A Memorandum of Understanding between Visa International Asia Pacific Korea Ltd. and the Guam Visitors Bureau is intended to promote Guam and will be “supported across all participating markets,” according to Patrick Storey, country manager for Visa International Asia Pacific Korea Ltd.
The MOU — signed at a GVB membership meeting on March 13 at the RHIGA Royal Laguna Guam Resort — will give Guam greater visibility with Visa cardholders as part of campaigns, via marketing channels and at client meetings. Guam businesses will be able to participate through special offers to Visa card holders, with the campaign planned for May. Visa has a significant number of Visa partners and more cardholders in the region.
Despite limited domestic acceptance Korean travelers are increasingly choosing contactless cards when abroad, according to a presentation by Stanley Kim, head of Cross-Border Payment for Korea and Mongolia, and market lead for Guam & Micronesia with Visa. “Visa in Korea is considered the most preferred brand,” he said.
In other GVB news, the United Airlines flight between Guam and Haneda International Airport is due to begin in May.
Nadine Leon Guerrero, director of global marketing with GVB; said the early morning arrival time of 4.45 a.m. is a challenge. Many Guam hotels have check-in times of 3 p.m.
Ken Yanagisawa, general manager of The Tsubaki Tower, told the Journal the hotel would be sensitive to the Haneda flight’s arrival time. “We will do whatever is necessary,” he said. Yanagisawa is also president of PHR Ken Micronesia.
GVB also participated in an educational fair in Seoul for studying abroad on March 9 and 10 and will send a delegation to the International Educational and Career fair in Seoul on April 27 and 28.
In other arrival updates, Leon Guerrero said HIS will be bringing in seven charters from Kansai and the Philippine Airlines and the inclusion of the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program is moving forward. The program allows visitors from the approved destinations to stay for up to 45 days without a visa. mbj