Nicholas Wong has been named the new general manager of Destination Asia Singapore.
Having first joined Destination Asia as director of leisure in 2018, he will lead the team in capitalising upon the demand growth across the company’s three core business divisions of leisure, MICE and cruise.
Fusion Hotel Group has beefed up its leadership team with four appointments in Vietnam.
Bui Duc Khiem helms as cluster general manager of HIIVE by Fusion Binh Duong and HIIVE by Fusion Binh Duong New City. Prior to joining the HIIVE brand, he was the pre-opening hotel manager for a four-star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and has more than 10 years’ experience in the hospitality sector.
Tran Huu Thanh (Colin) has been promoted from executive assistant manager to general manager of Fusion Suites Vung Tau.
Van Vu takes up the role of hotel manager at the newly-opened Fusion Resort & Villas Da Nang. Fluent in Vietnamese, Spanish and English, she brings 15 years of experience in luxury hotel management, operations, and revenue management to her new role.
Lastly, Cang Lam is now the cluster resort manager at Maia Resort Quy Nhon and The Ocean Resort by Fusion Quy Nhon. He was most recently executive assistant manager at Maia during the pre-opening and opening periods from February 2020.
Frasers Hospitality has named Chew Hang Song as chief operating officer and Ian Loe as managing director of technology and innovation.
Chew will oversee the operational strategy and financial performance of Frasers Hospitality’s portfolio of over 100 properties spanning more than 20 countries. He first joined Frasers Hospitality in March 2019 as deputy country general manager of China.
Loe will lead and execute Frasers Hospitality’s global IT infrastructure and transformation, as well as the innovation strategy to enhance its capabilities. He is tasked to drive synergies and foster innovation to enhance Frasers Hospitality’s operational excellence and market leadership.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has been appointed by Siam Motors Co. to manage Pan Pacific Siam Bangkok, which will be converted from an office building located in the heart of the capital city.
The building will undergo retrofitting works, which are expected to complete by 2027.
Located in the commercial district of Pathumwan, Pan Pacific Siam Bangkok offers convenient access to major attractions, entertainment options and public transportation, including the BTS Skytrain which provides easy connectivity to other parts of the city.
The 18-storey hotel will offer 220 rooms and suites with city views, ranging from 37m² to 163m². Amenities include a Pacific Club Lounge, specialty restaurant, all-day dining venue, gym, yoga room, steam and sauna facilities, swimming pool, as well as a ballroom and meeting spaces.
“With recent successes in the development of award-winning Pan Pacific London and Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore by UOL, the group is in a unique position to build on our expertise and PPHG’s technical services experience in the adaptive reuse of underutilised assets,” said Choe Peng Sum, CEO of PPHG.
Prakasit Phornprapha, president of Siam Motors Co., added: “By transforming a prime location, once an iconic office building, into a modern hotel, we are not only revitalising the space but also creating a new landmark in Bangkok. This project underscores our commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional experiences, making the hotel a future attraction for both local and international guests.”
Minor Hotels has named Erik Billgren as the general manager of Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort.
Bringing with him a wealth of expertise in experiential luxury hospitality, Billgren first joined Minor Hotels in 2021 where he served as general manager of Anantara Mui Ne Resort, and has since held other leadership roles at several of Minor Hotels’ key properties in Asia before joining Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle.
Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts, has appointed Brian D’Souza as its new director of operations.
With nearly two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, D’Souza will manage the daily activities across all departments, with a focus on operational excellence, financial performance, and enhancing the guest experience.
Hilton’s 2025 Trends Report has revealed how Gen Alpha and Gen Z in Asia-Pacific are now leading the charge in family travel planning, reshaping travel and prioritising experiences that reflect their personal interests and cultural pride.
The report surveyed over 13,000 global travellers across 13 countries, comprising insights from more than 4,100 Hilton Team Members, and in-depth interviews with Hilton travel experts.
Key insights in the report include how travellers are embracing slow travel to deeply immerse themselves in local cultures; more global travellers seeking adventure travel and sleep retreats; dining decisions are being led by children; and global travellers hunting for more culinary experiences, booking restaurant reservations before their flights.
How young travellers are steering family travel
In Asia-Pacific, family travel is increasingly guided by the preferences of Gen Alpha and Gen Z, with 87% of young travellers actively contributing to their family’s vacation planning. This is particularly so in China (98%) and India (93%), where more than nine in 10 Gen Alpha and Gen Z are somewhat or very involved in trip planning. Moreover, 69% of Asia-Pacific parents choose vacation destinations based on their children’s interests.
While these young travellers’ input is strong in picking activities and destinations, logistical decisions – such as dining (39%), transportation (38%), accommodation (32%), budgeting (20%), and trip duration (18%) – are still primarily managed by parents. This growing involvement highlights the evolving dynamic of family travel, with younger generations taking the lead in creating memorable experiences, while still leaning on their families for practical planning.
Turning travel into growth experiences
For Gen Alpha and Gen Z in the region, travel is a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. A strong connection to cultural heritage drives these young travellers, with 75% taking pride in the region’s global cultural influence and 73% eager to explore their roots through travel.
Asia-Pacific families use travel as a way to connect with their cultural identities. Notably, 61% of parents choose destinations that reflect their heritage, traditions, and values.
Key travel trends in 2025
Beyond cultural exploration, 68% of young travellers in the region view travel as a key to enhancing their education and personal development, and the parents agree, with 60% selecting culturally significant destinations to support their children’s learning and growth.
In addition, trips centred around entertainment, sports, adventure, and meaningful connections with loved ones are at the top of their agenda. Sports events, like the ODI World Cup for Women, Table Tennis World Championships and FIFA Club World Cup, are the hottest tickets in 2025, with 35% of young travellers in Asia-Pacific planning their trips around these events.
This growing interest in sports tourism is also reflected in Hilton’s own data. From 2019 to 2024, Hilton Worldwide Sport Sales revenue tripled in volume, with 80% of this growth driven by youth or amateur sports. Following closely for Asia-Pacific’s Gen Alpha and Gen Z travellers are nature events and camps (34%) such as cherry blossom festivals and ski trips, and music concerts and festivals (26%), particularly K-pop concerts.
Gen Alpha and Gen Z embrace annual travel
Gen Alpha and Gen Z across Asia-Pacific are avid travellers, with 92% taking at least one trip in the past year. Gen Alpha and Gen Z’s appetite for travel is particularly pronounced in China, India and Singapore, where young travellers have gone on two to three trips on average in the past year.
This passion for travel is evident in their future plans as well, with 88% of Gen Alpha and Gen Z in Asia-Pacific likely to travel in the next year. Additionally, 72% take pride in their ability to explore new destinations. These findings highlight the strong and growing demand for travel among younger generations.
The role of technology in Gen Alpha and Gen Z travel
In today’s digital age, technology is central to the travel experience for Gen Alpha and Gen Z. In Asia-Pacific, parents and children stay online throughout their trips, spending up to four hours a day on their devices. Gen Z, in particular, spends more time online, averaging three hours daily, compared to Gen Alpha’s two hours.
Smartphones (64%), digital tablets (38%), and smartwatches (33%) are travel essentials for these young adventurers, primarily being used to stream videos (55%), play games (45%), and stay in touch with loved ones via messaging apps (44%). Additionally, more than a third (42%) use their devices to listen to music and 30% share their experiences on social media.
These trends are consistent with Hilton’s team member survey findings, showing that access to technology is ranked as the top amenity for Gen Alpha travellers and their families, with entertainment and child-friendly activities also high on the list.
Domestic versus global travel
Gen Alpha and Gen Z travellers in Asia-Pacific are excited about exploring both local and international destinations. With the exception of Singapore, there is a strong preference for domestic travel among Gen Alpha and Gen Z across all Asia-Pacific markets.
This emerging generation is also increasingly interested in travelling beyond Asia to immerse themselves in diverse cultures, with Australia, Japan and South Korea emerging as top destinations across the markets surveyed. Other popular holiday destinations for Gen Alpha and Gen Z in Asia-Pacific comprise China, India, Singapore, Hawaii, the US, New Zealand, and Malaysia.
“The growing influence of Gen Alpha on family travel signals a transformative shift in the travel industry – one that Hilton is excited to embrace. As these trends accelerate, we recognise the importance of adapting to evolving preferences,” said Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director, Asia Pacific, Hilton.
Alexandra Jaritz, senior vice president, brand management, Asia Pacific, Hilton, added: “As Gen Alpha and Gen Z step into the role of key influencers in family travel decisions, they are redefining the landscape of travel. Their evolving preferences are driving the industry to innovate, creating opportunities for more meaningful, immersive, and culturally enriching experiences that align with their values.
“This shift is not just about the destinations they choose, but how they interact with and experience the world,” concluded Jaritz.
Read Hilton’s full report here.
Ascott’s Citadines brand has joined forces with ClassPass, a monthly fitness subscription service, to provide its guests and loyalty members access to the world’s largest fitness platform.
As part of the partnership, guests of Citadines properties and members of Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) will enjoy upsized ClassPass new member benefits during a two-month campaign from October 15 to December 14 across various markets in Asia-Pacific, France and the UK. These include a complimentary one-month membership for new ClassPass members to enjoy fitness classes at different studios, gyms and wellness centres within each market.
In China, the campaign – which commenced on September 26 and runs until November 30 – offers ASR members discount codes to offset the cost of ClassPass sessions. In addition, ClassPass members in China who sign up as ASR members can receive a 75 per cent discount on their first stay at any participating ASR properties.
Following this campaign, more Citadines properties across Asia-Pacific will gradually be added to the ClassPass app, where fitness facilities such as the pool and gym will be made available for booking by ClassPass members.
These initiatives with ClassPass are integral to activ∞, a curation of amenities and programmes to promote an active lifestyle among Citadines’ guests. Under activ∞ Unlimited, amenities and signature programmes are specially curated at each Citadines property, catering to the unique characteristics of each city and addressing the needs of guests.
Citadines properties in the UAE, Oman, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, the Philippines, China, Malaysia, and Singapore have also solidified partnerships with various fitness studios to offer guests classes such as yoga, Pilates, and body combat. Leisure hiking and cycling tours were also made available at Citadines properties in the UK and Vietnam.
In addition, For the Love of Coffee, another signature programme of Citadines, has kicked off International Coffee Week today with its _#CitadinesLovesCoffee_ campaign.
This features over 210 activities inviting coffee lovers to experience coffee-inspired activities underpinned by three themes: Unlimited Connections, Unlimited Experiences, and Unlimited Discoveries.
Princess Cruises celebrated a major construction milestone on September 26 with the traditional maritime float out ceremony of its second Sphere-Class vessel, Star Princess, at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
Following that, the new ship will transfer to the outfitting quay where construction will continue in anticipation of her Fall 2025 debut.
Star Princess joins her sister Sun Princess as the largest ships ever built for Princess Cruises. She is also the second in the new Sphere-class of ships for the cruise line and will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
While 20 per cent larger than any of Princess Cruises’ existing ships, Star Princess’ design retains the more intimate settings the line is known for, with several new spaces such as The Dome which is a transformational entertainment venue on the top deck inspired by the terraces of Santorini, and a three-storey dining room positioned at the aft of the ship to deliver breath-taking views. A suspended Sphere Piazza is also featured at the centre of the cruise ship, and the main theatre: The Princess Arena.
Star Princess’ inaugural sailing is set for October 4, 2025 when the ship will depart from Barcelona on an 11-day Mediterranean roundtrip cruise, visiting six ports such as Marseille, Rome, Naples, Sicily, Gibraltar and Cartegna in Spain.
The ship will then sail a seven-day cruise in the Mediterranean on October 15, 2025 before embarking on a 14-day transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale in Florida, the US on October 22, 2024 where she will commence her inaugural season in the Caribbean.
Commodore Nick Nash and captain Gennaro Arma, who both were on hand for the ceremony, will serve as masters of Star Princess.
“Star Princess is the second ship in our new Sphere class, and now as she prepares to take to the water for the first time it is a testament to the incredible dedication and skill of the entire shipyard team,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.
The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025 will be held at Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) from March 28 to 30 next year, where rugby teams and passionate fans from around the world can participate in this inaugural event.
This Sevens event will be one of the first major international sports events at the KTSP’s opening period, marking a significant milestone in Hong Kong’s sports legacy, and is expected to further boost the tourism and entertainment industries, creating significant economic benefits.
KTSP is working closely with the Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) and relevant government departments for the three-day event, which will be held at the Kai Tak Stadium. Accommodating up to 50,000 spectators, the venue is equipped with numerous international standard facilities, along with a wide variety of dining, retail, and leisure options within the precinct.
The Kai Tak Stadium is also one of the few venues globally designed specifically for rugby sevens, featuring more than 20 changing rooms to accommodate the needs of the multiple teams, referees and other personnel involved in Sevens matches, along with dedicated dining and rest areas for players.
Additionally, the Kai Tak Stadium is equipped with a soundproof retractable roof, allowing events to proceed regardless of weather conditions, and its bowl cooling system ensures a comfortable viewing experience from every single seat.
KTSP project director shared: “As Hong Kong’s home venue, we are truly honoured and excited to host this globally prominent sports event at KTSP. For Hong Kong, this sporting occasion not only promotes the development of local rugby but also showcases the city’s capability to host world-class events, enhancing its status as a mega events capital.”