Asia/Singapore Wednesday, 8th April 2026
Page 72

Embark on an adventure at Singapore’s Rainforest Wild Asia

0

Singapore’s fifth wildlife park, Rainforest Wild Asia, has officially opened on March 12. The 13-hectare park is Asia’s first adventure-based zoological park that recreates the experience of a rainforest trek with free roaming animals.

Officiating the launch was Grace Fu, minister for sustainability and the environment, and minister-in-charge of trade relations.

Explore The Cavern, a 220m cave-inspired attraction with lakes, limestone pools, and stalagmites and stalactites; photo by Audrey Ng

Fu hailed the park’s opening as “an exciting new chapter in Singapore tourism”, adding that “this landmark attraction invites visitors of diverse needs to see, to feel, and to experience the rainforest in ways never before possible”.

Visitors can explore the park on elevated boardwalks that are accessible for those with strollers and the elderly, or embark on more adventurous forest trails that take them across boulders, log bridges, and streams. There are also adventure touchpoints around the park, such as the Langur Walking Net and Tiger Bridge, which offer views of the rainforest.

Mandai Wildlife Group’s group CEO Mike Barclay said: “The multi-layered experience encourages park-goers to explore a South-east Asian rainforest up in the tree canopy, on the forest floor and below the ground in a network of cave chambers. Visitors can choose between universally designed walkways, more challenging forest treks, or an array of guided adventures.”

Rainforest Wild Asia is home to 36 animal species, including the François’ langur, one of the world’s rarest monkeys, and the Philippine spotted deer, a threatened species found in the wild on the Visayan Islands of the Philippines. The park recently welcomed its first birth of a Philippine spotted deer.

Guests can also participate in paid activities such as the Canopy Jump, a free-fall jump from a 13m or 20m high platform, bounce nets at the AIA Vitality Bounce, abseiling down a cave, and hiking along a via ferrata route.

Rainforest Wild Asia is expected to welcome about 900,000 guests in its first year of operations.

New hotels: Pullman Hai Phong Grand Hotel, Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai and more

0
Pullman Hai Phong Grand Hotel

Pullman Hai Phong Grand Hotel, Vietnam
Pullman Hai Phong Grand Hotel, located in the commercial and cultural heart of Hai Phong, overlooks the Cam River and Hoang Dieu Harbour.

The hotel offers 364 rooms and suites which come equipped with a personalised pillow menu, and workstations.

Facilities comprise dining venues, a café, spa, fitness centre, pool bar, lap pool, kids’ pool, and eight versatile meeting spaces, including a grand ballroom.

Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai

Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai, Japan
Dorsett by Agora Osaka Sakai, opening on March 25, will offer a direct ferry service to the Expo, running four times daily. Located three train stops from Namba and 30 minutes from the airport, the hotel features 321 rooms, a meeting room for 42 guests, and an all-day dining restaurant with a harbourfront terrace for 120 guests.

Guests booking directly will enjoy flexible check-in/check-out with the Dorsett 26 Hours offering.

Holiday Inn Gurgaon NH8

Holiday Inn Gurgaon NH8, India
The newly opened Holiday Inn Gurgaon NH8 is situated on NH8 near the Dwarka Expressway and offers easy access to Gurugram’s business hubs and Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The hotel features 137 rooms and suites, complimentary Wi-Fi, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, and event venues. Dining options include an all-day restaurant, lounge, and pool bar. Additional services include laundry, valet parking, and room service.

Nearby the property are attractions like Aravali Biodiversity Park, Damdama Lake, Sultanpur National Park, and Rangmanch Farms.

Amari Vientiane

Amari Vientiane, Laos
Boasting views of the Mekong River, the 248-room Amari Vientiane offers dining options such as the Amaya Food Gallery, serving Lao and international cuisine, and a rooftop bar where guests can enjoy the scenery. The hotel also features a fitness centre, spa, swimming pool, and a children’s pool. For events, Amari Vientiane provides a Grand Ballroom for up to 540 guests, along with several meeting rooms. Ample parking is also available.

Located in the heart of Laos’ capital, the hotel offers easy access to popular tourist attractions and is just 4.8km from Wattay International Airport.

Changgyeonggung Palace unveils regular Moonlight Lotus Show as part of Seoul’s Night Tours

0

Changgyeonggung Palace offers the Moonlight Lotus Show, a media art experience set against Chundangji Pond. Initially introduced as a special programme at last year’s Royal Culture Festival, it has become a regular night tour, inviting visitors to experience the fusion of digital art, history, and nature.

The event showcases the palace’s scenery through media art facades and features eight themes, including two special seasonal shows scheduled for spring and autumn, celebrating the nature and night view of the palace.

The new Moonlight Lotus Show will offer visitors a unique insight into the history of Changgyeonggung Palace; photo by Korea Tourism Organization

Visitors can immerse themselves in the stories of the Joseon period and appreciate a contemporary interpretation of dancheong (traditional colours of Korean architecture) through the Moonlight Lotus media art show at Large Chundangji Pond, the upper half of the pond. At Small Chundangji Pond, the lower side of the pond, the Water’s Breath media art show creates an interplay of light and water, guiding visitors through the joys and sorrows of the palace. The seasonal shows are available from April 15 to May 18 in spring and from September 10 to November 8 in autumn.

With Changgyeonggung Moonlight Lotus Show becoming a regular event, it now joins the Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour, Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour, and Deoksugung Seokjojeon at Night, completing the night tour programmes of the four main palaces of Seoul.

Anyone with an admission ticket to Changgyeonggung Palace can enjoy the Changgyeonggung Moonlight Lotus Show without requiring any additional reservations.

For more information, visit Changgyeonggung Palace.

India’s concert boom drives hotel bookings and hospitality growth

0

India’s growing reputation as a hub for international live events is providing a significant boost to the country’s hospitality sector. With globally renowned artists like Coldplay, Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa performing across major cities, hotels are witnessing a surge in bookings and occupancy rates.

“Cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Pune, etc, which regularly host large-scale concerts, have shown upward trends in hotel bookings, with a marked spike in demand for rooms around event dates. This increase is often accompanied by longer-than-usual stays, as concertgoers frequently extend their trips to explore the city or attend pre and post event activities,” said Suhail Kannampilly, managing director, The Fern Hotels & Resorts.

India’s growing live event scene is boosting hotel bookings, offering an opportunity for the hospitality sector to enhance guest experiences

Shyam Kumar, general manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Bengaluru Whitefield, noted a 20 to 25 per cent increase in occupancy rates during major concerts. “Beyond boosting occupancy, such concerts strengthen the city’s position as a premier entertainment and cultural destination, attracting a diverse mix of leisure and business travellers,” he said.

These events are also allowing hotels to engage directly with a diverse demographic, including high-net-worth individuals, international tourists and music enthusiasts.

“There is a significant opportunity to enhance guest experiences by offering tailored packages, VIP services, and concert-related amenities, which not only elevate our brand positioning but also increase guest satisfaction. By offering exclusive concert-related packages, early check-ins, late check-outs, or shuttle services to and from the venue, we cater to the specific needs of concertgoers, ensuring that their stay is both convenient and memorable,” added Kannampilly.

Tony Marshall, vice president and managing director for Asia-Pacific at Agilysys, pointed out the challenges and opportunities in managing high guest volumes during live events.

“With India rapidly becoming a hotspot for international concerts, the hospitality sector has a golden opportunity to capitalise on increased demand. Earlier this year, Mumbai saw a massive surge in hotel prices ahead of the Coldplay concert. As live events continue to bring thousands of fans to major cities, hotels must go beyond simply accommodating guests – they must justify premium pricing by delivering exceptional, memorable experiences,” he noted.

Marshall suggested that Indian hotels elevate the guest experience by adding personalised touches, such as providing concert-themed tokens and custom merchandise at check-in, or creating in-room amenities like playlists inspired by the performing artists.

Aviation roundup: Emirates, Vietnam Airlines and more

0
Emirates

Emirates introduces retrofitted Boeing 777s to Seoul and London Stansted
Emirates will expand its refurbished Boeing 777 service to Seoul, South Korea from April 14 and London Stansted in the UK from May 7.

The four-class Boeing 777 will operate flights EK324/325 between Dubai and Seoul three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. By July, Emirates will offer over 3,150 weekly seats in Premium Economy across key destinations in South-east and East Asia.

London Stansted joins Heathrow and Edinburgh as a UK destination with the airline’s upgraded cabins. The retrofitted Boeing 777 includes Premium Economy, Business Class with fully flat beds and mini-bars, and First Class with exclusive Gamechanger suites on select aircraft.

Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines strengthens connectivity between India and Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines is expanding its presence in the Indian market with the launch of direct flights from Bengaluru and Hyderabad to Hanoi starting in May.

The airline will operate four weekly flights from Bengaluru and three weekly flights from Hyderabad, using its modern Airbus A321 aircraft.

The new routes also offer convenient connections to destinations across Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, and South-east Asian countries.

Cathay Pacific

The Cathay Group adds China’s Urumqi to network
Cathay Pacific will introduce direct flights between Hong Kong and Urumqi starting April 28, with a new weekly return service operating on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

This addition brings the Cathay Group’s combined passenger network in China to 20 destinations.

This summer, Cathay Pacific and low-cost carrier HK Express will operate over 290 return flights per week between Hong Kong and various Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and more. The Hong Kong-Urumqi route will be serviced by Airbus A330-300 aircraft, offering both Business and Economy cabins.

Aside from Urumqi, Cathay Pacific will also launch direct flights to Hyderabad in March, Dallas in April, Rome and Munich in June, and Brussels in August this year. HK Express commenced services to Sendai in January and will launch direct flights to Nha Trang, Komatsu and Ishigaki in April, and Miyako (Shimojishima) in June.

Vietjet

Vietjet to launch new Hanoi-Shanghai route
Vietjet will launch a new direct service connecting Hanoi, Vietnam, to Shanghai, China, on April 29. This new route is Vietjet’s fifth to China.

In addition, the airline will introduce four new services between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Beijing and Guangzhou in March and April.

Vietjet will also begin two new routes linking Ho Chi Minh City with Hyderabad and Bangalore in India this March.

Lady Gaga set to rock Singapore this May

0

Lady Gaga will perform in Singapore this May, hosted by Kallang Alive Sport Management in partnership with Live Nation.

She will take the stage at the National Stadium for four nights on May 18, 19, 21, and 24. This will be her only performance in Asia and marks her first return to Singapore in 13 years since her 2012 Born This Way Ball Tour. Over 200,000 local and international fans are expected to attend this highly anticipated event.

Lady Gaga returns to Singapore for four nights this May

Tickets will be available through various pre-sales starting March 18, with general sales beginning on March 21 via Ticketmaster’s website.

For more information, visit Live Nation.

Sojern launches fully managed e-mail marketing service for hoteliers

0

Marketing platform Sojern has rolled out a fully managed e-mail marketing service that is said to be the hospitality industry’s first solution to streamline marketing, making it easier for hoteliers to drive direct bookings, build guest loyalty, and reduce OTA dependence.

The service is part of Sojern’s multichannel commission-based offering, which means that hotel marketers will only pay for performance.

Sojern’s managed email service helps hoteliers boost direct bookings and reduce OTA reliance

Sojern noted that time, expertise, and costs are common obstacles to effective hotel e-mail campaigns. Through the fully managed e-mail marketing service, hoteliers can partner with Sojern to effortlessly execute high-performing e-mail campaigns without the need for in-house resources.

Powered by Sojern’s AI-driven marketing platform, the service combines Sojern’s Guest Marketing Suite with the expertise of e-mail designers and copywriters to ensure seamless campaign creation, deployment, performance, and measurement. Sojern’s e-mail solution seamlessly connects with the hotel’s property management system (PMS) to unlock powerful guest insights, enabling targeted e-mail campaigns that drive engagement and direct bookings.

Automated reconciliation further streamlines operations, allowing hoteliers to focus on the guest experience rather than manual tasks.

Noreen Henry, chief revenue officer at Sojern, said: “Today’s travellers increasingly seek personalised experiences, from their destination choices to their on-property stays. In fact, 90 per cent of consumers expect brands to understand and anticipate their needs. As guests invest more in memorable and tailored experiences, they expect the same level of personalisation from hotels before they’ve even arrived.

“With Sojern’s fully-managed e-mail solution, hotel marketers can deliver timely, branded content that drives engagement, direct bookings, and loyalty – overcoming traditional bandwidth and budget hurdles without additional work.”

For now, the service will only be available to hoteliers in the US and Canada, and will be introduced to more countries throughout the year.

Lina Ang, managing director, international property sales, Sojern, told TTG Asia that there is strong anticipation for the new service here in Asia-Pacific.

She said: “We’re seeing high demand, which is incredibly exciting for us. Watch this space for more updates on our plans to introduce the e-mail pay-for-performance model in Asia-Pacific.

“As hoteliers in the region focus on driving more direct bookings and reducing OTA reliance, Sojern’s solution will provide an easy, cost-effective way to engage guests through targeted e-mail campaigns – without additional workload or upfront costs.”

IHG Hotels & Resorts names Bryan Chan as VP – development

0

IHG Hotels & Resorts has appointed Bryan Chan as its new vice president, development for South-east Asia and South Korea.

In this role, Chan will lead the strategic expansion of IHG’s brands in the region, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and manage a team of developers.

With over 10 years at IHG, Bryan has taken on increasing leadership responsibilities. He brings 15 years of deal-making experience across various industries, including hospitality real estate, energy, infrastructure, transport, and industrials.

Paul Jackson joins Capella Singapore as GM

0

Capella Singapore has appointed Paul Jackson as its new general manager.

With over 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Jackson is set to elevate the hotel’s legacy by creating immersive experiences that celebrate both global sophistication and Singapore’s rich cultural heritage.

His career includes a nine-year tenure at Claridge’s in London, along with experience at renowned properties worldwide, such as Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz, and Grand InterContinental.

Indulge in a culinary journey on Eastern & Oriental Express’ Wild Malaysia experience

0

The Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train will launch its three-night Wild Malaysia journeys on April 28, featuring the best of the region’s cuisine. Three Michelin-starred chefs from Asia will join Culinary Curator Chef André Chiang to showcase exceptional dishes on these special journeys.

Entitled Tastes of Tomorrow: A Culinary Gathering with Chef André Chiang, Chiang is joined by Chef Vicky Cheng of restaurant Wing and VEA in Hong Kong (April 28), Chef Jason Liu of restaurant LING LONG in Beijing and Shanghai (July 28); and Chef Jungsik Yim of restaurant Jungsik in Seoul and New York (September 8) – each chef will share their kitchen secrets and offer guests a unique culinary experience.

From left: André Chiang, Vicky Cheng, Jungsik Yim and Jason Liu

Onboard, the chefs will craft menus using regional ingredients and spices that tell the story of the land. Alongside Chef Chiang’s menu, the guest chefs will each prepare a signature dish reflecting the region’s heritage. On the final evening, they will join forces for a special four-hands dinner, celebrating the blend of friendship, flavour, and Malaysia’s local cuisine.

Furthermore, bartender and mixologist Shelley Tai will craft a unique cocktail menu for each gala dinner onboard, complementing the chefs’ diverse flavours with her own creations inspired by Singapore’s vibrant culture and history. Guests can also join the chefs in the Observation Car for an intimate conversation about their creative process, accompanied by live Malaysian jazz.

In addition, guests are invited to join each chef on curated offboard excursions. These include a guided tour of Taman Negara National Park, offering exclusive insights into their inspirations, philosophies, and the artistry behind their creations.

The Eastern & Oriental Express offers three-night itineraries year-round, with the Wild Malaysia itinerary running from March to October. Accommodation starts from US$5,800 per person in a Pullman cabin including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, on board entertainment, on and offboard activities.

For more information, visit Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train.