BWH Hotels has named Harry Dong as the new president and chief executive officer of BWH Hotels China (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan), Mongolia, and Nepal.
In his new role, Dong will be responsible for the development strategy for new properties and supporting the already established hotels in his region.
He has been with BWH for over 16 years, previously managing procurement, quality analysis, and project development for property hotels in this region.
Silversea’s Nova-class ship Silver Nova is set to debut in Asia-Pacific from the end of September 2024 until April 2025.
The ship’s inaugural season in Asia will start off in in Kushiro (Hokkaido), Japan, on September 27, undertaking two voyages in the region before crossing over to Australia and New Zealand in November for seven sailings – ranging from 16 to 18 days – between November 18, 2024 and February 24, 2025.
Silver Nova’s inaugural season in Asia-Pacific will mark the introduction of Silversea’s culinary programme, S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) in Australia and New Zealand, while also delivering S.A.L.T. shore excursions in Japan for the first time.
In iconic destinations throughout Asia-Pacific, local experts will showcase the diversity of regional produce and demonstrate the creativity and innovation of their cuisines.
Some stand-out experiences ashore at Japan and Australia/New Zealand include participating in a culinary workshop and lunch with a Japanese master in Osaka, Japan (October 3, 2024; March 22 and 28, 2025; April 11, 2025); learning how Australian chefs and home cooks incorporate native ingredients in their menus in Melbourne, Australia (November 27, 2024; January 7 and 8, 2025; February 5, 2025); garden foraging and lunch at Adelaide Botanical Gardens (November 29, 2024; February 8 and 9, 2025); attending a cooking masterclass with chef Analiese Gregory in Hobart, Australia (December 6 and 7, 2024; January 10, 2025; February 2 and 3, 2025); and going on a guided wine experience and lunch at family-run winery Craggy Range in Napier, New Zealand (December 17, 2024; January 19, 25 and 26, 2025).
Other experiences in countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and more will provide a rounded insight into Asia’s diverse cultures.
Silversea president Bert Hernandez commented: “S.A.L.T. is all about discovering the soul of a place through its food and culture — and where better to taste and explore than these countries so rich in heritage and celebrated for their diverse cuisines? There are so many great food stories to tell in this part of the region, we can’t wait to share them with our guests.”
Tourism Australia has appointed Jennifer Doig to the role of regional general manager South and South East Asia.
She brings a wealth of marketing experience in the Asia region to the role, and was most recently working for Dubai Tourism as director of global campaigns.
In her new role, Doig will drive trade and consumer marketing activity with the teams in Tourism Australia’s key markets in the region, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok, which debuts in November, has appointed a team of six seasoned hospitality experts.
Having been with Marriott for 24 years, new general manager Tina Liu boasts an impressive business acumen and an extensive background in luxury hospitality. She has led teams at high-profile hotels, primarily in Thailand, and is fluent in Thai.
Next is hotel manager, Lewis Quinn, who brings with him over 15 years of working in hospitality to his new role, while Evelyne Hahang takes on the role of director of rooms, having honed her hospitality skills for over 15 years in the UK, France, Australia, and Thailand.
Leon Chan, who hails from Singapore, is the director of sales & marketing. He has amassed 15 years of hospitality sales and business development experience working at high-profile hotels in Singapore and Hong Kong.
For F&B, Clément Larre leads as director, with Glen Cooper as executive chef.
Emirates launches flights to Madagascar
Emirates had made its debut flight to Antananarivo, Madagascar, which was celebrated with a water canon salute at Ivato International Airport.
Serviced by the Boeing 777-300ER, the aircraft offers a three-class configuration, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 310 seats in Economy Class.
Emirates will fly four times a week from Dubai to Antananarivo via the Seychelles, operating on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Jetstar Asia to resume low-fare flights between Singapore and Medan
Jetstar Asia has resumed its low-fare flights between Singapore and Medan, Indonesia, after a four-year suspension.
Commencing on November 1, the return service will operate daily between Singapore’s Changi Airport and Medan’s Kualanamu International Airport.
Vietjet adds flights from Vietnam to Taiwan and Hong Kong
Vietjet will increase its flight frequency from Vietnam to Taiwan and Hong Kong starting October 27, providing more convenient and affordable flying options for travellers during the year-end festive season.
For Taiwan, Vietjet will add new daily flights on the routes linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Taipei, increasing the number of round-trip flights from one to two per day on each route. Additionally, Vietjet will also increase the flight frequency from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc to Taichung and Kaohsiung to daily on each route.
The service between Danang and Hong Kong will also see daily services, up from four weekly flights currently.
The Phu Quoc-Hong Kong route will transition to a daily service, up from three flights per week.
Korean Air to expand network to China and Japan
Korean Air is resuming several routes to China and Japan, as well as increasing frequencies on other popular routes.
The airline will restart its Seoul Incheon-Mudanjiang and Busan-Qingdao services on October 22 and December 1, respectively, following a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The Seoul Incheon-Mudanjiang route will operate five times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and the Busan-Qingdao route will operate daily.
Korean Air is also increasing frequencies on several routes to China. The airline has increased frequencies on its Seoul Incheon-Zhengzhou route from four weekly flights to a daily service on August 12. Similarly, the Seoul Incheon-Xiamen route will see an increase in frequency from four weekly flights to a daily service from October 1.
The Seoul Incheon-Taichung route will undergo a two-phase enhancement. From September 10 to October 26, the route will be serviced four times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, increasing to daily flights from October 27.
Also starting from October 27, the airline will relaunch its Seoul Incheon-Nagasaki route for the winter season after a break of more than 11 years. This route will operate four times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The Seoul Incheon-Osaka route will also see a temporary increase in service. From September 2 to October 26, the airline will operate four daily flights, up from the existing three daily flights.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has named Michael Groll as general manager of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.
Groll began his hospitality journey with Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London in 2004 as food and beverage management trainee, before furthering his career in various leadership roles across Mandarin Oriental properties in Asia and the Middle East, including The Excelsior Hong Kong, Jakarta, Doha, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
He was most recently the hotel manager at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.
Asia-Pacific is the most youthful region in the world, with Gen Z people (born between 1996 and 2012) and the millennials (born between 1980 and 1995) each making up a quarter of the population.
These population segments are one to watch, as their spending habits will impact businesses – including that of travel and tourism companies – around the world. Studies on these travellers by various organisations have identified unique characteristics that could drive meaningful tourism development.
Global management consulting firm Kearney’s recent report on the Asia-Pacific travel retail industry found that millennial and Gen Z travellers value experiences over material possessions or purchases.
“For many of them, travel is seen as a gateway to unlock a multitude of experiences. As such, they are likely to spend more on travel than the older population, making them an attractive target segment for businesses to curate unique travel experiences that meet their evolving expectations,” shared Siddharth Pathak, senior partner, head of consumer industries and retail for Asia-Pacific at Kearney.
Pathak shared that these travellers are also looking for wide and varied travel experiences. To be able to successfully tap this market, businesses need to hone a greater understanding of what these experiences entail and execute accordingly.
He also pointed out that young travellers are more budget conscious, necessitating pricing adjustments to eliminate unsustainable price points.
Rhydian James, chief commercial officer at Discova, agreed that young travellers are value-driven rather than price-driven.
He shared: “They are willing to spend more if they perceive value, differentiation, and personalisation in their package. As young millennials enter their 30s and 40s, they will generally have more disposable income and young families. They seek opportunities to teach and learn, not just to see. When travelling with families, they often prefer private experiences tailored to their circumstances.”
James described Gen Z travellers as being digitally connected, experience-driven, and adventurous.
Banyan Group’s senior vice president, head of regional operations and group specialist services and deputy managing director of hospitality management, Philip Lim, echoed these observations. Banyan Group’s long-held strategy of incorporating local culture into the guest experience has earned it a place in the hearts of millennials and Gen Z travellers.
Citing examples of such experiences, Lim said: “At Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto and Dhawa Yura Kyoto (both in Japan), our guests can participate in kintsugi (art of mending pottery with lacquer and powdered gold, silver, or platinum) workshops and zen meditation sessions with local monks. These experiences not only enrich their stay, but also foster a deep connection with the destination, aligning perfectly with the experiential priorities of these travellers.”
The group is also leveraging artificial intelligence to tailor marketing and personalise travel experiences for its millennial and Gen Z guests.
The hunger for unique experiences has led to growing attention on off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Booking.com listed Jozankei in Japan, Ella in Sri Lanka, and Mui Né in Vietnam as trending destinations for 2024.
Its managing director APAC, Laura Houldsworth, said: “Promoting lesser-known destinations not only fulfills the wanderlust of these travellers but also supports millennials and Gen Zers’ sustainable travel ambitions by diverting attention away from over-touristed areas.”
However, promoting off-the-beaten-path destinations comes with challenges. Houldsworth explained that one of the main obstacles is the perception that such destinations lack the necessary infrastructure and amenities that travellers expect.
“First-time travellers may feel apprehensive about visiting lesser-known places. Additionally, raising awareness about the unique attractions and experiences these destinations offer requires targeted marketing efforts and partnerships with local tourism boards.”
Bearing in mind that the influential generation is generally environmentally conscious, Hyatt is bringing more attention to its properties’ sustainable efforts.
Carina Chorengel, senior vice president – commercial, Asia-Pacific at Hyatt, shared: “We are increasingly creating opportunities to directly engage guests and involve them in this sustainable journey. For example, Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort is home to a Marine Biological Center that educates guests about marine life at the resort’s house reef, elevating the guest experience beyond traditional recreation offerings.”
Minor Hotels has appointed Simon Beaumont as the new general manager of Avani+ Khao Lak Resort. In his new role, Beaumont will oversee operations at the resort leveraging his extensive experience and strategic vision to elevate guest experiences and drive business growth.
During his 35 years in the hospitality industry, Beaumont has held various F&B and senior leadership positions across his native Australia, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
Most recently, he served as interim chief executive officer at Azerbaijan’s Absheron Hotel Group, where he oversaw 14 internationally branded properties, spearheading strategic growth and operational excellence.
Lisa Gerosa has been named general manager at Jati resort on Koh Russey Island, Cambodia, due to open in 1Q2025.
She has worked in European hotels including the Sheraton Belgravia in London and The Westin in Venice. She recently spent 10 years in the Maldives as general manager with Atmosphere Core properties, giving her the experience in managing logistics and teams living on private islands.
Travel DMC Group Singapore (TDMC) has teamed up with 20 local hawker centres to elevate the travel experience for guests from China and India, showcasing Singapore’s rich culinary heritage while promoting eco-friendly practices.
TDMC’s latest endeavour will see it collaborate with 20 renowned hawker centres to offer tourists a unique taste of Singapore’s diverse food culture. This partnership not only introduces travellers to the best of local cuisine but also contributes to the economic vitality of these local establishments.
As part of this initiative, TDMC will provide reusable water bottles in welcome kits for all clients, along with comprehensive information about the participating hawker centres, sustainability tips, and a guide to responsible tourism.
About 9,500 guests are expected within the next six months, during which they will be guided on tours to explore the local food scene.
Starting in 2025, TDMC will be reducing its carbon footprint by introducing six electric vehicles to its transportation services, a move that is expected to lower carbon emissions by 30 per cent.
“Partnering with local hawker centres is a natural extension of our commitment to promoting Singapore’s rich culture while supporting the local economy,” said Shiv Kumar Gokhar, managing director at Travel DMC Group Singapore. “We are excited to offer our guests an authentic culinary journey and contribute to a more sustainable future.”