Latest news with #Klook
Skift
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Skift
‘Let Loose the Goose': Klook Launches Viral AI-Powered Travel Campaign
Klook's goose might not have wings, but the idea behind it clearly does. Travel experiences platform Klook has launched a campaign in Hong Kong that's anything but conventional. There's no celebrity endorsement, no picture-perfect lifestyle visuals, and no curated itineraries. Instead, 'Go Wild with Travel' features a goose and some AI. The campaign launched this week with a fake out-of-home stunt that showed the goose soaring across iconic global landmarks. The image quickly caught attention online, turning the character into a viral phenomenon. As Klook explained, 'This 'creature' became the talk of the town, setting the stage for our Hong Kong team's summer campaign reveal, featuring transportation, tours, experiences, and hotel offerings.' For Klook, this wasn't just a quirky marketing tactic. According to Kenny Sham, general manager for Hong Kong, Macau, and Thailand, the campaign's use of AI was central to its storytelling strategy. As Sham puts it, the campaign 'reframes travel as a spontaneous, joyful escape — inviting everyone to follow instinct, not plans.' 'We brought a goose to life and let it travel the world,' said Duffy Lau, managing director at Grey Hong Kong, the creative agency that worked with Klook. 'The entire campaign was crafted using AI to unlock creative possibilities, transforming a simple idea into something people can spot, share, and smile at.' 'Let Loose the Goose' Without the need for big budgets or traditional production teams, AI enabled the creation of a surreal character that could exist in multiple formats and locations. In a social media post, Klook summed it up this way: 'AI lets us produce diverse, playful content at scale. It's fast, flexible, and sometimes, to go further, you just have to let loose the goose!' The goose became a perfect symbol for that mindset. In Cantonese, the word for 'goose' sounds like 'I,' allowing it to serve as both a playful character and a personal metaphor. In Klook's words: 'It's our playful call to travelers: be bold, break free (because life is more than just a 9-to-5 routine, right?)' The concept isn't entirely without precedent. Two years ago, Dubai-based airline Emirates also introduced a computer-generated goose, 'Gerry,' as its brand ambassador. But Klook's campaign takes the idea further, leaning into the goose not just as a mascot, but as a metaphor. That spirit of freedom aligns with Klook's broader offering, which spans three categories: Play, Stay, and Move. 'Play' includes over 500,000 bookable activities and experiences. 'Stay' bundles accommodation with travel, while 'Move' offers train and mobility passes across destinations like Japan and Europe. The goal is to give travelers the tools to explore freely — without having every detail locked in. Building on the momentum of last year's campaign and the global initiative 'The Best You,' this new direction marks a shift in tone and territory. As Sham put it, 'From breaking out of routines to rediscovering local adventures, the campaign captures how travel can reconnect us with who we really are.' The campaign will continue to roll out throughout the summer, led, of course, by one very curious goose. Earlier this year, Klook secured $100 million in funding. Klook CCO Wilfred Fan at the Skift Asia Forum
Business Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
SoftBank-backed travel app Klook is said to consider US listing: sources
[HONG KONG] Klook, a travel and leisure booking platform, is exploring an initial public offering in the US that may raise as much as US$500 million, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The company, which is backed by investors such as SoftBank Group and Goldman Sachs Group, is working with financial advisers on the planned first-time share sale, said the people, asking not to be identified as the process is private. Klook may confidentially file an application in the US soon, the people said. An IPO could raise from US$300 million to US$500 million, they said. Deliberations are ongoing and details such as timing and size could change, the people said. A representative for Klook declined to comment. Founded in 2014, Klook reached unicorn status in 2018 and turned profitable in 2023. It competes with other global travel booking sites such as and Expedia, as well as China's and South Korea's Yanolja. The company raised US$100 million in a new founding round led by Vitruvian Partners, bringing the total raised to more than US$1 billion. Other investors in Klook include HongShan Capital Group, or HSG, formerly known as Sequoia Capital China. Travellers from younger generations known as Millennial and Gen Z make up about 70 per cent of Klook's user base, with more than four-in-five bookings made on its mobile app. That has made social media platforms a key channel to win customers, Eric Gnock Fah, the company's co-founder and president, said in February. BLOOMBERG
Bloomberg
16-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
SoftBank-Backed Travel App Klook Is Said to Consider US Listing
By , Elffie Chew, and Dave Sebastian Save Klook, a travel and leisure booking platform, is exploring an initial public offering in the US that may raise as much as $500 million, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The company, which is backed by investors such as SoftBank Group Corp. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., is working with financial advisers on the planned first-time share sale, said the people, asking not to be identified as the process is private. Klook may confidentially file an application in the US soon, the people said. An IPO could raise from $300 million to $500 million, they said.
Korea Herald
16-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Klook and Hoshino Resorts Are Making It Easier To Explore Japan's Hidden Gems
SINGAPORE, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Klook, a leading platform for experiences and travel services in Asia Pacific, has teamed up with Japan's renowned hospitality brand Hoshino Resorts to make regional Japan more accessible than ever. The collaboration aims to connect travelers with authentic local experiences beyond the usual tourist hotspots—think beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka—helping to ease overcrowding while driving fresh demand to Japan's up-and-coming destinations. "Overtourism is a global issue, and Japan feels it strongly," said Wilfred Fan, Chief Commercial Officer of Klook. "Alongside Hoshino Resorts, we're committed to promoting sustainable tourism through regional travel, and take this step toward securing the long-term future of Japan's tourism ecosystem." Rising Demand for Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations According to Klook's latest Travel Pulse survey, 63% of Asia Pacific travelers want to avoid crowded destinations and seek out less-traveled places. And in Japan, Klook data reveals surging interest in emerging cities such as Kunigami, Nagakute, and Usu that are witnessing a rapid rise in demand. What's fueling this shift? Stay+ Bundles: Seamless Travel Made Simple Interest in exploring Japan's emerging cities is on the rise, yet many international visitors still face practical barriers: limited transport coverage, language gaps, and a lack of reliable booking information. At the heart of the partnership are co-designed Stay+ bundles that pair stays at Hoshino Resorts' signature KAI ryokans with transportation passes like the JR Pass. Think tranquil onsens, authentic kaiseki cuisine, and hyper-local touches, paired with effortless rail travel, all easily bookable on Klook with instant confirmation and multilingual support. Mapped to 21 KAI properties located in places like Poroto in Hokkaido, Tsugaru in Tohoku, or Okuhida in the Japanese Alps, these bundles give travelers an easy step into Japan's lesser-known culture, flavours, and traditions. "We're honored to partner with Hoshino Resorts. Their unique accommodation and brand appeal, combined with Klook's strength in transportation, platform access, and regional marketing capabilities, will help raise awareness of Japan's lesser-known destinations," said Wataru Masuda, General Manager of Klook Japan. "This will encourage more travelers to explore regional areas and experience Japan's diverse natural and cultural offerings. Looking ahead, we plan to expand with more hotel brands from Hoshino Resorts and leverage AI tools to help travelers plan and book local travel experiences directly on the platform." Expanding and Encouraging Deeper Travel The rollout kicks off in Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Korea, with more markets to come. It's the first step in a bigger vision: reimagining how the world discovers Japan, one local gem at a time. Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO of Hoshino Resorts added, "With growing pressure on urban tourism, guiding travelers deeper into regional areas and achieving tourism dispersion has become a long-standing priority. By partnering with Klook to integrate accommodation and transportation, we believe we can effectively address the challenge of limited local transportation and attract more travelers to explore various regions of Japan, improving both the visibility and accessibility of local tourism." Klook is Asia's leading platform for experiences and travel services. We curate quality experiences ranging from attractions and tours to local transport and experiential stays, in over 3,400 destinations globally. Founded in 2014, we are here to inspire and enable more moments of joy for travelers anytime, anywhere.
The Star
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Online job scams in Hong Kong jump 92% amid rise in 'click farming' tactics
The number of online employment scams in Hong Kong recorded from January to May nearly doubled from the same period last year, while losses jumped by 89% to HK$480mil (RM 259.99mil or US$61.1mil), with police attributing the rise to 'click farming' swindles proliferating. Superintendent Rachel Hui Yee-wai of the force's cybersecurity and technology crime bureau said the sharp increase was due to a change of tactics by swindlers, who were claiming to offer rewards for online tasks rather than seeking payments for fake job offers. 'Scammers' targets have expanded to include anyone, not just students and jobseekers. Even if a person is not looking for a job, they can also be targeted,' she said. Police recorded 2,148 online employment scams in the first five months, a 92.1% increase from the 1,118 cases logged over the same period in 2024. Losses from such scams rose from HK$260mil (RM140.83mil) to HK$480mil (RM 259.99mil) . Police figures showed that technology-based crimes, which cover various types of online fraud, were on the rise. The force recorded 13,438 cases in the first five months of 2025, up by 2.6% from the same period last year. Related losses increased by 13.6%, going from HK$2.2bil (RM1.19bil) to HK$2.5bil (RM1.35bil). In May alone, 621 online employment scams were recorded, with 60% of them involving WhatsApp and 22% taking place on Telegram. The largest case that month saw a victim lose HK$2.67mil (RM1.45mil) to scammers running a WhatsApp chat group that claimed to offer paid tasks from the travel booking platform Agoda. The victim lost the money after using Hong Kong's Faster Payment System to make 14 transfers to a local bank account in one day. The bureau's Chief Inspector Felton Leung Yee-tak said that scammers typically used click farming tactics in such cases and would randomly add residents to chat groups on WhatsApp or other platforms. 'Click farming refers to a seller paying others to purchase products from a designated shop to boost their credit with fraudulent transactions, reselling products or following a celebrity's social media account for a commission,' he said. Leung said scammers would reel in victims by paying them small amounts for completing easy tasks, then dupe them into paying to complete more advanced tasks that supposedly offered greater rewards. But when victims tried to withdraw their 'earnings', scammers would accuse them of making mistakes while completing the tasks or claim the target had damaged their employer's computer system before demanding penalty payments. The Post uncovered clicking farm chats on WhatsApp where scammers claimed to work for travel booking platform Klook and invited people to help 'click on the like and save buttons' for a cash reward. For the first task, scammers asked participants to send a message to 'report their attendance' and offered a HK$70 (RM38) reward. They would then be told to take screenshots to prove they had downloaded Klook's mobile app and saved a specified hotel to their 'favourites' folders, with victims being offered another small reward. The next step saw chat members being asked to switch over to Telegram for a HK$100 (RM54) payout. Leung urged residents to leave such chat groups immediately, warning that anyone who claimed the small rewards and then left could be held liable for taking part in money laundering if they had knowingly received criminal proceeds. Hui warned that scammers frequently changed their guises, noting they had gone from impersonating travel platforms in May to restaurant booking ones last month. 'The key is how much the business depends on online activity. The more the business operates online, the more likely fraudsters may exploit the brand,' she said. A homemaker surnamed Chan said she had lost her life savings, about HK$2.3mil (RM1.25mil), in a click farming scam over about 10 days last December, adding that she had started doing the bogus tasks because she was bored. The woman, who is in her fifties, was later told to pay tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars over claims she had damaged the bogus platform's computer system. 'One day, they changed their story to claim their system had been hacked and left them unable to exchange my money. That is when I started thinking they were problematic,' Chan said. 'They said if I did not finish the next task, I could not get my money back.' Woo Chin-pang, a police psychologist, said scammers would prey on victims' fears and guilt to prevent them from getting out of the situation before they lost even more money. 'Scammers use the sunk cost effect to exploit the victims' weaknesses and demand they pay more money or borrow from their families,' he said. – South China Morning Post
