Tag Archives: agoda

Digital travel platform Agoda has today introduced an AI-powered advertising campaign tailored for the Indian audience, featuring Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana. This initiative marks an innovative step in the travel industry ad space, utilizing cutting-edge AI technology to create over 250 customized videos for different locations across India and abroad. Watch the ad for Goa here: https://youtu.be/Ds93W-G_VFg In collaboration with Blink Digital, Agoda built a digital campaign around content created using Gan.ai’s generative AI technology. With this technology, a single video of Ayushmann Khurrana has been converted into over two hundred videos that each highlight a different destination. All videos feature Ayushmann, thanks to generative AI changing the voice-over, applying lip syncing, and adding contextual images. The AI-powered ad adapts its content based on the viewer’s destination of interest. This ensures the ad is as relevant to its audience as possible and directs viewers to great value Agoda deals for the desired destination. Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana commented, “I’m excited to be part of Agoda’s innovative approach to connecting with travelers. This campaign allows Agoda and me to reach out to individuals in a very personal way, making their travel planning experience more engaging. The idea is to inform travelers about the great deals that exist on Agoda for their destination of interest, which ultimately helps them see the world for less.” Krishna Rathi, Senior Country Director India Subcontinent and Maldives at Agoda, stated, “This campaign represents a forward-thinking approach to digital marketing in the travel sector. Our collaboration with Ayushmann Khurrana and the use of generative AI allow us to engage with our customers in a more meaningful and personalized manner. More than that, it is a great example …

Agoda has revealed the top travel locations of the year for Indian travellers. Domestically, New Delhi and NCR was the most booked and for Indians travelling abroad, Thailand’s capital Bangkok leapfrogged Dubai to claim the top spot. Additionally, Agoda rankings also revealed that in terms of foreign travel preferences, Indians tend to favour short-haul destinations around the region. Bangkok, Dubai, Bali, Singapore and Pattaya have emerged as the top five outbound destinations.   

Digital travel platform Agoda collaborated with the Government of Goa and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to organize a Hotel Sustainability Training for industry professionals from November 28 to 29, 2023, at Park Regis, Goa. This two-day program brought together local hoteliers for a series of sessions led by influential industry experts, aiming to provide them with the competences and tools necessary to enhance their sustainability practices. Throughout the training, participants immersed themselves in real-world insights drawn from best-in-class sustainability practices and actual hotel case studies. Using as a checklist the GSTC Industry Criteria for hotels, globally recognized as a standard for sustainability in travel and tourism, attendees were empowered to assess their current performance and then set achievable short-, medium-, and long-term sustainability objectives.  Krishna Rathi, Agoda Country Director India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, sharing his views on the initiative, said, “We are honored to announce our partnership with the Government of Goa and the GSTC for the inaugural session of our Hotel Sustainability Training in India. This initiative, a modest yet important step, aligns with the Goa Roadmap and ‘Travel for LiFE,’ contributing to our collective vision. Agoda is committed to fostering responsible connections between people and destinations. Embracing sustainability practices is more crucial than ever for a more sustainable future in the hospitality industry. With the right knowledge and tools, we aim to accelerate this evolution.” Mr. Suneel Anchipaka, Director of Tourism (Goa), at the opening ceremony of the training, commented, “Our government has made sustainable tourism a top priority, and this initiative by Agoda aligns seamlessly with our vision. By equipping hotel professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt sustainability practices at their …

As travelers take to the skies once again, digital travel platform Agoda offers the most popular domestic and international flight destinations so far in 2023.  In India, the most popular international destination is Dubai, followed by Bangkok, Bali, Singapore and Hanoi. The ranking shows a clear preference for Southeast Asia, with four of the destinations falling in that category. Domestically, Indians are taking off for New Delhi and NCR, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune, rounding out the top five. Based on Agoda’s booking data, four of the five most popular international flight destinations are nestled in Southeast Asia, with Bangkok in first place. Singapore in second, Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City in fourth, and Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur in fifth also represent Southeast Asia. Seoul, South Korea splits the top five, coming in as third most popular international flight destination. “Many factors contribute to the popularity of Southeast Asian cities”, said Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President of Supply, Agoda. “These cities represent five bustling metropolises, with rich culture and history, an exquisite culinary scene, and unique nightlife. Even with airlines expanding their routes and fleets, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ll see these amazing destinations ranking high for years to come.” Agoda has built a global reputation as an online platform for booking hotels and holiday homes, but has seen an increase in flight bookings since the platform launched in 2019. Currently, more than 1,30,000 flight routes can be booked on Agoda.  

Findings from the Agoda Travel Trend Survey revealed that travellers are more inclined to spend consciously while on vacation this year. The respondents, predominantly selected an annual spending range of INR 16,000 – INR 41,500, when considering travel budgets.

Japan is receiving global recognition for its sustainability and conservation efforts. The land of the rising sun is the top pick of respondents in Agoda’s Sustainable Impact Survey 2023 when asked to name markets that do well in terms of sustainability and conservation efforts. Japan is followed by Singapore and South Korea, with India appearing on the 9th position. Over thirteen thousand respondents from more than ten countries took part in the Sustainable Impact Survey 2023. When ranking countries based on their sustainability efforts, respondents were appreciative of their home countries’ conservation measures: participants from all markets placed theirs within the top three.  Seven out of eleven markets even gave their home country the highest rating, namely India, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Korea, Indonesia, and Japan. The publication of the survey findings marks the start of Agoda’s Eco Deals campaign, which aims to raise USD 250,000 for WWF’s marine and forest conservation initiatives across India and Southeast Asia. ‘Sustainability on peoples’ minds’ “Sustainability is clearly on peoples’ minds, with many aware of the environmental measures being taken in their home markets as well abroad,” said Enric Casals, Regional Vice-President Southeast Asia and Oceania at Agoda. “In addition, travelers are looking for ways to minimize their ecological footprints while making a positive impact on the places they visit. Agoda’s Eco Deals program aims to facilitate this movement by giving travelers the opportunity to support conservation initiatives simply by booking an Eco Deal accommodation.” Eco Deals campaign aims to donate USD 250,000 to WWF’s marine and forest conservation initiatives This year, accommodation partners from Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, and India join Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines from the 2022 Eco Deals campaign to participate. …

For most of us, reuniting with friends and family is the main reason to travel in 2023. Agoda’s Travel Trends survey asked travelers from India, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam to share their top travel goals for the new year. India (21%), the United States (25%), Australia (31%) and Taiwan (33%) are where travelers will most likely plan a holiday reunion with family or friends. Many also wish to embark on trips to recharge themselves, mentally and physically, with wellness contributing to the number two spot in the ‘reasons to travel’ ranking of Agoda’s Travel Trend survey. Countries with high inclination include India (20%), South Korea (24%), Singapore (25%) and Thailand (29%). Among people from Japan (44%), Taiwan (24%) and Vietnam (23%), the biggest travel appetite is for (re)discovering food, arts & culture. In fact, a staggering 44 percent of Japanese travelers listed this as their main travel goal, the highest number for any travel objective in a single country. Four times more than Philippines, where only 11 percent are looking to travel for food, arts & culture and seeking adventure is the main reason to leave home (30%). Adventure travel ranks highest among travelers from Indonesia (23%) and India (20%). The study concluded with reuniting with loved ones, wellness and food, arts & culture making the top three reasons to travel, and adventure and celebrating a milestone rounding out the top five.