Amora Hotels and Resorts appoints Tamer Habib as chief operating officer. In this role, he will lead the group’s commercial strategy and overall vision.
With more than three decades of hospitality experience, Habib most recently served as vice president of operations at Amora Hotels and Resorts.
His career includes senior roles with Marriott, Hyatt, InterContinental, and Stamford, bringing deep operational and commercial expertise to the group’s continued growth across Australia and Asia.
Etienne Dalançon has been named general manager of the upcoming Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur, set to open in late 2026.
He brings over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience and most recently served as general manager of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. His career spans senior leadership roles across Asia and Europe, with a strong focus on service excellence and operational leadership.
Buoyed by a 20 per cent growth in Indian tourist arrivals last year, the Taiwan Tourism Administration is now looking to attract a greater number of leisure travellers to the island. At present, the corporate and MICE segments are driving travel demand from India to Taiwan.
To rebalance this mix, the Taiwan Tourism Administration is strengthening its engagement with the travel trade to grow leisure travel from the Indian market.
“Incentive travel demand from India is growing for us. Last year we welcomed an 800 pax strong Indian incentive group of Asian Paints. We are now focusing on leisure tourism through our travel trade engagements,” said Paul Shih, director, Taiwan Tourism Administration, Singapore Office. Shih was speaking to TTG Asia on the sidelines of the Taiwan mega roadshow in New Delhi, which took place on February 3.
The NTO also participated in OTM 2026 from February 5 to 7 and has planned pan-India roadshows later this year across key markets such as Kolkata, Pune and Chennai. It is also working to showcase destinations and experiences beyond Taipei to Indian travellers.
“We have much more than Taipei to offer. From mountains and forests to coastlines and temples, Taiwan presents a diverse range of tourism products and experiences. Activities such as biking and diving are also available. Over the past two years, we have hosted more than 50 Indian travel agents, media representatives and opinion leaders,” said Kuanchu Chen, chief, Taiwan Tourism Administration, International Affairs Division, while addressing participants at the New Delhi roadshow.
Taiwan recorded more than 47,000 Indian tourist arrivals last year.
“We will also be hosting a few Indian travel agents for the Taiwan Lantern Festival scheduled to take place next month. Educating travel agent partners is a key pillar of our Indian market strategy,” concluded Shih.
Brisbane and the Gold Coast have launched dedicated trade representation in India as part of a joint effort to grow visitation from one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound travel markets.
Brisbane Economic Development Agency, Brisbane Airport and Experience Gold Coast have appointed an in-market representative to support trade engagement and convert rising demand from India into travel to South-east Queensland.
India is one of Australia’s top five international visitor markets. In the year ending September 2025, Queensland welcomed 77,000 visitors from India, who spent A$238.9 million (US$158 million). Brisbane recorded 46,000 Indian arrivals during the period, while the Gold Coast welcomed 25,000 visitors, representing year-on-year growth of 35 per cent.
The initiative is designed to support inbound demand across aviation, accommodation and tourism businesses, while encouraging more consistent travel flows into the region.
Brisbane Airport said India remains a priority market, supported by connections via Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Vietjet and Cathay Pacific. Malaysia Airlines has also introduced five weekly services to Brisbane, providing onward connections to 10 major Indian cities.
Horus Development and Consulting, which already represents Brisbane across South-east Asia, will expand its remit to include India. The programme will be led by Ratna Rai, Horus’ account manager for India, and will focus on trade engagement, marketing and public relations activity.
The partnership aims to strengthen South-east Queensland’s profile with the Indian travel trade while supporting existing aviation capacity and longer-term route development.
Brisbane mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “India is one of the fastest-growing travel markets in the world, and we want Brisbane to be top of mind for Indian travellers looking to experience Australia’s lifestyle capital. This partnership is about working together with the Gold Coast to bring more visitors to South-east Queensland, support local jobs and keep Brisbane’s visitor economy strong.”
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff added: “With Malaysia Airlines now also flying to Brisbane five times a week, and offering seamless connection to 10 major Indian cities, Queensland is more accessible to Indian travellers than ever before.”
Bonus Journeys gives World of Hyatt members more ways to be rewarded for eligible stays around the world. Whether travelling for a city break, a family holiday or a sports-focused getaway, members can earn Bonus Points that unlock future experiences.
From now through April 15, 2026, World of Hyatt members can register to earn 3,000 Bonus Points for every three eligible nights, up to 21,000 Bonus Points, at Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide. Members staying at Hyatt Place and Hyatt Select hotels can earn even more, with an additional 1,000 Bonus Points for every three eligible nights, up to 7,000 additional Bonus Points, for a total of up to 28,000 Bonus Points.
With a wide range of participating hotels and resorts, including select Mr & Mrs Smith properties, Bonus Journeys rewards members across different travel styles. Enjoy wine country at Alila Napa Valley, explore Dublin from Hyatt Centric The Liberties, or experience cherry blossom season at the newly renovated Park Hyatt Tokyo.
Beach escapes are equally rewarding, from the tranquil mangrove setting of Alila Mayakoba in Mexico to all-inclusive stays at Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa in the Dominican Republic. Sports fans can plan trips around major events, with hotels near tennis tournaments, motorsport weekends and key baseball and football matchups across the US and internationally.
With up to 28,000 Bonus Points available to earn, eligible stays can unlock free nights, room upgrades and memorable experiences across Hyatt’s global portfolio, from cultural city centres to resort destinations designed for relaxation and discovery.
For more information, visit World of Hyatt.
Destination New South Wales (NSW) is turning to major sporting fixtures, particularly cricket, alongside high-impact concerts to deepen its connection with India, one of the state’s fastest-growing inbound tourism markets.
“Major events play a vital role in attracting Indian visitors to the state and growing our visitor economy. They inject millions of dollars, creating thousands of jobs and driving business for local hotels, bars, restaurants, tourism operators and small enterprises across our cities and regions,” stated Steve Kamper, New South Wales minister for jobs and tourism.
The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) was one of the venues for the One Day International (ODI) series between India and Australia. SCG hosted the third ODI match between the two countries on October 25, 2025, with a large number of Indian fans travelling to attend the game.
“Without doubt, events like the ODI series play a key role in shining a spotlight on Sydney for our cricket-loving Indian market,” said Kamper.
While the SCG remains the state’s most recognised cricket venue, the wider NSW also holds a deep connection with the sport’s global fans. Bowral, the largest town in the Southern Highlands of NSW, is home to Bradman Oval. Bradman Oval is named after Don Bradman, regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, who played there in the 1920s.
The adjacent Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame, dedicated to the history of the sport and displaying memorabilia, further add to its appeal for Indian visitors.
“There is strong interest among Indian travellers to visit NSW whenever India plays at the SCG. Along with leisure tourists, many corporate clients also travel for these matches,” shared Guldeep Singh Sahni, managing director of Weldon Tours & Travels.
Beyond cricket action, Indian visitors make the most of their trip by exploring Sydney’s attractions and enjoying its nightlife and gastronomy offerings.
Besides sports, music is a big draw for the Indian market. Destination NSW supported Indian musician Diljit Dosanjh’s sold-out concert at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta on October 26, 2025, as part of his Aura Tour 2025. Dosanjh became the first Indian artist to sell out the stadium, drawing a crowd of more than 25,000.
“With 4.47 billion views on his YouTube channel, 26 million Instagram followers and 18.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify, this music superstar not only drew more than 25,000 fans to Parramatta, he also put Western Sydney in the spotlight for millions of fans in India and around the world,” added Kamper.
Outside CommBank Stadium on the day of the concert, a day-long festival featuring music and stalls showcasing Indian culture was also held.
Sydney’s Little India, Harris Park, is located in Parramatta and is popular with Indian visitors for its concentration of Indian restaurants and grocery stores.
Among the events Destination NSW promotes to the Indian market with trade partners are New Year’s Eve, the Summer of Cricket in Sydney, the Sydney Marathon, and Vivid Sydney.
“With Sydney as the gateway, NSW is well placed to leverage its iconic attractions, natural beauty and thriving arts and cultural scene and build on the booming demand for its rich and immersive visitor experiences from one of the state’s fastest-growing inbound tourism markets,” said Kamper.
In the year ending June 2025, NSW welcomed 186,700 visitors from India, up 12.4 per cent year on year.
“These are fantastic numbers, but we want them to grow even more,” concluded Kamper.
Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1, outlining several initiatives aimed at strengthening the tourism sector.
As part of the budget measures, India will develop seven high-speed rail corridors as growth connectors between key cities, including Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri.
The budget also proposed the development of ecologically sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as in Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Podhigai Malai in the Western Ghats.
JB Singh, director of InterGlobe Air Transport and president and CEO of InterGlobe Hotels, said: “The budget provides a constructive push for India’s travel and hospitality sectors. The development of cultural, heritage and nature-based destinations, along with an emphasis on skilling and institutional capacity-building, reflects a clear focus on strengthening the sector’s competitiveness, talent and service standards.”
The budget has also proposed a pilot scheme to upskill 10,000 guides across 20 iconic tourist sites through a standardised, high-quality 12-week training programme delivered in hybrid mode, in collaboration with an Indian Institute of Management.
“The industry is particularly encouraged by the focus on eco-tourism, trekking and wildlife trails in line with global demand for sustainable and experience-based travel. The large-scale skilling of tourist guides will strengthen professionalism and enhance India’s global tourism competitiveness,” said Ravi Gosain, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.
In a push to medical tourism, the government plans to launch a scheme to support states in establishing five regional medical hubs in partnership with the private sector. These hubs will serve as integrated healthcare complexes combining medical, educational and research facilities.
To enhance last-mile and remote connectivity, incentives have been proposed to indigenise the manufacturing of seaplanes. The government has also proposed developing 15 archaeological sites – including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallur, Sarnath, Hastinapur and Leh Palace – into experiential cultural destinations.
Sarbendra Sarkar, founder and managing director of Cygnett Hotels & Resorts, said: “Medical tourism has an immense potential to grow inbound tourist arrivals in the country. Equally impactful is the emphasis on eco-friendly mountain trails, heritage sites and remote connectivity.”
In addition, turtle trails will be created along key nesting sites in the coastal regions of Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala, alongside birdwatching trails in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The budget has also proposed reducing the Tax Collection at Source rate on the sale of overseas tour packages from the current five per cent and 20 per cent to two per cent, without any stipulation on amount.
Royal Caribbean Group has entered into a series of agreements with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to secure the construction of its new Discovery Class ships at the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
The agreements include two firm orders, with options for four additional ships. The first ship is scheduled to enter service in 2029, followed by a second delivery in 2032.
The Discovery Class programme extends a long-standing relationship between Royal Caribbean Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, which began in 1985 with the construction of the Sovereign Class vessels. Since then, the shipyard has built 21 ships for the group and is currently constructing two more, including Oasis 7 and Celebrity Xcite.
Royal Caribbean Group said the new agreements form part of its longer-term fleet development plans across its cruise brands. The Discovery Class will add to the group’s pipeline of new ships, alongside planned developments across ocean, river and land-based vacation products over the coming years.
Chantiers de l’Atlantique is one of the world’s largest cruise ship builders, with experience delivering multiple ship classes for Royal Caribbean Group and other operators. The latest agreements reinforce the group’s reliance on the French shipyard as a core partner in its global shipbuilding programme.
Royal Caribbean Group said the collaboration also supports its focus on technology and sustainability, although the ship orders remain subject to customary conditions.
Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, said: “These ships will be a showcase of what’s possible when design meets purpose, ultimately bringing the world closer to our guests. Through our partnership with Chantiers de l’Atlantique, we are leveraging France’s world-class shipbuilding ecosystem and new technology to, once again, reimagine the industry for decades to come.”
Laurent Castaing, CEO of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, added: “Partnering with (Royal Caribbean Group) to bring the Discovery Class to life is an opportunity to showcase the future of shipbuilding. Together, we are shaping a new generation of ocean vacations that will lead the industry toward a more innovative future.”
Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, has entered into a partnership with The Postcard Hotel, expanding its hotel partner network in South Asia. The agreement allows Etihad Guest members to earn Miles on stays at The Postcard Hotel’s properties in India, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Under the partnership, members can earn Miles when booking and staying at participating Postcard properties. Stays of two or three nights will earn 2,000 Miles, while stays of four nights or more will earn 4,000 Miles and include a complimentary night.
The airline said the collaboration supports its focus on the region and its growing base of Etihad Guest members, and forms part of Etihad’s broader engagement with India and neighbouring markets.
Etihad has expanded its presence in India through commercial partnerships, sponsorships and locally tailored services, including cuisine and digital content. Etihad Guest continues to add partners across travel and lifestyle sectors, allowing members to earn and redeem Miles beyond flights.
Arik De, chief revenue and commercial officer, Etihad Airways, said: “We’re delighted to welcome The Postcard Hotel to Etihad Guest, expanding the breadth of the programme in the region. This collaboration is a strategic step in deepening our engagement with the Indian subcontinent, offering travellers distinctive experiences that celebrate the region’s richness while enhancing the value of being an Etihad Guest member.”
Kapil Chopra, founder and CEO of The Postcard Hotel, added: “This alliance enables Etihad Guest members to immerse themselves in the world of The Postcard Hotel – where every moment is designed to transcend expectations and deliver authentic, unforgettable luxury and experience our award-winning hospitality.
As ASEAN accelerates its tourism ambitions, aviation specialists are urging destinations to rethink how air connectivity is built, sustained and scaled.
Panellists at the forum titled Accessible and Seamless Travel, held during the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cebu City, Philippines, stressed that seamless travel is no longer solely an airline issue, but a whole-of-government and destination-wide challenge.
The session was moderated by Issa Litton, president and head trainer of Philippines-based 1Lit Corp, and the conference was hosted by the Philippine Department of Tourism.
Michelle Eve A De Guzman, marketing director at Cebu Pacific, highlighted the growing role of secondary airports as travellers seek time and cost savings. However, she cautioned that accessibility goes beyond simply landing an aircraft.
“You don’t just land them in that country,” she said. “What about the travel from the airport to where they actually want to go? That’s part of travel accessibility too.”
From a policy perspective, Jane Stacey, head of the tourism unit at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), stressed that seamless travel must be viewed as a complete, end-to-end journey.
“It’s from the very first mile to the very last mile,” she said, outlining four priorities for delivering a seamless traveller experience.
The first is modernising visa and border processes, including simplifying visa requirements, speeding up approvals and reducing friction at immigration checkpoints. Stacey noted that destinations easing visa restrictions consistently see demand rise, making policy reform one of the fastest levers governments can use to stimulate travel.
The second priority is deploying interoperable digital traveller identity and biometric verification. By enabling travellers to move through airports using biometrics instead of repeated document checks, congestion can be significantly reduced. Stacey pointed to airports with multiple identity checkpoints as clear examples of inefficiency.
The third priority is strengthening multimodal connectivity, referring to the integration of air travel with land, sea and rail transport. Without reliable onward connections, even well-connected airports struggle to deliver a seamless experience, particularly for emerging or secondary destinations.
The fourth priority is improving access to accurate, real-time traveller information, including transport schedules, border requirements and local mobility options, across every stage of the journey.
Salvador C Britanico, vice president for sustainability and strategy at Philippine Airlines, framed route development from an airline’s commercial perspective.
“If you’re thinking like an airline, three words matter: demand, infrastructure and policy,” he said. “Even by the stroke of a pen, taxation, visa rules or travel friction can change everything.”
He explained that visa requirements, border controls, aviation taxes, fuel pricing and airport charges directly affect passenger demand and route viability. In some cases, routes struggle not because travellers lack interest, but because regulatory barriers suppress demand in one direction, making services commercially unsustainable.
Data also emerged as a critical enabler of collaboration.
Olivier Ponti, director of market intelligence and insights at Amadeus, said data is no longer a “nice to have” in route development, but the foundation of credible partnerships between destinations and airlines.
“If you want to increase air connectivity, you really need to see this as teamwork. Data provides a common ground of understanding,” he said.
Ponti added that by tracking booking trends, seasonality, origin markets and traveller behaviour, destinations can help airlines identify opportunities early and intervene before routes underperform.
“The real work isn’t just launching routes. It’s sustaining them.”
