gasp!
the audacity of luxury
EXO
LAUNCHES
LUXURY
DIVISION
Thailand’s Exo Travel has soft-launched
a luxury division to tap growing
opportunities in high-end travel in Asia.
Hamish Keith, Exo Travel’s group
managing director, described Luxe
by Exo as a “natural evolution” for
the luxury-focused DMC, “partly a
reorganisation and formal branding
for this part of our business” to take
services up a higher notch.
He added: “Luxe by Exo is part of our
strategy to segment the specialist parts
business – such as Adventure Travel and
Luxury Travel – into specific units with
clear, designated leaders and specialist
teams to provide a very specific type of
service. We have successfully achieved
this with Exo Adventure (launched in
2015) so it makes good sense for us to
continue with Luxe by Exo.”
Luxe by Exo is a invitation-only brand
that will effectively function as a “boutique
company within a company”, comprising
a team of consultants who have been
selected based on their specialist
knowledge and competence to cater to the
unique needs of the sector, Keith shared.
“We already have luxury teams in all
destinations, comprising our top travel
advisors (who) are able to offer a totally
tailored, exclusive level of service to our
top luxury clientele,” he said.
The Bangkok-based DMC currently has
over 50 full-time luxury travel consultants
spread across its 10 destinations in Asia.
“We have been seeing the luxury
segment growing faster than our regular
business over the last few years, and with
the new branding and structure expect
to see even stronger growth,” said Keith.
“In particular, Japan has quickly emerged
as the hottest luxury travel destination in
Asia.”
Luxe by Exo will be officially launched
in August, and will be introduced later in
the year at luxury trade shows such as
ILTM Cannes and Virtuoso Travel Week.
– Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Chan introduces
Prestige Tours
Chan Brothers Travel, one of Singapore’s leading
outbound players, has introduced a Prestige label
following its invitation to join Virtuoso last October.
The label sits under Chan Brothers Private Tours,
which was set up in 2009 to cater to well-travelled,
savvy Singaporeans.
Demand for its private tours has been growing 30
per cent year-on-year, according to a spokesperson.
The company expects the strategic partnership and
connection to Virtuoso to expand market segments
and experiences, move customers up the value chain
and elevate luxury touring through the wide portfolio of
preferred regional and global partners.
Unique experiences it offers include Zambia’s
wilderness lodges, aristocratic castles in Europe’s
countryside, hard-to-access abodes and insider
experiences.
The spokesperson said a separate team of seasoned
professionals manages Chan Brothers Prestige and
expects “most conversations to be conducted offline
with the personalised attention of our seasoned
travel concierges”.
“We already have luxury
teams in all destinations,
comprising our top travel
advisors (who) are able
to offer a totally tailored,
exclusive level of service to
our top luxury clientele.”
Virtuoso expands further into Asia with Singapore base
(From left) Evan Pierce, Cristina Magni and Michael Londregan
62 TTG Asia luxury | May 2018
Global luxury travel network Virtuoso,
which opened a regional office in
Sydney in 2016, is expanding further
into Asia.
It has promoted Evan Pierce
as regional director Asia based in
Singapore to lead Virtuoso’s expansion
into China, Singapore, Taiwan, South
Korea and Japan.
Cristina Magni is promoted to
regional director, Australia and New
Zealand. She will remain in Sydney
where she will continue to drive the
growth of the member network.
Virtuoso Asia-Pacific managing
director, Michael Londregan, said: “Asia
is a newer market for Virtuoso with
unlimited potential, and Evan will lead
our ongoing expansion with a key focus
on the development of our existing
members and the targeted expansion
into the complex China market.
“Cristina will continue the
management of our member
programmes in Australia and New
Zealand where we expect significant
performance growth in what must be
described as both a contested and
commoditising landscape.”
Virtuoso said it saw more than
20 per cent growth in its Asia-Pacific
regional network last year.