For Eric Cheng, the value of this premium credit card lies beyond the ability to redeem any flight he wishes, but in the dedicated, personalised service.
For Eric Cheng, the value of this premium credit card lies beyond the ability to redeem any flight he wishes, but in the dedicated, personalised service.
An OCBC Voyage cardmember since its inception, Cheng has seen how quickly it has grown its range of services.
In his professional capacity, Eric Cheng – founder and CEO of luxury property developer Sevens Group, and co-founder and CEO of CapitalX – is a serial entrepreneur invested in diverse businesses with bases spread across the Asia-Pacific. Outside of work, the 44-year-old is a loving husband who lavishes his wife with shopping sprees in Paris; and a doting father who treats his teenage sons to experiences such as watching Manchester United in action at Old Trafford. Cheng himself is a motorhead whose idea of fun is to burn rubber on racing circuits spanning Italy, Malaysia, China, Japan and Australia.
Needless to say, this is one individual who is familiar with the privileges of the high life, his frequent travels making him the perfect candidate for the OCBC Voyage card. Launched in 2015 for affluent individuals who need to jet off at a moment’s notice, the card allows for immediate flight redemptions, with no black-out dates and from any airline. For every S$1 spent overseas, members accrue 2.3 miles. Locally, each dollar spent offers up to 1.6 miles.
But Cheng was drawn to the card for more than the travel perk. He became a member after experiencing the OCBC Voyage team’s dedication to personalised service.
Cheng’s passion for “sexy” cars inspired him to learn how to race.
GOING THE EXTRA MILE
As a founding member, Cheng received a customised card to commemorate his status. Coupled this with the seamless application process and personal delivery of the card by the product manager within 24 hours, Cheng was supremely impressed.
“They really offered me something special,” he says.
His relationship with OCBC Voyage grew from there. “Being one of the earliest users of the card, I have seen how it has rapidly and aggressively grown its suite of services,” he says.
The two-way limousine airport transfer, for instance, has made his frequent trips – he travels two thirds of the time – more smooth. The car buff in him appreciates that the fleet – ranging from Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloons to spacious MPVs – is maintained at high standards.
He remembers an occasion when an business associate turned up at the airport unexpectedly and pickup arrangements had to be made on the spot. “My staff called the OCBC Voyage concierge for assistance and, in less than 15 minutes, a car arrived for him – it was handled so smoothly that he did not even realise that it was an emergency arrangement.”
MY STAFF CALLED THE VOYAGE CONCIERGE F OR ASSISTANCE AND, IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES, A CAR ARRIVED F OR THE STRANDED GUEST.
ERIC CHENG, F OUNDER, SEVENS GROUP
Suiting up to race in the Ferrari 458 Challenge at Fuji Speedway, Japan.
More than that, through the 24/7 concierge service which is complimentary for OCBC Voyage cardmembers, Cheng has managed to snag coveted tables at Michelin-star restaurants around the world for his business meetings. “They are pretty strong in dining reservations and have managed to get me seats at places that are hard to get into,” says Cheng.
And, when he travels to pursue his passion for racing, he counts on the Voyage concierge team to help with hotel reservations. “The racing tracks and off-roading routes can be in remote destinations,” he says. “The OCBC Voyage team knows my requirements and would recommend the best hotels that suit my preferences – it is very personalised.”
The team also helped his sons meet their football heroes in Manchester. Even though the sessions had been sold out by the time his UK holiday was planned, the OCBC Voyage team went out of its way to assist with securing the elusive spots.
“The points accrued on the card are actually used for my family’s holidays,” says Cheng. “We have redeemed business- and first-class tickets for my parents, my wife and myself, and our sons to many destinations in Europe and Australia. We do not have to worry about black out dates and can get tickets for the family easily.”
Cheng turns to the OCBC concierge team to help him book suitable hotels near the racetrack he’s heading to.
A SPECIAL CONNECTION
The figure-sensitive businessman in Cheng observes that he enjoys better exchange rates on his OCBC Voyage card when spending overseas – something of significance, especially when he easily chalks up six-digit bills after a European holiday. “But it is not really such things – or even the miles accumulation and redemption – that matter,” he says.
What he values most is the relationship he has with the bank. “They are very sincere in building the relationship with the clients, not just through the relationship managers, but at all levels,” he says. “Through the OCBC Voyage card, we would be invited to exclusive events such as concerts, during which the relationship manager would introduce us to the management team. Beyond a good time, the evening provides opportunities for networking. Such introductions are helpful, especially since I do both corporate and private banking with them, and might require different services.”
“It is also in the small things,” says Cheng. “Often, when I drop them a note of compliment, I’d get a call from the managing director of Group Lifestyle Financing, OCBC, just to say ‘thank you’. They really go the extra mile to make you feel that you have a very close relationship with them. With OCBC Voyage, it feels like family.”
