On Thursday 1st August, we hosted an evening to remember, with our first insights and awards hybrid event in Singapore. It was a gleaming success, drawing our partners from across the APAC region for a day brimming with inspiring panels and networking opportunities.
The event kicked off with sessions featuring our client panel with representatives from EY, Micron, and Weichert Workforce Mobility, who discussed the priorities and preferences of their travellers and bookers, and how the corporate housing supply chain can successfully respond to these. Key takeaways included:
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|Sustainability reporting needs to be understood by the collective
Weichert highlighted the importance of identifying sustainability programmes within their supply chain, emphasising the need for robust reporting and statistics.
While EY’s current travel process gives a lot of guidance to travellers to help them make good choices. Translating CO2 emissions into relatable terms (e.g., equivalent to powering 1,000 lightbulbs) to ensure the traveller can see tangible and relatable results.
|Singapore outbound travel on the rise
Micron stated a strategic shift is underway, with more employees being sent outbound from Singapore, a notable change from when the majority were inbound.
Instead, key regions for these assignments include India, Japan, and Taiwan.
|The average age of EY travellers is now 27 years old
EY’s data indicates a younger demographic with evolving travel preferences. In line with this EY is focusing on reducing non-client travel to cut costs and enhance sustainability. This includes encouraging smarter travel practices, such as combining multiple purposes into one trip. The average trip duration is increasing as travellers aim to maximise the purpose of each stay.
|Flexibility remains critical within travel programmes
Flexibility is key to building lifelong partnerships and meeting client budgets. Weichert stresses the importance of leveraging expert partners and maintaining a flexible approach to accommodate changes effectively. Micron highlighted that changes always happen but they need to avoid last-minute cancellation fees. They stated that if you “take a problem away, people will remember it.”
Although serviced apartments might face restrictions due to stricter cancellation policies compared to hotels. EY appreciates the shift towards offering online inventory for serviced apartments from the likes of SilverDoor, recognising their understanding of the importance of adaptability.
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As the evening continued, we then revealed our annual property partner award winners.
The team faced a tough decision as since we established a presence in the APAC region eight years ago, our relationships with our regional property partners have flourished and their support has been unwavering.
The SilverDoor Property Partner Award winners announced on the evening are:
|Exemplary Service: Frasers Hospitality APAC
Frasers Hospitality APAC was recognised for their commitment to excellent service, from pre-arrival preparations to departure, ensuring each guest receives a high standard of care.
|Best Partner Collaboration: Far East Hospitality
Far East Hospitality was commended for its dedication to the partnership with SilverDoor, demonstrating flexibility, swift issue resolution, and adaptability to meet clients' unique requirements.
|Outstanding Individual: Serenena Koo (Lanson Place Windsland, Singapore)
Serenena Koo received the award for her professionalism, sincerity, and exceptional listening skills, which have been instrumental in finding creative and flexible solutions for SilverDoor and its clients.
