Traveller Made Highlights Branding as Key to Luxury DMC Growth
Traveller Made’s CEO Quentin Desurmont warns luxury destination management companies (DMCs) that superior logistics alone no longer secures profitability; they must develop distinct brand identities. He suggests borrowing branding tactics from the luxury goods sector, where desirability and exclusivity have been honed for decades. Desurmont outlines a three‑pillar framework: precise client positioning, extreme specialization, and compelling narrative creation. By embracing these steps, DMCs can transform services into coveted assets and regain pricing power in the high‑end travel market.
Singapore Airlines Renews Distribution Agreements with Amadeus
Singapore Airlines has renewed its multiyear distribution agreements with Amadeus, covering both legacy EDIFACT messaging and the newer New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology. The deal guarantees continued access for travel sellers on the Amadeus platform to SIA’s fares, products, and...
Dusit Thani Bangkok Joins Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Legend Collection
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has added Bangkok’s iconic Dusit Thani to its Legend Collection, its elite group of luxury properties. The hotel reopened in late 2024 after a major redevelopment as part of the Dusit Central Park project, offering 257...
TTG Conversations: Five Questions with Ben George, Hilton
Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report reveals that 50 percent of families in the Asia‑Pacific region are taking holidays with three or more generations, signaling a surge in multi‑generational travel. The report also highlights a notable rise in skip‑generation trips, where grandparents travel...
Philippines Lifts Retirement Ambitions as Foreign Retiree Numbers Climb
The Philippines Retirement Authority (PRA) reported achieving 99% of its 2024 foreign‑retiree target and is now aiming for a 25% year‑on‑year increase by 2026. The country already hosts over 84,000 foreign retirees, led by Chinese nationals, and is leveraging English...
S Hotels & Resorts Posts Record 2025 Profit, Outlines Growth Strategy
S Hotels & Resorts posted a record normalised net profit of over 615 million baht in 2025, driven by RevPAR growth and lower finance costs. The company announced a 0.07 baht per share dividend, its highest since listing. For 2026, SHR outlined...
Laguna Phuket Plans 2.5km Trail Linking Six Resorts
Laguna Phuket will roll out a 2.5 km walking trail in 2026 that links its six resorts across a 405‑hectare beachfront precinct. The path will weave through parks, cultural spaces, wellness zones and seasonal art installations, encouraging guests to explore the...
Middle East Flight Disruptions Slow Wellness Travel to India
Escalating US‑Iran tensions have disrupted flight connectivity between the Middle East and India, prompting cancellations and rerouting of wellness travelers. Kairali Ayurvedic Group lost three direct Middle‑East guests and faces uncertainty for five others traveling via the region. While short‑term...
Singapore Tourism Board, Scoot Unveil Campaign Reimagining the Merlion
The Singapore Tourism Board and low‑cost carrier Scoot have launched the third edition of the Singapore Superfans campaign, positioning the Merlion as an active guide encouraging visitors to explore beyond the city’s iconic landmarks. The campaign, anchored by a rock‑inspired...
Malaysia Expands Halal Tourism Strategy Into Spa and Wellness Sector
Malaysia’s Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) and the Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA) signed a memorandum of understanding at ITB Berlin to extend the country’s halal tourism strategy into the spa and wellness sector. The agreement will launch a Muslim‑Friendly Spa...
Australia Rolls Out Programme Linking School Leavers with Travel Industry Jobs
The Travel Gap, a 29‑week paid programme launched in Melbourne, links school leavers with the Australian travel industry through a partnership between My First Job and the Australian Travel Industry Association. Participants rotate through four six‑week placements across diverse travel...
StarCruises Launches Five-Night Hong Kong Cruises to Okinawa, Vietnam and Sanya
StarCruises will launch three five‑night cruises from Hong Kong in 2026 aboard the Star Voyager, adding itineraries to Okinawa, Vietnam and Sanya. The Okinawa voyages depart on March 22 and May 3, while the Vietnam‑Sanya cruise sets sail on April 26. These new...
Satair Appoints New Asia-Pacific and China Leaders
Satair announced three senior appointments to accelerate its growth in the Asia‑Pacific region. Andy Lee became Managing Director of Asia‑Pacific on 1 January 2026, succeeding Rene Frandsen, who moved to a strategic advisory role. Liu Bo will assume the Managing Director role for Satair...
South Asian Destinations Draw Rising Interest From Indonesian Travellers
South Asian destinations are seeing rising interest from Indonesian outbound travelers, with demand shifting toward experience‑focused journeys and lesser‑known locales. At the 43rd TTC Travel Mart, industry players highlighted India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and even Pakistan as emerging favorites...
Cathay Marks 80th Year with Hong Kong Art Aircraft Livery
Cathay Pacific has unveiled a special "Spirit of Hong Kong – 80th Anniversary Edition" livery on a Boeing 777‑300ER, created in partnership with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA). The design, featuring artwork by multimedia artist Victor Wong, debuted...
Amadeus Report Outlines Six Trends Shaping Travel in 2026
Amadeus released its Travel Trends 2026 report, identifying six emerging forces that will reshape tourism, including the Pawprint Economy, Travel Mixology, and Point‑to‑Point Precision. The study emphasizes a shift toward hyper‑personalised accommodation experiences, urging hotels to adopt attribute‑based selling instead...
Traveller Made Expands Global Trade Shows as Takumians Network Grows
Traveller Made is shifting from a single European showcase to three continental luxury‑travel tradeshows beginning in 2025, positioning the consortium as a truly global platform. The group reported €6 billion in aggregated revenue for 2025 and now serves 790 member agencies...
Philippines Seeks to Retain South Korea as Leading Overseas Visitor Market
The Philippines is intensifying its tourism outreach to South Korea, its largest inbound market, by expanding joint campaigns with airlines, travel agencies, and digital advertising. The Department of Tourism is promoting flagship destinations such as Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay and...
ArtScience Museum Exhibition Traces Anatomy Across Cultures and Time
ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands will host “Flesh and Bones: The Art of Anatomy” from March 21 to August 16, 2026, marking its 15th anniversary and first partnership with the Getty. The exhibition showcases over 160 artefacts—including anatomical illustrations, rare books, and...
The Anam Mui Ne Names New Director of Rooms
The Anam Mui Ne, a 127‑room beachfront resort in Vietnam, has appointed Elena Lopez de Silanes as Director of Rooms. She will oversee front office, guest experience, housekeeping, laundry and the on‑site water factory, while also serving as Executive Assistant...
Song Saa Private Island Welcomes New GM
Song Saa Private Island in Cambodia announced the appointment of Manish Sharma as its new general manager. Sharma brings over 25 years of luxury‑hospitality experience, having held senior positions with Aman, Six Senses and Soneva across Asia. His portfolio spans properties...
TTG Conversations: Five Questions with Rohan Bhalla, Collinson International
Collinson International’s Rohan Bhalla highlighted the growing influence of travel rewards on consumer behavior in a TTG Conversations interview. He explained that travel‑related incentives increasingly shape engagement outcomes across loyalty programmes. Bhalla noted a broad spectrum of brands—from airlines to...
Thailand Shows Off Muay Thai Tourism at ITB Berlin
Thailand showcased Muay Thai as a tourism driver at ITB Berlin 2026. The Sports Authority displayed four gyms offering stay‑and‑learn packages, emphasizing a minimum 21‑day training commitment. The 90‑day Muay Thai visa, launched three years ago, has attracted visitors from Australia, France and Singapore....
Egypt Sees Strong Asia-Pacific Group Arrivals and Interest
Egypt’s tourism sector is seeing a surge of Asia‑Pacific travellers, now accounting for over 70% of group bookings. Monthly tour groups have climbed from five to nearly thirty, driven by interest in classic itineraries featuring the Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian...
The Standard Highlights Playful Wellness at Its Thai Properties
The Standard’s Hua Hin and Pattaya Na Jomtien hotels are repositioning as "playful wellness" resorts, blending fitness, relaxation and family‑centric activities. Guests can join family yoga, sunrise runs with pets, sound‑healing pool sessions and a DIY mud spa with mood‑matching...
Pan Pacific Gears up for Growth with New Leadership Team
Pan Pacific Hotels Group unveiled a new executive leadership team, appointing Craig Bond as chief operating officer, Celine Du as chief commercial and marketing officer, and Kate Loh as head of Development. The refreshed senior team, led by CEO Choe...
Enjoy a Rainforest Adventure with Parkroyal on Beach Road’s Family Package
Parkroyal on Beach Road has launched a Rainforest Adventure Room Package that pairs wildlife‑themed family rooms with daily breakfast and complimentary entry to the new Rainforest Wild Asia attraction at Mandai Wildlife Reserve. The rooms feature rainforest décor, a king...
Langkawi Dishes up Natural Charms for the European Market
Langkawi Development Authority unveiled fresh visuals for its Naturally Langkawi branding at ITB Berlin 2026, spotlighting the island’s UNESCO Global Geopark status and nature‑based attractions such as the SkyCab cable car. European travelers remain the island’s traditional long‑haul market, delivering...
Bangkok Airways Deepens Regional Connectivity in New Strategic Direction
Bangkok Airways is shifting from its boutique airline image toward a sustainability‑focused strategy that emphasizes regional connectivity, especially through a new secondary hub in Phuket. The carrier has begun decarbonisation by using a 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel blend on international...
Tomorrowland Model to Boost Local Thai Economy
Organisers of Tomorrowland Thailand opened ticket sales on February 28, 2026 for a three‑day festival in Pattaya. The event is projected to generate about 5.5 billion baht ($177 million) in its first year and 30 billion baht through 2030. Authorities expect 50,000 daily...
Philippines Introduces Senior Tour Guide Programme
The Philippine Department of Tourism, together with the National Commission on Senior Citizens, launched the Tourism Legacy and Livelihood Program, allowing seniors to become accredited community tour guides after a week‑long training. By February 2026, 15 senior citizens, including former...
Garrya Mù Cang Chải Redefines Mountain Wellness for 2026
Garrya Mù Cang Chải is launching a data‑driven well‑being concept for 2026 that moves beyond traditional spa stays to structured, results‑focused programmes. Guests will complete a digital pre‑arrival assessment and receive a dedicated Wellbeing Trainer who tailors itineraries around sports...
Thailand Tourism Targets Balkans to Expand Longhaul Group Travel
Thailand’s Tourism Authority is targeting the Balkans with a 2026 roadshow to capture long‑haul group travel demand. The initiative, visiting Belgrade, Cluj‑Napoca, Bucharest and Sofia, linked fifteen Thai tourism entrepreneurs with eighteen regional buyers. Rising middle‑class income, improved air connectivity...
Chatrium Hospitality Goes for the Sun, Sand and Sea
Chatrium Hospitality, traditionally a city‑hotel operator, is set to debut its first beach resort, Chatrium Rawai Phuket, with an opening slated for July‑August 2024 on Rawai beach in southern Phuket. The new property will comprise 304 rooms and eight villas...
Geopolitical Uncertainty Highlights Tourism’s Safety Appeal
Travel sellers at ITB Berlin 2026 warned that the ongoing US‑Israel‑Iran war is pushing tourists toward regions perceived as safe. They highlighted Asia‑Pacific’s stability, low crime rates and effective crisis management as key selling points. Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and Bhutan...
Francophonie Summit to Boost Cambodia Tourism
Cambodia will host the Francophonie Summit in November, prompting tourism leaders to view the event as a catalyst for repositioning the country as a hub for trade, talent, and long‑stay visitors. Industry voices urge the government and private sector to...
RedDoorz to Add up to 150 Company-Operated Hotels in Indonesia by 2027
RedDoorz plans to add 100‑150 company‑operated hotels in Indonesia by 2027, expanding its owned portfolio from roughly 100 to a target of 4,700 properties by the end of 2026. The rollout will feature the Sans and Urbanview brands, aimed at...
Disney Adventure Arrives in Singapore Ahead of March 2026 Maiden Voyage
Disney Cruise Line’s newest vessel, Disney Adventure, docked at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore and will launch its maiden voyage on March 10, 2026. The ship will operate three‑ and four‑night family‑focused itineraries from Singapore under a five‑year homeport agreement....
Minecraft Experience Arrives in Singapore This April
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will debut in Singapore at Green Canvas, Mandai Wildlife Reserve from April 24 to September 13, 2026. The one‑hour, family‑friendly adventure features eight themed rooms, large‑scale projections, motion‑tracking gameplay and a handheld Orb of Interaction. Tickets...
Gulf Airlines Resume Limited Flights After Regional Airspace Disruption
Gulf carriers Emirates, Etihad and flydubai have resumed a limited slate of flights from Dubai International and Abu Dhabi airports as of March 2‑3, primarily to repatriate passengers stranded by the escalating US‑Israel‑Iran conflict. All regular commercial services remain suspended...
Accor Appoints New VP for Operations – New Zealand & Fiji
Accor has appointed Rob McIntyre as Vice President of Operations for New Zealand and Fiji, effective April 13, 2026. McIntyre joins from Singapore where he oversaw Accor’s operations, including the flagship Pullman Singapore Orchard. He previously served as General Manager of Pullman Auckland...
Indonesia Told to Prepare Destinations Before Seeking New Routes
Indonesia’s deputy home affairs minister Bima Arya urged provincial leaders to ensure destinations are fully prepared before lobbying for new air routes. He announced a pilot programme that will work with a select group of regional heads to boost local...
Agoda Launches Artotel Group Flagship Store on Its Platform
Agoda has launched Artotel Group’s first branded Flagship Store, consolidating over 100 Indonesian hotels onto a single dedicated page. The storefront leverages Agoda’s distribution network, customer insights, and promotional tools to boost Artotel’s brand visibility and simplify traveler discovery. By...
Tokyo Marathon Drives US$100m in Consumer Spending
The 2025 Tokyo Marathon generated an estimated ¥155 billion (about US$100 million) in incremental consumer spending over its three‑day weekend, according to Mastercard Economics Institute data. Merchant sales within a 10‑kilometre radius of the finish line were roughly seven percent higher than...
Trip.com Adds Shinkansen Ticket Sales for International Travellers
Trip.com has secured agreements with Japan’s four major railway operators—JR East, Central, West and Kyushu—to sell Shinkansen tickets directly to international travelers through its multilingual platform. The service lets users select routes, dates, seat classes and pay online, with QR‑code...
All Hands on Deck as Travel Disruption Spreads in Asia
Airports across Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia cancelled dozens of flights as missile strikes in the Middle East disrupted air routes. Suvarnabhumi Airport halted 32 flights and set up dedicated waiting areas, while Singapore’s Changi and Kuala Lumpur International reported similar...
HBX Group Deepens Traveloka Ties with Expanded Asia-Pacific Hotel Supply
HBX Group has extended its partnership with Traveloka, adding more than 40,000 locally‑contracted hotels to its Asia‑Pacific supply ecosystem. The deal, announced at HBX’s MarketHub Asia event in Bali, creates a two‑way content distribution channel that deepens coverage in Indonesia...
Palace Hotel Tokyo Becomes First Japanese-Owned Hotel to Secure GSTC Certification
Palace Hotel Tokyo has become the first Japanese‑owned and managed property to earn Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification, passing a rigorous audit of 167 criteria. The hotel’s sustainability governance includes a monthly Sustainability Liaison Group and mandatory staff training...
Singapore Oceanarium Highlights Native Seahorses in New Experience
Singapore Oceanarium has introduced Animal Spotlight: Seahorses, a 45‑minute guided experience that offers small‑group, behind‑the‑scenes access to native seahorses and their habitats. Led by animal care specialists, the programme limits each session to eight participants and includes feeding demonstrations, insights...
Far East’s New Light
Far East Hospitality (FEH) appointed Mark Rohner as managing director in July 2024, succeeding Arthur Kiong. Rohner outlined a multi‑year roadmap that includes automating revenue management, building a proprietary loyalty platform, and accelerating digital transformation across front‑office and housekeeping. He...