Dusit International to manage its first Dusit Thani hotel in Kyoto, Japan

BANGKOK, Nov 2, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd., a community-focused property developer based in Tokyo, to operate the luxury Dusit Thani Kyoto – its first Dusit-branded hotel in Japan.

Dusit Thani Kyoto is designed to blend seamlessly with its traditional surrounds in the heart of the city

Signed through D&J Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Dusit International based in Tokyo, the historic deal reflects Dusit's commitment to sustainable expansion by bringing long-term value to its local communities through creating jobs, contributing to the economy, and encouraging responsible tourism.

Located in the heart of the city, only 850 metres from Kyoto Station in the Honganji Monzen-machi district, the new property will comprise approximately 150 rooms set over four floors. Facilities will include a Thai-themed all-day dining restaurant, a Japanese specialty restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar, function rooms, a health club equipped for fitness, and wellness facilities.

Guests will enjoy easy access to nearby attractions such as Higashi Honganji Temple, Nishi Honganji Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Kyoto Tower, and Kyoto Aquarium. Gion, the city's most famous Geisha district, is only 10 minutes away by train, while Nishiki Market, a lively shopping and dining street known as 'Kyoto's Kitchen,' can be reached in 15 minutes.

In 2019, some 87.91 million people visited Kyoto, an increase of 2.86 million on 2018. While international tourism is currently paused in line with travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Dusit's management expects the city will quickly regain its status as a major tourism hub when people are free to visit Japan once again.

"We are delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to work with Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd. to bring our unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to Japan for the first time," said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International. "Continuing our strategy for sustainable expansion, the signing of Dusit Thani Kyoto serves as a major milestone for our company. It also highlights our confidence in the strength and resilience of Japan's travel market and its ability to bounce back strong after all the current challenges. Kyoto is a wonderful destination, rich in history, heritage, and culture, and we look forward to embracing this in our operations while doing our utmost to deliver long-term value for all stakeholders."

Mr Masahiro Nakagawa, President, Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd., said, "Our company prides itself on developing projects which not only celebrate cultural and natural heritage, but which are also positioned to deliver social and economic value far into the future. With a locally inspired design and unique blend of Thai and Japanese hospitality traditions, Dusit Thani Kyoto will be ideally positioned to deliver a truly distinctive stay experience in the heart of the city. We are delighted to partner with Dusit for this very special project."

Dusit International's property portfolio now comprises 339 properties operating under six brands across 14 countries. In Japan, the company already has a presence through Elite Havens, the leading provider of high-end vacation rentals in Asia, which manages a collection of ski chalets in Niseko.

About Dusit International

Established in 1948, Dusit International is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Building on its two core areas of business – Hotels & Resorts and Hospitality Education – the company has expanded its operations over the past four years to comprise five business units. The additional units include Foods, Property Development, and Hospitality-Related Services. Today, the company's property portfolio comprises more than 300 distinctive hotels, resorts and luxury villas operating under six brands across 14 countries worldwide, as well as two leading hospitality colleges with campuses in Thailand and the Philippines. Following a three-pronged strategy for sustainable growth, including balance, expansion and diversification, the company has recently expanded into food production, on-demand hospitality services, and property development to reach new markets and add further recurring streams of revenue to the company. For more information, please visit www.dusit-international.com

Official photos of Dusit Hotels & Resorts can be downloaded at medialib.dusit.com

About Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd.

Yasuda Real Estate was established in 1950 by inheriting the residual assets from Yasuda Hozen-sha Company which was at the core of the former Yasuda Zaibatsu (Conglomerate). Yasuda has continued office development and rental business in central Tokyo as its core business while expanding redevelopment business and housing business in accordance with the demands of the times.

Yasuda upholds the belief "Customers first," which was promoted by its founder Zenjiro Yasuda, and prides itself in being a comprehensive real estate company that contributes to society by creating value.

Media Contact:
Sureerat Sudpairak | Director of Marketing Communications | Dusit International
Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Mobile +66 (0) 89 006 8697 | Email: sureerat.sp@dusit.com

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Dusit International to manage its first Dusit Thani hotel in Kyoto, Japan

Bangkok, Thailand, 2 November 2020 – Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd., a community-focused property developer based in Tokyo, to operate the luxury Dusit Thani Kyoto – its first Dusit-branded hotel in Japan.

Dusit Thani Kyoto is designed to blend seamlessly with its traditional surrounds in the heart of the city

Signed through D&J Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Dusit International based in Tokyo, the historic deal reflects Dusit’s commitment to sustainable expansion by bringing long-term value to its local communities through creating jobs, contributing to the economy, and encouraging responsible tourism.

Located in the heart of the city, only 850 metres from Kyoto Station in the Honganji Monzen-machi district, the new property will comprise approximately 150 rooms set over four floors. Facilities will include a Thai-themed all-day dining restaurant, a Japanese specialty restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar, function rooms, a health club equipped for fitness, and wellness facilities.

Guests will enjoy easy access to nearby attractions such as Higashi Honganji Temple, Nishi Honganji Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Kyoto Tower, and Kyoto Aquarium. Gion, the city’s most famous Geisha district, is only 10 minutes away by train, while Nishiki Market, a lively shopping and dining street known as ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen,’ can be reached in 15 minutes.

In 2019, some 87.91 million people visited Kyoto, an increase of 2.86 million on 2018. While international tourism is currently paused in line with travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Dusit’s management expects the city will quickly regain its status as a major tourism hub when people are free to visit Japan once again.

“We are delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to work with Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd. to bring our unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to Japan for the first time,” said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International. “Continuing our strategy for sustainable expansion, the signing of Dusit Thani Kyoto serves as a major milestone for our company. It also highlights our confidence in the strength and resilience of Japan’s travel market and its ability to bounce back strong after all the current challenges. Kyoto is a wonderful destination, rich in history, heritage, and culture, and we look forward to embracing this in our operations while doing our utmost to deliver long-term value for all stakeholders.”

Mr Masahiro Nakagawa, President, Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd., said, “Our company prides itself on developing projects which not only celebrate cultural and natural heritage, but which are also positioned to deliver social and economic value far into the future. With a locally inspired design and unique blend of Thai and Japanese hospitality traditions, Dusit Thani Kyoto will be ideally positioned to deliver a truly distinctive stay experience in the heart of the city. We are delighted to partner with Dusit for this very special project.”

Dusit International’s property portfolio now comprises 339 properties operating under six brands across 14 countries. In Japan, the company already has a presence through Elite Havens, the leading provider of high-end vacation rentals in Asia, which manages a collection of ski chalets in Niseko.

About Dusit International

Established in 1948, Dusit International is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Building on its two core areas of business – Hotels & Resorts and Hospitality Education – the company has expanded its operations over the past four years to comprise five business units. The additional units include Foods, Property Development, and Hospitality-Related Services. Today, the company’s property portfolio comprises more than 300 distinctive hotels, resorts and luxury villas operating under six brands across 14 countries worldwide, as well as two leading hospitality colleges with campuses in Thailand and the Philippines. Following a three-pronged strategy for sustainable growth, including balance, expansion and diversification, the company has recently expanded into food production, on-demand hospitality services, and property development to reach new markets and add further recurring streams of revenue to the company. For more information, please visit www.dusit-international.com

Official photos of Dusit Hotels & Resorts can be downloaded at medialib.dusit.com

About Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd.

Yasuda Real Estate was established in 1950 by inheriting the residual assets from Yasuda Hozen-sha Company which was at the core of the former Yasuda Zaibatsu (Conglomerate). Yasuda has continued office development and rental business in central Tokyo as its core business while expanding redevelopment business and housing business in accordance with the demands of the times.

Yasuda upholds the belief “Customers first,” which was promoted by its founder Zenjiro Yasuda, and prides itself in being a comprehensive real estate company that contributes to society by creating value.

Media Contact:
Sureerat Sudpairak | Director of Marketing Communications | Dusit International
Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Mobile +66 (0) 89 006 8697 | Email: sureerat.sp@dusit.com

Riyad Bank signs acquiring agreement with JCB for local acceptance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Riyadh & Tokyo, Oct 26, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Riyad Bank, a listed company on the Saudi Arabia Stock Exchange in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., announced that Riyad Bank had signed a partnership agreement with JCBI to enable the acceptance of JCB Cards at all Point of Sale systems, online and ATMs throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

As part of a push to make the Kingdom a cashless society and support for financial inclusion that is both in line with the aims of the Saudi Vision 2030, this partnership will enable JCB Cardholders to use JCB Cards through Riyad Banks's network for Point of Sale and ATMs across Saudi Arabia, thereby providing greater convenience for JCB's globally increasing cardholders in Islamic markets such as Bangladesh, Bahrain, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan.

"I am delighted to announce this partnership in consideration of the Vision 2030 and the ever-closer relationship between Saudi Arabia and Japan." Mr. Yoshiki Kaneko, President & COO of JCB International Co, Ltd. said, "Along with the introduction of the tourist visa program last year, which offers visas to citizens of 49 countries, a larger number of JCB Cardholders is expected to visit Saudi Arabia on top of our Muslim cardholders in Asia. We position Saudi Arabia as the most significant market for expanding our business in the Middle East. I am certain this partnership will benefit both our cardholders and Riyad Bank's merchants for their convenience and in terms of the opportunity with the new payment option."

Mr. Mohammed Abo Al-Naja, Riyad Bank Executive Vice President Corporate Banking: "It is our pleasure that we are one of the first Banks in the Kingdom to avail the acceptance of JCB Cards at its merchant locations. The partnership is in line with the Vision 2030 in promoting a cashless economy. This move would greatly benefit pilgrims visiting from the Far East where our partner JCB has a strong presence, and the ever-increasing number of tourists visiting the Kingdom. JCB Cardholders will have the option to use their cards in a wide range of outlets capitalizing on our leadership position in the market. Furthermore, this complements our strategy and vision to bring to the market the latest and most innovative offerings while addressing the needs of our merchants and the market."

About Riyad Bank

Riyad Bank is one of the largest financial institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Riyad Bank was established in 1957, with a paid-up capital of SAR 30 billion. It provides a comprehensive range of products and services to meet the needs of both retail and corporate customers, including SMEs. Riyad Bank plays a leading role in various areas of finance and investment in Saudi Arabia, that is why it distinguished as a leading financier and arranger of syndicated loans in the oil, petrochemicals, and most of the Kingdom's notable infrastructure projects. Riyad Bank offers innovative and remarkable financing solutions through a network of 308 branches and more than 45,000 POS, in addition to more than 2,542 ATMs well distributed in strategic & carefully selected locations around the Kingdom. It had a branch in London and offices in Houston (USA), and Singapore helps support the international banking needs of such customers. Also, it has electronic banking services (web-based and mobile applications) that use the latest electronic technologies to address the banking needs of our customers with utmost ease, convenience, and security.

About JCB

JCB is a global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 34 million merchants as well as cash advance locations around the world. JCB Cards are now issued in 24 countries and territories, with more than 140 million cardmembers. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. www.global.jcb/en/

For more information for media:
Riyad Bank
Media contact
Tel: +966-11-401-3030 Ext. 2984
Email: mediarelations@riyadbank.com

JCB
Kumiko Kida, Ayaka Nakajima
Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-5778-8353
Email: jcb-pr@jcb.co.jp

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Dusit International charts expansion of ASAI Hotels to meet the challenges of the new normal, opens its first hotel under the new affordable lifestyle brand in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Sep 2, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies, will begin rolling out its new ASAI Hotels brand this September with the opening of ASAI Bangkok Chinatown in the heart of the city's renowned Chinatown district, followed by six more properties all operating under a thoughtfully lean hotel concept Dusit believes will be key to sustainable and profitable growth in the new normal.

ASAI Bangkok Chinatown

ASAI Bangkok Chinatown's thoughtfully designed rooms emphasise in-stay essentials such as superior quality beds, high-pressure rain showers, luggage space, and a work desk with USB charging station.

Self-check-in kiosks are available at the hotel's fourth-floor hub.

Designed to link millennial-minded travellers with authentic local experiences in the world's most vibrant neighbourhoods, ASAI Hotels is Dusit's sixth hotel brand and represents the company's expansion into the affordable lifestyle segment of the lodging spectrum. Its other brands – namely Dusit Thani, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, Dusit Devarana, and Elite Havens – cover upper-midscale through to luxury.

Drawing on Dusit's unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, ASAI Hotels is positioned to offer lean-luxury by providing thoughtfully pared-back services while focusing on in-stay essentials. Large communal spaces featuring sustainable and locally inspired lifestyle and dining experiences will be central to its offerings.

Starting this September, the brand will initially serve domestic travellers seeking authentic experiences in Bangkok's historic Chinatown district and culturally rich Old Town. Another ASAI hotel will open within 12 months in Bangkok's stylish Sathorn district, followed by three ASAI Hotels in Cebu, the Philippines; one ASAI hotel in the old Yankin area of Yangon, Myanmar; and one ASAI hotel in Kyoto, Japan.

Dusit International believes the ASAI Hotels concept is well-positioned to meet the challenges of a post-COVID-19 world and deliver long-term value for hotel owners, investors and other key stakeholders.

"With its highly agile management structure, streamlined designs, and limited personnel, the ASAI Hotels business model is compact, sustainable and efficient, and ultimately serves as a cost-effective, fitting solution for continuing to grow our business and expand our presence in the new normal," said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International. "By expanding our offerings across the lodging spectrum, we are not only tapping into the fast-growing market of millennial-minded customers who desire local experiences, but we are also offering new stay experiences to our existing customers too.

Collaborations with local restaurateurs and artisans, and sustainable sourcing of produce, are just some of the elements we have in place to capture the attention of the market as a whole, and we believe this integrated community approach will be vital to success in our industry following the deep social and economic impact of COVID-19."

Opening on 15 September, ASAI Bangkok Chinatown features 224 thoughtfully compact rooms (ranging from 18 – 26 sq m). Each room's contemporary and clean design emphasises in-stay essentials, such as superior quality beds, high-pressure rain showers, luggage space, and a work desk with USB charging station. A large communal area, meanwhile, includes large and comfortable work areas, a small gym, a bar highlighting craft beers and creative cocktails, a large courtyard with organic herb garden, and Jam Jam restaurant serving a creative twist on local and international favourites.

Located adjacent to Yaowarat Road, only 100 metres from Wat Mangkon MRT underground station, the hotel also puts guests in the heart of a vibrant neighbourhood renowned for its lively fresh markets, historic temples, traditional shophouses, hidden coffee shops and a vast array of streetside eateries. The Rattanakosin Island area, home to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, is only two stations away on the MRT. The city's major commercial districts can also be easily reached via the underground network.

"Easily accessible and equipped to cater to the needs of all kinds of travellers, from solo and groups to business and leisure, ASAI Bangkok Chinatown is a great option for lodging in Bangkok's fascinating Old Town," said Mr Siradej Donavanik, Managing Director, ASAI Holdings Company Limited, which operates ASAI Hotels. "We have all the elements in place to appeal to the tastes of modern travellers who appreciate sustainability and who want to experience the true essence of a destination. From our minimalist, locally inspired design with considerate technological touches, to our unique locally-inspired lifestyle and dining experiences, our hotel is set to become a hub of the community, offering highly comfortable, affordable stays for our curious and dynamic guests, and serving as an attractive and happening venue in which to work, rest, eat and play for Bangkokians at large."

Mr Donavanik is confident that there are many people throughout Thailand who would like to come and experience Bangkok's Old Town while discovering a new spin on Dusit's renowned high standards of service and hospitality.

"As the only international hotel chain in the area, we have a strong advantage, and we look forward to leveraging it to bring value to all of our stakeholders – guests, customers, employees, and owners alike."

In line with ASAI Hotel's overall concept, Live Local, each hotel in the ASAI portfolio will be geared to reflect its local character in terms of design, style and restaurant offering. This approach will be further evident when ASAI Hotels opens its second hotel, in Bangkok's Sathorn district, which will fully embrace the modernity of its inner-city setting to offer a complementary-yet-distinctive stay experience that differentiates it from the Chinatown property.

About Dusit International

Established in 1948, Dusit International is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Building on its two core areas of business – Hotels & Resorts and Hospitality Education – the company has expanded its operations over the past four years to comprise five business units. The additional units include Foods, Property Development, and Hospitality-Related Services. Today, the company's property portfolio comprises more than 300 distinctive hotels, resorts and luxury villas operating under six brands across 14 countries worldwide, as well as two leading hospitality colleges with campuses in Thailand and the Philippines. Following a three-pronged strategy for sustainable growth, including balance, expansion and diversification, the company has recently expanded into food production, on-demand hospitality services, and property development to reach new markets and add further recurring streams of revenue to the company. For more information, please visit www.dusit-international.com

Official photos of Dusit Hotels & Resorts can be downloaded at medialib.dusit.com

Media Contact:
Sureerat Sudpairak | Director of Marketing Communications | Dusit International
Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Mobile +66 (0) 89 006 8697 | Email: sureerat.sp@dusit.com

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HKTDC Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE builds a business success

HONG KONG, Aug 12, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The COVID-19 pandemic has led to physical exhibitions around the world being cancelled or postponed. However, despite this impediment to economic activity, sourcing demand has continued to grow. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) acted swiftly to change its strategy at the onset of the pandemic, actively developing new business channels and services. The HKTDC's most recent online exhibition has concluded successfully, laying the foundation for a future hybrid model that combines physical and online trade fairs.

Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE, an online trade fair organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, concluded on 7 August, attracting more than 13,000 registered quality buyers from 118 countries and regions.

Over 4,500 video meetings were arranged during the online exhibition for buyers and exhibitors to forge collaborations amid the global pandemic.

Multiple webinars and online symposiums were held, including "Tech Trends Symposium 2020 – The Future of Intelligent Connectivity", "Asian Lighting Forum 2020 – Shaping the Future of Lights" and "WGSN Presents: Lifestyle & Interiors Trends Spring/Summer 2021", attracting more than 31,000 views.

In view of the pandemic, nine of the HKTDC's planned physical exhibitions (see below) were migrated to an online exhibition, Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE. The exhibition employed innovative online solutions which combined key elements of business matching from physical fairs to facilitate business discussions between buyers and exhibitors.

Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: "The uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic have led more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to focus on online promotions and operations, which has quickly become the 'new normal' for conducting business. Given that the pandemic has prevented buyers and exhibitors from meeting in person, the HKTDC has introduced online business matching to enable networking and deal-making."

Click2Match, the business matching platform employed at Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE, used big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically match exhibitors with prospective buyers, enabling both parties to forge closer business connections. The HKTDC also leveraged the strong business networks of its 50 global offices and the support of its Hong Kong team to offer real-time assistance to buyers and exhibitors, enhancing their confidence and readiness to discuss business online. The expertise of HKTDC colleagues combined with sophisticated technologies led to a successful outcome, with more than 4,500 video meetings arranged.

Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE creates global sourcing opportunities

Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE concluded on a high note on 7 August. The online exhibition featured more than 1,300 exhibitors and attracted over 13,000 registered quality buyers from 118 countries and regions. During the fair period, multiple webinars were held to enable global suppliers and buyers to stay abreast of the latest market intelligence amid the pandemic, attracting more than 31,000 views. The most popular webinars included "Tech Trends Symposium 2020 – The Future of Intelligent Connectivity", "Asian Lighting Forum 2020 – Shaping the Future of Lights" and "WGSN Presents: Lifestyle & Interiors Trends Spring/Summer 2021". Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE also boosted traffic to the online hktdc.com Sourcing platform, with the number of page views reaching 1.5 million, a year-on-year increase of 60%.

Gifts and lighting the most-searched products

The majority of overseas buyers joining the online exhibition came from Mainland China, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and the United States, confirming the global nature of the exhibition. In addition, the HKTDC invited numerous major buyers to participate through the online platform, including representatives from Sichuan Impression Property Group Co Ltd, Guangdong Sanyuan McDonald's Food Company Limited, and Chengdu Ito Yokado Electronic Commerce Co Ltd from the Mainland; Eslite Spectrum from Taiwan; Amazon India; Singapore's Lightcraft Pte Ltd; Supervalu Inc and NeweggBusiness Inc from the US; Elgin from Brazil; and local representatives from Gap International Sourcing Limited.

Analysing the consolidated figures for the online exhibition, the product categories most searched for were, in order of popularity, gifts, lighting, medical and healthcare products, mobile phones and accessories, desktop organisers, clocks, audio speakers, watches, backpacks, and auto parts and accessories.

Online exhibition boosts business deals

Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE featured the Click2Match business matching platform, using multiple new technologies to enhance matching efficiency. It also covered meeting scheduling, video meeting, live chat and online seminars run by industry experts, all of which helped to provide a better online sourcing and networking experience for buyers and exhibitors. Participants on both sides agreed that the online exhibition helped them connect and continue making deals in the face of a difficult trading environment.

Jun Wong, Managing Director of fashion manufacturer MsEnvy Corporation Limited, said her company had successfully connected with new customers through the platform. "The unique Click2Match business matching platform in Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go Online is a timely and effective tool that has helped us to find potential buyers amid the pandemic. A Japanese retailer and a buyer from the United Arab Emirates expressed their interests in buying our new collections based on their patterns. We expect that the initial orders from these two new buyers will amount to US$50,000," Ms Wong said.

Mainland Chinese manufacturer Ningbao Hongyi Garment Co Ltd showcased its "Alice in the Wonderland" collection through the online exhibition. Pearl Yu, the company's General Manager, said: "We have successfully connected with three new buyers via the Click2Match platform. A buyer from the Netherlands sourcing promotional gifts wants us to produce homewear based on his own designs – an order valued at US$50,000," Ms Yu said.

Ognjen Vucic, Managing Director of Linea Media from Montenegro, said: "Building trust with new suppliers during the lockdown period has been difficult for buyers. The HKTDC's innovative Click2Match customised business matching platform has made it much easier to make connections and is likely to facilitate orders worth around US$50,000 for our company."

Survey: buyers still want physical fairs

The HKTDC conducted an online survey during the fair period which found that more than 70% of exhibitors were participating in an online exhibition for the first time. Nearly 70% of exhibitors surveyed said they achieved their objectives for joining the fair, including generating new sales leads and meeting new customers, leveraging online platforms to promote and launch new products, as well as promoting their company image and brand. Over 40% of respondents agreed that they will utilise both online and offline channels for future promotions.

For buyers, 80% of those surveyed indicated they were participating in an online exhibition for the first time, while 80% of respondents said their objectives for joining the fair were achieved, including finding new products and suppliers, gathering market intelligence and gauging product trends. Over 80% of buyers surveyed found the communication tools of Click2Match useful for connecting with exhibitors, saying that the exhibitors referred by AI largely matched their product and service areas (84%).

Moreover, nearly 70% of buyers said they would consider participating in the HKTDC's physical fairs again in the coming 12 months, showing that physical events remain crucial for buyers and exhibitors to establish connections and build trust during trading. Additionally, nearly half (46%) of the buyers surveyed consider the hybrid online and offline model to be the future trend for sourcing.

HKTDC upgrades digital sourcing platform

Mr Chau noted that the global sourcing model is becoming more focused on digital solutions following the pandemic, and it is envisaged that an online and offline hybrid model will be adopted for future HKTDC trade exhibitions. The HKTDC's online sourcing platform, hktdc.com Sourcing, provided the perfect complement to Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE. While the former offers a year-round online showcase for suppliers, the online exhibition brought together suppliers and buyers for specific collaborations.

As the pandemic persists, the HKTDC will organise its next online exhibition, Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE, in November. Meanwhile, it is also working to upgrade the hktdc.com Sourcing platform, using advanced technological solutions to enhance matching efficiency and ensure that SMEs can continue to make deals during the peak sourcing season.

* The nine physical exhibitions that were switched to the Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE include the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition), HKTDC International ICT Expo, Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong Houseware Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong International Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week, HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, and the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair.

To see more comments from exhibitors and buyers, please visit: https://bit.ly/3fMeCOl

Summer Sourcing Weeks | Go ONLINE official website: https://ssw.hktdc.com/
HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com
Please download more photos from here https://tinyurl.com/y2ck3bez

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: http://www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Contact:
Christine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: christine.kam@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Hatten Land Secures New Strategic Investor for Harbour City Project in Melaka in a US$323 Million Transaction

SINGAPORE, Aug 12, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Hatten Land Limited ("Hatten Land" or the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), the leading developer in the Malaysian city of Melaka, is pleased to announce that the Company has signed an agreement with Tayrona Capital Pte Ltd ("Tayrona Capital") relating to the Harbour City project ("Harbour City"), which is held under Gold Mart Sdn. Bhd. ("Gold Mart"), in a US$323 million transaction.

Incorporating elements of retail, hospitality and entertainment within an integrated mixed development, Harbour City aims to transform Melaka's tourism and entertainment landscape. The marine-themed mixed development comprises the thematic Harbour City Mall, Melaka's largest 'Sky' water theme park of 500,000 square feet as well as luxury hotel.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Melaka is Malaysia's second-most visited destination after Kuala Lumpur, and having been rated among Lonely Planet's Top 10 must-visit destinations in the world.

Tayrona Capital is part of the Tayrona group of companies headquartered in Singapore. Tayrona group is in the business of hospitality and investment and Tayrona Capital is interested to acquire and complete Harbour City as an addition to its Sagana Hotels & Resorts network of 32 hotels/resorts worldwide, and Ultra Luxury Integrated Destinations Collection which currently has operations and developments in 22 countries.

Under the agreement, Tayrona Capital will invest US$23 million in Gold Mart via the issuance of new shares, allowing Tayrona Capital to obtain a 99% equity stake in Gold Mart. In addition, Tayrona Capital will inject US$240 million to improve and to complete the development and marketing of Harbour City.

As the concept originator and project developer of Harbour City, Hatten Land will assign various intellectual property such as project design and concept, domain names, internet site and marketing materials ("Intellectual Property") to Tayrona Capital for a consideration of US$60 million.

As at 31 March 2020, Hatten Land had net assets and net current assets of RM370 million and RM307 million respectively. In addition, the Group has approximately RM1.3 billion of unsold completed properties.

The Company will be convening an Extraordinary General Meeting to seek shareholders' approval for the proposed transaction.

Dato' Colin Tan, Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Hatten Land, said: "The transaction is a testament to our ability in creating innovative property concepts, developing quality property assets and unlocking value.

We are thrilled that the Tayrona Capital recognises the potential of Harbour City and shared our optimism for the long-term prospects in Melaka. With Tayrona Capital's international track record and expertise in hotel development and hospitality management, there are strong potential and synergies for both companies to collaborate together in other projects in Melaka moving ahead.

The proceeds from the transaction will strengthen the Group's balance sheet and provide us with greater financial flexibility to pursue new growth initiatives."

Mr James Ordonez. CEO of Tayrona Capital, added: "Harbour City's avant-garde design and innovative concept is a strategic fit to our portfolio of global hospitality assets.

We look forward to work closely with Hatten Land to create new tourism and economic opportunities in Melaka from this project."

Issued on behalf of Hatten Land Limited by 8PR Asia Pte Ltd.
Media & Investor Contacts:
Mr. Alex TAN
Mobile: +65 9451 5252 Email: alex.tan@8prasia.com

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Dorsett Hospitality International partners with Prenetics to provide government-recognised Covid-19 testing to combat the third wave

HONG KONG, Jul 22, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – As part of Dorsett Hospitality International's ongoing commitment to the local community under #DorsettCares, the Hong Kong-based hospitality group is the first hotel group to partner with leading global genetic testing and digital health company Prenetics to offer the local community, associates and hotels guests in Hong Kong a peace of mind with 24/7 access to the Project Screen by Circle COVID-19 test, recommended by the World Health Organisation and officially recognised by the Hong Kong government, as we collectively fight to contain the city's third wave.

Hong Kong-based Prenetics is one of three laboratories who have been assigned by the government to help with mass community testing. Their 'Do-It-Yourself' test kit has an analytical accuracy of 99.9% based on validated studies by the National Health Commission and the US FDA. They also provide all the testing for the English Premier League and have carried out over 40,000 COVID-19 tests for players and coaches without which the season would not have resumed. The largest private laboratory in Hong Kong, Prenetics have boosted its capacity up from 5,580 to 22,000 tests in Hong Kong per day.

Dorsett has test kits available for purchase at its 9 hotels in Hong Kong for only HK$785 with results available within just one to two business days. Furthermore, the hotel group will be sponsoring over 50% off of each COVID-19 test for all their associates and in some instances, full sponsorships of COVID-19 test kits should testing be required from any hotel staff to ensure we continue to do everything we can to make our employees feel safe.

Since the first outbreak back in February, all nine of Dorsett Hospitality International's hotels in Hong Kong – and worldwide – have implemented preventive and anti-epidemic control measures, including use of hospital-grade Ecolab disinfectant cleaner 2.0, increased cleaning and disinfection frequency of public areas and facilities every hour and temperature screening for those coming in and out of the hotels.

To date, Dorsett Hospitality International has provided accommodation for healthcare workers and frontliners in London, Hong Kong and China and donated supplies used in hospitals and quarantine centres in Malaysia. We will continue to support the communities in each city where we have a presence as part of our #DorsettCares' commitment to our esteemed associates and guests around the world.

The COVID-19 test kit is being sold at HK$985, with the cost breakdown and features listed below:

– Prenetics PCR COVID-19 test: HK$785
– Sample Pick-Up to Laboratory Fee: HK$200
– Private, secure digital results provided within 24 to 48 hours of receipt in their laboratory
– Individuals with positive results will be provided a telehealth physician consultation

About Dorsett Hospitality International

Dorsett Hospitality International is one of Asia's fastest-growing hotel groups. As a Hong Kong hospitality brand, we are proud to have an international footprint in 25 major cities worldwide with a total of 56 properties with our strategic partners TWH and AGORA Hospitality, including Dorsett Hospitality International's 3 core brands: Dorsett Hotels & Resorts, d.Collection, and Silka, each with their own distinct identity and offerings to cater to diverse travel needs. Since the group's establishment in Hong Kong in January 2007, we have grown by leaps and bounds with hotels across China, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe; more properties are planned in the development pipeline. For more information on Dorsett Hospitality International, visit: www.dorsett.com.

About Prenetics

Prenetics is a leading global genetic testing and digital health company. Prenetics operates its direct to consumer genomics business via its two brands, CircleDNA in Asia and DNAFit in Europe. The company has a team of over 150 people and is spread across ten offices in Asia, Europe and South Africa.

Prenetics has received over USD 50-million in strategic funding from Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Ping An and more. Prenetics' mission is to help people lead healthier, more active lives by empowering them with personalised, predictive, and preventive measures in the form of the latest, proven innovations in DNA and mobile technology. For more information, visit www.prenetics.com and www.circledna.com.

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Travel Startup ZuBlu Secures $1 Million Seed Funding

HONG KONG, May 4, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – ZuBlu, a travel platform focusing on scuba diving and underwater adventure travel has successfully secured USD 1 million during its seed funding round. The round was led by Wavemaker Partners, Southeast Asia's leading early-stage venture capital firm investing in enterprise and deep tech companies. Other investors include Mana Impact, She1k, and a number of strategic angel investors.

Matthew Oldfield and Adam Broadbent

ZuBlu is a unique digital platform that is transforming dive travel globally, with a primary focus on destinations within Asia. Founded in 2017 by British co-founders Adam Broadbent and Matthew Oldfield, the platform aims to empower users to make informed and sustainable travel choices effortlessly, by combining their decades of scuba diving experience and a commitment to ocean conservation, with powerful technology and a market-leading team.

Backed by Hong Kong-based startup investor and accelerator, Betatron, since 2019, ZuBlu has grown rapidly and demonstrated enormous potential in this fragmented sector of the travel industry. In 2020 alone, and despite the global impact of COVID19 on the travel sector, ZuBlu has successfully grown its resort partner network and member community by 46% and 425% respectively and says it is primed for the return of travel.

"We have enjoyed an incredible few years since starting ZuBlu and I have never been more excited for the future of travel. It is no doubt that the industry as a whole is currently undergoing a drastic transformation. Scuba diving and underwater adventure travel – in particular, to remote destinations home to incredible experiences – are uniquely positioned to flourish in a post-coronavirus market. More than ever, we expect people to seek out memorable encounters, to want to escape the crowds, experience new cultures and support sustainable business practices – all of which are central to ZuBlu's ethos," said Adam Broadbent, co-founder of ZuBlu.

The scuba diving travel sector in Asia alone is valued at USD 4.5 billion and expected to grow significantly, with the largest provider of scuba diving training and certifications issuing over a million certifications globally each year. Today's experience-led culture is creating increased awareness and demand for ocean adventure travel, with millions of inspirational experiences showcased across social media and other online platforms every day. However, due to its complex nature, this niche travel sector is largely underserved by mainstream tourism operators.

Booking dive travel can be lengthy and complicated; understanding the right destination and time of year, identifying the best place to stay, and making sure a responsible operator is selected, are all hurdles faced by dive holidaymakers. ZuBlu says its unique search platform puts the power of discovery in the users' hands, by allowing them to search, compare and book some of the most inspirational eco-friendly operators, exciting destinations and memorable experiences in the world – all at the click of a button. The platform is underpinned by the founding team's deep knowledge and understanding of the sector, unrivalled within the space.

With the increasing popularity of this sector, comes an increased need for responsible travel – something that ZuBlu says is at the heart of its offering. Every operator present on the ZuBlu platform is vetted for its commitment to sustainable practices prior to its addition, including those that adhere to the UN-backed Green Fins code of conduct.

"Scuba divers are typically very passionate, high-value travelers. We were surprised to learn how inconvenient it is for them to find good information to plan and book their trips. Through this pandemic, ZuBlu has experienced strong traction from divers already planning their trips despite the current global slowdown in travel. This combined with the company's high capital efficiency means they can spend time building and refining their platform and onboarding more high-quality travel partners. We are confident they will benefit from unlocking pent-up demand as soon as travel restrictions ease," said Paul Santos, Managing Partner of Wavemaker Partners that led the funding.

About ZuBlu

ZuBlu is the leading dive travel platform to search, compare and book scuba diving and underwater adventure travel in Asia. Passionate about empowering divers to travel more responsibly, ZuBlu combines some of the most inspirational eco-friendly operators, exciting destinations and memorable experiences in the world — all at the click of a button. Find out more at www.zublu.com.

About Wavemaker Partners

Wavemaker Partners was founded in 2003 and dual-headquartered in Los Angeles and Singapore. In Southeast Asia, Wavemaker Partners is the leading early-stage venture capital firm investing in enterprise and deep tech companies. https://wavemaker.vc/

For media enquiries, please contact: marie@zubludiving.com

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EXO’s Suho celebrates his first solo EP “Self-Portrait” with a ‘Live’ #TwitterBlueroom Session

SEOUL, KOREA, Mar 26, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Twitter Korea will host a 'live' #TwitterBlueroom Q&A session with Suho, member of the popular Kpop boy band EXO (@weareoneEXO), on March 26th at 6PM KST. A special emoji has been created in line with the theme of his first EP titled "Self-Portrait," which will appear automatically when fans use the hashtags #SUHO, #Self_Portrait, and #LetsLove from March 26th onwards. Suho's first solo EP will be officially released on March 30th.

https://twitter.com/weareoneEXO/status/1242420926685138948
Photograph: Suho's Tweet announcing his live Q&A session on #TwitterBlueroom

In this special Q&A session, Suho will share more about his new album "Self-Portrait," his plans as a solo artist, and what he has been up to recently. Fans can watch the live #TwitterBlueroom on EXO's official Twitter account (@weareoneEXO), and interact with him directly using the hashtags #TwitterBlueroom and #SUHO, or within the live chatroom.

Furthermore, Suho will be doing a special unboxing segment during his live #TwitterBlueroom. He will unveil his EP package for the first time, which consists of an album cover, booklet, postcards, as well as regular and special photo cards.

Suho will also feature the winning illustrations from the drawing contest entered using the hashtag # [*1] (Drawing Contest for the World's Best, SUHO) held on EXO's official Twitter account (@weareoneEXO) earlier this month. Fans had to post illustrations of SUHO on Twitter with the hashtags, #SUHO, #Self_Portrait, # [*1], and more. The contest received overwhelming submissions from fans all around the world, propelling the hashtag # [*1] to trend as it had more than 100,000 mentions between March 12th to 20th (data as of March 24th).

Meanwhile, after Suho Tweeted a video teasing his EP promotion schedule on March 16; the hashtag # [*2] (Our Jun-myeon), which is Suho's real name, quickly trended No. 1 on Twitter. The hashtag #AskSUHO also trended No. 1 worldwide on Twitter after he Tweeted about his #TwitterBlueroom on March 24.

Check out the hashtags #SUHO, #Self_Portrait, and #LetsLove; or follow @weareoneEXO to stay updated with Suho's first EP launch and what's happening on Twitter!

About Twitter

Twitter, Inc. (NYSE: TWTR) is what's happening in the world and what people are talking about right now. On Twitter, live comes to life as conversations unfold, showing you all sides of the story. From breaking news and entertainment to sports, politics and everyday interests, when things happen in the world, they happen first on Twitter. Twitter is available in more than 40 languages around the world. The service can be accessed at twitter.com, on a variety of mobile devices and via SMS. For more information, visit about.twitter.com or follow @TwitterKorea. For information on how to download the Twitter and Periscope apps, visit twitter.com/download and periscope.tv.

Media Contact
Heejung Shin
Twitter Korea
Email: Heejungs@twitter.com
Twitter: @xinxi1

Some terms in this release are displayed in Korean as indicated with asterisk. Please refer to the full release at https://www.media-outreach.com/View/31079/

Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Japan’s Leading Team Collaboration Platform Company, Cybozu Announces Asia Business Strategy

TOKYO, Mar 24, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Cybozu, Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yoshihisa Aono; hereinafter "Cybozu") held a presentation on February 25, 2020, to announce its financial results for the previous fiscal year, as well as its business strategy for the current fiscal year highlighting its steady business performance and its future strategy for strengthening the sales system for kintone – Cybozu's flagship product – in the Asia Pacific region.

In January 2020, a new Business Strategy Office was established to strengthen the global deployment of Cybozu's sales expansion. In particular, kintone – a cloud-based app for work improvement – is seeing steady sales in the Asia Pacific region, where it is used as a platform by companies implementing the latest work styles. Going forward, Cybozu intends to continue to focus resources on this flagship product.

Strengthening activities with a view to establish a sales system in Cambodia within 2020:

To date, sales have started in major cities located in eight countries in Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos). Cambodia will be the ninth country where partners are located. In addition, there is also a study underway to examine the establishment of local subsidiaries in these nine countries. Cybozu will strengthen activities aimed at establishing a globally common sales system and business model within three years.

Focusing on human resource development:

In order to strengthen activities in the Asia Pacific region, Cybozu will also actively recruit students from the Asia Pacific region and focus on developing human resources that may play active roles in their home countries in the future.

Comments from CEO Yoshihisa Aono:

"With 'creating a society brimming with teamwork' as our vision, Cybozu offers tools globally for creating information-sharing platforms for all kinds of teams. As the improvement of productivity and work efficiency is pursued everywhere, we strongly feel the need for tools that can achieve these goals in the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region. Cybozu, in particular, is well-versed in the software as a service (SaaS) business that utilizes cloud-based technology and has become the standard in recent years. We believe that we can lead the market in this business.

Looking at the future, cloud tools capable of communication regardless of location will become essential during emergencies such as a pandemic. In Japan, there are already cases of cloud tools being used as a platform for virtual offices. Going forward, we intend to take advantage of our knowledge to reach the global market and to further strengthen activities to improve work efficiency and teamwork with companies seeking new working styles or preparing for emergencies."

kintone's sales performance:

– Total number of companies in Asia Pacific region using kintone: 590 in fiscal 2019 (39% increase from the previous year)
– Examples of companies using kintone: Gojek in Indonesia, Seiko (Thailand) Co., etc.

Cybozu's consolidated sales in fiscal 2019 was approximately 13.4 billion yen (28% increase from the previous year), with more than 70% coming from cloud-related sales.

About kintone (www.kintone.com):

kintone is a platform provided by Cybozu, Inc. for developing work apps. It allows the development of work apps according to the customer's purpose, including sales management; customer management; project management; visualizing business progress; to-do lists and tasking of teams; and communication across departments.

Applications can be developed without programming. In Japan, kintone is used by 14,000 corporate customers and is also increasingly being utilized globally, mainly in the United States, China, and Southeast Asia. Currently, seeking to move from No. 1 in Japan to No. 1 in the world, efforts are being undertaken in product internationalization and global sales.

Company overview:

Since its establishment, Cybozu has been developing collaboration tools that can utilize Internet technologies. To date, Cybozu's products have been used by more than nine million people globally. Financial results have grown since the cloud service kintone was released in 2011, and currently, Cybozu's operating profit is growing 57% year-to-year.

For Cybozu's global business, sales in China are undertaken by its fully-owned subsidiary Cybozu IT Shanghai Inc., while the fully-owned subsidiary kintone Corporation (Cybozu U.S.) undertakes sales in the United States. kintone Corporation is also recognized by leading companies in Silicon Valley and continues to expand there, having already carried out implementation at the ride-sharing company Lyft, Inc. The Cybozu Asia Partnership Program has been rolled out in Southeast Asia to bring activities closer to the respective local regions.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Etsuko Nagayama, Business Marketing Division, Cybozu, Inc.
27F Tokyo Nihombashi Tower, Nihombashi 2-7-1, Chuo-ku
Tokyo, Japan 103-6027
Email: cybozu-global@cybozu.co.jp

* Product names stated are the registered trademark or trademarks of the respective companies. In addition, Cybozu's products may include work(s) of other companies. Please see the following link for notes regarding each trademark or work. https://cybozu.co.jp/logotypes/other-trademark/

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