
Plaza Premium Group has named Cyrus Wong as General Manager for Oceania, overseeing regional operations and performance. Wong, who joined the firm in 2020, previously served as Director of Asset Management, steering portfolio performance and long‑range commercial planning. His experience includes leading feasibility assessments and negotiating with airlines, airports, and hospitality partners to support international expansion. The appointment positions him to drive growth across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Juan Losada has been reappointed as General Manager of Regent Phu Quoc, the luxury resort on Vietnam’s premier island. Losada previously led the property’s pre‑opening and launch from 2019 to 2022, establishing its market positioning. He returns with more than...

The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) opposes a legislative proposal to eliminate the national travel tax, arguing it could derail domestic tourism recovery. The tax currently funds tourism infrastructure, marketing, and development programs. PHOA warns that scrapping the tax may...

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has unveiled Noted Collection, its 21st brand aimed at converting upscale and upper‑upscale independent hotels into the IHG portfolio. The new premium brand offers access to IHG’s global distribution network, revenue‑management tools, and the One Rewards...

Beyond Green has become the latest accommodation partner of the Travalyst Coalition, a not‑for‑profit group dedicated to standardising sustainability data in travel. The partnership gives Beyond Green’s global portfolio of independent hotels a voice in shaping emerging data models, metrics...

Agoda’s Rocket Travel division has partnered with China Airlines to launch StayMiles, a white‑label hotel booking platform for the carrier’s loyalty members. The service gives members access to over 600,000 properties worldwide and lets them earn up to 10,000 miles...

Sumitomo Fudosan Villa Fontaine has unveiled an all‑inclusive experience at its Villa Fontaine Premier Haneda Airport hotel, directly linked to Terminal 3. Starting April 2026, guests can book a curated "Wonderful Japan" itinerary that bundles executive‑level rooms, daily meals, spa treatments, and...

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Bintan Lagoon has appointed Richard Margo as its general manager ahead of the resort’s scheduled opening in the second quarter of 2026. Margo arrives with more than three decades of hospitality leadership across Europe, the Middle East...

Pan Pacific Hotels Group has appointed Kung Teong Wah as cluster general manager for Parkroyal Collection Pickering and Parkroyal on Beach Road in Singapore. In this expanded role he will retain leadership of the Pickering property while taking strategic oversight...

Chinese outbound travelers, the world’s third‑largest source of visitors and top spender in 2019, are forecast to recover to roughly 50% of pre‑pandemic volumes by 2027 and become the leading outbound market by 2030. Michael Shoory of Tourism Economics notes...

Marriott Bonvoy and Indonesia’s state‑owned Bank Mandiri have launched the Marriott Bonvoy Mandiri credit card, the hospitality brand’s first co‑branded card in Southeast Asia and its 35th worldwide. The product targets Indonesia’s fast‑growing travel segment, leveraging Mandiri’s digital reach and...

Plaza Premium Group and IAS Hospitality have forged a partnership that links 26 IAS‑operated lounges in Indonesia with Plaza Premium’s global network of over 100 lounges. The agreement grants Plaza Premium’s airline and corporate clients access to Indonesian terminals where...

Shangri‑La Rasa Sentosa is launching a limited‑time Seaside Pony & Picnic Experience for the March 2026 school holidays, running from March 13 to 22. The package combines a one‑hour guided pony interaction for children aged three to twelve with a...

The pet industry is projected to hit $500 billion globally by 2030, with pet‑related travel accounting for roughly $2‑3 billion each year. Fred Barou, senior vice‑president for customer success management, Asia‑Pacific at Amadeus, says travel operators can capture this growth by speaking...

Design Hotels has appointed Aik Wee Ong as senior director for the Asia Pacific region, bolstering its executive team. Ong previously served as deputy managing director at a Singapore‑based design‑and‑build studio, where he led a multidisciplinary team and drove growth....

The Consortium of Inbound Tourism Alliance (CINTA) has launched a six‑month AI‑driven training programme for small Malaysian travel operators, enrolling 600 participants. Partnering with Asnirez, Viator’s connectivity partner, and Malaysia Airlines Academy, the curriculum teaches building online platforms, booking engines,...

Meliá Hotels International has rebranded its former Bali property as Paradisus by Meliá, introducing the chain’s upscale all‑inclusive offering to Asia for the first time. The resort adopts the company’s Destination Inclusive concept, blending Mediterranean hospitality with local Balinese culture...

H World Group has launched Hanting Inn, an economy‑hotel brand designed for asset‑light expansion and rapid rollout in price‑sensitive markets. The brand lowers investment thresholds through simplified construction standards, modular renovation kits, and flexible location criteria. Leveraging the group’s existing network...

Nobu Hospitality, in partnership with Sarat International, is launching its first Maldives property on the private island of Munyafushi in Laamu Atoll. The mixed‑use development will feature 26 beach villas, 30 overwater villas, and a collection of ten standalone Island...

Hilton Global Foundation announced a $5.4 million grant program supporting 18 nonprofit organizations across the Americas, Asia‑Pacific, and EMEA. The funding, the foundation’s largest annual investment, aims to create over 170,000 learning and career opportunities, provide more than 400,000 meals, and...

The Chubu region leveraged its successful 2025 Tourism Expo to capture a larger share of Japan’s inbound tourism, which reached 35.5 million visitors in the first ten months of 2025. New attractions such as the Toilet Museum, culinary tours, and ecotourism...

Smiling Albino, founded in 1999, has evolved from motor‑scooter tours in remote Thai regions to curating ultra‑luxury experiences for billionaires. The company redefines luxury as authentic, community‑based encounters rather than five‑star hotels, emphasizing sustainable partnerships and fair compensation for local...

Thai hotel operators project foreign tourist arrivals for 2026 to remain flat, driven by stagnant short‑haul demand despite modest growth in long‑haul markets. Occupancy held at 77 % in January, with the south outperforming at 84 % while the north fell to...

Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has imposed a daily visitor cap of 1,000 for Komodo National Park, citing the need to safeguard its terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The quota, trial‑run from March 2026, follows a series of weather‑related sailing suspensions and...

South Korea’s Sono Hotels & Resorts Asia has signed its first Japanese project, the Sono Moon Nagoya, a mid‑scale lifestyle hotel located eight minutes from Nagoya Station. The property will be owned by Escon Japan REIT Investment Corporation and leased...

Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams has appointed Kamal Munasinghe as its General Manager while he continues as Senior Vice President for Colombo hotels at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts. Munasinghe brings over three decades of hospitality experience, most recently serving...

South Africa is intensifying its push to attract Indonesian tourists, addressing a stark travel imbalance where only 3,000 Indonesians visited South Africa in 2025 compared with 30,000 South Africans traveling to Indonesia. The tourism ministry introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation...

Ascott announced a record 19,000 new units across 102 properties for 2025, marking a 27% year‑on‑year increase in signings. The expansion pushes its portfolio to over 1,000 properties in more than 230 cities across 40+ countries, totaling 176,000 units. Growth...

Tokyo’s 2025 Deaflympics, held Nov. 15‑26, attracted 3,000 athletes from 75 nations and sparked a citywide push for deaf‑friendly infrastructure. The metropolitan government installed light‑based warning devices in over 660 toilets and changing rooms and added speech‑to‑text screens at 40...

Singapore’s dining landscape is evolving from pure gastronomy to cultural storytelling. Travelers now seek immersive experiences that reveal the history, rituals and personalities behind iconic dishes. Tour operators, heritage venues and hotels are packaging food with narratives, turning hawker stalls,...

Klook’s Travel Pulse 2026 report reveals that 88% of global travelers intend to keep or increase their travel budgets despite economic headwinds, with Asia‑Pacific travelers 50% more likely to boost spending than their Western counterparts. The survey of 11,000 Klook...

Lufthansa Group celebrates 65 years of Hong Kong‑Frankfurt service, reaffirming its commitment to Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The carrier currently runs two daily Lufthansa flights to Frankfurt and a Swiss International Air Lines service to Zurich,...

RX Global has appointed One Rep Global as its official partner for the Indian Buyer Program, covering flagship events such as ILTM Cannes, ILTM Asia Pacific, IBTM Barcelona and the International Golf Travel Market. The partnership aims to recruit senior Indian...

BWH Hotels announced a wave of new openings across Asia in 2025, highlighted by the 91‑key Best Western Premier Imperial Dalat in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. The chain also added three properties in Thailand, a relaunched hotel in the Philippines, and...

Railbookers Group announced the appointment of Nick Lim as Vice President for Asia, bolstering its executive team in the region. Lim brings more than 25 years of travel‑industry experience, most recently serving as CEO, Asia at The Travel Corporation. He...

Visa’s latest Spending Momentum Index shows travel as the fastest‑growing consumer category in Asia‑Pacific, expanding about 2.5 times faster than overall spend in 2025. Cross‑border card use surged as tourists adopted digital wallets, while affluent consumers generated roughly three‑quarters of...

The ACI Report 2026 reveals that workforce mobility and talent shortages remain acute in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector despite broader market stabilization. Unemployment rose to 6% from 2% last year, and 58% of respondents intend to change jobs...

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, scheduled for May 4‑7 at Dubai World Trade Centre, anticipates a 13.95% compound annual growth in Asia‑Pacific exhibitor participation through 2026. The surge reflects strong GCC demand for destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and...

BWH Hotels is launching the BW Premier Collection soft brand in Southeast Asia with the Costamigo Phan Thiet resort in Vietnam. The beachfront property will feature 150 rooms, 34 villas, and extensive leisure amenities such as an infinity pool, Mediterranean...

Mora Group, launched in July 2024, now operates six hotels across Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Banjarbaru while developing six additional projects in Indonesia. The company will open new properties in Ciwidey (April) and Palu (November) and has pipeline projects in Jakarta,...

Agoda has launched the "Hat Yai Lights Up" campaign to revive tourism in Southern Thailand’s Hat Yai after last year’s flooding. Partnering with the Hat Yai Songkhla Hotels Association, the initiative runs through March 2, 2026 and offers hotel discounts, a curated...

Ascott is shifting its sustainability focus from guest‑facing gestures to system‑level operational improvements, targeting cooling efficiency, refrigerant discipline, and maintenance quality. The 2024 CarbonClear Initiative standardises energy audits and sets property‑level targets, using utility data and sub‑metering for verification. These...

Scenic Group launched Scenic & Emerald Rewards, a global loyalty programme that merges its Scenic Club and EmeraldEXPLORER schemes into a single platform covering cruises, yachts, and escorted land journeys. The new system consolidates existing status points, introduces a four‑tier...