Luxury tour operator If Only have teamed up with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) for the first time this year, to build confidence and peace of mind when travelling to Singapore and to promote the destination’s vast appeal to foodies, explorers and socialisers via If Only’s new marketing campaign: ‘Write Your Own Singapore Story’. Comprising of two phases, the operator will promote the campaign with two unique straplines, ‘Never Stop Dreaming’ and ‘The Time Is Now’.
To assist travel agents in engaging their customers with the destination, If Only will share a selection of blog content, social media offers and video assets, with a dedicated campaign hub packed with handy tools to utilise across digital marketing platforms. They will also be distributing window posters and USB sticks loaded with content for in-store video screens, underlining some of the lesser-known experiences on offer in Singapore, from intrepid jungle canopy walks, to island-hopping and Michelin-starred dining. If Only will also be co-hosting a webinar for agents in conjunction with the Singapore Tourism Board in February, coinciding with the launch of a bespoke training quiz and exciting giveaways, with further details to be announced in the coming weeks.
Even better, agents will have the chance to win a trip for two to Singapore for themselves, complete with flights and accommodation. To enter, you simply have to make as many bookings as possible for Singapore lasting three nights or more from now until 30 September 2021. At the end of this period, the top travel agent booker will receive a four night trip including return flights, with two nights spent at the JEN Singapore Tanglin by Shangri-La, and two nights at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa.
Alison Murphy, If Only Product Manager for Far East & Australasia shares her top tips for selling the destination, and discusses what makes this agent incentive stand out: “Singapore is truly the perfect destination to be promoting at the moment. I visited for the first time a number of years ago, and one of the things that resonated most with me was how wonderfully clean the whole city was – fast forward ten years, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this has become more important than ever before. Singapore has also been operating the SG Clean certification programme since February 2020 to deter the spread of COVID-19, which has allowed them to bring the pandemic under control, with a very low number of community transmitted cases recorded in recent weeks. I think this is, and will remain for the foreseeable future, a huge selling point for agents, who are keen to reinstall customer confidence in safe travel.
“Another thing which I would also recommend that agents highlight to their customers, is the ability to enjoy the best of both worlds in Singapore and combine city and nature. Visitors can spend a few days soaking up the central city sights, then escape to nature by heading to Sentosa for some laid-back, beachfront fun. This is what I think makes the agent incentive for the campaign so exciting – not only could you win a trip with flights and accommodation, but you’re getting to experience two sides to the destination.
“JEN Singapore Tanglin by Shangri-La is within walking distance of some of Singapore’s most iconic sights, while Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa offers a true resort vibe, with an array of dining options, sprawling pool area and oceanfront location.”
Michael Rodriguez, recently appointed Singapore Tourism Board’s Area Director for Northern and Southwestern Europe also shared: “We are looking forward to working with If Only over the coming months to reimagine travel in Singapore. Many of our visitors are very familiar with the well-known attractions but may not be as aware that we are a city in nature with many off the beaten sights including hiking and biking trails which offer alternative views of Singapore’s iconic skyline. I look forward to seeing how agents will tell their Singapore Story.”
