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New owner transforming Dynasty Travel into travel tech company, planning luxe experiences

SINGAPORE - Dynasty Travel, a brand-name agency established in 1978, is transforming into a travel technology company for the post-pandemic landscape.

It was acquired late last year in an eight-figure deal by Travel Curators, a Singapore-headquartered travel technology company that began as a mobile app targeted at affluent travellers seeking bespoke travel services in Japan.

The global pandemic is an opportune moment to digitalise Dynasty Travel, after its 100 per cent acquisition from JTB Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Japan's largest travel company JTB Corporation, said Mr Teo Tianyi, founder of Travel Curators.

"With leisure and business travel severely disrupted by the ongoing pandemic, we see a unique opportunity to lead the digitalisation of the travel agency industry, and provide greater value-added services for global clients seeking safe and hassle-free ways to explore and learn more about our planet," said the Singaporean private equity investor, who was based in Tokyo for a decade.

The niche experiences in Japan crafted by Travel Curators include hunting ezo-bafun sea urchins with local fishermen on Rishiri Island in Hokkaido, while learning about how climate change is affecting the population of these ocean delicacies.

Travellers can also harvest organic mazuma wasabi with an artisanal grower who picks off pests by hand daily.

Travel Curators, a start-up founded in 2016, works closely with local communities in Japan and other countries to design one-of-a-kind experiences that also create a positive impact on the people, economy and environment of each place.

It is helping to preserve culture by, for instance, producing short films on best-in-class Japanese artisans, many of whom are retiring without successors. These include a Noh mask carver in Kyoto and an incense maker in Osaka.

Though it has stayed low profile, its refreshing approach to bespoke travel and efforts to give back have been highlighted by international media, including National Geographic and Esquire.

Bloomberg reported in 2018 that it has "an impressive Rolodex with the country's elite, facilitating everything from brown bear safaris in Hokkaido to private dinners with the cast of a live-action manga movie".

In the same spirit, Dynasty Travel, one of the largest travel agencies in Singapore, will design bespoke adventures aligned with the environmental and social responsibility practices of its new owner - beginning with chartered luxury cruises to exotic places such as Antarctica and the Galapagos this year, Mr Teo said.

Journeys to Indonesian rainforests to learn more about wildlife protection and climate change are also being planned.

In line with the new ethos, the premises of Dynasty Travel in New Bridge Road will be redesigned for clients to enjoy a concierge-style customer experience that differs from the previous counter-style format.

The office floors will also be revamped to reflect the company's new technology-driven business approach, with an array of spaces such as quiet spots for focused work and relaxing common areas for informal discussions.

Meanwhile, the company is also recruiting new talent to strengthen its management team.

The rebranded Dynasty Travel is expected to amplify its presence in Asia under the ownership of Travel Curators, which also supplies its proprietary Tora-Q trip planning and management technology to leading travel agencies around the world.

In a strategic partnership, Travel Curators is also providing its Tora-Q system to JTB Asia Pacific to transform its business model and create new digital touchpoints for clients.

JTB Asia Pacific will also leverage Travel Curators' technology and trip curation expertise to design unique travel experiences around the world for a global clientele.

More transformation lies ahead. Mr Teo said: "As worldwide travel demand rebounds in the coming years, our acquisition of Dynasty Travel will put us in a prime position to rapidly grow our business and user base."

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Dynasty Travel bakes up a storm for charity drive

The pandemic may have dealt the travel industry a massive blow, but Singapore-based tour agency Dynasty Travel is forging ahead with its annual charity drive to aid needful residents of Singapore.

It has launched Food from the Heart – Project Belanja, an initiative that enables beneficiaries to redeem freshly cooked meals at designated food stalls across the island. These include hawker stalls and F&B owners in residential areas such as Tampines, Toa Payoh and Mountbatten, with both halal and non-halal food options.

Aiming to raise S$10,000 (US$7,240) towards this cause, staff of Dynasty Travel have been kept busy baking, cooking and delivering meals, as well as designing and broadcasting digital content for the campaign.

“Our director of MICE will be cooking XO prosperity glutinous rice, our senior manager of product development will be baking chocolate cake and monster cookies, and our senior manager in marketing is baking cheese cake and cinnamon rolls. For myself, I will be baking the butter banana raisins cake,” shared Alicia Seah, Dynasty Travel’s director, public relations & communications.

She added: “Despite the difficulties and challenges, we are forging ahead with our charity drive as it is even more important that we continue our CSR journey this year to help those who have been hit hard by the current crisis.”

To prepare for the project, staff involved in food preparation attended and passed the Workforce Skills Qualification food safety and hygiene course, approved by the National Environment Agency.

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Dynasty Travel International

As one of Singapore’s leading travel agencies, Dynasty Travel believes in providing the best service and putting your travel memories at the heart of all we do. Established in 1978 with the focus on creating unique and unforgettable travel experiences for you, it has been our pleasure to be your chosen agency. We aim to continue to delight you with our services and offerings and to enjoy a lasting relationship together. Equipped with deep local knowledge for each destination, we assure you quality itineraries to suit the travel desires of you and your loved ones. From relaxing tours to exhilarating adventures, Dynasty Travel will be there with you for that quality time abroad. With the desire to cater to busy schedules and to offer better conveniences, we introduced Singapore’s first travel website in 2009, where online payments and transactions can be completed for group tour packages. In 2016, we launched Singapore’s first Mobile Travel Concierge, allowing our travel consultants to bring the Dynasty Travel service to our customers’ homes and offices. In 2019, we became the first travel agency to launch our online briefing videos, allowing customers to prepare for their trips in the comforts of their own homes. While our efforts have been recognized with our many industry awards, we are never content to rest on our laurels and will continue to place our customers at the heart of all that we do. Dynasty Travel is also honoured to have had the privilege of giving back to society through our Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, earning us the title of Champion of Good for two years running. With you in mind, we will carry on with initiatives to fulfil your ever-growing travel needs. No matter where you go, it will always be about you. Why? Because we believe in creating a lasting travel memory with Dynasty. Always.

35 New Bridge Road Dynasty Travel Hub Singapore 059395

Experiences

Singapore travel company Dynasty Travel launches 19-day expedition to Antarctica

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The expedition, taking place on board the Ocean Albatros, begins in Argentina, travelling through the Drake Passage then continuing on to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

The Ocean Albatros. (Photo: Dynasty Travel)

Melissa Stewart

Leading luxury travel company Dynasty Travel is celebrating its 45th anniversary and to mark this milestone, the company has announced a 19-day expedition to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and South Georgia. The expedition will take place on board the brand-new Ocean Albatros, operated by Albatros Expeditions.

In a press release, Dynasty Travel said that the ship will take no more than 150 clients. Guests can expect gastronomical delights on board, prepared using locally sourced seafood by a renowned chef specially flown in from Japan. The company will also collaborate with luxury brands to create special gifts that clients can use during and after the trip.

The expedition will begin on Nov 5. Guests will start the ocean-going part of their journey in Ushuaia, Argentina. The ship will travel through the mighty Drake Passage before making landfall at the South Shetland Islands. The journey then continues to the Antarctica peninsula, followed by South Georgia and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Guests will return to Ushuaia 19 days later.

On board the Ocean Albatros, guests will find spacious cabins and a luxurious interior design incorporating wooden fittings, a pastel colour palette and colourful Scandi accessories. Complementing the usual buffet restaurant is a new sushi restaurant built on Dynasty Travel’s request, with an open sushi counter.

During the expedition, guests can disembark and explore the Antarctica continent on foot, coming up close with nature and wildlife. With leading polar researchers as their guides, they will also learn about the deeply intertwined relationship between ice shelves and Earth’s terrestrial organisms, and how climate change is affecting the ecosystem of Antarctica and the rest of the world.

Dynasty Travel was founded in 1978. In early 2022, the company was acquired by Japan-based travel technology company, Travel Curators. Since the acquisition, the company has undergone a brand transformation.

Its new motto is “travel well, learn more and do good”. In this line, the company’s new focus is to provide its clients with meaningful, educational and immersive travel experiences.

What is it like to travel to Antarctica and is it worth it?

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CUSTOMER REVIEW

The May trip to Japan “The Best Of Central Honshu”, was a very good experience especially the Alpine Route. This “Premium Tour” small group was very good, from total strangers became good friends. Very Good Food and Hotel arrangements. I would like to compliment Ms Diana Chua, our Singapore Tour Leader, she is pleasant, very caring and helpful. The Japan Tour Guide Philip Tan was good too.

As a first-time client of Travel Curators, I did not know what to expect. But by the end of my trip, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of their service, their systematic planning and especially their responsiveness throughout the trip to last minute requests. They lived up to their billing as a white glove travel concierge service. While I could do my own research and plan a rough itinerary to meet my families’ specific interests, Travel Curators helped tremendously. Thanks to Travel Curators, my family left Japan with many fond memories.”

Had a 12 day private tour to Japan via Dynasty Travel. Overall, a refreshing, memorable and meaningful trip given our focused and free and easy tour. Meticulous and customised arrangements to fulfil our requirements. We thus have a good grasp of both Kyoto and Nagoya, and Japan in general after this trip.

Good food and hotel and itinerary. Their tours are good. Went with them to Turkey in Oct 22.

My husband and I had a wonderful experience to Central Honshu with Dynasty travel in May. Itinerary is good (esp. the Alpine Route!) and not so rushing throughout the trip. Tour leader, Diana, is friendly, well organized and helpful. She attend to our needs from simple things like buying fruits to buying Sake. 🍶😁 Also, Diana always make effort to look out on my elderly sister! Our travelling group were all lovely companions and everybody got along very well – A very comforting feeling! Overall the whole trip was very enjoyable. Good job Dynasty! 👍

Did a Mie/Aichi Japan private trip in early April. Thanks to Stephanie and her team, our needs and interests were met. Fine details like our food and accommodation preference from our previous Shizuoka trip in 2022 were noted. The clam digging experience in Aichi perfecture was definitely a unique birthday gift for my wife. Looking forward to our next trip.

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