Carlton Hotel Singapore Names Executive Assistant Manager, Sales and Marketing
Joanne Chan has been promoted to executive assistant manager, sales and marketing at Carlton Hotel Singapore. She previously led sales and marketing initiatives at Carlton City Hotel Singapore within the Carlton Collection. In her new role, Chan will oversee sales, marketing and communications, concentrating on revenue performance and brand positioning. The appointment underscores the hotel’s focus on internal talent development to drive growth.
Palm Garden Hotel Putrajaya Welcomes New GM
Marshall Chai has been appointed general manager of Palm Garden Hotel Putrajaya, succeeding his role as hotel manager at Moxy Putrajaya where he helped launch the property. In his new position, Chai will oversee all hotel operations, with a particular...
Ascott Brings Famed Striker Hasselbaink to Vietnam for Loyalty Member Engagement Event
Ascott Ltd. expanded its Star Rewards loyalty programme with a two‑day fan engagement event in Hanoi, featuring Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The April 17‑18 "A Night with the Blues" gave ASR members a rare meet‑and‑greet and showcased the newly...
Tourism Businesses See Health and Safety Advantages in Pursuit of Halal Certification
Hospitality firms in Macau are pursuing halal certification to boost health and safety standards, a view echoed at the MITE 2026 Muslim Tourism Opportunities Salon. Panelists likened the halal audit to HACCP, emphasizing product traceability and quality from farm to...
Trafalgar Enters River Cruise Market with Rhine and Danube Sailings
Trafalgar has entered the river‑cruise segment with two new ships, the Trafalgar Verity and Trafalgar Reverie, launching inaugural sailings on the Rhine and Danube in April. The first voyage hosted over 100 trade partners and media in Amsterdam, while the...
TripWorks Flags Risks From AI-Built Booking Platforms Amid Reliability Concerns
TripWorks warned that AI‑generated booking platforms are proliferating faster than their operational foundations can support, leading to accuracy gaps and failure under real‑world stress. While generative AI can produce polished demos, many new systems lack the backend resilience needed for...
JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa Welcomes New Director of Rooms
JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa has named Bindiya Yadav as its new director of rooms. Yadav comes from Fairmont Palace in Udaipur, where she served as executive housekeeper overseeing operations and service delivery. In her new role...
Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore Appoints GM
Nelson Quek has been appointed General Manager of Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore. He previously served as Executive Assistant Manager, Sales and Marketing at Carlton Hotel Singapore, where he focused on revenue growth and market positioning. In his new role, Quek will oversee...
Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals Rise in First Quarter of 2026
Hong Kong recorded 4.35 million visitors in March 2026, a 14% increase year‑over‑year, while total arrivals for the first quarter reached 14.31 million, up 17%. Mainland Chinese travelers accounted for the bulk of growth, rising 20% to 11.08 million, and international visitors grew...
Indonesia to Launch Tourism Investment Forum ITX 2026
Indonesia will debut the Indonesia Tourism Xchange 2026 (ITX 2026) on May 12 at The Langham, Jakarta, creating an annual platform for hotel owners, operators, investors and senior decision‑makers. The forum will assess the country’s investment climate, tourism outlook and...
StarDream Cruises Expands Training Ties with Kaohsiung Hospitality University
StarDream Cruises has deepened its partnership with the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (NKUHT) to expand training, internships and graduate recruitment for cruise hospitality talent. The collaboration aligns academic curricula with StarDream’s operational standards and provides structured onboard...
Changi Airport Group, Plaza Premium Group to Develop Private Terminal and Lifestyle Hub at Terminal 2
Changi Airport Group and Plaza Premium Group have begun redeveloping the former Commercially Important Persons terminal at Terminal 2 into a private terminal and an expanded Hub & Spoke lifestyle hub. The joint venture will deliver lounges, private suites, dining, wellness and pet‑friendly...
RateHawk Marks 10 Years with Focus on API Growth and Product Expansion
RateHawk celebrates its tenth anniversary, emphasizing rapid expansion of its API services and product suite for travel professionals. The B2B platform now offers 3.2 million accommodation options, flights from 400 airlines and transfers in 150+ countries. In 2025, net booking value...
Marc Lauret Leads Club Med as Sales Director (Singapore and Malaysia)
Club Med has appointed Marc Lauret as sales director for Singapore and Malaysia, adding to its leadership team in Southeast Asia. Lauret previously oversaw regional sales in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, where he drove trade engagement, digital distribution...
South-East Asia Cruise Tourism Contributes US$10 Billion Output, Study Finds
South‑east Asia’s cruise sector produced roughly $10 billion in economic output in 2024, representing about five percent of the global cruise industry’s total. The region welcomed 3.9 million cruise passenger visits, delivering $2,564 in output per passenger—2.4 times the world average. Cruise...
ATM Reassures Exhibitors After 2026 Rescheduling
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has moved its 2026 edition from early May to mid‑August, keeping the Dubai World Trade Centre as its venue. Organiser RX, led by exhibition director Danielle Curtis, is actively reassuring exhibitors, emphasizing continuous communication and support....
Mondrian Lounge to Open at Gold Coast Aviation Terminal
Platinum Business Aviation Centre has teamed up with luxury hotel brand Mondrian Gold Coast to open the Mondrian Lounge at its private aviation terminal in Gold Coast Airport. The lounge will serve private‑jet passengers, crew and charter guests with hotel‑grade...
IHG Inks Agreement for Holiday Inn Hotel in Goa
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Indian developer NCPL to build a 100‑room Holiday Inn in Panaji, Goa, slated for opening in the first quarter of 2030. The hotel will sit in the Kadamba district, near key...
New Tank-to-Tap Brewery to Open at Resorts World Sentosa
Burnt Ends Hospitality Group will open People People Brewing Co. at Resorts World Sentosa on April 15, 2026. The 836 m² venue combines a working brewery, kitchen and social space, serving beer fresh from tank to tap. Five 1,500‑litre tanks will...
Legoland Malaysia Brings Back Underwater Dining Experience
Legoland Malaysia Resort has revived its Sea Life Underwater Dining Experience, offering a four‑course menu inside the aquarium. Guests can choose from premium meat entrees and a tropical coconut panna cotta dessert while surrounded by marine exhibits. The venue features...
Conrad Bengaluru Names New Hotel Manager
Conrad Bengaluru has named Aagman Baury as its new hotel manager. Baury previously served as general manager of The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel in Delhi, where he drove operational performance and refined market positioning. In his new role he will oversee all...
Macao Showcases Asia-Pacific Tourism Collaborations at MITE 2026
Macao hosted MITE 2026, spotlighting Asia‑Pacific tourism collaborations ahead of the 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting and the 67th APEC Tourism Working Group Meeting. The expo attracted strong participation from regional tourism boards and travel agencies, offering itineraries, cultural showcases,...
Macao’s Health Tourism Gains Momentum with Wellness Expansion
Macao is accelerating its tourism‑plus‑big‑health strategy by opening several new medical facilities, including the Islands Healthcare Complex, iRad Hospital, a Wynn Palace medical center, and a Traditional Chinese Medicine museum. The government highlighted these assets at MITE 2026, promoting cross‑border...
Kuala Lumpur to Stage Rain Rave Festival Alongside Labour Day Celebrations
Malaysia will host the World Labour Day Celebration and Rain Rave Water Music Festival in Kuala Lumpur from April 30 to May 2, 2026. Co‑organized by Tourism Malaysia and The Fame, the three‑day event is part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 tourism push....
Explore Cambodia’s Travel Past at Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap has launched the permanent “Path of History” tour, an exhibition that showcases archival photographs, video, drawings and artefacts documenting international travel in Southeast Asia from 1900 to 1940. The tour, led by a...
Macao’s Safety Record Strengthens Appeal to Cautious Travellers
Macau’s safety reputation is gaining traction as travelers prioritize secure, uninterrupted trips. Government data show a sharp decline in crime during 2024‑2025, and Numbeo’s 2026 Global Safety Rankings placed Macau fifth worldwide with an 81.8 score. Industry leaders say the...
Macao Travel Expo Opens with Strong International Turnout
The 14th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo opened on April 10 at the Venetian Macao under the theme “Global Convergence, Future Horizons.” The event attracted over 700 tourism‑related enterprises and government entities from 59 countries, plus more than 600 hosted buyers....
Thailand Pushes Year-Round Tourism in New Cabinet Policy Statement
Thailand’s new cabinet policy pivots tourism from sheer visitor numbers to higher‑value, year‑round demand. The plan places the Ministry of Culture at the helm of tourism functions, leverages cultural diplomacy, and mandates modern tech for efficient management. It introduces mandatory...
Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong Serves up April Dining and Songkran Events
Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong is rolling out a month‑long slate of dining and lifestyle experiences for April 2026, anchored by Easter celebrations on April 5 and a three‑day Songkran‑themed terrace festival from April 11‑15. Signature drinks such as Splashing with Me (349 baht, about...
Malaysia Considers Extending Visit Malaysia 2026 Campaign to 2027
Malaysia is weighing a one‑year extension of its Visit Malaysia 2026 tourism drive, pushing the campaign’s end date to December 2027 pending cabinet approval. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says the extra time will help the country counter rising...
Brunei Tourism Names Global Agency for Digital Content and Strategy
Brunei Tourism has appointed Denver‑based ELMNTL as its first international agency of record to drive social media strategy and content production. The partnership gives ELMNTL responsibility for creative direction, paid‑media optimisation, and performance reporting across key markets, while collaborating with...
Explora Journeys to Enter Asia-Pacific with 2027 Cruise Itineraries
Explora Journeys, MSC Group’s luxury cruise brand, announced its first Asian itineraries slated for launch in 2027‑2028. The new routes will cover key gateway cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City, featuring longer port stays and overnight calls....
Sanya to Stage PATA Annual Summit in May 2027
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) confirmed that its 2027 Annual Summit will be held in Sanya, China, from May 17‑19. The three‑day event, organized with the Sanya Tourism Board, will feature a conference, board meetings, a youth symposium and...
Dorsett Melbourne Welcomes New Rooms Division Manager
Dorsett Melbourne has appointed Anthony Leung as its new rooms division manager. Leung brings nearly 15 years of hospitality experience across Accor’s Art Series, Mantra, Quest Apartment Hotels, and operations in Switzerland, Hong Kong and Australia. The move follows a...
Higher Fuel Costs to Dampen India Travel Demand
Effective April 1, India’s civil aviation ministry approved a 25 % rise in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) for domestic carriers, while oil marketers lifted ATF in Delhi to $1,690.81 per kilolitre—a 107 % jump from March. IndiGo has responded by raising fuel surcharges...
Sarawak to Host South-East Asian Tourist Guides Conference in Sibu
Sarawak will host the 3rd Southeast Asian Tourist Guides Conference in Sibu from October 13‑15, 2026, drawing roughly 1,000 regional delegates. The three‑day event, part of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, will address digital disruption, evolving visitor expectations, and guide shortages....
Plataran Unifies Destinations Under New Wellness Offering
Plataren Indonesia has unveiled HOPE: Home of Peaceful Escape, a wellness‑centric travel concept spanning six of its resort locations. The program blends accommodation with nature‑based, cultural and well‑being activities, allowing guests to curate stays that match personal preferences. Flexible itineraries...
Meliá Chiang Mai Launches Stay Package Supporting Food Rescue
Meliá Chiang Mai has launched a two‑night Sustainability Package that funds Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Thailand, a food‑rescue nonprofit. The deal bundles accommodation, breakfast and a three‑course dinner at MAI Restaurant, featuring locally sourced seasonal produce. The hotel’s 360° Cuisine program emphasizes...
Thailand Pivots to Regional Tourism Hub
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) unveiled a new strategy to transform Thailand from a passive inbound destination into a proactive regional tourism hub. The plan emphasizes two‑way traffic, bilateral B2B agreements and charter‑flight connectivity with six short‑haul markets....
BBTF 2026 to Focus on Gastronomy and Destination Readiness
The Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) returns for its 12th edition on May 28‑30, 2026, at the Bali International Convention Centre, spotlighting the theme “Redefining Indonesia’s Gastronomy Journey.” Organisers stress that the event will serve as a strategic platform...
Frasers Hospitality Expands Asia Footprint
Frasers Hospitality announced an aggressive Asian expansion, adding 18 new properties by 2028. The flagship Fraser Suites Bangkok will open in December 2026, occupying the top ten floors of a 45‑storey tower and introducing a new wellness‑focused concept. Additional projects...
Airlines Stress Communication During Disruptions
At the Aviation Festival Asia, airline leaders emphasized that clear, regular communication remains critical during operational disruptions, even as AI chatbots evolve. They highlighted the need to involve families, use unified channel platforms, and maintain human empathy alongside digital tools....
Hilton Singapore Hotels Adopt Initiative to Support Guests with Hidden Disabilities
Hilton has joined Singapore’s Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network, enrolling its four local hotels – Conrad Marina Bay, Conrad Orchard, Hilton Orchard and Hilton Garden Inn Serangoon – into a program that signals non‑visible impairments. Staff across these properties completed certified training...
Asia Drives Next Growth
BWH Hotels is reversing the industry norm by prioritising secondary and tertiary Asian markets, using local partners to pinpoint emerging travel demand such as religious tourism in India. The company leverages its position as the world’s second‑largest soft‑brand operator, offering...
Indonesia Shifts Focus to Shorthaul Markets Amid Longhaul Travel Risks
Indonesia’s tourism ministry warned that ongoing geopolitical tensions at Middle Eastern transit hubs could cut up to 5,500 long‑haul arrivals daily from Europe and the United States. To offset the shortfall, officials are pivoting toward short‑haul markets in Southeast Asia,...
Malaysia Tourism Sector Calls for Support as Diesel Costs Rise
Rising diesel prices are tightening margins for Malaysia’s tourism transport operators and travel agencies, prompting industry bodies to demand government relief. A MATTA survey shows 68.5% of tour‑van operators use over 1,500 litres and 54.8% of bus operators exceed 3,500...
Virtuoso Delivers Successful First Standalone Forum for North and South-East Asia
Virtuoso held its inaugural North and Southeast Asia Forum at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, bringing together 26 of the region’s 27 member agencies and 35 representatives. The three‑day event combined professional development sessions with B2B meetings, featuring a mix of...
Exhibition in Hangzhou Reconstructs Lives From Song Dynasty Artefacts
The China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou has launched the "Unveiling the Wardrobe of the Southern Song Dynasty" exhibition, showcasing 83 artefact sets from seven museums, including 15 first‑grade cultural relics. The show is organized into three thematic sections—identity, daily...
JAAN Hosts One-Day Four-Hands Dining Collaboration
JAAN by Kirk Westaway will host a one‑day four‑hands dining event on April 14, 2026, pairing British chef Kirk Westaway with Swiss‑based Stefan Heilemann of Zurich’s Widder Restaurant. The collaboration is part of Momentum, Les Grandes Tables du Monde’s global...
Sono Signs Hotel Project in Hanoi Old Quarter for 2026 Opening
Vietnam’s Sono Hotels & Resorts Asia has inked a management agreement with Binh Minh Urban Construction Investment to develop Sono Belle Hanoi Old Quarter, its first city‑hotel in the capital. The 56‑room, nature‑led urban lifestyle property is slated to open...