Star Voyager will return to South-east Asia for the winter season, offering three- and four-night cruises to Penang, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur and Pulau Bintan.
Singapore departures from November 20 to December 14, 2025, include three-night weekend cruises to Penang, departing Thursdays, and four-night sailings to Phuket and Penang, departing Sundays.
The ship will offer sailings from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Penang, Phuket, Pulau Bintan and Kuala Lumpur, concluding the season in Hong Kong on February 13, 2026
From December 18, 2025, to February 5, 2026, itineraries will include four-night cruises to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) and Phuket, departing Sundays, and three-night weekend cruises to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) and Pulau Bintan, departing Thursdays.
Kuala Lumpur (via Port Klang) departures from December 19, 2025, to February 2, 2026, will include three-night cruises to Pulau Bintan and Singapore, departing Fridays, and four-night cruises to Phuket and Singapore, departing Mondays.
Guests can embark at the Singapore Cruise Centre or from Kuala Lumpur via the Port Klang Cruise Terminal.
The itineraries feature South-east Asia destinations including Singapore, Penang, Phuket, Pulau Bintan and Kuala Lumpur, with opportunities for cultural exploration, beaches, eco-tours, golf and water sports.
In addition, Star Voyager offers additional departures to meet demand during the holiday season.
Special one-way repositioning cruises will be offered at the start and end of the season. A four-night Hong Kong-Nha Trang-Singapore cruise will depart Hong Kong on November 16, 2025, calling at Nha Trang, Vietnam, before arriving in Singapore on November 20, 2025. A five-night Singapore-Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang-Hong Kong cruise will depart Singapore on February 8, 2026, calling at Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, returning to Hong Kong on February 13, 2026, in time for Lunar New Year.
In 2025, hotels are no longer just places for weary travellers to rest and refuel; in the hands of visionary designers, they have become vessels for time travel – liminal spaces where past legacies, present-day narratives, and future ambitions converge.
Lobbies double as living rooms for locals and guests alike. Landscapes are conceived as wellness infrastructure. Architecture blurs the lines between nature and the built world, all while keeping one eye firmly on the decades ahead.
In the Aman Nai Lert lobby, a 12-metre-tall tree sculpture inspired by the park’s century-old Chamchuri tree rises through a triple atrium to the ninth floor, adorned with 6,000 gold leaves fading from gold to black, symbolising the hotel’s connection to nature and its heritage
Past: Cultural revival as a portal to history
At Dusit Central Park, Bangkok, Thailand, a flagship restoration in collaboration with Thailand’s Silpakorn University – renowned for its arts heritage – sets a benchmark for living history.
Led by Dragon Company with interiors by André Fu Studio, the rebuild of the group’s 1970 property, described by Dusit Thani’s group CEO Suphajee Suthumpan as “deeply personal”, preserves original elements, from the iconic spire to cultural motif pillars, while upgrading comfort and sustainability.
Balconies have been replaced with bay windows so guests can enjoy panoramic views of Lumpini Park shielded from city pollution, while the mixed-use complex also houses a new retail centre and the largest urban rooftop park in the city centre.
Aman Nai Lert Bangkok in Thailand – opened in April 2025 – also takes history as a key reference. It integrates the historic Nai Lert Park Heritage Home – built by Phraya Bhakdinorasreth “Nai Lert”, a visionary entrepreneur who helped shape modern Bangkok – into a serene ultra-luxury sanctuary anchored by a century-old Chamchuri tree at its centre.
“Nai Lert’s rich heritage provided an incredible foundation for this project. Our goal was to honour this legacy and Thai culture in a modern, timeless way alongside Aman’s renowned design DNA, developed over three decades,” shared Jean-Michel Gathy, principal and founder of Denniston.
Heritage revival is not limited to bricks and mortar. At InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, the Bill Bensley Digital Design Tour, launched in January 2025, adds an immersive high-tech twist, guiding in-house guests via smart devices through the designer’s inspirations from Vietnamese culture, nature, and heritage across four themed levels – as if Bensley himself were guiding them through.
Present: Nature-positive, community connected design
In the present, hotels ground guests in place through nature-positive and community-connected design.
“Guests seek more than accommodation; they desire immersive narratives that connect them to the local culture,” said Stéphane Lasserre, HKS studio practice leader for hospitality, who champions biophilic and place-based design.
“Hotel design has shifted from stylised representations of place to deeply authentic, destination-rooted experiences,” he added.
Today’s hotel designers simultaneously hold the past, present and future in mind, encapsulating them all in one stay
HKS, which has worked on mega-projects, such as Resorts World Sentosa Island Master Plan (2019) and Shanghai West Bund Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Convention Center (2028), today applies circular systems, AI modelling, and community collaboration to ensure spaces give more than they take – socially, ecologically, and economically.
Patrick Keane, founder of Enter Projects Asia, identified three trends driving hotel design today: New locations, including new markets and new destinations; going local – engaging community & community arts and crafts; and barefoot luxury, or sustainable eco-luxury.
He noted that post-lockdown, nature-driven concepts have moved from niche to mainstream, and that even “the most conservative design briefs” now include references to nature’s materials.
“Before the pandemic, the ideas of wellness and plant-based sustainability and community engagement and going local were all niche concepts. But now, they’ve become mainstream concepts that everybody has to somehow engage in to have that relevance or risk looking completely out of date,” he noted.
“All our ceilings for the lobby and conference facilities at the new South Palms Resort and Spa Panglao – MGallery Collection in Bohol (the Philippines) are cloud-like patterns made from one-kilometre of rattan – saving over one-kilometre of plastic and toxic materials by a simple move of switching to an abundant, tactile natural material,” Keane said.
He defined three “flavours” of genuine sustainability impact: performance (energy efficiency, passive cooling), arts and crafts (low-impact, local materials), and biophilic design (organic forms and plant integration), noting that certifications have now modernised this concept.
Keane cautioned against tokenism – such as eliminating plastic straws, but placing plastic furniture around the pool – and championed early design decisions that truly reduce impact.
For Siriporn Sririam, a biologist and nature conservationist serving as senior project officer, Thailand & regional at Agence Française de Développement (AFD), nature-positive tourism means rethinking hotel design to actively protect biodiversity – from property design that reduces impact to coastal areas, to beachfront hotels that actively reduce light pollution to support turtle nesting.
Thoughtful menu design plays a part too, such as a 2024 project at Jaras Restaurant, InterContinental Phuket Resort, where a partnership with WWF Thailand brought invasive species like blackchin tilapia into a zero-waste fine-dining menu to drive ecological balance.
Future: Wellness as a bridge to longevity
Today’s hotel narrative also extends into the future, where technology-integrated wellness and sustainability become dual bridges to future-proofing both people and the planet.
“Wellness has transcended the traditional spa to become an intrinsic element woven throughout the entire hotel experience,” explained Lasserre, adding that HKS, with assistance from its research team, incorporates scientifically backed principles of brain wellness and emotional design, curating rooms to evoke specific emotions through thoughtful selections of furniture, fittings, and natural materials.
Robert Day, HKS studio leader for master planning and landscapes, pointed to the emergence of integrative wellness.
“Luxury properties are increasingly offering an expanded suite of wellness facilities – including world-class healthcare capabilities – while retaining the comfort, aesthetics, and service standards of a luxury resort,” he said.
He anticipates more high-end retreats that seamlessly integrate advanced treatment facilities into their environments, creating transformative sanctuaries where guests can invest in preventative health, longevity, and lifestyle renewal within an elevated travel experience.
Wanviput Sanphasitvong, a physician at VitaLife Scientific Wellness Center and Bumrungrad International Hospital, echoed these observations, noting that wellness travellers are increasingly seeking proven results and “want to get younger by staying in these (wellness) hotels”.
The Siro brand, billed as the world’s first fitness and recovery-themed hotel, designed by LW Design Group in Dubai’s One Za’abeel, exemplifies this shift.
“Our vision was to design not just a hotel, but a comprehensive wellness ecosystem where every element enhances the guest’s journey toward optimal health,” said Pooja Shah-Mulani, LW’s creative managing partner.
Keane foresees a “plant-based revolution” in building materials that mirror sustainability trends across industries. This will result in tactile spaces that feel alive.
“We see ourselves as part of this shift. The Industrial Revolution, more than 200 years ago, transformed construction with steel. Now, I believe we’re moving toward plant-based solutions: bamboo, rattan, recycled wood products, and cross-laminated timber. That’s the direction I see the industry taking,” he stated.
Lasserre noted “future-proofing” as a key trend, where hotel spaces are designed to remain relevant for decades, while Day said the rise of ‘bleisure’ would result in ever more liminal spaces that could transition seamlessly between work and play.
Angsana Zhoushan, China Angsana Zhoushan is located at the foothills of Wujian Mountain in Putuo District, next to Wuling Wetland Park and overlooking the Thousand Island Coast east of Shanghai. It is about 15 minutes from the ferry terminals, with direct boat links to Putuo Mountain and Dongji Island.
The hotel has 222 guestrooms and villas, some with private onsen pools or courtyards. Facilities include the Angsana Spa, an onsen with 16 outdoor pools and a children’s pool, a gym, an indoor heated pool, as well as yoga and meditation areas.
Dining includes Cantonese dishes at Chun Feng, international and local food at Market Place, light meals at Lingbo, and afternoon tea in the lobby lounge, while the Angsana 101 programme offers workshops in local crafts and the Terra Kids Club provides indoor and outdoor spaces for children aged three to six.
Shilla Monogram Gangneung
Shilla Monogram Gangneung, South Korea Shilla Monogram Gangneung has opened on Songjeong Beach in Gangneung, about two hours from Seoul by train.
It has 917 rooms, including 315 rooms and 602 residence units, with most offering ocean views. The fifth floor is designed for families, with children’s rooms fitted with bunk and family beds. Signature Suites feature Jacuzzis with sea views, and Terrace Suites include private terraces and pools.
Facilities include a children’s play area, party and media rooms, a screen golf facility, a library and business corner, a wine shop, convenience store, and laundry.
The hotel’s location gives access to Anmok Coffee Street, Gyeongpodae Pavilion, Jungang Market, and Arte Museum Gangneung within a 10-minute drive.
Hannah St Hotel
Hannah St Hotel, Australia Hannah St Hotel has opened as part of the Queensbridge precinct in Southbank, Melbourne.
The hotel has 188 rooms featuring custom furniture, collectable art, and bold finishes, reflecting the studio’s residential design background applied to a commercial setting.
Facilities include The Clubhouse, which spans several floors and houses a 25-metre lap pool, steam room, sauna, and gym. There are co-working studios, meeting rooms, and lounges, as well as spaces for private dining and rooftop gatherings. A podcast recording studio is available on request.
The property sits within the podium of the 65-storey Queensbridge Building, near Melbourne’s arts and cultural district. The location places guests within easy reach of Southbank attractions, including the Melbourne Arts Precinct.
Aerotel Shanghai
Aerotel Shanghai, China Aerotel Shanghai is located on the sixth and seventh floors of Terminal 2 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, a three-minute walk from domestic and international security checkpoints.
The hotel has 82 rooms with flexible hourly booking options for transit, arrival, and departure passengers. Rooms accommodate solo travellers, couples, and families, with some offering runway views. Each room has Wi-Fi, mattresses and pillows, hot showers, and complimentary amenities.
Facilities include a rooftop garden lounge, dining options with buffet and à la carte meals, a Grab and Go area with 24-hour snacks, a co-working space, resting room, and luggage storage. The hotel also provides direct access to the terminal.
Druk Asia is rolling out a new approach to visiting Bhutan with the launch of the Bhutan Insider Experience with James Low, a series of small-group journeys designed to replace conventional sightseeing with more flexible, meaningful encounters.
The itineraries are curated to align with the country’s High Value, Low Volume tourism policy, which emphasises cultural preservation, environmental protection and sustainable development.
The Royal Highlander Festival in Laya, Gasa showcases tradition and culture against Bhutan’s mountain backdrop
Each trip is accompanied by Low, a hospitality veteran who spent nearly a decade in Bhutan as general manager of an international five-star hotel. Low, together with a licensed local guide and driver, leads participants through a programme where accommodation, transport and access are arranged, but space remains for spontaneous discovery, such as shared meals, artisan visits and conversations with spiritual leaders.
Independent travel is not permitted in Bhutan, with all visitors required to travel with licensed guides. This ensures safety in high-altitude terrain while also providing access to sacred sites and local communities.
Druk Asia, which has hosted more than 20,000 travellers to Bhutan and is the official representative of Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines), will also continue to offer special interest journeys such as the Royal Highlander Festival in Laya, Gasa, held in October 2025 at 4,000 metres above sea level.
Prices are based on twin-sharing accommodation and include return economy airfare with Druk Air to Paro from Singapore.
The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place has appointed Sumit Joshi as general manager.
He brings more than 25 years of experience in hotels, resorts and residences. In his new role, he will focus on guest experience, local culture and staff leadership at the hotel.
Joshi started his career with The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, progressing through leadership roles. He was most recently the general manager of JW Marriott Jakarta.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has strengthened its Asia-Pacific team with several new hires.
Melissa Ong has been named director, travel partnerships, Asia, based in Singapore, effective September 8. She was with Marriott Luxury Group as global account director for six years and previously worked for The Leading Hotels of the World for eight years.
Melissa Ong is the new director of travel partnerships, Asia
The reservations team in Sydney has grown from two to five. New members are Christopher Menon, who joined on August 18 from Four Seasons Singapore; Nathan Gudsell, who joined on September 2 from Baillie Lodges; and Jasmine Zaman, who will join on October 6 from Marriott, where she is currently assistant front office manager at Pier One Sydney Harbour.
Menon and Gudsell are training in Fort Lauderdale and will begin assisting partners in October. Zaman will train in Malta and will begin in November.
Sri Lanka Tourism is aiming to attract the growing Indian wedding market and recently organised multi-city luxury wedding shows across the country for the first time, seeking to position Sri Lanka as a wedding destination for Indian couples, covering cities including Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Fourteen Sri Lankan exhibitors, including wedding planners and hotels, took part in the shows to engage directly with Indian travel agents, wedding planners and other stakeholders.
Hewawasam: we have the capacity to cater to double the number of Indian weddings we currently host
“Traditionally, our southern province destinations like Bentota, Hambantota and Weligama have been popular for Indian weddings which have the presence of hotels such as Hilton and Shangri-La that can accommodate large gatherings. However, we are now also promoting emerging destinations like Trincomalee, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay for Indian weddings,” said Buddhika Hewawasam, chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), while speaking to TTG Asia during the Delhi edition of the wedding shows.
Currently, the typical Indian wedding group visiting Sri Lanka stays for seven to 10 days, which includes pre-wedding and post-wedding ceremonies. In the past eight months alone, Sri Lanka has hosted 30 large weddings along with 50 small and mid-sized Indian weddings, according to SLTPB.
“We have the capacity to cater to double the number of Indian weddings we currently host. Our goal is to conduct these wedding shows regularly across India,” Hewawasam added, revealing plans to extend the initiative to southern Indian cities in the coming months.
Beyond B2B engagements, Sri Lanka Tourism is also focusing on consumer outreach. It plans to host familiarisation trips for social media influencers and run wedding-focused digital campaigns targeting Indian audiences.
“We will also participate in various wedding-focused events across India to showcase our diverse offerings for the segment,” Hewawasam concluded.
Silversea has revised its fare structure to offer guests greater flexibility with the introduction of three new fare types with immediate effect.
These options allow guests to personalise their travel with pre- and post-cruise add-ons, including air travel, hotels, transfers and land experiences. The all-inclusive onboard offering will remain unchanged.
Guests can personalise their voyages with new fares, pre- and post-cruise add-ons, and curated shore experiences
The new fares include the All-Inclusive Plus Fare, which provides a refundable deposit and coverage under the Fare Guarantee Program. Guests on oceangoing voyages can apply a shore excursion credit, determined by the length and region of the sailing, to the experiences of their choice. Expedition voyages will continue to include shore excursions, Zodiac tours, expert lectures, in-country flights, pre- and post-cruise hotel nights as required, and other customary inclusions.
The All-Inclusive Fare is available on oceangoing voyages and allows guests to purchase shore excursions à la carte, either before the cruise or on board. This fare requires a non-refundable deposit.
The Last-Minute Fare, available on select oceangoing and expedition voyages within five months of departure, offers savings for guests. The deposit is non-refundable and the full payment is required at booking.
All fare types allow guests to purchase air travel, pre- and post-cruise hotels, transfers, shore excursions and land experiences through Silversea, tailored to their preferences.
Silversea is also expanding its shore excursion offering to allow greater personalisation. New experience types include Highlight Experiences, providing seamless tours of iconic sites; Signature Experiences, smaller curated tours; Private Experiences, exclusive to a group of guests; Custom Experiences, tailor-made tours; and Overland Experiences, two- or three-day mid-cruise inland tours available on select voyages.
The brand has also launched City Stays by Silversea, offering pre- and post-cruise hotel stays in locations such as Copenhagen, Rome, Barcelona and Athens. These stays provide central accommodation with personalised service, giving guests the opportunity to explore local life, dining, historical and cultural insights, and interactions with the community.
“The Luxury of Choice reflects our deep commitment to delivering on the feedback of our guests,” said Bert Hernandez, president, Silversea. “Our guests consistently tell us that they value flexibility in their travels. With our new fare options, we’re empowering them to personalise every aspect of their journey – from start to finish – while continuing to enjoy our signature all-inclusive onboard experience, which is one of the most comprehensive at sea.”
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore has introduced the Ultimate F1 Weekend Stay package for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix.
Available from September 22 to October 12, 2025, the package includes access to the Executive Club Lounge or The Lobby Lounge, race-themed beverages, an on-site F1 merchandise retail booth, an F1 cap and a limited-edition Racer Otter plush toy for each guest.
The Ultimate F1 Weekend Stay package runs from September 22 to October 12, 2025, with dining, lounge access and race-themed perks
The package also offers one-for-one racing-themed cocktails at The Lobby Lounge, as well as a one-for-one Epicure Brunch on October 5, 2025. The brunch will feature 18 food stations including seafood on ice, wagyu ribeye, lamb from the Josper grill, foie gras, international dishes and desserts. A children’s menu, food corner and activities will also be available, with complimentary dining for children under five.
Other inclusions are a racing-themed turndown service, a themed welcome set-up with amenities and complimentary yoga classes on Saturdays at 15.30 during the race period.
The hotel is a 10-minute drive from the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Bookings are open until October 11, 2025, for stays between September 22 and October 12, 2025.
Kashmir witnessed one of its deadliest terror attacks earlier this year on April 22, when gunmen opened fire near the Baisaran meadow, popularly known as ‘Mini-Switzerland’, close to Pahalgam. Dozens of tourists, mostly domestic with the exception of one foreign visitor, lost their lives in the assault. In the immediate aftermath, tourism and hospitality in the valley came to a near standstill. However, the industry remains optimistic and expects a strong revival in the coming months.
“Tourist arrivals dipped immediately after the incident but from July onward the situation has normalised. The situation in the valley is peaceful at present. With strong demand expected from October to December, the industry is hopeful that by year-end, tourist numbers will match those of 2024,” said Nasir Shah, managing director, Culture & Nature Expeditions Tours & Travels.
Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, the site of April’s attack, now sees visitors returning as Kashmir’s tourism industry focuses on recovery
Tourism in Kashmir has been growing in recent years. According to statistics from the Department of Tourism, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, around 2.71 million tourists visited Kashmir in 2023, compared with approximately 2.67 million in 2022.
“The valley has completely recovered from the impact of the Pahalgam terror attack. Current tourist footfall in Kashmir is low but this is due to the off-season rather than the incident itself. With the onset of the festive season in the country beginning with Durga Puja and Dussehra later this year, tourist arrivals are expected to pick up significantly,” said Sameer Baktoo, chairman of Travel Agents Association of India’s (TAAI’s) J&K Chapter.
However, Abhishek Bhattacharya, head of sales at WelcomHeritage, said that following the Pahalgam incident, the tourism sector in Kashmir continues to face challenges.
“We have observed that while there is a lot of hope, the leisure business has not yet picked up and demand remains well below what we saw prior to the incident. We are hopeful for a gradual improvement as we move towards the autumn season but the industry’s full recovery will depend on rebuilding the confidence of travellers in a sustained way,” he added. The hospitality company operates two properties in Kashmir which includes WelcomHeritage Grand and WelcomHeritage Gurkha Houseboats.
Industry associations and stakeholders across the country have been supporting their counterparts in the region to help revive the sector. In July 2025, the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Northern Regional Committee on Tourism and Hospitality held a meeting in Srinagar to discuss measures to strengthen tourism in the valley. The Travel Agents Association of India’s Rally for the Valley in Kashmir brought together travel agents from across India in support of the region’s tourism sector.
“Both the government of India and the local administration have been proactive in supporting tourism revival. Chief minister Omar Abdullah has undertaken multiple visits to promote the destination. The Indian government has also extended its support during the crisis. Indians from across the country also stood with Kashmir, continuing to travel to the valley after the Pahalgam incident and the brief India–Pakistan military stand-off,” added Baktoo.
Bhattacharya: the leisure business has not yet picked up and demand remains well below pre-incident levels
Improved road, rail and air infrastructure has increased tourism in Kashmir in recent years. Srinagar’s airport is connected to major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad through direct flights, though demand remains mainly domestic.
“The international market for Kashmir remains limited compared to the domestic one. These tourists are largely from European countries such as Germany and Spain as well as from South-east Asia,” said Shah. Kashmir recorded 37,678 international tourist arrivals in 2023.
“Kashmir has golf courses which can be developed to promote it as a global golf destination. Golfers apart from staying in hotels also explore the destination where they are playing. So, regular international level golf tournaments are required to be organised in Kashmir,” said Rajan Sehgal, president, India Golf Tourism Association (IGTA). The local government has said it plans to develop areas such as Gulmarg as a golf destination.
However, Kashmir, affected by decades of insurgency, has seen many foreign missions in India issue travel advisories against visiting the region. According to industry stakeholders, these advisories have been a major obstacle to increasing inbound tourist numbers.
“Kashmir should be positioned as a safe destination on par with any other. If foreign advisories are withdrawn, international tourist arrivals could increase substantially,” added Baktoo.
Meanwhile, some industry players are taking steps to revive demand following the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
“We have taken proactive steps to restore confidence, from offering flexible booking policies to curating special staycation packages for couples and families. We are also amplifying real-time updates and guest content on social media to showcase the current reality on the ground, which is that Kashmir’s hospitality community is open and ready to welcome guests again,” concluded Bhattacharya.
Joshi started his career with The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, progressing through leadership roles. He was most recently the general manager of JW Marriott Jakarta.
