Samsonite APAC & Middle East

In a recent interview with lifestyle media WEPEOPLE Taiwan, Subrata Dutta, President of Samsonite APAC & Middle East, shares his philosophy and approach to travel. To Subrata, travel is a mindset: “Its purpose shouldn't just be to reach a destination, but to embrace the experiences and moments along the way. The air you breathe in each place, the conversations you have with different people, and the exchange of ideas, these are all part of the journey.” His passion for travel is in part due to his fascination with the history, culture and boundless vitality of Asia. Subrata shared: "Countries like South Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and my home country, India, have developed so rapidly over the past century. Each has its own unique story to tell, and this deeply interests me." A little trivia about Subrata is that he always carries two books with him while traveling — one is a fiction novel, and the other is typically a book on philosophy or sociology! This allows him to shift his mood by switching between different genres. Over the years, Subrata has leveraged his unique perspectives to ensure that Samsonite continues to innovate and be sensitive to the world around us. “Because of my background in electrical engineering, I am able to look at the industry from a different perspective. This, combined with my passion for the arts, helps me imagine the perfect fusion of engineering and art,” explained Subrata, on how he helps Samsonite remain at the forefront of market trends and in balancing different consumer priorities across design, functionality, and sustainability. Check out the full interview below (in Chinese): https://lnkd.in/gEvje_cS

We sent the Samsonite Proxis, our lightest-ever suitcase, to space and dropped it back down to earth – fully intact. Congratulations to our US team for pulling off this incredible feat! “At Samsonite, innovation is in our DNA,” shared Nicole Adriance, Senior Director of Brand Marketing, North America. “Sending Proxis into space is a bold testament to our century-long commitment to durability and design. This experiment with ‘Sent Into Space’ demonstrates how our case delivers performance under the most challenging conditions, withstanding not only the rigors of Earthbound travel but also the ultimate test – space – exemplifying the remarkable balance we’ve achieved between lightweight design and rugged durability, setting a new standard in the luggage industry.”   #SamsoniteInSpace #Proxis #Samsonite

Every journey with Samsonite goes beyond our products; it’s about the experiences we provide.   This #CustomerServiceWeek, we’re shining the spotlight on our incredible customer care team and their unwavering commitment to deliver quality service for our customers. Meet Ravi Bhamre, Assistant Director, Customer Care, India and the Middle East & Head of Soft Side Quality, India, in this quick Q&A.   Find out what fuels him, how customer service has evolved at Samsonite APAC & Middle East, and his top tips for those new to this field.

“Listening to our consumers is our top priority,” emphasizes Subrata Dutta, President of Samsonite APAC & Middle East, in a recent interview with Business Weekly Taiwan.   This consumer-centric philosophy is evident in the way we provide autonomy to our local market teams – they have the flexibility to tailor aspects of their strategy and operations to best serve local consumer preferences.   Samsonite Taiwan exemplifies this spirit of localized flexibility and agility. When the pandemic brought overseas travel to a halt, the team pivoted to focus on non-luggage products such as bags, catering to consumers’ demand for daily commuting and outdoor hiking.   “We survived by selling bags,” shared Nick Lin, General Manager, Samsonite Taiwan. “Within a week, we rearranged product displays, switching out over 70% of shelf space previously occupied by suitcases. We also retrained our employees to shift their mindset towards selling more bags, since they were traditionally used to selling suitcases that typically retailed for higher prices.”   Looking back, Sunny L., Marketing Director, Samsonite Taiwan, reflected, “Given the significant external challenges, adapting quickly to local market conditions is crucial – we started developing new strategies in just a few days, faster than in other countries and most other competitors.” To find out more, read the full article here (in Chinese):  https://lnkd.in/gRFnUGJM

As part of the broader “Tomorrow Is Here” campaign that aims to inspire actions for a more sustainable future, our Samsonite Singapore team recently participated in the third edition of GREEN-HOUSE, a retail festival focused on sustainable living and community collaborations.   At the event, we showcased an immersive art installation featuring tapestry made from the extracted inner fabric of preloved luggage, reclaimed during our annual Luggage Trade-In program in Singapore. Local textile and community artist Natalia Tan engaged festival-goers with a live weaving accompaniment, while visitors also donated their unwanted fabric and had a go at weaving it into the tapestry.   As part of Samsonite’s commitment to give back to local communities, some of the hard shells collected from our Luggage Trade-In program were also used to create pet beds that support the adoption drive by animal welfare organizations such as the Chained Dog Awareness Singapore.   #ESG #OurResponsibleJourney

Congratulations to our Hong Kong team on the reopening of their beautifully refurbished office last month!   The celebrations included time-honored traditions like a pig-cutting ceremony and a lively lion dance performance - both symbolizing good fortune and prosperity. Families (and pets!) of our colleagues also joined in the festivities with an afternoon of bonding over delicious food, ice-cream treats, and a photo booth that captured the memorable moments.   Social enterprise YMCA of Hong Kong, which supports women’s empowerment through upskilling and job opportunities, also contributed to the joyous atmosphere with a balloon-twisting station that made vibrant creations for everyone.   Nikhil Gupte, General Manager of Samsonite Hong Kong, shared, “There was so much excitement, fun and smiles all around. My favorite place in our office is the pantry area overlooking the harborfront, with a view that’s inspiring and refreshing.”   “What a fantastic event the team pulled off for the relaunch of their office. It was wonderful to see our colleagues’ families share in the day’s activities, and leave with great memories and full bellies,” added Tony Griffiths, Senior Director, HR & Admin, Samsonite APAC & Middle East.   Browse photos from the fun-filled day below 👀

This summer, our Samsonite brand ambassador for Asia, Lee Dong Wook, was "spotted" in Korea, mainland China, and Hong Kong 🌍   This is Lee Dong Wook’s second campaign with Samsonite since he became our Asia Ambassador. Titled ‘Gravitated’, the campaign celebrates the joy of travel and the desire for new experiences at each destination.    This 360 integrated campaign is rolled out across digital, social, retail, and outdoor advertising, including high-impact displays at major airports across Asia.   Enjoy the campaign video here: https://lnkd.in/dADJeYAM

In our latest edition of ‘People of Samsonite’, we sat down with Colin Chui, Senior General Counsel, Asia, for a quick chat. A mathematics major, and dragon boat and marathon enthusiast - he tells the story of his serendipitous foray into law, the passionate culture he thrives in, and his family-centric values that also extend to care for his colleagues. Read all about it below ⬇️

A visual feast was on display at the American Tourister pop-up event in Taiwan last month! The 10-day event was held near A11 Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store in Taipei, to celebrate the launch of the “Fun is Where You Take It” campaign. A custom-built, upside-down train carriage stole the show by exhibiting the #AmericanTourister Frontec collection in a uniquely imaginative way - a nod to the brand’s creativity in connecting with travelers. This stylish set-up even served as a fun photo spot for invited influencers and curious passers-by 📸 On launch day, Taiwanese boy group U:NUS put on a live performance, elevating the atmosphere with energy and enthusiasm as fans cheered on. Participants could also win prizes, ice-cream giveaways and enjoy other promotional offers. Keep an eye out for more of such brand experiences to come!

Proud of our Samsonite store at Suntec City mall in Singapore, for being awarded the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) Advanced certification from EDGE Buildings!   This is a global standard by IFC - International Finance Corporation that recognizes buildings and spaces with 40% or more on-site energy savings. This accolade is a testament to the store’s #sustainability-first design. For instance, the store’s external facade was fabricated from recycled aluminium and the shelves were made from recycled plastics. The Balau wood sculptures framing the space were also fashioned out of used wood that had spent at least 30 years in shipyards.   To date, the store has achieved predicted savings of: • 43% energy savings • 54% water savings • 47% less embodied energy in materials   Congratulations to everyone involved in this remarkable achievement – a symbol of the progress we’re making with our global sustainability strategy, “Our Responsible Journey”.   #ESG #OurResponsibleJourney #EDGEAdvanced