Waldorf Astoria Sydney Welcomes New GM
Waldorf Astoria has appointed Marlene Poynder as general manager of its new Sydney hotel, slated to open in 2027. Poynder brings over 30 years of luxury‑hospitality experience, most recently as managing director of The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel. Her résumé includes senior roles at Waldorf Astoria Beijing, Chicago, Conrad New York Downtown and Park Hyatt Sydney. The hire signals the brand’s aggressive expansion into the Australian market.
Laurens Kritzinger Leads as GM of W Bali – Seminyak
Laurens Kritzinger has been appointed general manager of W Bali – Seminyak, effective May 11, 2026. He arrives from The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, where he most recently served as GM, and previously led the Courtyard by Marriott Bali...
New Zealand Tourism Sector Adapts to AI-Driven Travel Planning
New Zealand’s tourism sector is pivoting to AI-driven travel planning as large language models begin to dictate destination visibility. Air New Zealand’s CEO warned that travelers will start with prompts rather than traditional searches, prompting the airline to invest in AI‑focused...
Osaka Luxury Hotel Sector Expands Amid Expo and Resort Developments
Osaka’s luxury hotel market is accelerating, driven by Expo 2025 and a planned $10 billion integrated resort slated for autumn 2030. Between 2020 and 2024 more than 250 new accommodation properties opened, with a concentration in high‑end segments. Inbound guest stays jumped to...
Hong Kong Airlines Relocates Check-In Operations to HKIA Terminal 2
Hong Kong Airlines has become the first carrier to shift its check‑in counters from Terminal 1 to the newly opened Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport. The overnight move was completed after the last T1 departure, allowing the airline’s inaugural T2...
New Sipalay Dive Sites Strengthen Manami Resort’s Marine Tourism Offering
Manami Resort in Sipalay, Negros Occidental has unveiled two newly identified offshore dive sites—Jonel’s Garden and G A P—exclusively for its guests. The sites sit less than a kilometre from the resort and are reachable within five to ten minutes...
Baby Shark Swims Into Fairmont Singapore
Fairmont Singapore has teamed with the Singapore Tourism Board and The Pinkfong Company to launch a Baby Shark‑themed family stay that runs through November 17, 2026. The package bundles themed rooms, a dedicated Baby Shark TV channel, and exclusive merchandise, while the hotel’s poolside...
Auckland Ramps up Asia Focus as Visitor Spending Rises
Auckland is intensifying its Asia‑focused tourism strategy as new data shows the city’s appeal extending beyond its traditional gateway role. The airport logged 2.4 million overseas arrivals in the year to March 2026, a 5 percent year‑on‑year rise, with Australia, the US and...
Azerbaijan Steps up Market Presence in Asia
Azerbaijan’s tourism authority is accelerating its Asian expansion by opening a Beijing office, the largest single investment in the market. The centre serves as a visitor experience hub, enabling direct engagement with Chinese travel partners and consumers. The launch coincides...
Anantara Marks 25 Years with Global Anniversary Campaign
Anantara Hotels & Resorts is marking its 25th anniversary with a global "25 Years of Unforgettable Journeys" campaign. The brand has grown from a single Thai resort in 2001 to more than 50 luxury properties across 24 countries. The rollout...
The Set Loyalty Programme Offers Alternative to Transactional Rewards
The Set, a London‑based brand affiliation of independent luxury hotels, has moved away from traditional points‑based loyalty toward an experience‑focused programme called The Set Discovery. Launched after a 2021 shift to a pure affiliation model, the programme partners with Global...
The PuLi Group Appoints CEO
The PuLi Group announced Dean Winter as its new chief executive, effective June 1, 2026. Winter arrives from Swire Hotels, where he oversaw The Upper House Hong Kong and other luxury properties. He will guide PuLi’s strategic direction, brand development, and the upcoming...
Infrastructure Development Crucial for Asia-Pacific Aviation Growth
OAG Aviation’s Mayur Patel highlighted Asia‑Pacific as the world’s aviation growth engine, posting a 5.2% annualised increase over the past 25 years—double the global rate. He warned that thin profit margins (2.3%) demand efficient operations and robust infrastructure investment. Major...
The Longevity Traveller: Travel’s Hidden Growth Engine
The longevity travel economy, currently valued at $1.9 trillion, is projected to reach $2.6‑2.9 trillion by 2030. Seventy‑six percent of adults over 50 rank travel among their top spending priorities, and 64 % plan trips in 2026 despite economic headwinds. Yet most online...
Oceania Cruises Rolls Out Global Holiday Sailings for 2026-28
Oceania Cruises announced its holiday sailing program for the 2026‑27 and 2027‑28 seasons, covering Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The lineup features the Insignia and Allura this year, with Sonata and Aurelia joining the next season. Voyages range from...
Zipair Charts Expansion Through Turbulence
Zipair’s new CEO outlined an aggressive growth plan, targeting a fleet of 20 Boeing 787‑8/9 Dreamliners by the early 2030s, with two additional B787‑8s slated for fiscal 2026. The carrier will launch its first new long‑haul route to Kuala Lumpur...
Insight Vacations Adds 35 Itineraries to New Small Group Collection
Insight Vacations has launched a Small Group Tours collection, adding 35 premium itineraries spanning five continents. The tours, open for 2027 bookings, limit group sizes to 24 guests, with Africa trips capped at 18, to deliver more intimate, immersive experiences....
Vista Sees Rising Demand for Private Aviation Across China
Vista reports a surge in private aviation demand across China and the broader Asia‑Pacific region, with annual flight traffic in China climbing 32% and the wider region up 25% from 2024 to 2025. Hong Kong‑Shanghai and Hong Kong‑Tokyo routes rank among the...
New Zealand Visa Trial Lifts China Arrivals
New Zealand’s 12‑month visa trial, launched in November 2025, lets Chinese travelers use an Australian visa to enter the country. The scheme has generated a 144% year‑on‑year surge in Chinese arrivals via Australia, with 59,000 visitors between November 2025 and...
Air New Zealand Expands Christchurch Network
Air New Zealand announced three new nonstop flights from Christchurch to Singapore, Tokyo and Perth, slated to begin in late October 2026. The routes are enabled by the return of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and a fleet expansion. The airline highlighted...
Traveloka Teams up with Resorts World Sentosa to Target Demand for Singapore Travel
Traveloka has partnered with Resorts World Sentosa to boost Indonesian and Southeast Asian travel to Singapore through integrated flight, hotel and attraction packages. Traveloka data shows Singapore ranks among the top three outbound destinations for Indonesian users, and searches for...
Auko Eco-Wellness Lodges to Open in Phong Nha
Auko Eco‑Wellness Lodges will debut in the third quarter of 2026 with 30 all‑inclusive units nestled along the Son River inside the Phong Nha‑Ke Bang UNESCO World Heritage Site. The development blends luxury wellness programming with climate‑resilient architecture, using elevated...
New Australian Platform Connects Users with Local Experiences
Australian media startup The West Group is rolling out a creator‑led discovery app in New South Wales on May 26, 2026. The app blends geolocation with content from over 480 “West Ambassadors,” reaching roughly nine million followers, to showcase 1,500+ local businesses....
Agoda Introduces Single Checkout for Flights, Hotels and Activities
Agoda has unveiled a multi‑product booking engine that lets travelers purchase flights, hotels and activities in a single checkout. The new flow consolidates all components into one transaction and stores the details in the My Trips dashboard. By handling payment...
Club Med Bintan Refreshes Resort with Family-Focused Upgrades
Club Med Bintan is rolling out a multi‑year refresh that emphasizes family‑centric experiences, with upgrades scheduled through 2026. The centerpiece is Asia’s first Amazing Family! Hub, a 300 m² indoor playground opening in July 2026. Additional enhancements include a splash pad,...
Oliver Schwartz Leads as GM at Parmelia Hilton Perth
Oliver Schwartz has been appointed General Manager of the Parmelia Hilton Perth, succeeding his role as hotel manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne Flinders Street. He arrives with 17 years of Hilton experience, including senior operational and commercial positions in Beijing and luxury hotels...
Fuel Shocks Reshape Airline Economics
Airline economics are being reshaped by a sharp jet‑fuel price surge and the geopolitical fallout from the Iran conflict. Carriers are scrambling to adjust schedules, trim capacity measured by Available Seat Kilometres, and retire older, fuel‑inefficient aircraft, while lessors lean...
Luxury Hotels Lead Indonesia Rebound
Indonesia’s luxury hotel sector has rebounded to pre‑pandemic occupancy levels, outpacing all other hotel classes. Luxury occupancy for the 12 months to March 2026 matches 2019 benchmarks, while mid‑scale and economy segments lag 5.5 percentage points. Average daily rates rose 42 percent since...
Sydney to Host ATE27 as Tourism Growth Plan Ramps Up
Sydney will host the 2027 Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE27), returning after a five‑year hiatus, as Tourism Australia pushes its long‑term “Tourism 2035” plan. International arrivals have rebounded to 9.1 million, 99 % of 2019 levels, and visitor spending rose 14 % to A$56 billion...
Minor Hotels to Develop Anantara Resort and Residences in Egypt
Minor Hotels has signed a development agreement for Anantara Somabay Resort & Residences, expanding its Anantara brand on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The integrated project will deliver 300 hotel keys and 150 branded residential units, combining sea‑view rooms, lagoon villas...
Agoda, Macao to Promote Outer Harbour Boutique Hotels
Agoda has deepened its partnership with the Macao Government Tourism Office to promote boutique and independent hotels in Macau’s Outer Harbour District. The 2026 initiative will showcase properties in ZAPE and NAPE, offering travelers neighbourhood experiences beyond the traditional casino...
PATA Makes AI, ESG Micro-Learning Courses Available to Tourism Professionals
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched two micro‑credential courses—one on artificial intelligence and another on ESG sustainability—targeted at travel and tourism professionals. Designed by industry experts Alan Elliot Merschen and Natasha Montesalvo, the bite‑sized modules are self‑paced and...
Hilton Grows Lifestyle Portfolio with Nanjing and Wuxi Hotels
Hilton has signed two new lifestyle hotels in Jiangsu province, adding a Curio Collection property in Nanjing and a Tapestry Collection hotel in Wuxi. The Nanjing hotel will feature 232 rooms and open in 2028, while the Wuxi property will...
Romance Is in the Air at Zentis Osaka
Zentis Osaka has launched a two‑night Romantic Escape package for couples, available for booking from May 18, 2026. The offering bundles a studio, corner studio or suite stay with daily breakfast, a prix‑fixe dinner, a bottle of Japanese sparkling wine, canelés and...
Tourism Professionals See Responsible Development Key to Long-Term Industry Resilience
At the PATA Annual Summit 2026, tourism leaders emphasized that responsible, ESG‑driven development is the cornerstone of long‑term industry resilience. Speakers highlighted how integrating sustainability, governance and social responsibility creates frameworks that can absorb shocks and support economic viability. The...
Hyatt, Dossen Group to Expand Select Brand in China
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has signed a master franchise agreement with Dossen Group’s subsidiary, Huanyue International Holdings, to launch and operate Hyatt Select hotels across China. The deal gives Dossen exclusive rights to expand the mid‑scale Select brand, blending Hyatt’s global platform...
Agoda Survey Highlights Growing Demand for Purpose-Led Travel in Asia
Agoda’s 2026 Sustainable Travel Survey shows a growing appetite for purpose‑led travel across Asia. 35% of respondents now prefer tours that protect the environment and benefit local communities, while 77% say sustainability is an important factor in trip planning, up...
PATA Reaffirms Relevance as It Marks 75 Years of Existence
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) celebrated its 75th anniversary at the PAS 2026 summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, while CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid asked the uncomfortable question, “Is PATA still relevant?” The association’s leadership highlighted the need for agility...
Globus Family of Brands Moves APAC MD Into Advisory Role
Globus family of brands announced that Chris Hall will move from Managing Director, Asia Pacific to a newly created Chairman and Strategic Advisor role, effective 15 July 2026. Hall has overseen the APAC region since March 2025, steering a refreshed strategy that reshaped...
EVT Appoints Chief Development Officer for Asia-Pacific
EVT has created a new chief development officer role for Asia‑Pacific and appointed Brett Forer to lead hotels and resorts expansion. The position focuses on driving regional growth through asset‑light management and franchise agreements. Forer arrives from Accor, where he...
ATE26 Draws Global Tourism Leaders
The 46th Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE26) opened in Adelaide, drawing over 2,700 delegates, including 700 buyers from 32 countries. Attendees scheduled roughly 55,000 appointments with 1,400 Australian tourism operators, showcasing 74 new products and welcoming 131 first‑time buyer organisations. Tourism...
Scoot Doubles Down on Indonesia
Scoot will launch a thrice‑weekly Singapore‑Pontianak service in June, marking its 17th Indonesian destination and expanding its regional footprint. The airline will boost frequencies to Jakarta, Bali, Manado and Lombok, bringing its weekly Indonesia flights to 150—a 22% capacity increase....
PATA Annual Summit Opens with Resilience Focus, Honours Leaders
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) launched its 2026 Annual Summit in the twin host cities of Pohang and Gyeongju, South Korea. Centered on the theme “Navigating Towards a Resilient Future,” the two‑day conference brings together senior tourism executives, UN...
Blacklane, GHA to Extend Travel Benefits Across Journeys
Blacklane and Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) announced a joint program that links Blacklane’s premium chauffeur service with the GHA Discovery loyalty scheme. The partnership, effective May 8 2026, connects Blacklane’s network in more than 500 cities with GHA’s portfolio of over 1,000...
City Express by Marriott Enters Asia-Pacific with Osaka Debut
Marriott International launched its City Express brand in the Asia‑Pacific region with two new hotels in Osaka, Japan. The City Express Shin‑Imamiya and City Express Osaka Namba South together add 243 guest rooms, offering free high‑speed Wi‑Fi, daily breakfast and flexible workspaces....
World Expeditions Expands Vietnam Cycling Programme
World Expeditions has added four Vietnam cycling itineraries ranging from five to 17 days, each offering e‑bike options and guaranteed departures for 2026. The routes span coastal, rural and mountainous terrain while staying on quieter roads. All trips are fully...
Bali Turns to Gastronomy to Sharpen Its Global Tourism Edge at BBTF 2026
The 12th Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF 2026) will run May 28‑30 at the Bali International Convention Centre, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua. This year’s theme, “Redefining Indonesia’s Gastronomy Journey: A Celebration of Taste, Culture, and Sustainable Heritage,” puts Indonesian cuisine at...
Singapore Enhances Cruise Infrastructure for Tourism Growth
Singapore is upgrading its cruise infrastructure with a new Singapore Cruise Centre at HarbourFront, slated to open on July 15, 2026. The terminal will feature self‑service check‑in kiosks, baggage drop, automated boarding gates and biometric immigration, expanding waiting areas by...
Singapore Refreshes Orchard Road, Sentosa Precincts
Singapore’s Tourism Board unveiled a sweeping revitalisation of Orchard Road and Sentosa at its annual conference. Starting mid‑2026, Orchard Road will host pop‑up retail, a 3,000‑seat Grange Road events venue, a youth‑focused Somerset Belt and QR‑linked art markers, while Istana...
Klook Integrates South Korea’s Rail Network to Support Regional Tourism Access
Klook has partnered with Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) to embed real‑time seat inventory for high‑speed KTX and regional Saemaul and Mugunghwa services into its Asia‑Pacific travel platform. The integration lets international travelers book Korean rail tickets up to 90 days...