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Sports and Music Event Tourism unlocks new opportunities to capture spend

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Collinson International launches global research report unveiling how businesses can engage with sports and music fans to capture share of growing market spend.

80% of sports and music fans in Asia Pacific (APAC) have travelled by plane to watch their favourite team or artistSports fans are the biggest spenders globally, with 57% of sports enthusiasts from APAC spending more than US$500 per trip, per person4 in 5 event travellers from APAC visit new places rather than familiar ones

SINGAPORE, Oct. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Collinson International, the owner and operator of Priority Pass and LoungeKey, has released its latest global research report, The Value of Sports and Music Tourism, exploring the travel and spending habits of sports and music event travellers. The new research revealed that sports fans are the biggest spenders globally in comparison to those travelling for music events; 57% of Asia Pacific’s (APAC) sports enthusiasts are spending more than US$500 per trip, per person.

Sports and music tourism is seeing huge growth. In 2023, sports tourism was valued at US$564.7 billion and is expected to almost double in value to US$1.33 trillion by 2032.[1] Similarly, music tourism is expected to see huge growth, forecasted to reach US$13.8 billion by 2032.[2] This is being driven by three main components: events, with more sports and music events, fans have more choice of destinations; exposure, the internationalisation of new and existing sports leagues through TV and streaming has encouraged fans to travel, while music fans are finding it may be more cost-effective to see an artist abroad; and experience, after years of Covid-19 travel restrictions, live fans are back and wanting new, enhanced experiences.  

It is clear that sports and music tourism is booming and event travellers have high aspirations, presenting a huge opportunity for businesses to tap into this growing segment of travellers. In APAC, of those that travel to an event by plane, more than four-fifths (85%) have travelled for sports and 74% for music in the past three years or plan to do so in the coming 12 months. Of these travellers, over half (53%) travel more than once a year with 19% attending three or more events annually.

SPENDING HABITS

Sports fans are the biggest spenders globally, with 57% from APAC exceeding US$500 per trip. Notably, 12% of respondents in APAC spend more than US$2,000 per trip. Globally, the 25-34 age group spends the most overall, with a third (33%) exceeding US$1,000 for sports and 31% for music events.

The typical spend for event travellers globally at airports is US$100 (44%) but this varies considerably with those travelling for basketball (30%), Formula 1 (32%) and the Olympics (31%) prepared to spend US$200 or more. As for those travelling for music, 25% are prepared to spend US$200 or above.

Over 4 in 5 (82%) of APAC sports and music fans have travelled to a new city or country to watch their favourite team or artist and of those, 28% said they have returned to these new cities / countries – with a further 31% planning to return. This presents huge economic growth opportunities for local businesses within these destinations, particularly where repeat business can be identified ahead of time. 

ELEVATED AIRPORT EXPERIENCES

Those travelling to see their favourite sports team or artist are looking for more premium travel experiences, which means they are more likely to take advantage of airport experiences.

More than half (52%) of APAC sports and music fans have used airport experiences when travelling for an event, which includes visiting an airport lounge (34%), gaming lounges (15%), sleep pods (16%) and spas (13%). The top reasons APAC fans visit an airport lounge is to relax and unwind before or after watching their favourite team/artist (58% for sports and 59% for music fans), followed by enjoying food and drink options at the airport (56% for sports and 57% for music).  

The uptake of airport lounges is higher among those spending more money on the trip overall. Globally, those travelling to basketball events (48%), Formula 1 (45%) and the Olympics (44%) are more likely to use lounges, with these fans also spending the most. 

TAILORING CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT AND LOYALTY PROGRAMMES

Around 65% of APAC event travellers participate in customer engagement and loyalty programmes. Many have joined customer engagement and loyalty programmes that offer points/miles (46%) or discounts on flights (50%), tickets (39%) and accommodation (38%). Over a third (39%) of APAC event travellers would choose a payment card that offered exclusive travel benefits such as access to airport lounges, travel insurance (42%), and an event package (42%) that includes flights, accommodation, transfers and tickets.

Airport lounge access is a popular travel benefit through payment cards, particularly for travellers from India (43%), Hong Kong, UAE, Australia (all 41%), Singapore (40%) Germany (34%), UK (33%) and Brazil (32%).

“The growing and global fanbase that will travel to iconic sports and music events is looking for unforgettable experiences and are prepared to spend significantly to make their trip extra special,” says Christopher Evans, CEO of Collinson International, owner and operator of Priority Pass. “Fans are by definition synonymous with loyalty. This new research shows the high value they place on travel benefits. Great news for the travel industry and for those businesses targeting frequent travellers providing the opportunity to capitalise on the rise of event tourism by offering the travel benefits fans crave. In return, they will see the advantage of being top-of-mind and wallet with these frequent travellers, boosting engagement, building loyalty, and driving additional cross-border spend.”

“Sports and music events fuel wanderlust, taking travellers to every corner of the globe. As the appetite for sports and music tourism grows across Asia Pacific, significant opportunities for businesses are opening up,” says Todd Handcock, Global Chief Commercial Officer and Asia Pacific President, Collinson International. “This is particularly true for the travel sector, with Asia Pacific travellers being some of the highest spenders globally; as well as financial services organisations, with the latter witnessing significant shifts driven by technological advancements, evolving consumer expectations, and disruptive competitors. As businesses navigate this changing era, consumer loyalty and engagement emerge as pivotal drivers of growth and competitive advantage. Brands who can unlock the power and influence of sports and music-related rewards will position themselves well to benefit from higher customer engagement and retention.”

To find out more, read the full report here.

Notes to Editors

Collinson International commissioned this research independently. The report is not endorsed by any party mentioned herein.

Methodology: Research commissioned by Collinson International, owner and operator of Priority Pass, and independently conducted among a sample of 8,537 travellers from 17 countries and territories including: Australia (505), Brazil (502), Colombia (503), France (501), Germany (503), Hong Kong (501), India (502), Italy (504), Mexico (502), Peru (503), Saudi Arabia (501), Singapore (503), Spain (501), Thailand (503), UAE (501), UK (502) and USA (500). The survey was completed online in June 2024.  

Currency in US$.

Methodology 

Research commissioned by Collinson International, owner and operator of Priority Pass, and independently conducted among a sample of 8,537 travellers from 17 countries and territories including: Australia (505), Brazil (502), Colombia (503), France (501), Germany (503), Hong Kong (501), India (502), Italy (504), Mexico (502), Peru (503), Saudi Arabia (501), Singapore (503), Spain (501), Thailand (503), UAE (501), UK (502) and USA (500). The survey was completed online in June 2024.  

About Collinson International

Collinson International is the global, privately-owned company dedicated to helping the world to travel with ease and confidence. We work with the world’s leading payment networks, over 1,400 banks, 90 airlines and 20 hotel groups worldwide. We deliver market-leading airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement, and insurance solutions for over 400 million end consumers.

Collinson International is the operator of Priority Pass, the world’s original and leading airport experiences programme. Travellers can access a network of over 1,500 lounges and travel experiences, including dining, retail, sleep and spa, in over 700 airports in 145 countries, helping to elevate the journey into something special. 

[1] Global Markets Insights, Sports Tourism Market Forecast 2024 – 2032 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/sports-tourism-market
[2] Custom Market Insights, Global Music Tourism Market 2024–2033 https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/music-tourism-market/ 

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AIS Advances Core Network Resilience and Efficiency to Achieve Zero Service Outage

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DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On September 11, 2024, the 9th 5G Core Network Summit, hosted by Informa Tech in Dubai, brought together global industry leaders and technical experts to discuss cutting-edge topics such as 5G SA, voice, telco cloud, autonomous networks, and 5.5G core networks. Noppadon Poungsri, Head of Core Network Planning and Operation at AIS Thailand, delivered a keynote speech titled “Building a High-Resilience, High-Efficiency Core Network” and shared AIS’s strategies for improving core network reliability and efficiency in a media interview with Informa.

As the largest mobile communications operator in Thailand, AIS builds the best 5G network and provides a wide range of services, including mobile, fixed network home broadband, enterprise network, and digital services. With superior 5G network covering over 95% of the population, 5G subscribers increased to 10.6 million.

Noppadon emphasized that the evolution of cloud-native technologies has increased the complexity of core networks, making them more prone to reliability and efficiency issues. To address these challenges, AIS continues to invest in network resilience and proposes a Network Resilience strategy to achieve the strategic goal of Zero Service Outage in three years. Currently, AIS’s network resilience strategy is centered around three key areas: risk prevention, network visualization, and service recovery.

In terms of risk prevention, AIS has introduced the MDAF signaling storm prevention and control solution. This solution enables routine, automated simulations of network status to identify potential risks in advance. By transitioning from a passive O&M approach to a proactive prevention strategy, AIS can stay ahead of potential issues and ensure business continuity.To enhance network visibility, AIS introduces the MDAF-based cloud-network visualization solution. This innovative solution enables five-layer topology visualization and analysis of complex cloud core networks, allowing AIS to quickly detect network faults.Regarding the target of service recovery within 30 minutes, AIS implements solutions such as bypass and localization to guarantee that 70% of users remain connected during transport network disruptions. This approach allows users to continue using essential data services and VoLTE voice services.

Additionally, Noppadon emphasized the importance of network efficiency. AIS has developed an autonomous network strategy to enhance the intelligence and automation of its networks. This initiative aims to facilitate AIS’s transformation from a traditional communications service provider into a cognitive technology company.

In the future, AIS will maintain its focus on enhancing the reliability and efficiency of its core network, while actively integrating industry-leading technologies such as AI. For instance, AIS plans to develop a cross-domain digital twin network and implement the Telecom Foundation Model to transform its O&M processes. The goal is to gradually achieve zero service outage and advance towards Level-4 autonomous networks.

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Final Day of Global Health Exhibition Celebrates the Next Generation of Health Innovators

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Exhibition concludes with 105,000 attendees confirmed over three daysWinner of prestigious Vision NextGen startup competition revealed as X-Genome, an innovative biotech business focused on educationLatest deals and MoUs announced on site totalling USD 13.3bn – including a cooperation agreement between the Health Holding Company and Huawei and a partnership between the Council of Health Insurance and the Johns Hopkins CenterLeaders’ Summit presented a visionary look at the state of global healthcare in 2040 – including the emergence of advanced robotics and AI as central to mainstream healthcare deliveryFocus on women’s health saw leading experts discuss increasing the value healthcare services bring to women in multiple countries, with themes of technology, mental health and accessibility to services

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On its final day, Global Health Exhibition turned its focus to a new generation of health technology innovators with the winner of the event’s Vision NextGen competition announced as local biotech business X-Genome. A series of Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) signings and the future of women’s health, brought the Exhibition to a successful conclusion.  

X-Genome is the first genomics training facility for health and scientific professionals in Saudi Arabia, delivering world class educational programs in molecular genetics and cancer cell diseases with the goal of equipping a new generation of professionals to support patients with future technology. 

The third day marked the establishment of fresh MoUs, partnerships and deals totalling USD 13.3bn. These included a cooperation agreement between the Saudi State-owned Health Holding Company and Huawei, as well as a partnership agreement between the Council of Health Insurance and the Johns Hopkins Center.

MoUs were signed between the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health and Ascend Solutions, AlRamz Medical Company and GSK.

In addition, an attendance of more than 105,000 was confirmed over the three days of Global Health Exhibition, representing 35,000 people per day. The Exhibition also saw a 72 percent increase in international attendance from over 138 countries. It featured 1,240 exhibiting brands, four times more than last year, with more than fifty percent of those brands being international.

The future of women’s healthcare was also a highlight on day three, under the heading ‘Wellness and Beyond’. Sessions highlighted the under representation of women in clinical studies and research as well as significant gaps in access to screening for certain cancers. Also noted was the growing global challenge to redesign health systems to meet the mental health needs of women and the role of emerging technologies to achieve this.

“In disease prevention for women, there is not enough being done to provide cancer screening,” said Dr Ritu Garg, Chief Growth & Innovation Officer, Fortis Healthcare

“We are seeing an explosion in cancer cases worldwide. Beyond this, mental health issues are likely to reach epidemic proportions in the coming years. We require scaleable, technology-driven solutions to meet this challenge.”

Looking further ahead, the Leaders’ Summit considered the state of healthcare services in 2040 and how recognized health challenges today are projected to grow exponentially.

“We are looking at a world with five billion chronic disease patients in 2040, from a global population of eight billion,” said Reenita Das, Partner, Senior Vice President, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Frost & Sullivan.

“In the connected age, what’s needed are personalized digital tools, which support what I term the ‘IKEA-ization of healthcare’. This means, a world where every individual becomes the CEO of his or her health to manage their own wellbeing, utilizing apps and wearables – turning patients into consumers.

“We are on the road to curing cancer, in the same way that we have collectively all but eradicated HIV, but other threats remain on the horizon, including new infectious diseases and ‘super bugs’, which will continue to proliferate around the world. Advanced technology has a role to play here too, with AI becoming ubiquitous.”

The Digital Health Forum included a panel on harnessing the power of digitized data for enhanced patient care.

“In 2024, a live-stream connected King Faisal Hospital with 600 cardiac surgeons at 300 hospitals virtually, as I performed complex robotic procedures,” said Prof Feras Khaliel, Consultant, Cardiac Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center.

“It was an educational tool. Surgeons were not only observing but in constant communication to ask questions. We have made advances, not only in diagnosis and treatments, but in 3D monitoring for the patient during surgery.”

Global Health Exhibition Foundation Partner Lean also commented on the event:

“Lean is thrilled to be part of Saudi Arabia’s groundbreaking journey in innovation towards a healthier nation,” said Hisham Al-Falih, Co-founder and CEO, Lean. “We’re excited to share how our cutting-edge solutions are reshaping healthcare, easing access to and powering a healthier, tech-driven future for the Kingdom.”

“Cultivating the next generation of healthcare talent is a defining goal of Global Health Exhibition, and the exceptional skill and ability shown across the high number of entries to the Vision NextGen competition gives us confidence we are in safe hands,” said Rachel Sturgess, Group Director, Tahaluf.

“Global Health Exhibition 2024 featured 1,240 exhibiting brands, four times more than last year, with more than fifty percent of those brands being international. The show has doubled in size, to 80,000 square meters, the size of 11 football fields.”

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Sunwoda Energy and Gryphon Energy Forge Partnership for 1.6GWh Energy Storage Project in Australia

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MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Sunwoda Energy has signed a partnership and collaboration agreement with Gryphon Energy during the All-Energy Australia 2024 event, committing to a significant 1.6GWh energy storage project. The signing ceremony featured Rob Mailler, Director of Gryphon Energy, and Terry Yuan, General Manager of Global Business of Sunwoda Energy.

Located in Queensland, this project will become one of Australia’s largest energy storage initiatives, with delivery, grid connection, and operation expected in 2026. Upon completion, it will greatly enhance the stability, reliability, and flexibility of both the state and national power grids.

Given the project’s massive scale and complex management, there are high demands for grid support and operational services. To meet these challenges, Sunwoda Energy will implement its advanced NoahX 5MWh liquid cooling energy storage system, featuring the company’s self-developed 314Ah cells, and leverage industry-leading Reverse DC Coupling technology. This approach will provide tailored energy storage solutions, ensuring the project’s high-quality delivery.

As a global leader in integrated energy storage solutions, Sunwoda Energy is committed to expanding its presence in international markets, with Australia being a primary focus. Earlier this year, in August, Sunwoda Energy successfully connected a 5MW/11MWh project in New South Wales to the grid. This project, recognized as one of Australia’s most representative solar-storage demonstration plants, has significantly improved the flexibility of photovoltaic generation, offering innovative and cost-effective solutions for local energy storage initiatives.

The collaboration between Sunwoda Energy and Gryphon Energy marks a significant step toward jointly developing the energy storage market in Australia, with a commitment to providing safe and reliable power storage system solutions for Australian customers. This agreement is not only a milestone in the partnership but also provides momentum and support for global energy development. In the future, both parties will continue to deepen their collaboration, contributing to the sustainable development of global clean energy.

About Sunwoda Energy

As a subsidiary of Sunwoda Group, Sunwoda Energy specializes in comprehensive energy storage solutions, including network energy, residential/C&I/utility ESS, and smart energy solutions. Sunwoda offers integrated Source-Grid-Load-Storage-Cloud solutions, with comprehensive services covering sales, investment, construction, and operational management across the entire product lifecycle.

CONTACT: Zeng Edward, zengqinghua@sunwoda.com

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