TTG ASIA MARCH 2019
DESTINATION: HONG KONG 24
Fresh Eyes
VR efficiencies
VR technology allows brands to engage travellers, and
when harnessed right, can also bring operational
efficiencies to the industry. By Prudence Lui
I
n 2017, a 27-year-old Lucas Leung
made the decision to set up TraVR
HK, recognising the travel industry
applications of an emerging tech-
nology that won him over while he was
on a thrill ride.
TraVR, which stands for “Travel via
Revolution”, is a new online platform
with travel content focussed on vir-
tual reality (VR), augmented reality and
mixed reality.
A hotel and tourism management
graduate from the Chinese University of
Hong Kong, Leung underwent manage-
ment training programmes at Walt Dis-
ney World Resort Orlando and Hong
Kong-based Swire Travel, before settling
down in the latter’s corporate travel team.
During his time in this industry, Leung
picked up on several challenges including
incomplete travel product previews and
a heavy burden on MICE event planning
teams, which he felt could trigger high
staff turnover and other manpower issues.
Inspired by the excitement he experi-
enced while on a VR ride, he began watch-
ing trends in the technology and quickly
realised potential new applications in
travel.
Leung said: “It’s hard to stimulate the
imagination with just pictures, especially
when the younger generations favour
more (dynamic) and immersive visuals.
“Our VR tourism hub (offers) a plat-
form for service providers like airlines
and cruises to upload VR resources any-
time (to connect with travellers). This
saves our own cost of production as it is
hard to chase and keep up-to-date with
their content changes.”
The platform underwent a soft launch
in mid-2018 and targets to kick off with
the first batch of content in 1Q2019.
There are currently no plans to incorpo-
rate a booking function.
“At this stage, we are in dialogue with
agents, NTOs and hotels, hoping to con-
solidate a batch of 50 brands from the
outset. As a start-up, we signed MOUs
with travel trade partners only in order to
drive support and funds from potential
angel investors. So far, about 15 brands
(NTOs, airlines, cruises and hotels) are
confirmed.”
Going forward, he sees the most po-
tentially gamechanging application of his
product being in the events sector.
Planners will be able to do site inspec-
tions by simply accessing 3D model ren-
derings.
“Rather than seeing only the wall
onsite, our VR technology enables clients
to see different setups with only a few
clicks,” he elaborated.
Next on the start-up’s agenda is incor-
porating VR and AR into study tours, re-
placing pamphlets and audio guides.
It’s hard to stimu-
late the imagination
with just pictures,
especially when the
younger generations
favour more
(dynamic)
and immer-
sive visuals.
Lucas Leung
Founder,
TraVR HK