Asia/Singapore Thursday, 9th April 2026
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New hotels: NH Collection Samui Peace Resort, Moire Hoi An and more

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NH Collection Samui Peace Resort

NH Collection Samui Peace Resort, Thailand
NH Collection Samui Peace Resort, situated on Bophut Beach, has reopened with 122 rooms, suites, and villas, set between lush hills and golden sands, near the Fisherman’s Village.

Accommodation includes Garden View Rooms with al fresco tubs, Family Suites with bunk beds, and Pool Suites with private pools. The resort’s 42m² villas and beachfront villas with plunge pools are key highlights, along with the 230m² Presidential Pool Villa.

Guests can enjoy one of the area’s largest freeform pools, dining venues, a fitness centre, kids’ club, as well as classes like Muay Thai, yoga, and cooking. In addition, Bophut Bay’s sheltered setting makes it an ideal location for weddings and events, be it for a beachside banquet for 200 guests or an intimate Thai water blessing ceremony for close family and friends.

Moire Hoi An

Moire Hoi An, Vietnam
Moire Hoi An is a 128-key resort along the Hoai River, offering views of Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage ancient town.

Guests can experience Vietnamese coffee culture at The Yellow Bicycle, learning traditional brewing methods like Phin filter coffee and egg coffee. The resort also partners with a local school to support art programmes and preserve Hoi An’s cultural heritage.

Dining options include a modern Vietnamese deli, an American BBQ with Asian flavours, and a bar. The property also features a spa, and an infinity pool overlooking the river.

Habyt Kada at Maxwell

Habyt Kada at Maxwell, Singapore
Habyt Kada at Maxwell in Tanjong Pagar offers flexible stays with provided amenities, including a performance gym, wellness centre, co-working space, and social areas for networking.

Located in a 1920s heritage building, it features 18 rooms, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, each with a kitchenette. The property is steps from Maxwell Food Centre, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and MRT stations.

The ground floor hosts shops and eateries, the second floor offers wellness zones, and the third floor features a co-working space and curated rooms. Guests enjoy unlimited access to wellness facilities like cold plunges, infrared saunas, and hot tubs.

Wafaifo Resort Hoi An

Wafaifo Resort Hoi An, Vietnam
Wafaifo Resort Hoi An is a boutique hotel offering 135 rooms and suites, an all-day bistro, spa, fitness centre, coffee shop, and a Heritage and Culture Pathway.

The resort is also just a 10-minute walk from Hoi An’s historic attractions.

Traveloka’s latest study reveals shifting travel trends in Asia-Pacific

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Traveloka, in partnership with YouGov, has released its latest study Travel Redefined: Understanding and Catering to the Diverse Needs of APAC Travellers, which draws insights from nearly 12,000 respondents across nine countries.

From shifting travel motivations to the rise of digital platforms, these insights reveal the trends transforming Asia-Pacific’s diverse travel market and provide actionable guidance for businesses to thrive in 2025 and beyond.

Asia-Pacific travellers seek a range of experiences, from rest and adventure to culture, nature, and cuisine, reflecting the region’s diverse vacation preferences

Across the region, Asia-Pacific travellers pack their bags and hit the road for a variety of reasons, but five categories consistently top the list: travel to rest and recharge, travel to visit tourist attractions, travel to be immersed in nature, travel to experience other local cultures, and travel to try different types of cuisine.

When travelling for leisure, Asia-Pacific respondents display distinct preferences for their vacation destinations, reflecting the diversity of the region. Three examples that highlight these varying preferences include 75% of Indonesians seek outdoor adventure, listing attractions like mountains and nature reserves as their top destinations; 62% of Japanese lean towards historical or cultural experiences, such as museums and castles; and 59% of Vietnamese favour coastal escapes, preferring beaches and resorts for their getaways.

Beyond motivation and destination preferences, factors such as technology adoption, sustainability concerns, and payment preferences exert a strong influence on how travellers plan and experience their journeys, shaping the broader trends in the region.

“Asia-Pacific is bursting with opportunities, but its diversity demands creativity and nuance. Understanding the unique needs of this diverse market is critical for travel providers seeking to thrive in this dynamic travel landscape. Success lies in weaving these insights into innovative strategies, bringing travellers closer to the experiences they seek,” said Caesar Indra, president of Traveloka.

The full study is available for download here.

Accor expands its footprint in Goa with new luxury hotel projects

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Accor has partnered with Dangayach Group to develop two new luxury hotels in Goa, India: Raffles Goa Shiroda, featuring 120 luxury villas, and the 400-room Fairmont Goa Shiroda. Scheduled to open by 2030, both hotels will share a beachfront club and offer unique experiences reflecting the brands’ distinct identities.

Both hotels will feature a variety of dining options, wellness and fitness facilities, pools, and retail offerings. For events, weddings, and conferences, the properties will provide multi-purpose ballrooms, meeting rooms, and bridal suites.

From left: Dangayach Group’s Atul Dangayach and Raffles and Fairmont’s Omer Acar

Raffles Goa Shiroda will showcase the brand’s signature features such as the Long Bar and Raffles’ Butler Service, while Fairmont Goa Shiroda will focus on connecting guests to the destination through personalised experiences and special moments.

Both properties will be developed according to Accor’s ESG guidelines, adhering to energy performance reporting tools, sustainability standards, and third-party eco-certifications.

Accor remains committed to expanding its presence in India, having recently opened several new hotels, including Raffles Jaipur, Grand Mercure Goa Candolim, Mercure Chandigarh, ibis Styles Mysuru, and Novotel Goa.

Raffles and Fairmont’s CEO Omer Acar commented: “This dual-branded project presents a wonderful opportunity to grow our luxury hospitality offerings in the region, and to work with Dangayach Group. Together, we are confident that these new luxury resorts will add excitement and new frontiers for travellers as well as locals.”

“We believe Goa presents a remarkable growth opportunity, and these two new properties are set to redefine luxury and establish Goa as a premier global destination for weddings, events and leisure travel. Goa’s rich culture and natural beauty provide the perfect setting for this new chapter in hospitality. The new Raffles and Fairmont resorts will bring cultural authenticity, world-class service, and their extraordinary guest experiences that will not only put an international spotlight on Goa but will infuse the community with a sense of prestige, purpose and excitement,” said Atul Dangayach, managing director, Dangayach Group.

Aviation roundup: West Air, Hong Kong Airlines and more

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West Air

West Air launches new Lhasa-Chongqing-Singapore route
Starting December 25, West Air will launch a new international route connecting Lhasa, Chongqing, and Singapore, aimed at boosting cultural exchanges between western China and Singapore. This marks the first international route since the renaming of Lhasa Gongga International Airport.

Operated by an Airbus A319, the route will run three times a week, with outbound flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and return flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Hong Kong Airlines

Hong Kong Airlines kicks off direct flights to Sendai, Japan
Hong Kong Airlines celebrated its inaugural flight to Sendai, Japan, on December 18, providing travellers with convenient access to the Tohoku region.

Sendai is now the airline’s ninth scheduled destination in Japan, with three direct flights per week.

The service operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, with flexible morning departure times.

A ceremony was held at the boarding gate to mark the occasion before the inaugural flight took off.

Philippine Airlines

PAL reopens Cebu-Osaka service
Philippine Airlines (PAL) relaunched its direct Cebu-Osaka flights on December 22, operated with a 199-seater Airbus A321ceo.

The Cebu-Osaka service will operate three times a week (Monday, Thursday, and Sunday) from December 22, 2024, to February 24, 2025. Starting February 26, 2025, the service will increase to four weekly flights, with an additional Wednesday departure.

This relaunched service complements PAL’s twice-daily flights between Manila and Osaka, as well as other international connections from Cebu, including daily flights to Seoul (Incheon) and thrice-weekly flights to Bangkok.

New hotels: Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa, Amari Colombo and more

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Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa

Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa, Thailand
Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa is located on Thailand’s south-west coast, steps from Bang-Lut Beach and the Andaman Sea, surrounded by natural beauty and close to top diving spots like the Similan Islands.

The resort features 283 rooms and villas, many with direct access to lagoon pools. Facilities include four restaurants, swimming pools, a kids’ club, spa, and fitness centre.

With Phuket Airport just 90 minutes away, the resort also offers a grand ballroom, meeting rooms, and beachside venues for weddings and special occasions.

Amari Colombo

Amari Colombo, Sri Lanka
Located in the heart of Sri Lanka’s bustling commercial and economic centre, Amari Colombo boasts 167 guestrooms and provides easy access to the city’s attractions.

There are several dining options available, as well as a bar, executive lounge, and even a tea and coffee bar.

The Motley Hotel Richmond

The Motley Hotel Richmond, Australia
The Motley Hotel Richmond is now part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the brand’s debut in Australia.

The hotel offers 80 bespoke rooms and amenities like off-site gym access, exclusive local packages, as well as F&B options.

Dusit Princess Melaka

Dusit Princess Melaka, Malaysia
Dusit Princess Melaka, located in the heart of UNESCO-listed Melaka, features 296 rooms, including Deluxe rooms and a Presidential Suite, as well as facilities like a gym, swimming pool, and F&B venues.

The hotel also offers meeting spaces, including a grand ballroom for up to 1,000 guests.

Conveniently located near key attractions like Dutch Square, St. Paul’s Hill, and Jonker Street, the hotel is just 17 minutes from Malacca International Airport and 105 minutes from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Resorts World Cruises introduces Star Scorpio to South-east Asia in 2025

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The 1,800-passenger Star Scorpio will join Resorts World Cruises (RWC) and offer a series of sailings with Singapore as her homeport between March 26 and July 21 next year.

The third vessel in the RWC fleet, Star Scorpio, will embark on her maiden voyage from the Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) on March 26, 2025. She will then offer a series of sailings until July 21, 2025, visiting a variety of destinations such as Jakarta and Medan in Indonesia, Melaka and Pulau Redang in Malaysia, Bangkok and Ko Samui in Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

Star Scorpio will homeport in Singapore in 2025

Itineraries include the six-day-five-night Melaka-Jakarta Cruises (March 26 to April 15 and June 11 to July 1) and the six-day-five-night Bangkok-Ko Samui Cruises (April 20 to May 10) Passengers can also enjoy the five-day-four-night Ko Samui-Pulau Redang Cruises (May 15-23), the four-day-three-night Melaka-Medan Cruises (May 27 to June 8) or the six-day-five-night Melaka-Ho Chi Minh Cruises (July 6-21).

In addition to the Singapore homeport deployment, passengers can also embark for round-trip cruises at the dual homeports in Jakarta, Bangkok (via Laem Chabang), Melaka and Ho Chi Minh City (via Phu My Port).

Passengers can board Star Scorpio from Jakarta (via Tanjong Priok Port) from March 29 to April 13, as well as from June 14 to 29 next year. During these two periods, Star Scorpio will offer a total of eight sailings from Jakarta with the six-day-five-night Singapore-Melaka Cruises.

From April 22 to May 12, 2025, passengers can embark Star Scorpio from Bangkok (via Laem Chabang Port) to experience the six-day-five-night Ko Samui-Singapore Cruise with five departures.

Subsequently between May 28 and June 9, 2025, passengers have the option to embark and depart from Melaka (via the ICQS cruise terminal) to enjoy the four-day-three-night Medan (via Kuala Tanjung)-Singapore Cruise with five sailings.

Wrapping up Star Scorpio’s deployment in South-east Asia, RWC will be the first cruise line to homeport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where cruise-goers can embark from Ho Chi Minh City (via Phu My Port) for the six-day-five-night Singapore-Melaka Cruises aboard Star Scorpio from July 9-24, 2025.

Prior to commencing operations in 2025, Star Scorpio will undergo a US$50 million renovation and upgrade in Singapore and will feature many restaurants, bars, showroom and other recreational facilities.

Bookings for Star Scorpio’s cruise itineraries will be available from January 10, 2025 onwards.

RWC president Michael Goh said: “Star Scorpio’s dual homeport in Singapore with different countries in Asia will offer Indonesians, Thais, Malaysians and Vietnamese round-trip cruises from their ports during their peak holiday periods without the need to fly to another country.”

Accor unveils line-up of hotels, resorts and hospitality experiences for 2025

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Accor is entering 2025 with a line-up of new hotels, resorts, and unique hospitality experiences across its 45+ brands, spanning luxury to economy, set to open throughout the year.

Set to expand its luxury portfolio, Accor will see several high-profile openings across the globe next year. Raffles Sentosa Singapore, opening early 2025, will offer 62 villas overlooking Tanjong Beach. Raffles Jeddah, mid-2025, will feature 142 rooms with Red Sea views. Fairmont Tokyo, also mid-2025, will debut in Japan with 217 rooms and Tokyo Bay views. Fairmont Udaipur, mid-2025, will offer a hillside resort with panoramic views and wellness experiences.

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree debuts in Singapore with 24 treehouses designed to blend with nature, opening in mid-2025; photo by Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree

Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit (late 2025) will be Thailand’s first fully integrated luxury MICE hotel with 419 rooms. Fairmont Hanoi (late 2025) will blend urban luxury with wellness across 241 rooms. Fairmont Dalian (late 2025) will offer 70 rooms in a restored heritage building, while Sofitel Guiyang Liebian (late 2025) will feature 240 rooms in China’s Guanshan Lake District.

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree (mid-2025) in Singapore will feature 338 rooms, including treehouses, in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. Hotel MontAzure Lakeside Phuket – MGallery Collection (mid-2025) will offer 150 rooms with a lagoon pool and clubhouse.

Several lifestyle hotels will launch in 2025, like the 25hours Hotel The Olympia in Sydney, which will be the city’s first 25hours Hotel. Opening mid-2025, it will feature 109 rooms, four dining venues, and meeting spaces for up to 150 people.

Late 2025 will welcome Hyde Perth with its 120 rooms, including 18 suites, along with two meeting rooms, a restaurant, bar, and outdoor pool. Mondrian Gold Coast, opening early 2025, will offer 208 rooms and suites with ocean views, including Beach Houses with private plunge pools. Two dining venues will highlight local produce and seafood.

Mama Shelter Singapore, arriving early 2025, will feature 110 rooms, a restaurant, and a rooftop pool with views of the skyline, while SLS Red Sea, opening mid-2025, will feature 150 rooms and suites, including pool villas, in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project. The resort will offer fine dining, a spa, and a grand ballroom.

Premium openings include Pullman Chennai Anna Salai, India, opening early 2025, with 233 rooms, meeting spaces, a rooftop bar, and a fitness centre; Swissôtel Doha Corniche Park Towers, Qatar, set for mid-2025, offering 200 guestrooms, 142 serviced apartments, and 121 residences, plus six dining venues and meeting space; Mövenpick Resort & Spa Bintan Lagoon, Indonesia, opening mid-2025, featuring 413 rooms, three swimming pools, dining options, and a wellness centre; and Grand Mercure Krabi Ao Nang, Thailand, scheduled for late 2025, with various room types, two pools, a kids’ club, and F&B venues.

Finally for midscale and economy properties, Novotel Jakarta Pulo Mas in Indonesia, opening late 2025, will offer 175 rooms, dining options, a fitness centre, and an outdoor pool while Novotel Sydney Cabramatta in Australia, set for mid-2025, will feature 140 rooms, an outdoor pool, gym, and business lounge. Adagio Original London City East, opening early 2025, will offer 132 studios and apartments, including co-living spaces, and Tribe Auckland Fort Street in New Zealand, opening mid-2025, will feature 60 rooms, a lobby bar, and social hub.

Holiday Inn Express to debut in Ayodhya

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IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement to develop a Holiday Inn Express hotel in the city of Ayodhya, scheduled to open by mid-2028.

Strategically located in close proximity to the airport and just minutes from both the main temple complex and the Railway Station, Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya will feature 125 guestrooms, an all-day dining restaurant, fitness centre, business centre, parking space, laundry room and meeting room.

The 125-key Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya is set to open in 2028

“Ayodhya has become one of India’s most preferred tourist destinations in 2024. With Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya’s strategic location, the hotel will benefit predominantly from spiritual tourism year-round,” commented Sudeep Jain, managing director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Abhishek Jain, owner of the hotel, added: “By combining our local expertise with IHG’s global standards, we aim to create a distinguished destination that will become a preferred choice for both domestic and international travellers. With a high visibility and strategic location, the hotel will set new standards of hospitality in Ayodhya.”

Meliá Hotels International accelerates luxury growth in 2025

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Meliá Hotels International has announced further expansion of its luxury portfolio in 2025, with the opening of 15 hotels across its luxury brands, including key growth areas like Vietnam and Thailand.

2025 will see the launch of ME by Meliá in China, adding a new destination to the brand’s portfolio. ME by Meliá combines destination, design, and service to deliver personal and enriching experiences. With new openings planned in locations such as Malta, Lisbon, Marbella, and Malaga in Europe, China will be a key milestone for the brand’s expansion into Asia.

A rendering of the lobby at Meliá Pattaya Hotel, set to open in 1Q2025

The Meliá Collection will also see its debut in Asia with the opening of Ba Vi Mountain near Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2025. This will be the first Meliá Collection property in Asia, offering a blend of luxury and culture, situated in the natural surroundings of the Vietnamese countryside.

The Paradisus by Meliá brand will make its entry into the Asian market in 2025 with the opening of Paradisus Pattaya in Thailand. Known for its Destination Inclusive concept, Paradisus offers guests immersive experiences that combine luxury, wellness, and local culture. Pattaya will be a key destination for the brand, reflecting its core values and expanding its global footprint.

In addition, Meliá Pattaya Hotel, inspired by the city’s attractions and cultural blend, is set to open in 1Q2025. Located on Pattaya’s Second Road, just a short drive from Bangkok, the 12-storey hotel will feature 234 rooms and suites, a beach club, rooftop restaurant, executive lounge, pool and pool bar, spa, kids’ club, gym, co-working area, and meeting spaces.

NUSTAR Resort, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu announce new GMs

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Roel Constantino has joined NUSTAR Resort in Cebu as the general manager of Fili Hotel and the soon-to-open NUSTAR Hotel.

From left: Roel Constantino and Max Huber

He is succeeded by Max Huber, who takes over as general manager of Marco Polo Plaza Cebu. Huber has held key leadership roles in prominent hotels across Asia, including Radisson Blu Wetland Park in Wuxi, China; Grand Sukhumvit in Bangkok; and Hotel Nikko in both Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.