La Festa Phu Quoc, Curio Collection by Hilton, Vietnam
La Festa Phu Quoc, Curio Collection by Hilton has introduced a new wing in Sunset Town, marking the brand’s first Curio Collection resort in Vietnam.
Set on a hillside overlooking Kiss Bridge and opposite the Campanile clocktower, the expansion adds 29 suites and duplexes with Mediterranean-inspired interiors and sea views. Facilities include four new dining venues: a Mediterranean restaurant, Cantonese restaurant, rooftop sunset bar with pool, and a speakeasy-style jazz bar.
The property provides access to Festival Street and Phu Quoc’s beachfront promenade. Guests are within reach of Sunset Town’s entertainment areas, coastal viewpoints, and island attractions, with Phu Quoc International Airport serving domestic and regional routes.
Radisson Red Auckland
Radisson Red Auckland, New Zealand
Radisson Red Auckland has opened in the city’s Arts District, marking Radisson Hotel Group’s debut in New Zealand and the brand’s first property in Australasia.
Positioned at 33 Lorne Street in the city’s Arts District, the hotel features 322 rooms and suites, with higher floors offering skyline and harbour views. Facilities include an all-day dining restaurant and bar, fitness centre, and a large rooftop venue with bar and flexible event spaces accommodating up to 219 guests. The hotel is also pet-friendly.
The property is within walking distance of the Auckland Art Gallery, Civic Theatre, Sky Tower, Albert Park, and key CBD attractions.
Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo
Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo, Japan
Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo has reopened following a full renovation. The 177-room hotel offers updated configurations including 102 triple rooms and 38 quadruple rooms, catering to families and groups.
Facilities include a renovated large public bath, lobby lounge, and a new utility lounge with coffee service and laundry facilities. Dining is led by Hakko &, serving Hokkaido-focused cuisine with a breakfast buffet featuring local rice and seasonal dishes. Guests can also access a seafood breakfast programme at Kita-No-Gourmet within Sapporo Central Wholesale Market via complimentary shuttle.
The hotel provides convenient access to Sapporo Station, Odori Park, and the annual Snow Festival sites.
Hyatt Regency Zhuhai Gongbei
Hyatt Regency Zhuhai Gongbei, China
Hyatt Regency Zhuhai Gongbei brings contemporary accommodation to the Gongbei district, close to the Zhuhai-Macau border crossing.
The hotel features 278 rooms and suites, as well as a Cantonese restaurant, all-day dining restaurant, lobby bar, and a Regency Club lounge with views of Gongbei Port.
Leisure facilities comprise a fitness centre, indoor heated swimming pool, and yoga studio. The hotel offers more than 1,600m² of meeting and event space, including a 625m² pillar-free ballroom and additional function rooms.
The property provides access to Gongbei Port, Macau, and Zhuhai’s coastal areas and business districts.
Airports are providing welfare support for stranded passengers
Tour operators and travel agents wade through evolving updates in a fluid situation to help guests carry on with travel plans
Impact on travel to and through the UAE is expected to be temporary
Suvarnabhumi Airport mobilised additional staff and set up dedicated waiting areas after cancelling 32 flights between February 28 and March 1, amid wider disruptions to Middle East-linked services
Asian tourism players are seeing varying degrees of disruption to both inbound and outbound movements amid missile strikes in parts of the Middle East.
Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand has faced significant disruptions between February 28 and March 1. A total of 32 flights – 16 inbound and 16 outbound – were cancelled across nine airlines, including Emirates, Etihad, Kuwait Airlines and Qatar Airways. To assist affected travellers, Suvarnabhumi Airport has mobilised extra staff, provided drinking water, and set up dedicated waiting areas at Gates 1 and 10.
Additionally, as of March 1, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has set up a Tourism Crisis Monitoring Center to coordinate support for affected travellers, preparing for both short and medium term scenarios. The bureau reports that the Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Krabi international airports have received notifications of flight cancellations from 59 international airlines with routes to or through the Middle East region.
Singapore’s Changi Airport Group has reported 32 cancelled flights that were scheduled to depart between February 28 and March 7. The cities affected by these cancellations are Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Jeddah.
Malaysia Airports has reported 26 cancelled flights, comprising 13 departures and 13 arrivals across Kuala Lumpur International Airport terminals. It has teams on standby to provide guidance and coordinate with airlines on necessary arrangements and to provide assistance to affected passengers at passenger terminals.
Ground support Stephan Roemer, CEO of DTH Travel, one of the largest tour operators in Asia, told TTG Asia that his emergency teams in the region have been assisting all affected guests with rebooking, extending and cancelling tasks.
He noted that the situation is unpredictable, so his teams are dependent on information from the governments and airlines.
Bayu Buana Travel Services in Indonesia has established a task force to partner its Emergency Support Services team to manage impacted group and corporate travellers. Affected guests are those transitting in Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi as well as those who are due to head towards or are already in the Middle East.
Malaysian inbound specialist, Saini Vermeulen, executive director of Within Earth Holidays, is relying on updates from its overseas agent partners regarding revised arrival schedules, particularly as airlines rework their flight path to avoid areas of conflict.
Arokia Das Anthony, executive director of The Essence of Asia Tours and Travel, described the situation as fluid.
He expects some postponements from both FIT and group travellers from Eastern and Western Europe this month.
“Travellers are understandably cautious. If flight routes become longer or more uncertain, some may choose to delay their trips,” Arokia said.
On the bright side, Arokia expects Malaysia to benefit from a change in travel plans among Indian travellers who are choosing to avoid Middle Eastern air hubs and reconsider European trips due to “current uncertainties and higher airfares to Europe”. Malaysia’s visa exemption for Indian passport holders facilitates spontaneous travel plans.
Hoteliers are also stepping in to assist guests.
Duncan O’Rourke, chief executive officer, premium, midscale & economy division for Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific at Accor, said the group is “committed to providing flexibility and support to our partners and clients during these uncertain times”.
Bjorn Courage, general manager of InterContinental Phuket Resort by IHG and president of the Phuket Hotels Association, shared that hotels across Thailand’s Phuket are currently offering flexible rebooking options or waiving amendment fees for guests affected by flight changes.
He added: “A small portion of our guests travelling to or from Phuket have experienced schedule adjustments, rerouting, or short-notice delays.”
linking Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Jeddah among those affected
Bali Hotels Association (BHA) has urged member hotels to offer flexibility, shared board member Fransiska Handoko.
“BHA is currently gathering data over the next week to determine the exact number of room-night cancellations versus reschedules. At this stage, our efforts are focused on advising hoteliers to remain flexible and to offer special rates for stranded guests, as this is a force majeure situation. We also advise guests to monitor official airline, airport, and immigration websites to avoid overstaying their visas,” Fransiska added.
John Flood. CEO, Archipelago said no penalties are imposed on room cancellations resulting from flight suspensions and airspace restrictions.
“Our priority is to remain fair and flexible under the circumstances while maintaining clear communication with our partners and guests. For any guests currently stranded or facing travel uncertainty, our hotels are providing flexible extension options, preferential rates for extended stays where necessary, and direct assistance through our front office teams. Our teams are also supporting guests with coordination of revised travel arrangements, including transportation guidance and communication with airlines or agents where needed,” he told TTG India.
One Farrer Hotel in Singapore has arranged extensions for guests who are unable to return due to the ongoing suspension of flights, and is providing the necessary support to ensure their continuity of accommodation during this period. The hotel spokesperson added that a case-by-case approach is taken for guests who are unable to arrive as planned.
“We will continue to prioritise the safety, comfort, and support of all our guests. We hope that conditions stabilise soon and that normal travel operations can resume safely,” One Farrer Hotel’s spokesperson said.
What’s next for travel to and through the Middle East? At press time, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority has approved what it terms “exceptional flight operations” across airports in the region. These are flights to get stranded passengers out of the UAE.
Most travel professionals do not expect the war to have a long-term dent on travel interest to and through the Middle East.
JTB Tours Indonesia’s CEO Hellen Xu told TTG India that there had been no “significant requests from clients to avoid transiting via the Middle East or to switch away from Middle Eastern carriers”.
Xu has observed a larger impact on departures within the first and second weeks of March, potentially involving around 20 groups that are bound for Europe via Middle Eastern carriers.
“For now, we have not confirmed how many passengers are stranded, as many return sectors are only due in early March. The main operational challenge for us remains seat availability, as finding alternative flights for our clients has been challenging,” stated Xu.
Agustinus Pake Seko, president director of Bayu Buana Travel Services, is confident that overall demand for Middle Eastern destinations and faith in Middle Eastern airport hubs will return once aviation schedules are back to normal.
The number of affected guests is still “manageable”, according to Agustinus, who expressed relief that customers are mostly choosing to postpone their trips instead of harsher cancellations. The situation is also causing some leisure guests to go for shorthaul destinations, which run a lower risk of transit disruptions, while corporate clients are opting to defer trips.
In an event of an extended conflict, Fransiska said Bali could see an impact on European arrivals, as many European travellers utilise Middle Eastern carriers to access the Indonesian island.
“However, the exact extent of this decline remains uncertain, as there are many alternative flight options,” he added.
Christine Kowandi, tour manager, Horas Tours, Medan, North Sumatra, holds a more cautious outlook. Her clients from Munich had planned to fly into Medan via Abu Dhabi on February 28 for a three-week holiday across Indonesia. It did not happen.
“Our other March arrivals are in a wait-and-see phase. I anticipate further cancellations as safety concerns grow,” lamented Kowandi.
“Switching to alternative airlines often results in higher costs and more complex travel routes. In these cases, agents may simply suggest alternative destinations altogether,” she added.
She also expressed concerns of a long-term impact should the US-Israel-Iran conflict persists.
She said: “I am attending ITB Berlin and am prepared to promote Etihad’s direct service to Medan. The closure of Middle Eastern airspace is very unfortunate. However, I believe both buyers and sellers are on the same boat, having to navigate the shared challenges brought on by the war.”
Sari, reservation and contracting manager at Floressa Bali Tours, shares similar worries. “If the war continues to disrupt (aviation), the impact on our industry will be significant. Even those eager to travel may switch to destinations perceived to be safer,” she said. – Additional reporting by Anne Somanas, Mimi Hudoyo, S Puvaneswary, and Tiara Maharani
Amid ongoing travel disruptions due to the US-Israel-Iran war, tourism sellers at ITB Berlin 2026 say stability in Asia-Pacific has become a strong selling point in tourism promotion.
Rob McIntyre, general manager of Pullman Singapore Orchard, emphasised that while he is “very conscious of not turning a crisis into an opportunity”, he sees a clear shift towards destinations perceived as reliable.
Safety and stability dominate ITB Berlin 2026, with Asia‑Pacific destinations spotlighting reliability and low crime rates as key advantages amid global uncertainty; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
“In times of uncertainty, people want to go with something they trust,” McIntyre said. He compared the current situation to the post‑Covid era, noting that travellers gravitated towards countries recognised for their effective crisis management.
“Singapore’s tourism (excelled) in the aftermath of Covid because it was perceived as a country that had handled the situation very well.”
Michael Wu, CEO of MyAsiaTours, which is headquartered in Taiwan, told TTG Asia that despite occasional tensions between China and Taiwan, flare-ups have been limited to a war of words and economic progress remains a priority of both leaderships.
In an interesting turn of events, Wu said news reports on China-Taiwan tensions have raised international awareness of Taiwan, resulting in more traveller interest.
“Our German and French clients increased almost 20 per cent last year,” Wu said.
Prior to the escalating Middle East conflict, Wu said clients were already requesting direct routes from Europe to Asia, adding that China Airlines’s flights to and from Frankfurt were often “fully booked”.
Wu said destinations with low crime rates, like Japan and Taiwan, are also popular with international travellers.
Pema Tashi, general manager of Happiness Kingdom Travels, pointed to Bhutan as a powerful example of safety as a tourism advantage. He described Bhutan as “one of the safest places on Earth”.
Tashi said travel and transits in Asia-Pacific remains “quite favourable”, as the region is safe and “easy to move around”.
Andrea Koch of Exo Travel stated trusted DMCs are an important element in ensuring travellers’ safety. Essential support systems such as 24/7 customer care hotlines are necessary, especially in times of global instability.
“Most of our clients have private cars and private tour guides, and are fully escorted. I think Asia is very safe for family travellers and female travellers. Our agent partners feel quite safe in choosing Asia as a destination,” she added.
Sathia Moorthy, CEO of OOTO & Co., a Singapore-based event planner, said safety and stability are especially important for commercial events, and Asia-Pacific has been able to excel in this sector due to its positive reputation.
“Amid current global uncertainties, I believe Asia-Pacific will continue to stand out as a region of reliability and confidence for the business events industry,” he said.
While McIntyre is proud of Asia’s stability, he said the region “cannot take things for granted”.
“We’ve got to be aware that the world is constantly changing, and we’ve got to adapt to these changes,” he remarked.
Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has marked the arrival of Disney Adventure at its new homeport in Singapore, as the ship docked at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS) with a water salute and fireworks display.
The vessel will depart on its maiden voyage from Singapore on March 10, 2026, operating three- and four-night sailings at sea. The programme is designed for families and will draw on Disney, Pixar and Marvel content across entertainment, dining and accommodation.
Singapore welcomed Disney Adventure with a water salute and fireworks display; photo by Disney Cruise Line
The deployment forms part of DCL’s expansion plans, with the fleet expected to grow to 13 ships by 2031. Recent additions include Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny. The Singapore homeporting arrangement is set for five years.
Singapore recorded more than two million cruise passengers from 375 ship calls in 2025, supported by direct air links to more than 160 cities and the expanded MBCCS. The Singapore Tourism Board said the agreement is expected to support fly-cruise demand and contribute to the tourism and maritime sectors.
Disney Adventure will feature seven themed areas and a range of dining and retail outlets. Onboard retail space totals nearly 1,580m². Retail concepts include World of Disney, National Geographic Store, and the Duffy and Friends Shop. Entertainment offerings include a new stage show, Remember, developed for the ship, alongside Duffy and the Friend Ship and a Marvel-themed attraction, Ironcycle Test Run.
Joe Schott, president of Disney Signature Experiences, said: “The arrival of the Disney Adventure in Singapore marks a significant milestone in our global expansion, introducing Disney cruising to Asia for the very first time. Honouring Disney Cruise Line’s legacy of unforgettable journeys, our newest ship brings together our signature storytelling and creativity in an exciting new destination.”
Melissa Ow, chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board, added: “The Disney Adventure’s arrival brings us a step closer towards realising our Tourism 2040 vision to drive quality tourism growth. Together with Disney Cruise Line, we’re excited to bring magical experiences to travellers from around the world.”
Oceania Cruises has introduced the Oceania Club Ambassador Program, a referral initiative aimed at rewarding repeat guests for recommending the cruise line to friends and family.
The launch forms part of the cruise line’s broader loyalty strategy, as it continues to position its product around culinary-focused sailings and destination-driven itineraries.
Oceania Club members can earn future cruise credit through the new Ambassador referral scheme
Under the scheme, when an Oceania Club member refers a first-time guest who books their first voyage, both the existing member and the new guest will receive US$200 in savings in the form of future cruise credit.
The programme applies to new, full-fare bookings made by first-time guests. Both the referring member and the referred guest will receive a US$200 Future Cruise Credit, which can be applied to existing or future reservations that have not yet reached final payment. Members may apply up to four US$200 Future Cruise Credits per booking, and credits are valid for three years from the date of issue.
Referring and referred guests are not required to travel together. The programme is limited to personal referrals among friends and family, with public solicitation, including via social media, not permitted.
To qualify, the referred guest must complete the Ambassador Referral Form on Oceania Cruises’ website within 14 days of paying their deposit to ensure the credit is applied.
Oceania Cruises said the initiative is designed to encourage word-of-mouth referrals within its loyalty base, supporting repeat business and first-time bookings through existing customer networks.
The launch forms part of the cruise line’s broader loyalty strategy, as it continues to position its product around culinary-focused sailings and destination-driven itineraries.
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will make its Asia debut at Green Canvas, Mandai Wildlife Reserve, from April 24 to September 13, 2026.
The attraction marks the first large-scale travelling exhibition at Green Canvas, a purpose-built indoor event space within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve precinct.
Participants can step into the Overworld at Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue and journey through iconic Minecraft biomes on a quest to save the village; photo by Minecraft Experience
Following runs in Dallas, London and Toronto, the immersive one-hour adventure invites participants to step into the Minecraft universe and journey through eight themed rooms to save a village under siege.
Designed for families, long-time players and newcomers alike, the experience blends large-scale projections, theatrical sets, motion-tracking gameplay and interactive storytelling.
Visitors will explore recognisable Minecraft biomes, gather resources and encounter familiar mobs, using a handheld Orb of Interaction to influence the environment and shape their quest. The adventure concludes at the Trading Post, where participants can collect a commemorative keepsake and unlock a digital in-game cape.
Created by Montreal-based studio Supply + Demand in collaboration with Microsoft, Experience MOD and Mojang Studios, the experience builds on Minecraft’s global popularity, with more than 300 million copies sold worldwide.
The presale waitlist is now open. Presales begin on March 10, 2026, with general ticket sales from March 11, 2026. Timed entry slots run daily, with weekday tickets from S$46 (US$34) for adults and S$40 for children, and weekend tickets from S$51 for adults and S$44 for children.
WildPass and Friends of Mandai members receive a 15 per cent early bird discount until March 23, 2026.
Emirates, flydubai and Etihad have since restarted a limited number of flights at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi from March 2.
The flights are mainly to repatriate travellers who were left stranded following the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict in the region.
Flights at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports prioritise repatriation as regional airspace closures disrupt travel across Asia; photo by Kiev.Victor
Etihad had stated in a statement that all regular commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi will remain suspended until March 5, 14.00 UAE time.
Emirates also continues to operate a limited number of passenger repatriation and freighter flights, while all other scheduled flights to and from Dubai remain suspended until March 4, 23.59 UAE time.
The airline said it would accommodate customers with earlier bookings as a priority.
Similarly, flydubai resumed partial flights on March 3, with a limited number of flights operating out of DXB’s Terminals 2 and 3.
The closure of airspace over the region has also affected various airports across Asia, including Suvarnabhumi Airport, Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Accor has named Rob McIntyre as vice president operations for New Zealand & Fiji, effective April 13, 2026.
McIntyre brings extensive operational experience across New Zealand and internationally. Most recently based in Singapore, he led Accor operations including the flagship Pullman Singapore Orchard.
He previously served as general manager of Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments and held regional general manager and broader operational leadership roles across New Zealand.
Trip.com has partnered with East Japan Railway Company, Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company and Kyushu Railway Company to offer Shinkansen ticket sales to international travellers.
The agreement enables overseas users to purchase high-speed rail tickets across Japan through Trip.com’s multilingual platform, allowing bookings to be made in advance of travel.
Trip.com users can now book Shinkansen tickets across Japan through the platform
Travellers can select departure and arrival stations, travel dates, train services and seat types, including non-reserved, reserved and Green Car. Tickets can be purchased online via Trip.com.
Depending on the ticket type, passengers can either enter ticket gates using a QR code or collect physical tickets from station vending machines. The Tokaido Shinkansen, Sanyo Shinkansen and Kyushu Shinkansen services are available exclusively via QR code boarding.
The move comes amid sustained inbound demand for Japan, which remains one of Asia’s most visited destinations. By enabling advance booking in multiple languages, the service aims to reduce reliance on on-site purchases and mitigate potential language barriers at stations.
Trip.com also allows travellers to combine Shinkansen tickets with flights and accommodation within a single booking flow.
The company said it will continue working with Japan’s rail operators and transport providers to expand integrated travel services for international visitors.
Amadeus has completed purchase of SkyLink, a New York-based technology company specialising in AI-driven orchestration and conversational automation, as part of its strategy to accelerate the deployment of AI across the travel sector.
The company said the acquisition aligns with its long-term AI strategy, which includes partnerships, targeted investments and a focus on responsible AI development under its ethics framework.
Maroto: Data-driven insight enables us to deploy AI in real-world production environments globally
Founded to enhance the corporate travel experience, SkyLink has developed a proprietary AI architecture and multi-layer orchestration engine designed to integrate with chat platforms. The technology enables travellers to book and manage flights and hotels through conversational interfaces, while businesses benefit from potential cost savings and productivity gains.
SkyLink has already processed tens of thousands of bookings, reflecting growing adoption of AI-based booking tools in the corporate segment.
Amadeus said the acquisition supports its broader strategy of deploying AI use cases that are scalable and integrated into operational environments. The company has long applied AI across travel operations and is progressively adding conversational layers to its product suite to help customers access insights and manage workflows more efficiently.
The acquisition is expected to strengthen Amadeus’ corporate travel offering, particularly within the Travel Management Company sector and across its customer base in North America. SkyLink’s framework will complement Amadeus’ global technology infrastructure, which operates in more than 190 markets and processes billions of search requests and millions of travel transactions daily.
Over time, Amadeus plans to extend AI-driven conversational capabilities beyond corporate travel into airlines, airports, hospitality and other areas of the travel ecosystem.
Atyab Bhatti, CEO & co-founder, SkyLink, said: “Combining our AI-native technology with Amadeus’ scale and industry reach will allow us to deploy our technology faster and bring powerful new capabilities that benefit travellers and companies across the travel industry. It’s a pivotal time to deliver concrete AI solutions and, now with Amadeus, we can accelerate the next phase of travel innovation.”
Luis Maroto, president and CEO, Amadeus, added: “Our technology is deeply integrated across the travel industry, connecting systems and workflows developed over decades. It combines industrial-grade reliability, operational resilience, and data-driven insight that enable us to deploy AI in real-world production environments globally… enabling innovation at scale and allowing AI to augment and reinforce the travel experience.”
He previously served as general manager of Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments and held regional general manager and broader operational leadership roles across New Zealand.
