TRAVEL TITBITS
Travelling concerns
Business travellers bring more IT devices with them and feel more productive as they are on business trips, according to Connected Traveller Study of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, a global specialist in managing business travel, meetings and events.
The survey was conducted between March 30 and April 24. Its 1,900 participants aged 25-65 from 16 countries had to have taken more than four business trips within the past 12 months.
The purpose of this study was to understand how business travellers stayed connected to both work and home while on the road.
It found that travellers on average carry four different types of technology including laptops, phones and tablets or iPads. The smartphone is the “travel tool they can’t live without”, as more than 80% of travellers across the globe rely on their phone to conduct business.
With technology, most travellers (88%) believed travel is easier to navigate today. The majority of travellers (78%) seek opportunities to travel for work and 72% find business travel to be stimulating.
“The business traveller can be so much more productive than even five years ago thanks to technology. Now, they can login and work while on the plane or wherever they happen to be. With the continued emergence of the tablet, as well as numerous apps, travellers don’t feel out of touch as they carry out business,” said Carlson Wagonlit Travel chief marketing officer Simon Nowroz.
According to the study, work-based relationships and productivity are strengthened through business travel. Nearly nine-in-10 business travellers (86%) said travel helped them build new knowledge and perspectives, while 80% said business travel boosted their productivity. Nine-in-10 (93%) said that travel positives outweighed negatives when it comes to building and maintaining relationships at work, while nearly eight-in-10 (77%) say the same about their home lives.
When travelling, they wanted to connect more with clients (45%), family (35%), co-workers (29%) and friends (13%). Business travellers connect with family or friends by calling (44%), Skype (24%) and short messages (17%). However, they connect with co-workers differently by using email (44%), calling (24%) and texting (14%).
While travelling, survey participants also have some key areas of concern. Sixty-seven percent expressed safety concerns while 54% have difficulties maintaining routines and wellness habits like exercising, and also a worry they bring too many devices when travelling.
Airlines update
Bangkok Airways has signed a cargo special prorate agreement with Thai Airways. Through the co-operation, Bangkok Airways cargo can be transported to China, South Korea, Japan, Taipei, England, Germany, France and Australia while Thai Airways cargo can be transported to Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, India and Bangladesh.
This partnership will offer customers of both airlines access to an extensive cargo network in Asia, Europe and Australia.
Earlier this year, both airlines signed a code-share agreement to facilitate commercial sales, and to improve passenger convenience in flight connections.
Vietjet will launch direct flight between Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta in Indonesia on Dec 20.
The three-hour flight will operate daily, departing Ho Chi Minh City at 8.40pm and arriving in Jakarta at 11.40pm. The return flight will take off at 1.40am and land in Ho Chi Minh City at 4.40 am.
Currently, the airline has 45 aircraft, including A320s and A321s, and operates 350 flights each day to 73 destinations in Vietnam and across the region. It has carried nearly 40 million passengers to date.
Visit vietjetair.com.
Hotels update
Movënpick Hotels & Resorts worldwide will launch a “Kilo Of Kindness” charity campaign to mark the United Nations International Day of Charity on Sept 5.
The hotel chain invites anyone to donate at least 1kg of educational or household supplies to its hotels, which will be donated to needy groups. The donated goods can be books, notebooks, stationery, clothes, canned and dried foods such as rice, beans, oats, pasta, cereals, flour and powdered milk.
“While this is a global campaign, it’s very much a locally focused initiative that aims to unite our guests and residents to support a good cause — giving back to the communities where our hotels and resorts are located,” said Movënpick Hotels & Resorts President and CEO Olivier Chavy.
Last year, 926kg of supplies were donated to 12 participating hotels. This year’s campaign is joined by 46 Movënpick hotels including three properties in Thailand.
Movënpick Residences Bangtao Beach Phuket will donate supplies to Child Care Holland House, which helps local street children, in Phuket. Movënpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket will pair with Phuket Child Watch, which helps children whose parents are in jail.
Movënpick Resort & Spa Pattaya will work with Banglamung Home for Boys, a charity that protects orphaned children.
The “Kilo of Kindness” campaign will run from Sept 1-15.
Visit movenpick.com/akiloofkindness.