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A Technologically Empowered Future for Tourism (By Jane Sun)

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Tourism

Making the perfect trip just a click away

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 23, 2023/APO Group/ — 

By Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group.

After a challenging few years for the tourism industry, we are seeing a revitalised appetite for global travel. At the same time, we find ourselves amidst a paradigm shift in technology, fuelled by rapidly accelerating connectivity and innovation in areas such as AI and data. In this dynamic digital landscape, consumers demand more personalised and streamlined services to help them block out the noise and make informed travel decisions. Today, with the latest technological developments, travel service providers are more equipped than ever to satisfy these demands. Trip.com continues to create a simplified and hassle-free user experience, providing its consumers with personalised information at their fingertips, empowered by AI-led capabilities and innovative content marketing.

According to McKinsey research, generative AI can unlock between USD 2 trillion and USD 4 trillion in annual value across industries. This year, Trip.com launched an enhanced version of our AI travel assistant. The newly released TripGenie pioneers the concept of the Language User Interface to decipher complex requests and swiftly direct users to detailed itinerary planning, personalised recommendations, and flight and hotel bookings. AI assistance eliminates the manual effort of input and filtering searches, making travel planning and booking as simple as a chat conversation. Users who have engaged with TripGenie have shown stronger loyalty and satisfaction, with an order conversion rate twice that of the average user and a retention rate 30-40% higher than the average user. This directly translates into improved revenue, business growth for partners, and brand visibility and reach.

AI assistance eliminates the manual effort of input and filtering searches, making travel planning and booking as simple as a chat conversation

Netizens today are spoilt for choice when it comes to sources of information and offerings, which can make travel complicated and frustrating. AI-driven offerings such as Trip.com’s curated lists can simplify this process. Trip.Trends, Trip.Best, and Trip.Deals, enhanced by an AI-empowered algorithm, cater to different consumer groups and condense real-time information into a digestible format for smooth and easy travel planning. These lists are a part of the Group’s content marketing strategy to improve consumer awareness and provide the most relevant information and the best deals.

Another prominent technological trend is the rise of livestreaming platforms and social media, which support user engagement and content marketing growth opportunities. In the first quarter of this year, the number of influencers on Trip.com’s content platforms increased by 45% year-over-year and user generative content increased by 34% compared to last year. Additionally, the average amount of content viewed per user continued to rise, reflecting the success of the ability to attract, engage and retain users.

Livestreams have been a key growth driver for our business, which has outlasted the pandemic. The Group launched the “Super World Trip” livestream series at the start of 2023, which has taken off in Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. The series was to promote short-haul travel to the Chinese mainland consumer and stimulate tourism products in key destinations. The first livestream held in Thailand achieved a gross merchandise value of RMB 40 million, with over 20,000 room nights sold. The success of this has been mimicked in Tokyo and Hong Kong, with GMV reaching RMB 23 million and RMB 30 million, respectively.

Customers are at the heart of everything we do at Trip.com Group, and technological innovation is an integral pillar of user experience. Going forward, travel service providers have the responsibility to remain cognisant of technological advancements and harness developments to unlock new value for customers. We play a crucial role in making travel accessible and convenient for our users, and deliver the most up-to-date and curated information to book the perfect trip.

Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, spoke at the SuperBridge Dubai Summit, which took place on 16 and 17 October at the Museum of the Future, Dubai.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of SuperBridge Summit Dubai.

Business

Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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PAPSS

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Sonangol

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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