Travel Alliance kicks off cross-border telco rewards programme with Grab, Trip.com

The Travel Alliance, comprising Singtel, AIS, Globe, HKT, Optus, Taiwan Mobile and Telkomsel, announced a strategic partnerships with leading ride-hailing, delivery, and travel brands Grab and Trip.com last month to enable savings for Alliance customers when they travel.

The Travel Alliance was formed in February 2024 with the aim of launching the first-of-its-kind cross-border rewards programme to enable its almost 300 million customers to enjoy a slew of incentives on transport, dining, merchandise, and lifestyle services when they travel to the markets where the operators are based. Trip.com and Grab are the first to join the ecosystem of partners to provide perks that can be seamlessly accessed by Alliance customers.

Anna Yip, CEO, International Digital Services (Designate), Singtel, said: “Digital tools and services have become an integral part of our lives and play a greater role when we travel as we rely so heavily on them to help us navigate new spaces and access experiences like tours, dining and more. We’re proud to have Grab and Trip.com join us as we build the programme to enhance our customers’ experiences and provide more value beyond connectivity.

"The Travel Alliance will continue to establish partnerships with key goods and service providers so we can continue to provide our customers with the best deals that support their evolving travel and lifestyle needs.” 

Source: Singtel. Announcing the Travel Alliance.

 

As part of the regional cross-border rewards programme, Trip.com will provide Travel Alliance customers with best-in-market concessions of 10% and 6% off hotel and flight bookings respectively. Eligible Alliance customers will also enjoy an instant upgrade to Trip.com’s top tier Diamond status and receive exclusive perks such as free access to airport VIP lounges and car model upgrades for airport transfers.

“As a customer-focused company, Trip.com is delighted to partner with the alliance of seven telcos to bring exceptional travel opportunities to their users across the Asia Pacific region. This collaboration reflects our commitment to making travel more accessible and rewarding by leveraging innovative partnerships. By combining the convenience of our platform with exclusive discounts for the telco customers, we aim to inspire more people to plan the perfect trip for a better world,” added Han Feng, Head of Marketing, Trip.com. 

The Travel Alliance and Grab will work together to create exclusive deals and discounts for Alliance customers, including a special Grab Tourist Pack, to be launched in early 2025. 

“With our presence in over 700 cities across 8 countries in Southeast Asia, Grab believes we can be the one app travellers need for hailing rides, ordering food, dining out or getting emergency supplies delivered to their doorstep. We are pleased to partner the Travel Alliance to support the travel needs of their vast combined customer base,” said Chuck Kim, MD, Group Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, Grab. 

Pratthana Leelapanang, Chief Consumer Business Officer at AIS, stated: "We are excited by the successful collaboration between major Asian telecom providers. This partnership allows AIS to offer exceptional travel experiences to its customers abroad. Leveraging familiar and convenient services like Trip.com and Grab, along with the additional benefits from The Travel Alliance, AIS is confident this initiative will significantly enhance customer convenience while travelling, fulfilling its commitment to exceptional service.” 

Monita Leung, CEO of Digital Ventures at HKT, said: "The Club, our loyalty platform within the HKT ecosystem, is committed to enriching the cross-border travel experience for our customers. We're thrilled to join hands with leading telcos of the Alliance and international brands, like Trip.com and Grab, to offer delightful benefits and travel opportunities across the region. 

"Our travel agency, Club Travel, also provides a comprehensive range of travel services, including flights, accommodation, events and ticketing, to offer bespoke unforgettable journeys for our valued travellers." 

“We are always seeking bold, innovative ways to elevate our customers’ experiences, wherever they are. This partnership empowers our customers to travel smarter and more affordably, unlocking exclusive rewards that enhance convenience and connectivity. With Globe, every journey becomes seamless and truly rewarding,” said Darius Delgado, Chief Commercial Officer, Globe Telecom. 

Tony Lin, Chief Business Officer of the Consumer Business at Taiwan Mobile, stated that in this tech-savvy era, travellers seek personalised and convenient travel experiences. "With a user-centric approach, Taiwan Mobile strategically partners with renowned global travel brands to provide seamless services for programme members, encompassing everything from their doorstep and airports to their destinations and attractions, creating rich and diverse travel reward experiences. The Telecom Cross-Border Rewards Programme will continue to expand its partnerships, building a transnational rewards ecosystem that allows both business and leisure travelers to easily accumulate points and flexibly redeem rewards. 

"Looking ahead, Taiwan Mobile will continue to embody its Open Possible brand philosophy, combining its Telco+Tech strategy with global partners to jointly create a smarter and more convenient travel ecosystem," he said. 

Telkomsel’s CMO Derrick Heng said: "As the leading digital telco service provider in Indonesia, Telkomsel is committed to enhance customer journey and experiences through innovative and excellent connectivity, service, and solutions. This collaboration empowers our customers, particularly users of our all-digital telco product by.U, to redeem their loyalty points for services from Trip.com, Grab, and other partners, while travelling to seven participating countries. 

"We also welcome Travel Alliance customers to Indonesia, enabling them to redeem their points to explore the rich cultural heritage and unique beauty that Indonesia has to offer." 

The Travel Alliance programme will be progressively expanded to cover key travel corridors and popular destinations globally. Promotions on accommodations, flights, rides, and food deliveries will be progressively rolled out by the Alliance members in 2025. Details on the offerings from the first partners to join the programme include: 

Trip.com 

Over the next six months, Alliance members will be sharing discount codes that their customers can redeem for hotel and flight bookings on Trip.com. These are applicable for travel up to 30 June 2026. 

Customers can use these codes to enjoy 10% off hotel bookings. Subsequent campaigns will include 6% off flight bookings and other promotions. 

Alliance customers on loyalty programmes, such as Singtel Red and Prestige*, may be eligible for an additional perk of getting upgraded to Trip.com’s Diamond status membership. More details on these campaigns will be shared by the respective telcos. 

Grab 

The Grab Tourist Packs, which offer savings on rides and meals, can be easily accessed via Alliance members’ apps, starting with Singtel’s. The offers can be used when traveling to locations in Southeast Asia where Grab is available. The Alliance will be collaborating with Grab to develop tailored Tourist Packs for their respective markets to ensure added benefits and a more personalised experience for their customers when they travel.

*Singtel Red is an all-in-one rewards membership programme that offers subscribers vouchers, exclusive partner deals, and more data on Singapore's 5G network. Singtel Prestige is an exclusive membership that rewards customers on premium plans.

Telkomsel launches Kolak Express 3 mobile game

Telkomsel's Dunia Games has released Kolak Express 3, a game that contributes to the DiRumahTerusTerhibur and #DiRumahTerusMaju initiatives which were created to ensure customers can still be entertained at home amid of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kolak Express 3 is available for download on the Google Play Store. It is the fourth game published by Dunia Games, and reflects Telkomsel's commitment to be the leading mobile game publisher in Indonesia.

Source: Telkomsel, through Dunia Games, has released Kolak Express 3. It is now available for download from the Google Play Store.

Head of Digital Lifestyle, Telkomsel, Crispin P Tristram said, "Kolak Express 3 is a manifestation of Telkomsel's commitment as the leading digital telco company that keeps moving forward to enable customer-centric products and services, including in digital lifestyle segment. Following successful releases of action genre game, ShellFire in 2018, and role-playing genre game, Lord of Estera in 2019 and Rise of Nowlin this year, we are delighted to release an easy-to-play simulation game to provide another variety of game genre in our games collection. Soon, Kolak Express 3 will also available for overseas gamers."

Kolak Express 3 challenges its players to sell kolak - an Indonesian dessert traditionally made with palm or coconut sugar, coconut milk, and pandanus leaf or banana - and serve a variety of kolak as requested by customers over 100 levels. The simple concept of the game enables Kolak Express 3 to be played by all ages.

"Dunia Games is committed to always provide games with a variety of genres to meet every customer's need across segments. This is also in line with the spirit of Telkomsel's 25th year anniversary to always dedicate all resources to create positive impacts for society. Going forward, we will also collaborate with other talents within the mobile game industry to advance the e-sports and gaming ecosystem in Indonesia," Crispin said.

Dunia Games offers payment gateway services, and provides a games and e-sports media platform online and through the Dunia Games app which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and App Store.

Sending Singapore remittances to Indonesia is now more convenient with new Dash service

Source: Singtel. A wefie to celebrate the launch of Singtel Dash’s new mobile remittance service.

Singtel and Telkomsel have launched a real-time mobile remittance service to Indonesia at Festival RISING50. Offered by SingCash under the Singtel Dash brand, this service allows customers in Singapore to send money to PT Pos Indonesia’s 4,500 cash-out points* across the country via Weselpos Instan**. This is an enhancement to the current facility that lets customers send money to Indonesian bank accounts.

Source: Singtel. From left: HE Ngurah Swajaya, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Singapore; Yuen Kuan Moon, CEO, Consumer Singapore, Singtel; Pak Ririek Adriansyah, CEO, Telkomsel and Pak Gilarsi Wahju Setijono, President Director, PT POS Indonesia launch Singtel Dash’s new mobile remittance service at Festival RISING50.

Source: Singtel. Part of the 4,000-strong crowd.

This marks the first time that Singtel and Telkomsel are collaborating on mobile money initiatives to drive innovation in both their markets. According to the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore, there are 200,000 Indonesians living and working in Singapore. Outward remittances from Singapore to Indonesia total more than US$409 million yearly***.

Yuen Kuan Moon, CEO, Consumer Singapore, Singtel, said, “Indonesia is one of our main remittance corridors and we are pleased to partner Telkomsel to offer convenient and secure mobile remittance cash pick-up service for our Indonesian friends. Singtel Dash will continue to enhance the mobile payments experience for our customers and enable their digital lifestyles. We are also excited to contribute to Singapore’s journey to a Smart Nation by developing the mobile payments ecosystem in Singapore.”

Ririek Adriansyah, CEO, Telkomsel, said, "Telkomsel's partnership in Singtel's remittance service is one effort to support our government in promoting financial inclusion for Indonesian people, especially the unbanked segment. Foreign remittance enables them to improve their quality of life as well as provide an opportunity to begin saving for the future. We believe every little effort to promote financial inclusion will also accelerate the growth of Indonesia’s economy."

In line with their commitment to work together on smart money initiatives, the two leading telcos also announced future plans to offer mobile remittance to Telkomsel’s TCash, offering a complete mobile wallet-to-mobile wallet experience. They also plan to expand the number of cash pickup points to GraPARI Telkomsel service centres, as well as PT Bank BRI branches in the second half of this year.

More than 4,000 Indonesians attended Festival RISING50 at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore over the weekend. Presented by Singtel and Telkomsel, this is the first concert event of RISING50 celebrations held in commemoration of 50 years of bilateral relations between Singapore and Indonesia.

Popular Indonesian music artistes were specially invited to Singapore to take part in the festivities and entertain the Indonesian community. Pop band, Armada wowed the audience with songs such as Mau Dibawa Kemana and Pergi Pagi Pulang Pagi. Siti Badriah, one of Indonesia’s up-and-coming dangdut**** singers, got the crowd singing and dancing along with her hit songs such as Brondong Tua and Goyang Pumang. 

Singtel Dash is Singapore’s first all-in-one mobile payments solution that is available to everyone. It is the only mobile payments app that offers fast, secure and real-time mobile remittance services, supports in-store and online retail payments, as well as transit payments. Customers can enjoy paying with Singtel Dash for their taxi, bus and train rides, as well as at supermarkets, convenience stores and food courts. There are nearly 500,000 Singtel Dash customers today. Usage is growing; the volume of monthly transactions has doubled over the last six months. 

Interested?

To celebrate the launch of the service, Singtel Dash is offering remittance fee waivers until 31 March 2017 to customers who send money via Weselpos Instan.

*Kantor Pos (post office) branches operated by PT Pos Indonesia.

**Weselpos Instan is a remittance product of PT Pos Indonesia.

***Source: World Bank Bilateral Remittance Matrix 2015.

****Dangdut is a music genre for Indonesian folk and traditional popular music with roots in Hindustani, Malay, and Arabic music.