Trip.com Australia Hosts First Customer Appreciation Dinner, Celebrating Industry Recovery
Last night, Trip.com Australia hosted its inaugural Customer Appreciation Dinner, a significant event that brought together over 120 guests, including key figures from SiteMinder and other industry leaders. The gathering took place on the luxurious Starship Sydney, offering attendees a memorable experience cruising the iconic Sydney Harbour. The evening was not only a celebration but also an insightful gathering that shed light on the travel industry's recovery trajectory, particularly highlighting Asia's pivotal role.
Johnson Ong, Regional Market Director for Singapore and Oceania at Trip.com, opened the event with a keynote address filled with optimistic market data. He pointed out that in the fourth quarter, Trip.com Group's outbound air ticket and hotel bookings had surged to more than 80% of their pre-pandemic levels. Furthermore, Ong shared uplifting news about a 165% recovery in hotel bookings from China for the Australian market, indicating a bright future for Australian tourism.
Following Ong's presentation, Jane Phillips, General Manager Distribution Development & Partnerships at Tourism Australia, took the stage. She emphasized the strong partnership between Tourism Australia and the Trip.com Group, underlining their mutual goal to promote Australia as a top tourist destination. Phillips also shared projections that suggest China is on track to become Australia's largest inbound tourism market by 2025.
The evening also featured a delightful three-course meal accompanied by drinks, allowing guests to enjoy the scenic views of Sydney Harbour. The highlight of the night was an awards ceremony that recognized exceptional hoteliers across Australia in three categories: Most Popular, Top Engaged, and Rising Star. Award winners from across the country were present to receive their accolades, underscoring the national reach of this event.
"This event was an incredible opportunity to connect and celebrate with our valued partners," remarked Kevin Lu, Territory Manager at Trip.com Australia. He expressed gratitude for their continued support and eagerness to collaborate further to tap into the vast potential of the Australian travel market.
Trip.com stands as an international one-stop travel service provider, offering services in 24 languages across 39 countries and regions. With an extensive network of more than 1.2 million hotels and flights from over 510 airlines covering 3,400 airports in 220 countries and regions around the globe, Trip.com is committed to creating the best travel experience for its millions of customers worldwide.
The awards ceremony was a focal point of the evening, acknowledging outstanding contributions in the hospitality sector. The categories and winners included:
| Category | Winners |
|---|---|
| Most Popular Hotel | Hilton Sydney, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park Brisbane Skytower by CLLIX, The Village Melbourne Mercure Sydney Brady Hotels & Apartments Meriton Suites Surfers Paradise Voco Melbourne Central Shangri-La Hotel Sydney The Fullerton Hotel Sydney |
| Top Engaged Hotel | Four Seasons Hotel Sydney Crown Hotels and Resorts Pan Pacific Melbourne Doma Group APX Hotels Apartments |
| Rising Star | Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Hyatt Centric Melbourne Rhapsody Resort Grand Hyatt Melbourne Imagine Beach Road The Ritz Carlton Melbourne Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Pullman Sydney Hyde Park Hilton Cairns Mercure Perth |
The successful hosting of this Customer Appreciation Dinner by Trip.com Australia not only celebrated the achievements of hoteliers but also underscored the optimistic outlook for the travel industry's recovery and growth. With such collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships, the future of Australian tourism appears promising indeed.
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