Parkroyal on Beach Road has unveiled a brand new look and enhanced facilities across its wellness floor, which comprises the upscale St Gregory Spa, fitness centre, and swimming pools. The vision is for the wellness floor to offer a complete ecosystem of well-being.
Parkroyal on Beach Road’s revamped gym features three zones focusing on strength training, reformative exercises for body sculpting, and cardio workouts
The refreshed wellness sanctuary now features calming earthy tones, soft stone textures, gentle lighting, and abundant greenery. Natural materials are used throughout to create a warm, grounded atmosphere, while tall willows, reeds, and fountain grass lend a graceful, aquatic feel reminiscent of Asian resorts. The lush greenery also screens the space from surrounding tall buildings, framing views toward the horizon and reinforcing a resort-like seclusion.
The outdoor pool deck has been transformed to offer flexible spaces for yoga or social gatherings.
The refreshed St Gregory Spa has new fibre optic lights embedded in the ceiling to form constellations, bringing about a more tranquil experience.
The gym has been reconfigured into three areas – strength training, reformative exercises for body sculpting, and cardio workouts. A dedicated studio hosts weekly group classes, while a generous central seating area encourages rest and conversation between sessions. A highlight at the gym is the Body composition analyser, which allows in-house personal trainers to conduct a series of physical assessments for guests. The advanced machine is able to perform body composition analysis, body posture analysis, shoulder joint range of motion evaluation, and more.
Along with the enhanced infrastructure, the hotel has introduced tailored wellness packages and annual memberships designed to meet the needs of both hotel guests and the local community.
Emirates and Uber have entered a strategic partnership to explore ways to enhance on-ground mobility experience for Emirates customers, while offering Skywards members loyalty benefits when using the Uber platform across select markets within the Emirates network.
Through this partnership, the two companies will work towards introducing several initiatives, including an integrated booking experience that combines Uber Rides Vouchers with flight bookings for easier airport transfers or in-city rides. Additionally, Emirates and Uber will explore offering Uber rides to and from the airport for select Emirates customers, supporting a complete door-to-destination experience.
Uber’s Anabel Diaz Calderon (left) and Emirates’ Adnan Kazim ink an MoU to signal the start of a new partnership
The partnership will explore strategic opportunities to closely collaborate on offering Skywards members in the UAE the opportunity to earn on rides or redeem their miles for Uber app credits or vouchers. Emirates Skywards will also explore ways for members in the UAE to benefit from earning Miles on Uber rides across select markets in the Emirates network.
To maximise awareness around the rollout of initiatives under the partnership, Emirates and Uber will explore leveraging cross promotional marketing campaigns across the airline’s network.
Global guided vacation company, Trafalgar, which is part of The Travel Corporation (TTC), has released its 2024 Impact Report as a culmination of its efforts against its a five-year sustainability strategy for addressing overtourism and reaching net zero, responsible consumption and production, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
The report stated that the company has achieved seven of its sustainability goals.
Trafalgar’s tours support sustainable agriculture, preserve local food systems, and promote local businesses; traditional tea plantation in the Nara region pictured
Key findings include having 85 per cent of itineraries featuring at least one local dining experience. By prioritising local and organic dining experiences, Trafalgar supports sustainable agriculture, preserves local food systems, and promotes local businesses. On many of Trafalgar’s itineraries, travellers will participate in a Be My Guest Experience and meet with locals to break bread while learning about traditional cuisine and gaining new perspectives. On the Classic Japan tour, for example, guests have lunch with a local farmer and their family on a traditional tea plantation in the Nara area, to gain insights into their way of life.
The company has also achieved emissions reductions while actively engaging the tourism supply chain, moving closer to its net zero GHG emissions target by 2050 from a 2019 baseline year. As TTC’s largest brand, Trafalgar has led the way in the group’s efforts to curb carbon emissions. Specifically, TTC has reduced Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 23 per cent and Scope 3 emissions by 20 per cent from a 2019 baseline year.
Through its net zero roadmap, the business is prioritising biofuels and actively engaging its supply chain to enable the sector to tackle tourism emissions through collaboration. Trafalgar and sister brands in 2024 launched the Partner Sustainability Hub, showcasing guidance and tools designed to enable a more sustainable supply chain. Further proof of the group’s commitment is its investment of US$353,307 in decarbonisation projects across its business via the industry-first Carbon Fund in 2024, for a total of US$2.23 million invested since the Carbon Fund began implementation in 2023.
The report also highlighted that 98 per cent of Trafalgar itineraries include at least one Make Travel Matter experience. These immersive and impactful experiences are selected for the positive social or environmental benefits they have for the people and places that Trafalgar takes its guests. They are identified for how they actively advance at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). Examples of these experiences include visiting the award-winning organic vineyard Vale da Capucha and sampling its organic and biodynamic wines, which support the UNSDG of Responsible Consumption and Production.
Shannon Guihan, chief sustainability officer of TTC and head of its TreadRight Foundation, said: “As travellers return in greater numbers, the conversation must shift from growth to balance, a change we have been advocating for at TTC. That is why, across our brands, we are taking meaningful steps to reduce pressure on overcrowded destinations and to ensure our trips bring benefit, not burden.”
Guihan also emphasised the importance of destination-led approaches. “We believe that thoughtful, community-informed policies are essential to preserving the very qualities that draw travellers in the first place,” he said.
“I understand the value that tourism can bring to communities when managed in partnership with key stakeholders. Ultimately, tourism shouldn’t happen to a community; it should happen with them. And so, we not only welcome collaboration with governments, destination management organisations, and local leaders to build smart frameworks that ensure tourism delivers real value, limits harm and supports communities, we are seeking it out. If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that tourism must evolve proactively, transparently, and together.”
The optimistic and uplifting sister of ‘trigger’, glimmer is a spark of positive emotion and a cue that leads one into light and joy. As travel among the well-heeled and well-travelled become even more intentional, glimmer experiences – those that are fulfilling for the heart and soul, and may even be life-changing – are now highly sought after.
Glimmer moments in travel can happen anytime and anywhere, say travel experts. These moments can be intentionally created through thoughtful planning that deeply understands both the traveller and the destination.
Travel and tourism operators play a crucial role in bringing out the best in a destination; The Travel Corporation’s tours invite travellers to learn about beekeeping in Greece as a way of protecting native wildlife
Mike Harlow, general manager of luxury travel agency Scott Dunn, interprets glimmer travel as “the pursuit of fleeting, exceptional moments that happen through meaningful journeys, resulting in memories that stay with you long after you have returned home”.
He added that glimmer travel is “deeply personal”, and what sparks for one may not spark for another.
While affluent travellers have explored extensively, their quest for glimmer moments in travel has not faded.
Paul Mulcahy, chief commercial officer, The Lux Collective, said high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) “gravitate toward extraordinary experiences that offer emotional elevation”, where glimmer moments in travel “are not just about traditional luxury, but points to purposeful luxury travel”.
In fact, according to Harlow, such sentiments are “coming through more clearly in conversations with our guests”.
“Guests are increasingly seeking itineraries that allow for reconnection with themselves, with nature, and with family. Experiences that foster personal growth, mindfulness or a sense of wonder are gaining traction,” he elaborated.
Nick Lim, CEO, Asia of The Travel Corporation (TTC), which is home of several top-end travel brands including Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations and UniWorld Boutique River Cruises, believes that the concept of glimmer travel “aligns perfectly with TTC’s Make Travel Matter experiences”. These are conscious travel experiences that are chosen with care based on the positive social or environmental impact they have on their communities and travellers.
Make Travel Matter experiences include visiting a Sami tribe at its reindeer camp in Norway to safeguard local traditions and community, supporting Italian artisans in preserving centuries-old glass-blowing traditions, or learning about beekeeping in Greece as a way of protecting native wildlife. There are also programmes that venture into lesser-travelled destinations and secondary cities such as Sicily and Umbria in Italy, Thurso in Scotland, and Rocamadour in France.
“Visiting these lesser-known cities introduces new cultural experiences, offering a deeper and more authentic look at regional traditions that might be overlooked in more popular destinations. By doing so, travellers also help to reduce overtourism and spread tourism dollars to communities beyond the popular tourism spots. By integrating these elements, we ensure that glimmer moments are not just personally fulfilling but also a force for good, sustaining destinations for generations to come,” said Lim.
At first thought, it may seem that the most moving experiences are best found in remote or relatively undiscovered destinations.
However, travel experts say that is not the case.
Lim said: “While lesser-known destinations often provide an element of surprise, we firmly believe that even the most established destinations can offer profound, transformative moments, if approached the right way.”
Hence, Lim believes it is imperative for travel curators to work closely with destination managers and NTOs to craft truly meaningful journeys for discerning HNWI travellers.
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from Glimmer moments, the cover feature in TTG Asia Luxury June 2025 issue. Enjoy the full feature here.
Japan plans to introduce pre-arrival screening for travel to Japan in 2028 as part of wider efforts to boost inbound tourism while enhancing border security and streamlining entry procedures.
The system, which will be named JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization), is being modelled on the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
Travellers from countries with visa exemptions for short-term stays in Japan may soon get pre-arrival screening done ahead of their trip; Tokyo Tower pictured
“As we roll out the system, we will work to raise awareness among foreign nationals wishing to enter to Japan, using the abbreviation JESTA,” said justice minister Keisuke Suzuki. “With the rising number of visitors to Japan, speeding up immigration procedures is an urgent task.”
Japan welcomed 36.9 million international visitors in 2024, a record high and a 47.1 per cent increase year-on-year. With the government aiming for 60 million inbound tourists by 2030, the Justice Ministry considers JESTA one way to improve visitor convenience and safety by utilising advanced technology. Use of digital technologies and the elimination of in-person procedures is also being considered for more efficient screening.
Under JESTA, travellers from countries with visa exemptions for short-term stays in Japan will be required to provide travel and personal information, such as their names, purposes of stay and locations, at least several days before arrival.
The 71 countries and regions exempt from obtaining visas for short-term stays in Japan include South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, and most of Europe. Their nationals will be required to apply for travel authorisation via JESTA before departing for Japan.
Vietjet has taken a significant step forward in its growth strategy with an order of 100 Airbus 321neo aircraft, with the potential to add another 50 in the future.
This order comes hot on the heels of its commitment to 20 A330neo widebody aircraft last month.
Vietjet is powering its route expansion with an order of 100 Airbus 321neo aircraft
Vietjet chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said: “I have a vision and the determination to make Vietnam a regional aviation hub for passenger transportation, technical services, logistics, training, research, global supply chains, and aviation infrastructure. We will continue to develop a robust and modern fleet to support that goal.”
She added that the new order with with Airbus represented “more than a commercial contract”.
“It is a significant milestone that marks the beginning of Vietjet’s new journey: a journey of global expansion, new growth drivers, enhanced connectivity, and the development of a sustainable aviation ecosystem powered by ambition and transformation,” stated Nguyen.
Vietjet currently operates a fleet of over 120 new-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft and has placed orders for more than 400 aircraft. As its passenger volumes continue to grow, the airline is actively expanding its global flight network while advancing fleet modernisation through the strategic partnership with Airbus.
Singapore’s integrated resort Marina Bay Sands has laid claims to being the first in the travel and tourism industry to deploy a fleet of 12 Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for back-of-house deliveries to optimise operations across the hotel and the Sands Expo & Convention Centre.
Similar AMRs are typically deployed for supply chain deliveries in factories around the world.
Five more Autonomous Mobile Robots will join the current fleet of 12 to further boost delivery operations
At Marina Bay Sands, these robots perform a critical but manpower-laborious task of round-the-clock deliveries. Prior to adoption, the integrated resort saw over 200 manual deliveries across 80 routes each day. Between 2019 and 2023, delivery volumes surged by around 35 per cent as operations expanded, leading to the property to explore the use of automation.
The AMRs have helped Marina Bay Sands to cut labour dependency by up to 30 per cent. Procurement and supply chain team members have been re-assigned to higher value tasks, upskilling in areas such as inventory management as well as operating and dispatching the AMRs, ensuring the smooth integration of robots into daily operations.
With close to 20 pre-programmed routes, each AMR can transport a maximum load of 300kg and travel at a top speed of up to 84 metres per minute. Safety laser scanners allow for intelligent wayfinding and obstacle detecting, enabling them to come to a halt in front of obstacles and safely navigate around objects in their path.
Another five AMRs will be programmed and rolled out in the second half of 2025.
Shijith Prathapan, vice president of procurement and supply chain at Marina Bay Sands, said: “Running a large-scale integrated resort like Marina Bay Sands requires effective workforce planning, and since day one, we have fostered a culture of productivity by investing in innovation.
“As we continue to invest in Singapore, we will pursue even more innovative tools to elevate workplace processes together with our suppliers, who have been instrumental in enhancing our productivity.”
Amari Bangsaen, Thailand
Located directly across from the iconic Bangsaen Beach, Amari Bangsaen offers easy beach access and a vibrant seaside experience ideal for families, friends, couples, and business travellers. The hotel features 154 rooms, ranging from deluxe accommodation to spacious suites.
It has 15 function rooms capable of hosting up to 1,000 pax, along with dining options such as Amaya Food Gallery, serving Asian and Western cuisines throughout the day; Maitree Bar with signature Thai cocktails; Aqua Eatery & Bar by the pool featuring daily Happy Hour; and the beachfront Aloha Beach Cafe.
The property is located just over an hour from Bangkok.
Courtyard by Marriott Pyeongtaek
Courtyard by Marriott Pyeongtaek, South Korea
Courtyard by Marriott has launched in Pyeongtaek, marking the city’s first international branded hotel. Located near Samsung Electronics, Camp Humphreys, and Osan Air Base, it caters to business and leisure travellers.
The hotel offers 230 rooms, including four suites, with options for long stays. Facilities include a ballroom for up to 180 guests, a gym, and an indoor pool.
The property incorporates eco-friendly design elements, including a landscaped garden and air purification system.
Modena by Fraser Shenzhen
Modena by Fraser Shenzhen, China
Modena by Fraser Shenzhen has soft-opened in the Luohu District of the Greater Bay Area, and is part of the architecturally distinctive Shennan 1001 tower.
The residence offers 325 fully furnished apartments, ranging from studios to two-bedroom units. Facilities include a gym, yoga studio, pickleball court, and an outdoor barbecue area, catering to both cross-border professionals and leisure travellers.
Its location offers convenient access to Hong Kong and multiple border crossings, supporting its appeal to the growing number of business travellers in the region.
The Westin Nirup Island Resort & Spa, Batam
The Westin Nirup Island Resort & Spa, Batam, Indonesia
The Westin Nirup Island Resort & Spa, Batam has opened on a private island in Indonesia’s Riau Archipelago, offering a wellness-focused retreat just 20 minutes by ferry from Singapore’s Harbourfront Terminal.
Accessible via on-site customs and a private marina, the resort spans the entire island, offering a seamless arrival experience for guests.
The resort features 94 guestrooms and suites, along with 52 private villas, many with outdoor spaces and views of the Singapore skyline. Facilities include a rooftop pool bar with panoramic views, a gym, spa, wellness spaces, kids’ club, and outdoor recreation such as nature treks and water sports. It also has meeting venues and a 450m² ballroom.
Dining options include an all-day restaurant, seafood grill, rooftop bar, and a lounge that transitions from café to cocktail bar.
Sydney’s new 24-hour airport is one step closer to welcoming its first passengers, with major construction works across Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) now complete.
Drawing on the region’s natural beauty, WSl’s new terminal marries sustainable-by-design principles and innovative technology to deliver a seamless experience for airlines and passengers at Australia’s first new greenfield international airport in more than 50 years.
The new terminal at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is supported by advanced technology that will move passengers through the airport at speed
WSI CEO Simon Hickey shared that works on the terminal had started in 2019, when a global competition was held to select project architects. London-based Zaha Hadid Architects and one of Australia’s top firms COX Architecture were picked to develop the initial design concepts of WSI.
The terminal design is emblematic of the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area as well as the Cumberland Plain and the region’s incredible First Nations culture and history.
“People will love spending time in this terminal as they enjoy the iconic vistas of the surrounding Blue Mountains that are reflected in our stunning feature ceiling and take in the thoughtful design and materials like the extensive use of beautiful sandstone that was sourced from a quarry on the Central Coast,” he said.
“Visitors will be welcomed by the stories of Dharug country that will connect the world with more than 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture while also highlighting the vibrant communities of Western Sydney.”
The terminal has a climate-responsive facade, and more than 6,000 solar panels affixed to its roof to provide energy efficiency and renewable electricity. In addition, it will collect and recycle rainfall for use in airport operations such as bathrooms, irrigation, and cooling towers.
Hickey added that WSI will provide Sydney with a 24-hour international gateway and offer passengers flying out of WSI a quick departure with the help of next generation technology. With both domestic and international gates located under one roof, travellers’ connections will also be simple and efficient.
WSI is on track to open for domestic, international and air cargo services in late 2026.
Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess will be homeported in Singapore for the 2026–27 sailing season, bringing with them an expanded range of itineraries and sailing dates, including festive departures. Both ships last homeported in Singapore for the 2018–19 season.
Sapphire Princess will operate 18 itineraries from Singapore during the 2026–27 season, including round-trip South-east Asia and Far East sailings. Some itineraries will include late-night port calls in locations such as Halong Bay, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Among the itineraries is a 33-night repositioning voyage departing Los Angeles on October 15, 2025, calling at Hawaii, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Yokohama before arriving in Singapore.
Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess prepare for the 2026–27 season from Singapore
A 14-day Christmas and New Year sailing will visit eight ports in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, with an overnight stop in Bangkok.
Following a season in Japan from February to November 2026, Diamond Princess will reposition to Singapore, where she will operate 11 sailings between November 2026 and March 2027, covering 28 destinations in eight countries. The season begins and ends with repositioning voyages between Singapore and Japan, ranging from 14 to 31 days and calling at Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam.
A 14-day Christmas and New Year sailing will include stops in Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok.
