increased Internet and smartphone penetration in the region. They are also aligned with the aspirations of the region’s 200 million youth population, who form the new generation of travellers and entrepreneurs.

Emaar Hospitality Group selected Go Find It Technologies as its partner in developing the apps. In the first phase of the digital transformation across the Group, apps have been developed for Address Hotels + Resorts, Vida Hotels and Resorts, Rove Hotels, Palace Downtown and Manzil Downtown, taking into consideration the unique guest profiles and preferences of the hotel brands and individual hotels.

Olivier Harnisch, CEO, Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “This is truly historic as we pioneer a new digital trend for the hospitality sector. Now our guests have all the connectivity and convenience they need for a memorable experience at our hotels right at their fingertips.

“The five apps are industry-defining, as they take into consideration the unique customer requirements of our three hotel brands. They will enable our guests to access a host of services on their mobile phones, while also providing us with real time data that will help us deliver value-added services to meet and exceed their expectations.”

The five apps are integrated with the hotels’ reservation systems, offer guests access to city guides, are social media-friendly and push relevant information such as an invitation to join the U By Emaar loyalty programme, special offers, relevant event information and much more.

The content offered within the apps includes professionally-produced city guides highlighting what is happening in and around the city on a daily basis. This regularly-updated information will account for around 30% of the content within each app.

Additionally, individual hotels will create their own content to engage with guests in a meaningful way while making it easier for marketers to highlight relevant events as well as special offers across stays, dining, spa and more. 

Interested?

Address Hotels + Resorts, Vida Hotels and Resorts, Palace Downtown, and Manzil Downtown Apps on iOS and Android are available for download on the App Store and Google Play; the Rove Hotels App will be available soon.

Bangkok is the most-visited destination in Asia Pacific

Source: Mastercard. Report cover.

While Bangkok, Thailand remains the most-visited destination in the Asia Pacific region, Singapore continues to lead the Thai capital in total visitor expenditure, according to the latest findings from the Mastercard Asia Pacific Destinations Index 2017*.

Singapore has tracked a 18% leap in visitor spend over 2015 and 2016. One of only five destinations of the top 20 by total expenditure to reach a minimum spend of US$200 per day, Singapore attracted the highest spending visitors at US$254 per day, followed by Beijing, mainland China (US$242), Shanghai, China (US$234), Hong Kong (US$211) and Taipei, Taiwan (US$208).

Half of the top 20 most-visited destinations in Asia Pacific saw more than 10% growth in international overnight arrivals from 2015 to 2016. Destinations that benefitted most from this growth include Northeast Asian and Southeast Asian markets – Seoul, Korea (32.7%), Osaka, Japan (23.8%), Bali, Indonesia (22.5%), Tokyo, Japan (22.2%), Hokkaido, Japan (21.9%), Chiba, Japan (21.5%) and Pattaya, Thailand (20.6%).

This growth provides significant opportunities which governments, tourism bodies, and merchants can benefit from, including greater economic, cultural and infrastructural development.

Overall, overnight arrivals** to the 171 Asia Pacific destinations in 2016 stood at 339.2 million (9.8% CAGR from 2009 to 2016), led by Bangkok which tracked 19.3 million visitors. Singapore (13.1 million) came in second place, followed by Tokyo (12.6 million), Seoul (12.4 million) and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (11.3 million). China stands as Asia Pacific’s most avid outbound travel market, having contributed 55 million international overnight visitors to the region last year or 16.2% of the total.

The top ten Asia Pacific destinations ranked by international overnight arrivals:

1. Bangkok – 19.3 million

2. Singapore – 13.1 million

3. Tokyo – 12.6 million

4. Seoul – 12.4 million

5. Kuala Lumpur – 11.3 million

6. Phuket, Thailand – 9.1 million

7. Hong Kong – 8.9 million

8. Pattaya – 8.1 million

9. Osaka – 7.4 million

10. Taipei – 7.4 million

Visitors to Asia Pacific destinations are travelling to the region more, and doing so for longer periods. In 2016, visitors to the region stayed for a total of 1,768.7 million nights, an 8.1% CAGR from 1,023.1 million nights in 2009. Bangkok took the lead with 87.6 million nights, while Sydney came in second place with 87.5 million, followed by Kuala Lumpur at 76.7 million.

In particular, Sydney’s second-place position is especially outstanding compared to its number of overnight arrivals. Taking 20th place in the latter ranking, Sydney’s ratio of average number nights stayed versus number of overnight arrivals is shared by fellow Australian destinations Melbourne and Brisbane on the Index. As many tourists have to travel a distance to reach Australia, they are more likely to stay for longer periods to make their journey worthwhile.

The top ten Asia Pacific destinations ranked by total nights stayed:

1. Bangkok – 87.6 million

2. Sydney – 87.5 million

3. Kuala Lumpur – 76.7 million

4. Tokyo – 74.3 million

5. Melbourne – 62.9 million

6. Bali, Indonesia – 62.4 million

7. Singapore – 60.7 million

8. Seoul – 56.0 million

9. Brisbane – 51.8 million

10. Taipei – 47.8 million

Spurred by Asia Pacific’s burgeoning middle class, overall tourism expenditure in the region jumped from US$141.5 billion in 2009 to US$244.9 billion in 2016, an 8.2% CAGR Moreover, Asia Pacific’s top 20 source markets contributed US$201.5 billion to the region’s tourism revenues in 2016.

The mass of tourists from Northeast Asia have helped to boost these earnings. Key findings from the Index revealed China (17.7%) and South Korea (8.8%) as the largest contributors to tourism expenditure in Asia Pacific. In fact, these two markets were also top source markets for Singapore (China visitors were the No. 1 tourist segment), Bangkok (China  No. 1) and Tokyo (Korea No. 1, China No. 2), the region’s leading destinations by visitor expenditure. As renowned global shopping and dining locales, they are popular amongst affluent Chinese and South Korean tourists seeking new shopping or culinary experiences.

The top ten Asia Pacific destinations ranked by expenditure:

1. Singapore – US$15.4 billion

2. Bangkok – US$12.7 billion

3. Tokyo – US$11.1 billion

4. Taipei – US$9.9 billion

5. Seoul – US$9.4 billion

6. Bali – US$8.7 billion

7. Phuket – US$8.3 billion

8. Kuala Lumpur – US$7.3 billion

9. Sydney – US$6.8 billion

10. Hong Kong– US$6.6 billion

Interested?

Download the Mastercard Asia Pacific Destinations Index 2017 report

*The Mastercard Asia Pacific Destinations Index is an offshoot of Mastercard’s annual Global Destination Cities Index. In recent years, Asia Pacific cities have increasingly dominated the fastest growing and most visited destinations in the world. According to the 2016 Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index, five of the ten most visited cities in the world were in Asia Pacific.

The Asia Pacific Destinations Index takes a more in-depth, focused look at these tourism trends, ranking 171 destinations, including island resorts as well as towns and cities across the region, in terms of the total number of international overnight arrivals; cross-border spending; and the total number of nights spent at each destination. These 171 destinations are drawn from 22 countries across Asia Pacific and represent 90% of all international overnight arrivals within the region.

Public data is used in deriving the international overnight visitor arrivals and their cross-border spending in each of the destinations, using custom-made algorithms. This Index and the accompanying reports are not based on Mastercard volumes or transactional data.

*Overnight visitors stay at least one night in the destination country.

Mastercard becomes preferred card partner at Changi Airport, Takashimaya Shopping Centre

Mastercard is now the preferred card partner for Singapore's Changi Airport (CAG), as well as at shopping destination Takashimaya Shopping Centre, fondly known locally as "Taka". The two landmark partnerships provide travellers and shoppers in Singapore with an enhanced selection of dining, shopping and lifestyle experiences.

“Our goal is to ensure that all our travelling, visiting and local cardholders have access to a stellar line-up of Mastercard rewards and benefits. From purchasing gifts and souvenirs at Changi Airport to buying a new outfit or dining at selected restaurants at Takashimaya Shopping Centre, we would like to provide our cardholders with incredible deals, compelling offers and rewards for their loyalty,” said Deborah Heng, Country Manager, Mastercard Singapore.

James Fong, Changi Airport Group’s VP, Landside Concessions, added, “We are delighted to embark on this partnership with Mastercard, which has helped us to create even more value for our visitors and travelers. With an exciting pipeline of exclusive events and promotions curated for Mastercard cardholders, shoppers and diners at Changi Airport will certainly be in for a treat. We look forward to continue working closely with Mastercard to strengthen our value proposition of delivering a rewarding Changi Experience to all our customers.”

Shuichi Hidaka, GM, Shopping Centre Management, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, said, “We are dedicated to providing world-class services and products to all our customers. This partnership with Mastercard will enable us to deliver even more value to our shoppers. We are committed to strengthening our partnership network to foster stronger and more engaging relationships with our customers.”

As the preferred card partner for Changi Airport, both overseas (business and/or leisure travelers) and local cardholders will have access to the benefits and rewards. The partnership also allows for all Mastercard cardholders to enjoy benefits for in-airport promotions and events if they sign up for the Changi Rewards membership programme.

All Mastercard holders are eligible to save up to 20% at participating outlets in Terminals 1, 2 and 3 (transit and public areas). All Changi Rewards Members who spend S$240 and over with Mastercard are eligible to redeem a pair of S.E.A. Aquarium one-day tickets (worth S$68) when they shop on the last weekend (Friday and Saturday) of every month. Retail outlets at Changi feature extended shopping hours till 11pm daily all year round. Shops elsewhere in Singapore typically close from 9pm to 10.30pm.

Further, all Mastercard cardholders who spend S$25 in a single same-day receipt at participating restaurants or cafes in Changi Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3, can enjoy an hour of free parking on weekdays from 12pm to 3pm or 6pm to 9pm. 

As the official preferred card partner for Takashimaya Shopping Centre, tourists shopping with Mastercard cards can enjoy up to 15% off at all participating specialty stores, including Books Kinokuniya, Sephora and Pedro.

Interested?

Mastercard is also running promotions with Fiesta On A Great Street along Orchard Road, Singapore till 21 May. Takashimaya Shopping Centre is one of the participating malls

Sophos protects servers from ransomware

Sophos, a network and endpoint security provider, has announced that its anti-ransomware CryptoGuard technology is now available with Sophos Server Protection products. With this optimisation, Sophos Server Protection now has signatureless detection capabilities to combat ransomware on servers - similar to Sophos Intercept X for endpoints.

Sophos launched Sophos Intercept X with CryptoGuard in September 2016. It stops the spontaneous encryption of data by ransomware within seconds of detection.

By adding CryptoGuard to server security, Sophos is closing a critical gap by preventing ransomware attacks that could come in through rogue, guest or remote access users or other weaknesses in a company’s network. For example, if a company allows bring-your-own laptops on the network, remote access for employees or is victimised by an insider cyber threat, servers become highly susceptible to ransomware. Additionally, network shares on servers are high-value targets as they contain proprietary financials, personally identifiable information and other key data, and should be protected as such.

“Servers are considered the jackpot for cybercriminals, since they can store confidential corporate and employee information, medical records with social security numbers or private customer documents. It would be devastating for organisations to lose this kind of sensitive data to ransomware,” said Dan Schiappa, Senior VP and GM of Sophos’ Enduser and Network Security Groups.

“Most organisations back up their data, but recovery from a backup is not always easy. Businesses, schools or hospitals do not want the liability, hassle and operational disruption required to restore from a backup. Anti-ransomware technology is a critical layer for the protection and ongoing accessibility of the information that resides on servers."

Interested?

Pricing for the complete range of Sophos Server Protection products is available from authorised Sophos Partners worldwide.

posted from Bloggeroid

Malaysia to enjoy eatigo dining discounts

Source: eatigo. From left: Michael Cluzel, Co-founder & CEO of eatigo International and Pumin Yuvacharuskul (Louis), Co-founder & CEO Thailand of eatigo International at the launch of eatigo Malaysia.

The Southeast Asian restaurant reservation platform eatigo is now officially available to users in Malaysia. The platform enables users to make reservations at more than 1,000 restaurants on the eatigo app. Users also get to enjoy 50% off at selected timeslots.

Whether it is dinner at TEMPTations, Renaissance Hotel, or something more casual at TGI Fridays, eatigo has discounts at any time, any day. There is no need to pay up front or use a credit card - users ony need to make a reservation on eatigo to enjoy reduced prices on their meals.

Michael Cluzel, eatigo co-founder and CEO said, “After great success in both Thailand and Singapore, where we’ve seated over 4 million diners since our inception, we’re excited to continue extending eatigo’s reach in Southeast Asia."

The dining reservation platform is currently available in Bangkok, Pattaya, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, and more Southeast Asian destinations are planned.

Supported by investor, TripAdvisor, the platform currently boasts over 1 million installs across the region since its inception.

“Eatigo is always looking to add more quality dining places to the list, and we believe having a good mix of affordable and upscale options, in addition to the wide variety of cuisines on offer, will keep users coming back to the app for more,” said Cluzel.

posted from Bloggeroid

Accredited Singapore investors can go digital with Jachin Capital

• Jachin Capital enables direct investment in stocks in different countries with iAdvisor

• Twenty-eight portfolios representing diverse investment themes contain securities listed in different countries 

• In June 2015 a portfolio of 14 SGX-listed real estate investment trusts (REITS) and property stocks was successfully executed on iAdvisor

Jachin Capital, an independent fund manager in Singapore, has received a Capital Markets Services Licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. With the licence, Jachin Capital can now offer its digital investing platform – iAdvisor – to all accredited investors in Singapore. The company offers investment management solutions on a discretionary and nondiscretionary basis to accredited investors and private family offices based in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Starting from an investment theme or idea, Jachin Capital constructs portfolios based on a transparent rules-based framework. The portfolios are regularly reviewed and rebalanced.  For example, an investor can decide that the Chinese online consumer represents the wave of the future, choose to nvest in Jachin's China Online US portfolio and receive one-click access to investing in a basket of 20 US-listed Internet-related stocks domiciled in China, such as Alibaba and Baidu. 

Currently, iAdvisor boasts 28 portfolios with themes ranging from banking to security, robotics and driverless cars. The underlying baskets for each theme are stocks listed in five countries. This platform has been used by Jachin Capital for almost two years to manage its clients’ investments and has proven to be robust. Jachin Capital’s SMART Real Estate Singapore portfolio presently gives an annual dividend yield of 5% for example. 

Joyce Woo, founder and CEO of Jachin Capital said: “We are pleased that the Monetary Authority of Singapore has approved our application for a Capital Markets Services Licence to offer our iAdvisor platform in Singapore. We started our journey in 2014 with the belief that investors should have an efficient way of investing directly in the underlying stocks when they want to put their money into an investment idea. We also believe that investors should be empowered by knowledge. Thus, iAdvisor provides investors with 24x7 access to everything they need to know about their portfolios such as risk indicators, performance metrics and P&L*. 

“We are also glad to contribute to Singapore’s exciting, evolving fintech sector,’’ added Woo, who has extensive experience in private banking. iAdvisor was developed in collaboration with Hong Kong-based B2B fintech firm Quantifeed. Quantifeed provides digital wealth management solutions in Asia Pacific, with clients in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. 

Quantifeed CEO and co-founder Alex Ypsilanti, said: “Wealth management is rapidly progressing towards a more digital future and Quantifeed is at the forefront of this movement. Jachin Capital uses our technology and portfolio expertise to provide an engaging and personalised online investment experience to customers. Our partnership enables Jachin Capital to deliver wealth management at an affordable price and be a digital leader in the market.”

With iAdvisor:

 Investors can choose the type of portfolios they want to invest in 

 Expert Management Portfolios are constructed by Jachin Capital based on a transparent rules-based framework and regularly reviewed and rebalanced 

 At the click of a button, investors can invest in the underlying securities that make up the portfolio  Investors know which securities they have invested in and can monitor the risk and performance of the portfolio anytime, anywhere and on any device 

 There are affordable minimum investment thresholds and fees 

*Profit and loss.

Orchard Road's first-ever lifestyle and shopping campaign brings together everything quintessential Orchard Road in 2017

Source: ORBA. Banner, Fiesta On A Great Street, a first-ever Orchard Road promotion for 2017 that brings together dining, staycations, and leisure promotions.

Orchard Road, one of the most recognised shopping streets in Asia, has launched its first-ever lifestyle and shopping campaign, Fiesta On A Great Street, which will run till 21 May 2017. The event is organised by Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA), the place manager for the premium shopping precinct in Singapore, and supported by official card Mastercard. Participating malls include 313@somerset, Forum The Shopping Mall, Takashimaya Shopping Centre/Ngee Ann City, Orchard Central, Paragon, Scotts Square and Wisma Atria.

The celebration of shopping, dining and play-and-stay will involve malls and hotels along Orchard Road. Fiesta On A Great Street features popup lifestyle events, shopping promotions and dining deals, only available along Orchard Road. Visitors to Orchard Road can enjoy dining, beauty, fashion, wellness and hotel staycation deals during the campaign.

“As one of the most famous shopping streets in the region, we constantly strive to ensure that the shopping experience on Orchard Road is a rewarding one too, and this time, together with the support of our stakeholders and official card Mastercard, the promotion programme in Fiesta On A Great Street is designed with a wider range of dining, fashion, beauty, hotels’ staycation deals and more, catering to every discerning shopper of any budget on Orchard Road,” said Steven Goh, Executive Director, ORBA.

Exclusive Mastercard shopping privileges S$30 worth of shopping vouchers for the first shoppers to spend S$300 nett to their Mastercard credit/debit cards at participating malls on Orchard Road. The promotion is limited to the first 200 Mastercard cardholders per week per mall from 21 April to 27 April 2017 and from 28 April to 4 May. The promotion will be offered on a while-stocks-last basis for the next two weeks, from 5 May to 21 May 2017.

Deals in-store for Mastercard cardholders at participating malls along Orchard include wellness treatments such as LPG Endermospa Total Care at S$88 (usual price S$300) at Ngee Ann City. Fashion buy highlights include 50% off Converse apparel and accessories with any purchase of footwear, 10% off regular-priced items from agnès b and more. Discounted high tea buffets, one-for-one buffets and other dining offers will also be available along Orchard Road.

Book Hotel Jen orchardgateway, Hotel Jen Tanglin and Regent Hotel up to 21 May with Mastercard to enjoy late checkout, 15% off weekend rates and even complimentary upgrades.

With the Masterpass by Mastercard X ComfortDelGro Taxis Promotion visitors to Orchard Road can also enjoy S$5 off taxi fares with the promo code ORCHARD when riding with ComfortDelGro via the Taxi Booking App with the fares paid through Mastercard payment to and from seven participating malls: 313@somerset, Forum The Shopping Mall, Orchard Central, Paragon, Scotts Square, Takashimaya Shopping Centre/Ngee Ann City and Wisma Atria. The promotion is valid on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and capped at the first 500 eligible rides transacted every Friday to Saturday, up to 21 May.

Stand a chance to win shopping vouchers in the Shop, Dine & Win Draw with every S$50 spent at participating malls. Charge purchases to a Mastercard card and get triple the chance of winning.

Interested?

Other terms and conditions may apply.

Hashtags: #LeaveBoringBehind, #FiestaOnAGreatStreet, #告别沉闷

posted from Bloggeroid

Singapore takes steps to make esports pay

Source: SCOGA. From left: Matthias Beyer, Partnerships Lead, Southeast Asia at Twitch, Dennis Ooi, Honorary Secretary of (Singapore) Cybersports & Online Gaming Association (SCOGA), Kelvin Tan, President and Co-Founder of SCOGA, Nicholas Khoo, Chairman and Co-Founder of SCOGA, Raiford Cockfield III, Director of APAC Partnerships at Twitch, and Dr Charles Ling, COO, Informatics Education.

With esports exploding in popularity around the world, the (Singapore) Cybersports & OnlinGaming Association (SCOGA) has signed new agreements to expand the esports field for Singapore’s gaming community. The move is designed to identify and train gamers similar to how professional athletes are selected and nurtured, while developing more career opportunities for locals. There are competitive and broadcast elements to esports which do not exist in gaming - esports players compete for hard cash, and share their gameplay live with the world. This gameplay can also be monetised.

Khoo (left) and Dr Ling (right) signing the MoU with David Chua,CEO  of the National Youth Council in the background as a witness.

One of the agreements is with the Informatics Academy to launch an Esports Academy. Informatics, being one of the leaders in IT education, sees an opportunity in the esports industry and believes that good resource and management can help Singapore reap the benefits efficiently.

Kelvin Tan, President and Co-founder of SCOGA, which turns 10 this year said: “In our Esports Academy, we use competitive video games to teach skills such as leadership, team work and communications. We hope that this prepares them for the jobs of the future and help them achieve their aspirations. Recently, one of our academy trainees, Justin Bersamin drew more than 4,000 total views per session while streaming. Daryl Koh as known as iceiceice, the top Singaporean earner in esports has won over US$1 million in prize money.*”

The Esports Academy, supported by the National Youth Council, aims to build a career path for Singapore gaming enthusiasts by providing training to more than 2,000 Singapore youths in various aspects of esports, peak performance and soft skills. It will engage more than 50,000 youths initially through game festivals, events and academy programmes. 

Dr Charles Ling, Chief Operating Officer of Informatics Education said that Informatics is keen to collaborate with SCOGA in ways that nurture gamers while ensuring that youth do not miss out on academic pursuits. "We have gaming and animation tertiary education for students up to bachelors' degree level," he said. "While the kids are training themselves to be professional gamers there is an opportunity to see it from the other side, how the game is developed."

SCOGA, Informatics and Twitch, the global social video platform and community of choice for gamers and creators, point out that  just as in sports, the industry involves more than the players themselves. There are other careers in esports to aspire to in the ecosystem, such as becoming sportscasters and presenters, trainers and coaches for esports. Gamers can also consider building a career in coding or other aspects of game design.

Twitch, which attracts close to 10 million visitors from around the world each day, said each visitor spends an average of 106 minutes watching the platform daily. SCOGA and Twitch will co-create a talent development programme to fast track trainees to become Twitch Partners. Twitch Partners are able to monetise their content, earning a share of the revenue generated from all broadcasts from their channels. By enabling paid channel subscriptions, Partners can earn even more money from the same stream. 

Twitch will also create opportunities on its platform for talent development programme graduates and provide support for the National Esports League which is to be launched in the coming weeks. Raiford Cockfield III, Director of APAC Partnerships at Twitch said, “We are looking to support the region by investing in the Singaporean esports scene and by providing local content creators with the opportunity to make a living on our platform. The landscape is very competitive, but we see great potential in the local community and are really looking forward to working with serious local partners.”

Cockfield III noted that esports in the next couple of years could be a US$1 billion business with as many as 200 million viewers tuning in to watch those competing. According to Twitch, the opportunity in China was worth US$82 million in 2016, and US$112 million by 2019. In Korea, that opportunity is valued at US$7.4 million by 2019, up from US$8.2 million in 2016.

"Twitch is an important part of that shift from traditional media onto online streaming platforms," he said. "Seventy-two percent of esports fans feel Twitch is important to esports. We are already an important member of that crowd."

Cockfield III said Singapore has the right structure to really grow and lead esports in this region. "The Singapore network is already built for esports. It's built for Twitch. We already have servers in Singapore. We've already invested in Singapore and we believe it is the hub for Southeast Asia," he said. "Singapore is a breeding ground for more programmes in the future."

Cockfield III added that working with SCOGA is the best way to get involved locally. He said: "We are all about the community growing, period, we believe it's the best place and we are willing to compete."

Twitch plans to bring in professionals from overseas to teach Singapore Twitch users, from how to use supporting tools to taking advantage of social media, Cockfield III said.

Nicholas Khoo, Chairman and Co-Founder, SCOGA, shared that SCOGA has hosted more than 2 million gamers since its inception in 2008, and the interest continues with over 350 youths trained to date at the already soft-launched Esports Academy.

SCOGA will also collaborate with the NUS EI Lab and Emosis to test a brainwave-sensing wearable headband that can detect and monitor the user's anxiety levels in real time. Emosis is a startup that develops tech-related products for wellness and rehabilitation. It is working towards the development of a wireless anxiety management headband that both general consumers and sports professionals can wear to raise their competitive performance through anxiety management. 

Assistant Professor Raye Yeow, Head of EI Lab said allowing professional gamers to monitor their anxiety state in real-time, will give them greater awareness of their tension levels during gameplay. "This is expected to improve their performance, particularly in response to anxiety-inducing in-game events," he said.

Benjamin Pommeraud, GM - Singapore & Malaysia at Riot Games, developer of the highly popular League of Legends game, said: “It is fantastic to see SCOGA and the National Youth Council recognise the global impact of esports and nurture talented gamers in Singapore through a structured training curriculum.”

SCOGA is also in discussions with Spanish football club Valencia Club de Fútbol (VCF) to tap on their knowledge and experience of running a professional sports organisation and youth academy. VCF already has a Singaporean connection as Singapore billionaire Peter Lim has a controlling stake in the club. VCF also announced partnerships with a Singapore football club last year. 

VCF is no stranger to esports. It is the first club in the Spanish first division to have a dedicated esports section participating in various popular games. The collaboration will also see Singaporean gamers visiting VCF’s facilities and speaking with VCF staff involved in football training and esports programmes.

A good esports player can make as much as seven figures in revenue (US dollars) on Twitch. The top-earning 100 esports players today include people from Pakistan (no. 3), Australia, China, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. 

*Editor's note: Singapore player iceiceice is rated as no. 24 in the world in terms of earnings, so his wins are very high by global standards. According to the same site, the highest all-time earner took home over US$2.7 million. The figures are amounts accumulated over three years (2014 to 2016), rather than an annual amount, which may not work out to very much money when averaged out per month. In the list of top 100 Singapore esports earners, the top 100th player in Singapore received under US$3,000 - nothing to sneeze at, but certainly a far cry from $1 million. These figures however exclude monthly base earnings, which could be in the six digits.

Forecasts for esports are very positive however, and initiatives to boost the market could definitely develop it to the point where esports professionals can earn much more money. Deloitte Global predicts that esports will generate global revenues of US$500 million in 2016, up 25% from about US$400 million in 2015, and will likely have an audience of regular and occasional viewers of close to 150 million people. 

Interested?

Esports Academy will be offering classes officially from May. Khoo of SCOGA said that the association is in the beginning stages of working out a financially sustainable model. At present the fees have been under S$50 for up to eight hours of training.

The first national league will be available between May and July.

Read the Deloitte Global forecast for esports

Check out TechTrade Asia's blog post on esports in Malaysia

Mastercard launches debit card with EMV chip with BOC

Mastercard has teamed up with long-term partner Bank of China to launch the Great Wall International Debit Card, China’s first-ever cross-border, multi-currency debit card with an EMV chip.

This pioneering product has been designed to address key pain points for diverse consumer segments – particularly those who travel, study, or shop overseas – and presents a unique offering in China’s debit card market, with access to Mastercard’s global benefits.

Chinese outbound travel and cross-border e-commerce has grown rapidly in recent years, driving demand for payment products that support international purchases. Yet many consumers still face barriers to owning an international credit card, such as freelance workers, students studying outside of China, senior citizens, or those who have to travel at short notice. Some credit card holders can also face certain limitations, such as credit line restrictions overseas and high charges on currency conversions.

Meanwhile, debit cards are becoming increasingly popular, representing 70% of all payment cards and rising, according to consulting firm Retail Banking Research (RBR). This is being driven in part by the lower fees, easier application process, and flexible spending limits associated with debit cards. However, most traditional debit card products in China offer limited functionality, and cannot cater to the full breadth of consumer needs.

Addressing this trend and the challenges Chinese consumers face, Mastercard and the Bank of China have designed the new Great Wall International Debit Card to resolve diverse consumer pain points. For instance, the streamlined application process and more flexible eligibility enables people who are usually excluded from owning credit cards to obtain the card quickly, requiring only a valid form of identification. The card also allows consumers to spend freely according to the funds available in their bank account, which will be appreciated by consumers who are usually restrained by credit limits.

Adding to the product’s differentiation from all other debit cards on the market, cardholders will enjoy exclusive privileges covering travel, dining, and leisure experiences included in Mastercard’s Priceless Cities programme, as well as discounts on overseas shopping and study. Cardholders also enjoy zero conversion charges on 19 foreign currencies, low overseas cash withdrawal fees, and an exchange rate lock function that secures the most favourable rates.

Meanwhile, Mastercard’s EMV chip technology, password protection and an SMS notification service offer consumers peace of mind with the highest level of security on cross-border transactions.

“As China’s most international and diversified banking institution, Bank of China has a long history of leveraging its advantages to build an exclusive product portfolio with unique features and benefits,” said Yang Yimin, GM, Personal Finance, Bank of China. “The Great Wall International Debit Card we are issuing in partnership with Mastercard supports multiple currencies and caters to a variety of unmet consumer needs. At the same time, this product further strengthens our industry-leading foreign currency and cross-border commerce business.”

“Mastercard is committed to sharing its global resources with partners and collaborating to develop customised products that address real challenges for cardholders,” said Dennis Chang, Division President, China, Mastercard. “We are delighted to be working with Bank of China to introduce China’s first cross-border, multi-currency debit card with EMV chip, which addresses the growing global trend in debit card uptake* and meets the needs of diverse consumer segments. This pioneering innovation marks a major new milestone in our three decades of partnership with Bank of China, and we look forward to further collaborations to provide consumers with more secure, convenient, and rewarding cross-border payment solutions.”

Key advantages of the Great Wall International Debit Card include:

• Streamlined application procedure: An applicant may apply for a card at Bank of China branches by presenting his or her valid identity document
• Cash withdrawal at overseas ATMs at any time of the day; handling fee up to a maximum of US$5
• No service charge on currency conversions for overseas purchases
• Supports conversion of 19 foreign currencies
• Spending limit tied to funds available in the relevant bank account
• Yields income from interest; doubles as a foreign exchange and financial management product
• Exchange rate lock function
• Secure online shopping

*RBR Global Payment Cards Data and Forecasts to 2021

Uber for Business expands with new customer transportation solution

Uber for Business, a platform that gives companies the billing, reporting, and management technology they need to operate more efficiently, has been expanded beyond business travel to include other aspects of customer transportation.

The UberCENTRAL solution integrated into the Uber for Business platform, enables companies to curate the end-to-end customer experience by providing on-demand, door-to-door transportation to their customers.

UberCENTRAL gives organisations the ability to modernise customer transportation by:

Knowing when their customers are on their way to them, or get home safely, so they can provide a premium door-to-door experience for customers. Customers do not need to have an Uber account, or even have a smartphone to take Central rides.

Eliminating overhead costs. Central helps organisations embrace the sharing economy at scale, so they can replace inefficient and expensive transportation solutions that they have today, like shuttles or car services.

Simplifying reporting and management. With the Uber for Business platform, organisations get access to the digital billing, reporting, and management tools they need to efficiently manage their transportation operations.

Interested?

Any organisation can create an Uber for Business account and start transforming their customer experience with UberCENTRAL.

posted from Bloggeroid

Shopee kicks off mobile phone sale in Malaysia

Shopee, billed as the No 1 mobile-first marketplace in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, is running the Lowest Price Guaranteed Mobile Phone Sale till 27 April 2017 in Malaysia. During the campaign mobile and gadget fans can enjoy up to discounts of up to 80% on smartphone brands such as Apple, Samsung, Huawei, OPPO and Xiaomi.

“With this Lowest Price Guaranteed campaign, Shopee is strengthening its position as the go-to e-commerce platform for all mobile phone lovers out there. Should you find other e-commerce platform that sells the exact same model of mobile phone that you purchased during this campaign but at a cheaper price, we will be more than happy to compensate 120% of the price difference in cash vouchers. That is our Shopee Guarantee!” said Ian Ho, Shopee’s Regional MD.

Following the success of previous Mobile Phone campaigns before on Shopee, the Lowest Price Guaranteed Mobile Phone Sale has lined up several promotions including mobile phones priced as low as RM60. Some of the star items on sale include the:

•  Samsung Galaxy J2 Prime for RM389 (recommended retail price [RRP] RM499),
• Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML for RM539 (RRP RM589)
• Lenovo Vibe S1 Lite for RM439 (RRP RM649)
• Apple iPhone 5 for RM475 (RRP RM799) and 
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X Dual Sim for RM489 (RRP RM899).

For those who aim to keep abreast with the latest trends, two of the hottest smartphones - the Apple iPhone 7 RED 128GB and Huawei P10 Lite - will be on limited time offer of RM3,400 and RM1,099 respectively.

Ending 12pm 27 April 2017, all purchases above RM50 made on Gadgets Crazy Deals and Best Price Tech Specials will also entitle shoppers to RM8 worth of vouchers. Flash sales will run every day during the sale from 12pm to 3pm and 7pm to 10pm with deals as low as RM1 for selected items under the Mobile & Gadget category.

The Mobile & Gadget category is one of the best-selling categories on Shopee. With the Free Shipping Programme nationwide and zero commission taken from sellers, they are able to provide a much better bargain for customers; making this platform the preferred e-commerce in the country.

Moving forward, Shopee will announce the Cash-on-Delivery collaboration with Pos Malaysia on 4 May 2017 as part of its business strategy to encourage more shoppers to experiment and experience the joy of online shopping. This COD programme will kick off in the Klang Valley area first in conjunction with the upcoming Cahaya Raya bersama Shopee Campaign.

Interested?

The Shopee mobile app is available for download for free from Google Play and the App Store

Belstaff opens flagship store in Japan

Source: Belstaff.

British modern heritage brand Belstaff has opened its first flagship store in Tokyo, Japan within the 47,000 m² retail space Ginza Six. The opening of a flagship in Tokyo showcases the brand's development in Japan and its continued international expansion and dedication to retail.
The store features an initial offering of Belstaff's women's line in Tokyo and a complete menswear collection. This follows Belstaff's launch into the Japanese market in 2016, with retail spaces opened in Matsuzakaya Nagoya, Isetan Tokyo and Kobe.

Global Ambassador and Hollywood A-lister Liv Tyler graced the opening. Tyler has co-designed and produced two collections for Belstaff, and her latest Spring Summer 17 offering will be available in Ginza Six.

The Tokyo store will offer an exclusive Ginza Capsule collection of lighter-weight pieces and the first eyewear collection from the brand, all handmade with the finest materials in Japan. The 100 sq m store is the second-biggest retail space in Asia, after Macau, and the biggest retail launch since the flagship in New Bond Street, London, UK.

Source: Belstaff website. Tyler.

Gavin Haig, Belstaff CEO said: "Ginza Six, our fourth opening in Japan, shows our fast and strategic expansion in this important market. The Japanese influence on fashion and style can be felt globally, which is why we selected this great country as a key pillar market for Belstaff. The Japanese appreciation and appetite for modern heritage is key to our success here. We are also a brand that continues to innovate, with functionality as important as style. Our successful launch of the ongoing partnership with SOPHNET showcased a more street style-influenced collection, which is synonymous with Tokyo, and was well received all over the world."

"The first launch of our women's business in Japan is at Ginza Six, with Ambassador Liv Tyler attending and representing our modern Belstaff Woman. Ginza Six epitomises the new luxury by offering shoppers an experience of the highest quality. We are thrilled to be a part of this historic opening, an important milestone in the brand's 93-year history."

The flagship launches in the same month Belstaff exhibits its first Archive exhibition, Hollywood Legends in the Daikanyama Tsutaya bookstore. This is a celebration of Belstaff's iconic design which has influenced many Hollywood films, including The Aviator starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ironman, Dark Knight, I am Legend, and Twilight.

Interested?

In Asia, UK-headquartered Belstaff pieces are available through stores in Asia, select wholesale distribution worldwide and online.

Hashtag: #BELSTAFFGINZA
 

posted from Bloggeroid