Hong Kong-based Hey Travelista is a flash-sale service that offers affordable luxury five-star hotel packages. Co-founder Tony Low says that while similar services such as Secret Escapes and Voyage Privé exist, theirs is the first to focus on Asia.
Do you love to travel and stay in luxury hotels, but do not want to fork out top dollar? A new Hong Kong-based platform might be able to help you with that. Hey, Travelista is a flash-sale service dedicated to offering deals on luxury five-star hotel packages that are affordable for the masses. It is similar to Cathay Pacific’s weekly “Fanfares,” which does the same for air tickets. Hey, Travelista launched last July and has members in 53 countries, although the focus is on Asia.
“Hong Kong citizens are the most traveled in the world,” says Tony Low, co-founder of Hey Travelista. “Many people want to take advantage of all the short holidays and get out of the city, which means taking a flight. We have eight long weekends this year because of how the public holidays fall. They want to have as many experiences as possible but for the same budget.”
In Europe, Secret Escapes and Voyage Privé offer something similar, and in Australia, Luxury Escapes offers luxury travel at reduced rates. But no such service existed in Asia, so Low and his two co-founders—his wife, Alyssa, and her former hospitality industry colleague Brian Koroll—decided to fill the gap in the market.
“Our offering is taking Asia-based travelers to the rest of the world,” says Low, who has a background in IT. “Luxury Escapes focuses on what Australians want: Bali, cheap beers. As an Australian, I can say that. But it’s different from what Asians want.”
So, what do Asians want? According to a 2017 report by travel industry IT firm Amadeus, “Journey of Me Insights: What Asia-Pacific travelers want,” saving money is the most important factor for Hongkongers and Singaporeans when seeking travel recommendations.
“There are many local people in Hong Kong and Singapore who have studied overseas,” Low says. “They have a propensity to travel and are high-income earners. They like staying in five-star hotels but do not like to pay. They want affordable luxury.”
Unlike hotel booking sites such as Expedia and Hotels.com, which offer a wide range of hotel packages, Hey Travelista focuses on the luxury end and sells packages based on a minimum two—or three-night stay that include things like airport transfers, spa treatments, drinks on arrival, and food and drink credits. It is free to join—you just need to sign up online.
An example of the sort of deal Hey Travelista offers travelers seeking discount five-star luxury hotel and resort packages. An example of the kind of deal Hey Travelista offers travelers seeking discount five-star luxury hotel and resort packages.
Travel & Leisure
Discount five-star hotel packages in Asia, the focus of travel platform Hey Travelista
Hong Kong-based Hey Travelista is a flash-sale service that offers affordable luxury five-star hotel packages.s
Co-founder Tony Low says that while similar services such as Secret Escapes and Voyage Privé exist, theirs is the first to focus on Asi. a
Topic |
Travel news and advice
Kate Whitehead
Kate Whitehead
Published: 10:45 am, 30 Mar 2019
Do you love to travel and stay in luxury hotels but do not want to spend top dollar? A new Hong Kong-based platform might be able to help.
Hey, Travelista is a flash-sale service dedicated to offering deals on luxury five-star hotel packages that are affordable for the masses. It is similar to Cathay Pacific’s weekly “Fanfares,” which does the same for air tickets. Hey, Travelista launched last July and has members in 53 countries, although the focus is on Asia.
“Hong Kong citizens are the most traveled in the world,” says Tony Low, co-founder of Hey Travelista. “Many people want to take advantage of all the short holidays and get out of the city, which means taking a flight. We have eight long weekends this year because of how the public holidays fall. They want to have as many experiences as possible but for the same budget.”
In Europe, Secret Escapes and Voyage Privé offer something similar, and in Australia, Luxury Escapes offers luxury travel at reduced rates. But no such service existed in Asia, so Low and his two co-founders—his wife, Alyssa, and her former hospitality industry colleague Brian Koroll—decided to fill the gap in the market.
Tony Low of Hey Travelista. “People like to stay in five-star hotels, but they do not like to pay,” he says.
Tony Low of Hey Travelista. “People like to stay in five-star hotels, but they do not like to pay,” he says.
Share:
“Our offering is taking Asia-based travelers to the rest of the world,” says Low, who has a background in IT. “Luxury Escapes focuses on what Australians want: cheap beers in Bali. As an Australian, I can say that. But it’s different from what Asians want.”
So, what do Asians want? According to a 2017 report by travel industry IT firm Amadeus, “Journey of Me Insights: What Asia-Pacific travelers want,” saving money is the most important factor for Hongkongers and Singaporeans when seeking travel recommendations.
SUBSCRIBE TO POST MAGAZINE
Get updates directly to your inbox
your email
SUBMIT
By registering for these newsletters, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy.y
Brian Koroll of Hey Travelista. “We can ask hotels to include things that have little cost to them,” he says.
Brian Koroll of Hey Travelista. “We can ask hotels to include things that have little cost to them,” he says.
Share:
Read more
What to do in Seoul – South Korea’s capital is ideal for a weekend away
Why Seoul makes for an excellent weekend break
Read more
Cafe culture and craft beer in Chiang Mai: a guide to Thai city’s trendy Nimman Road
Cafe culture and craft beer in Chiang Mai’s trendy ‘new city’
Read more
How to stay vegan in the meat-heavy Philippines — and still enjoy the food
How to stay vegan in the meat-heavy Philippines
“There are many local people in Hong Kong and Singapore who have studied overseas,” Low says. “They have a propensity to travel and are high-income earners. They like staying in five-star hotels but do not like to pay. They want affordable luxury.”
Unlike hotel booking sites such as Expedia and Hotels. Co, whicht offers a wide range of hotel packages; hey Travelista focuses on the luxury end and sells packages based on a minimum tw—or three-night stay that includes airport transfers, spa treatments, drinks on arrival, and food and drinks credits. It is free to join, but you need to sign up online.
If you are just after a room for the night, this probably isn’t the best platform – it’s for those who want to indulge in some of the bells and whistles many of today’s luxury resorts offer.
Alyssa Low of Hey Travelista.
“If you stay at Six Senses, the room is just the start. We’re allowing you to get the full experience of what this five-star brand can offer,” Low says.
Koroll, a 34-year hospitality industry veteran, knows where to push hotels to get extras at a reasonable cost.
“What are the things that have a hard cost or a soft cost? For example, adding another person to breakfast is a soft cost – the breakfast buffet is already there. Most luxury hotels have their own fleet of cars and drivers. We can ask hotels to include things cheaply,” Kroll says. He also works with the hotels to find out what aspect of their property they want to showcase and then negotiates a package for their members.
So, what does a good deal look like? At the time of writing, the platform had a two-night package at One & Only The Palm in Dubai for HK$10,936 (US$1,400), inclusive of service charges and taxes. That got you a premier room facing the beach and included breakfast, access to the water park, and a discount at the spa. The longer you stay, the more inclusions you get. Koroll says it represented a 40—to 50 percent reduction on the standard price.
While Hey Travelista works with both independent properties and large chains, Koroll says it can usually negotiate better-value packages with the independent— something to look out for on the platform if you are hoping to snag a deal.
