Digital Domain Holdings Limited and Song Hoi See, founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group, announced a groundbreaking joint venture to initiate the business of digital human hospitality services. This new entity aims to redefine the global hospitality and airport services landscape with innovative digital human technology and AI.
The joint venture will function as a separate entity, utilising the strengths of its parent company’s core business in Hollywood visual effects technologies to provide industry-leading innovations.
This venture combines Digital Domain’s cutting-edge digital human technology with Song’s extensive expertise in global hospitality and airport services through Plaza Premium Group. Together, they will offer intelligent, interactive, and highly personalised services to meet the various aspects of changing needs for modern travellers.
Strategic Vision and Expertise Unite
This collaboration represents the convergence of two industry leaders. According to Digital Domain, with over 30 years of experience in creating some of the most breath-taking visuals for Hollywood films, the veteran VFX studio is now ready to take some of its innovative technologies, originally developed over the years for film, beyond the big screen.
This joint venture cements the company’s first significant branch into the commercialisation of VFX technologies outside the realm of media and entertainment. Specifically, the studio’s Oscar-winning digital human technologies refined over decades of expertise and Hollywood film-making experience will be further refined and perfected to provide real-time services in the hospitality and travel industry through expert guidance and collaboration with Plaza Premium Group.
Song Hoi See said that a visionary in global airport and travel hospitality brings unparalleled leadership and insight from his role as founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group. With over two decades of experience in the industry, Song and his expert team in travel hospitality are based in Hong Kong and operate in over 80 airports with over 250 locations.
They are not only the largest independently run pay-in lounge operation in the world but also white labelling for 13 other brands globally. Song brings not only his extensive knowledge in the travel and hospitality industry to the table, but also his vast network of connections for opportunities for digital human services to expand to, both within and in surrounding industries.
Revolutionising hospitality and airport services
The collaboration will establish new industry standards by combining cutting-edge real-time digital human technologies with traditional hospitality services in the areas of travel, hotels, tourism offices, duty-free and other concessions, call centres etc.
Through enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency, the joint venture will aim to create a seamless combination of digital innovation and personalised service across all hospitality sectors.
Leadership and innovation at the helm
Song Hoi See’s involvement is a significant asset to the joint venture. His visionary leadership and extensive experience with Plaza Premium Group will guide the partnership toward achieving its goal of revolutionising the hospitality and travel sectors around the world.
Daniel Seah, CEO of Digital Domain, stated, “Song Hoi See’s expertise will be key in identifying and executing upon industry-leading opportunities with our technologies, but equally if not more importantly, Song’s values and passion are what I believe will be the foundation of this successful partnership and the success of this venture.”
In partnering with award-winning VFX house, Digital Domain, Song Hoi See remarks, “Digital Domain, as a Hollywood-based studio, is considered by many, to be a pioneer in Digital Human Technology. Through their proven experience and leadership in Digital Human Technology, we aim to leverage their experience in delivering innovative, and immersive customer service in airports and hospitality sectors worldwide.”
Driven by a shared commitment to excellence and innovation, this strategic collaboration marks a new chapter in the hospitality and airport services industry. The joint venture is dedicating itself to transforming customer experiences and setting new standards for service and efficiency.
Aligned with the theme “Next Stop, the Future,” the conference showed a glimpse of what an airport VIP lounge equipped with a virtual ambassador informational kiosk could be like for future travellers.
Driven by artificial intelligence-related technologies, the virtual human kiosk provided essential assistance such as elaborating PPL lounge offerings, route navigation, and airport vicinity inquiries, all while adding a personable response to human-computer interaction in real-time situations.
Embracing the added value of AI in the tourism and travel service industry, Taoyuan City Government and Taoyuan International Airport also provided co-organisational support for this press conference.
Chang San-Cheng, Mayor of Taoyuan City, emphasised, “Currently, Taoyuan Airport has developed an ecosystem spanning from production and manufacturing, data storage, and now to AI applications, beyond advancing AI services at Taoyuan Airport, this collaboration aims to enhance global awareness of Taoyuan International Airport.”
“The airport using AI technology, for instance, using virtual technology to showcase local celebrities welcoming guests at the concierge desk or recreate famous Taiwan attractions at the airport, creating an immersive experience that leaves visitors with a deeper appreciation of Taiwan and Taoyuan International Airport, this initiative seeks to elevate Taoyuan International Airport’s global ranking,” he added.
Digital Domain is refining its virtual human solutions for use in smart kiosks. The company plans to collaborate with local manufacturers through cross-border licensing and remote technical support. This effort aims to promote and expand AI virtual human technology across various settings such as airports and hotels.
Taoyuan International Airport is optimistic about the potential of integrating such technologies and supports the development and implementation.
Yang Weifuu, chairman of Taoyuan International Airport Corporation, said, “Through the collaboration between Digital Domain and Plaza Premium Group, a new AI virtual assistant service has made its global debut at the Plaza Premium Lounge at Taoyuan International Airport.
“This innovation not only enhances the passenger experience but also marks a significant step toward Taoyuan Airport becoming a smart airport. I believe that every new smart service that has been introduced will progressively improve the user experience, making travel more convenient.”
“Thank you to Digital Domain and our strategic partner Plaza Premium Group for selecting Taoyuan Airport for this launch and to everyone for their trust and support of Taoyuan International Airport. Let’s look forward together to the advanced travel experiences that AI virtual customer service will bring!” Yang concluded.
