Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong has launched the Questers Family Adventure, a programme designed for families travelling with children.
The experience centres on a two-night stay on the hotel’s Family Floor and includes activities that introduce younger guests to Hong Kong’s traditions.
The Questers Family Adventure programme includes themed rooms, workshops and family activities designed to introduce children to Hong Kong traditions
The Family Floor includes 21 themed rooms and suites designed for families, alongside facilities such as The Hangout, a shared living, dining and play space, and The Pantry, which provides appliances and equipment for families travelling with children.
The programme begins with arrival activities at The Hangout, where children receive an activity book with tasks and puzzles to complete during the stay. Guests can also take part in a 60-minute arts and crafts workshop and explore the themed suites.
On the second day, families start with breakfast at Café Too, followed by a private in-room workshop where children create a Hong Kong travel journal to store photographs taken during the stay. A storytelling session and time to explore nearby Hong Kong Park are also included.
Later in the day, families attend a private tea masterclass at Ming Pavilion, where they learn about Chinese tea traditions and create their own tea blends paired with Fujian snacks.
The final day includes access to Waterplay, the hotel’s water playground with splash features and interactive elements. Before departure, children can return to The Hangout for a final craft activity and receive a gift for completing their activity book.
The Questers Family Adventure package starts from HK$32,600 (US$4,200) for a two-night stay and is available until May 31, 2026.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has begun gradually restoring flight operations after a temporary suspension triggered by a drone-related fire near the airport, adding further disruption to aviation across the Middle East.
A Dubai Airports spokesperson confirmed that some flights to and from DXB are resuming on a limited basis to selected destinations following the precautionary halt. Travellers have been advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest information regarding their flights.
Dubai International Airport is gradually restoring flights after a temporary suspension triggered by a drone-related fire near the airport; photo by Nigel J Harris
Earlier, Dubai Airports had announced the temporary suspension of operations at DXB as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and staff.
According to media reports by The Straits Times and Reuters, the disruption on March 16 followed a fire caused by a drone attack that affected a fuel tank near the airport, though no injuries were reported. The incident forced a temporary halt in flights at one of the world’s busiest international air travel hubs.
Emirates said it expected to partially resume operations from 06.00 GMT, although some services were cancelled. Sister airline flydubai also temporarily halted flights, while several aircraft were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport.
In a separate statement on X, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said some flights had begun operating again to selected destinations as the airport works towards restoring normal activity.
The disruption comes amid wider regional tensions linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has unsettled aviation across the Middle East. Airlines have been cancelling, rerouting or rescheduling flights as large sections of regional airspace remain closed over concerns of missile and drone attacks.
Reuters reported that the March 16 incident marks the third attack affecting Dubai International Airport since Iran began launching strikes across Gulf countries on February 28, which Tehran has said target US military presence in the region.
Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since then, Reuters reported, targeting military facilities as well as civilian infrastructure including airports, hotels and ports.
Earlier in the conflict, two drones were reported to have fallen near Dubai International Airport on March 11, causing damage during an overnight attack across Gulf states.
With the US-Iran conflict disrupting global energy supply chains, Indian hotels are increasingly feeling the strain as shortages of commercial LPG is creating operational uncertainty across the sector.
“There has been some disruption in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders over the past few days. Deliveries that were usually scheduled on time are now delayed, and the availability from distributors has become less predictable. Since the hospitality industry heavily relies on commercial LPG, even short disruptions can create significant operational uncertainty,” said Arindam C Bahel, general manager of The Fern Brentwood Resort Mussoorie.
Hotels in India are turning to electric appliances such as induction cooktops as disruptions in commercial LPG supply affect kitchen operations
Hospitality associations including the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) HRAWI have issued advisories to its members to adopt practical operational measures to manage the situation including conserving available fuel, temporarily rationalising menus to reduce high gas consumption items, integrating electric appliances such as induction cooktops and convection ovens where feasible and adjusting operating hours to focus on peak service periods.
“We strongly urge establishments to avoid panic buying or hoarding of LPG cylinders as such actions could further destabilise the market and invite regulatory scrutiny,” said Pradeep Shetty, vice president, FHRAI and spokesperson, HRAWI.
Last week, the Indian government announced that 20 per cent of the average monthly commercial LPG requirement will be allocated by oil marketing companies in coordination with the state governments so that there is no hoarding or black marketing.
“If there is a prolonged shortage, it could affect kitchen planning and meal preparation schedules, particularly in a wellness retreat like ours where meals are prepared fresh and tailored to individual guest requirements,” noted Abhilash Ramesh, executive director Kairali Ayurvedic Group.
“That said, we maintain contingency measures and buffer inventory to ensure guest meal services continue smoothly and without compromising quality.”
Destination management companies (DMCs) operating in the luxury tier face a business hurdle. While many operators excel at logistical execution, a significant portion fail to translate their service quality into a compelling brand identity.
Quentin Desurmont, CEO and president of Traveller Made – the luxury travel consortium that is home to the Serandipians and Takumians invite-only networks – identifies this deficit as a primary threat to long-term profitability in the high-end travel sector.
Traveller Made’s Quentin Desurmont says luxury DMCs must move beyond logistics and develop clear brand narratives to remain competitive in the high-end travel market; photo by Traveller Made
The challenge stems from a misunderstanding of marketing mechanics. Many operators conflate their business name with their brand. This confusion results in lost market share and diminished pricing power.
“I think everybody is struggling with branding. People do not know branding. A brand is the asset number one in a company. It is the biggest asset and yet many fail to register their brand,” Desurmont noted.
To address this knowledge gap, Desurmont looked outside the travel sector. When developing educational content for his Serandipians and Takumians communities, he avoided inviting hospitality executives to share their strategies. He recognised that competition between luxury travel suppliers would limit any meaningful exchange of operational insights.
“I decided to bring people from the luxury goods industry to my conferences. If you start to ask general managers to come, they are all going to fight. It is going to be a mess, and people will never share their secrets anyway,” Desurmont explained.
By pivoting to the fashion sector, Desurmont provided his network with access to a more mature marketing discipline. He views the luxury goods market as a stronger model for travel designers to emulate, as brands in this space have spent decades refining the concepts of desirability and exclusivity.
“Outside of luxury, fashionability means nothing. Fashionability has a meaning. Desirability has a meaning. Luxification has a meaning. These guys in the luxury goods industry have worked with a lot of people to try and reinvent something,” Desurmont stated.
For a DMC to achieve this level of “luxification”, leadership must overhaul their marketing strategy. Desurmont breaks this process down into distinct pillars. The first requirement is establishing a precise client positioning. Operators cannot afford to be generalists. Attempting to capture the entire high-net-worth market dilutes the product offering and confuses potential buyers.
“What do you offer that is different? That’s the added value. If you do what other people do, there is no added value. You need to define what you are bringing to what kind of client,” Desurmont advised.
He advocates for extreme specialisation. A business might choose to cater exclusively to wealthy individuals who travel for opera performances or clients seeking highly technical extreme sports itineraries. This narrow focus allows the operator to build deep expertise and dominate a specific market segment.
“You cannot offer everything to everybody,” Desurmont asserted. “It doesn’t work. Once you know exactly who you are targeting and what you offer that is different, then you can create a brand.”
Once the positioning is locked in, the next step is crafting the brand narrative.
Desurmont has observed that many DMCs rely on plain corporate identities. These businesses lack storytelling. In the luxury tier, the absence of a narrative is a critical weakness.
A high-net-worth traveller does not require a travel designer simply to book a beach resort, Desurmont advised. They are purchasing a transformational experience. Therefore, the brand must reflect this promise of elevation and emotional resonance.
“We are in an industry where travelling is a story,” Desurmont says. “If you do not travel with a story behind (your journey), it is so poor. It is a waste.”
Building this narrative requires corporate leaders to embrace creativity. Desurmont noted that executives are often intimidated by the creative process. They shy away from imaginative concepts out of fear of appearing unprofessional. Yet imagination is the tool needed to differentiate a luxury travel product.
He encourages travel designers to look beyond standard industry marketing tropes. Rather than focusing solely on destination geography or travel experiences, branding should tap into deeper emotional drivers. Operators must draw on cultural myths or historical events to build a distinctive brand persona. Desurmont points to the wine tourism sector as an example of untapped branding potential. There are specialised DMCs operating in regions such as France or New Zealand that focus entirely on viticulture. However, the word “wine” itself lacks strong marketing appeal.
“There are so many myths behind wine. Wine is not a sexy name, nor a sexy word. But ‘Bacchus’ is too obvious. Keep digging. What can you find behind Bacchus? Seek what you can find behind wine and a nice story or within literature to make people dream,” Desurmont said.
By digging deeper into the subject matter, operators can uncover narratives that elevate the perceived value of their services. This level of creative investment is necessary for companies aiming to capture the ultra-wealthy demographic. Desurmont believes the key to unlocking this creativity is reconnecting with a sense of wonder.
“People should more often go back to childhood and think, ‘What did I like when I was a child?’ and ‘What makes me smile because it reminds me of fairy tales’,” Desurmont concluded.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Amadeus have renewed their multiyear distribution agreements covering both EDIFACT and New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology.
The agreements ensure continued access for travel sellers using the Amadeus Travel Platform to SIA’s fares, products and services across global markets. The renewal also supports the airline’s indirect sales network, which remains an important channel for distributing tickets and travel services.
Singapore Airlines and Amadeus have renewed their distribution partnership covering EDIFACT and NDC technology
Under the agreement, the two companies will continue working to expand the use of NDC technology, which allows airlines to offer more detailed and customised products to travel sellers and travellers.
NDC enables airlines to provide real-time offers and additional services through travel distribution systems. This includes the ability to present differentiated products, ancillary services and branded fare options within booking platforms used by travel agencies.
Through the renewed partnership, Amadeus will support SIA in making additional NDC capabilities and content available to travel sellers over time. The aim is to improve product visibility and enable travel agencies to access a broader range of fares and services through a single platform.
The companies also plan to continue developing the NDC solution to improve servicing capabilities, expand ancillary offerings and provide more flexible booking options for travellers.
“The renewal of our distribution agreements with Amadeus reflects Singapore Airlines’ commitment to modernising our retailing capabilities and expanding the reach of our content globally. Together with Amadeus, we look forward to introducing enhanced NDC features that support richer product differentiation and a more seamless booking and servicing experience for travel sellers and customers alike,” said Gan Cai Fong, general manager of distribution at SIA.
“Our renewed agreement with Singapore Airlines underscores our mutual commitment to modernizing airline retailing and expanding access to high value content for travel sellers worldwide,” added Javier Laforgue, executive vice president of the travel unit for Asia-Pacific at Amadeus.
Oceania Cruises has introduced a new global brand campaign titled The Joy of Traveling Well, reflecting the cruise line’s focus on slower-paced and experience-led travel.
The campaign highlights the company’s approach to cruise travel, which emphasises curated itineraries, smaller ships and onboard experiences centred on dining and service.
Oceania Cruises’s new global campaign highlights its focus on slower-paced, experience-led travel; photo by Oceania Cruises
According to the cruise line, the new brand expression responds to changing traveller expectations, where luxury travel is increasingly defined by personalisation, comfort and the quality of experiences rather than scale or excess.
The updated brand framework is built around four elements that the company says define the Oceania Cruises experience: itineraries designed around port visits, smaller ships intended to create a relaxed onboard environment, personalised service, and a focus on cuisine.
Oceania Cruises stated its voyages are designed to allow travellers to explore destinations at a slower pace, with itineraries that include both established ports and lesser-known locations. The cruise line added that the brand direction aligns with its transition to adults-only voyages, with ships designed to provide a quieter onboard environment.
The campaign will roll out across digital, social media, print, television and onboard platforms. The launch will also include a new brand film and updated marketing materials.
The initiative will be supported by the company’s Your World Included offering, which includes speciality dining, onboard internet access, gratuities, laundry services and other amenities as part of the cruise fare. Guests can also choose between a shore excursion credit or wine and beer during lunch and dinner.
“The launch of The Joy of Traveling Well campaign offers a clear expression of who we are and what sits at the very heart of Oceania Cruises,” said Jason Montague, chief luxury officer of Oceania Cruises. “This brand evolution reflects what our guests have been telling us for years: that true luxury lies in the freedom to explore at your own pace.”
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has added Dusit Thani Bangkok to its Legend Collection, a group of luxury hotels within the company’s global portfolio.
The property reopened in late 2024 following redevelopment as part of the Dusit Central Park project in central Bangkok. Located beside Lumpini Park, the hotel has long been associated with Thai hospitality and is designed to combine contemporary architecture with traditional Thai design elements.
Guests at Dusit Thani Bangkok can view the city skyline from the hotel’s rooftop bar near its golden spire
The new building rises above the park and city skyline and includes 257 guestrooms and suites. It features six restaurants and bars featuring Thai and international cuisine. Dining options comprise a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant and a rooftop bar located beside the hotel’s golden spire.
Facilities also include Devarana Wellness, which offers spa treatments, fitness facilities and a swimming pool. The property also includes event spaces for meetings, celebrations and cultural events.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts said properties in its Legend Collection represent some of the highest-end hotels in its portfolio and are selected for their heritage, location and level of service.
“Dusit Thani Bangkok is honoured to join the prestigious Legend Collection of Preferred Hotels & Resorts and to be part of such a distinguished global portfolio,” shared Marc Handl, managing director of Dusit Thani Bangkok and Dusit Residences.
“Guests of Preferred Hotels & Resorts are discerning travellers who seek meaningful and memorable experiences, and this philosophy closely aligns with ours.”
“We are delighted to welcome Dusit Thani Bangkok to our Legend Collection, an exceptional portfolio of landmark properties that are deeply rooted in their destination and celebrated for their enduring legacy,” added Christine Tan, area managing director for Southeast Asia at Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
What The highly anticipated Disney Adventure has arrived and will call Singapore home, where she will be based for the next five years. As the first Disney Cruise Line ship to be homeported in Asia, she is also the cruise line’s first vessel not built from scratch but acquired and later given a US$1.8 billion retrofit. The ship will operate three- and four-night cruises to the open sea from Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore.
Facilities As with any Disney Cruise Line vessel, Disney Adventure offers a range of activities to keep both young passengers and the young at heart occupied during the cruise. There are seven themed areas: Disney Imagination Garden, Disney Discovery Reef, San Fransokyo Street, Wayfinder Bay, Town Square, Marvel Landing and Toy Story Place.
Included in the cruise fare are clubs for kids, tweens and teens. The Oceaneer Club for children aged three to 10 features a Toy Story-themed indoor playground, a rollercoaster simulator where they can design and ride their own coaster, Fairytale Hall for meeting Disney Princesses, the Marvel Web Workshop with interactive stations, and the Walt Disney Imagineering Lab where kids can create things such as cosmic goo with Stitch. Registered children receive a Magicband to wear on their wrist, allowing them to tap in and out easily.
For those aged 11 to 14, there is the Edge club, while Vibe is designed exclusively for teenagers aged 14 to 17. Both provide social spaces with table tennis, board games, video games and movies. Vibe also features a foosball table.
There are also open house periods where adults can visit these clubs to take part in family activities.
Younger children can be cared for at the It’s A Small World Nursery – which also includes Mickey & Minnie’s Captain Deck – available at an hourly charge. The facility includes cribs, diaper changing tables and play areas with age-appropriate toys, as well as interactive features such as a captain’s control panel.
For those looking to spend time by the water, there are several pool areas on board, including the Infinity Pool and Infinity Bar, and the Wayfinder Bay wading pool, which hosts night-time music with a live DJ. Children can enjoy Toy Story-themed water play areas with a pool and water slides.
The ship also has a medical centre, where seasickness pills are provided free, a laundry area as well as a fitness centre and a spa with heated loungers, a steam room and sauna.
On deck five is a shopping arcade offering souvenirs and essentials such as diapers and medication. Additional speciality shops are located on decks 10 and 11.
Concierge guests also have access to a private lounge, sun deck, pool, shops, fitness centre and spa.
Room I was given an Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, which my children and I found comfortable. We enjoyed sitting on the deck chairs and admiring the ocean. The room was clean, and what I particularly appreciated were the separate shower with sink in one bathroom, and the toilet with sink in another.
Amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap and lotion were provided, along with plush towels by Frette. There was even a dark make-up towel – a thoughtful and practical touch.
The room had an open-concept wardrobe with top and bottom clothes bars, and plenty of hangers. There was also a closed cabinet with deep shelves, a pull-out table for room service, a vanity stool, a hairdryer, a safe with an innovative lock system, and a kettle along with Bacha Coffee and TWG tea sachets.
All the walls are magnetic, so my magnetic hooks came in handy. The stateroom door and walls are also magnetic, so we had fun decorating our door with cruise-themed magnets we brought from home.
Convenient charging outlets, including USB, two-pin and three-pin plugs, are located near the bed and dressing table.
Other room types available on the ship include Inside Staterooms, Ocean View Staterooms, Garden View Staterooms, and Reef View Staterooms, with a choice of verandah. Concierge rooms comprise of staterooms and suites.
F&B Disney cruises offer rotational dining, a feature across all Disney ships. This allows guests to experience most of the restaurants while being served by the same staff at the same table throughout the cruise. The idea is for the staff to become familiar with guests’ preferences and be aware of any allergies or dietary restrictions.
While this is a thoughtful concept, it did not always play out fully during our meals. Although the staff remembered our names, we occasionally had to remind them of our dining preferences. It may also help if staff check with parents before bringing additional desserts to the children, as some were not ordered and ended up going uneaten.
I had sit-down dinners at Navigator’s Club, which featured song and dance performances and appearances by Captain Mickey Mouse and friends; Animator’s Palate, where diners are invited to sketch their own characters before the meal, only to see their drawings later brought to life on screen in animated form; and Pixar Market Restaurant, where each section was themed after a Pixar film, such as Ratatouille, Cars and Monsters University.
The menus at all three restaurants served a variety of Western and Asian dishes, and children get their own menus, often with activities to keep them occupied. Diners can also order more than one entrée, main or dessert.
Disney Adventure
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Reef View Stateroom with Verandah; photo by Melissa A Tan
Ocean View Stateroom with Verandah; photo by Melissa A Tan
Navigator's Club; photo by Melissa A Tan
Animator's Palate; photo by Melissa A Tan
Enchanted Summer Restaurant; photo by Melissa A Tan
Pixar Market Place; photo by Melissa A Tan
Andy's Toybox in the Oceaneer Club; photo by Melissa A Tan
Flying Saucer Splash Zone; photo by Disney Cruise Line
Groot Galaxy Spin at Marvel Landing; photo by Disney Cruise Line
Big Hero Arcade in San Fransokyo Street; photo by Disney Cruise Line
Vibe teen club; photo by Melissa A Tan
Infinite Bliss Spa; photo by Melissa A Tan
Concierge Sun Deck; photo by Melissa A Tan
Shops; photo by Melissa A Tan
The other three restaurants in the rotational dining programme are Hollywood Spotlight Club, which also features show performances; Animator’s Table, which follows a similar drawing concept to Animator’s Palate; and Enchanted Summer Restaurant, decorated with themes from Frozen and Tangled.
Besides the sit-down dinners, Pixar Market Restaurant and Enchanted Summer Restaurant also serve buffet breakfasts and lunches, offering a mix of Asian, Indian and Western dishes, along with plenty of fruit and desserts. At breakfast, keep an eye out for the Mickey-shaped waffles and Mickey-shaped churro waffles – a fun and sweet treat.
And of course, the famous Mickey Mouse ice cream bars make an appearance too, though they are only available during dinner and you will need to ask the staff for one.
Other included dining spots are Cosmic Kebabs for Middle Eastern fare, Mowgli’s Eatery for Indian dishes, Gramma Tala’s Kitchen for Asia-Pacific flavours, and Stitch’s Ohana Grill for burgers and hot dogs. There is also Wheezy’s Freezies for soft serve ice cream (with gluten-free cones available), and Pizza Planet, which stays open until midnight. Complimentary 24-hour room service is also available.
Additional charges apply at Palo Trattoria (Italian), Mike & Sulley’s Flavors of Asia (Japanese), and Bewitching Boba and Brews for bubble milk tea. Drinks at the lounges and bars are also not included. The best coffee I had was at Tiana’s Bayou Lounge, accompanied by jazz music, a hot cuppa topped with foam art, and a sweet beignet with chocolate dip.
Entertainment No one will be bored on a Disney cruise. There are Broadway-style shows at the Walt Disney Theatre, such as Disney Seas: The Adventure, a lively performance filled with song and dance, and Remember, an all-new musical that follows a story of love and longing inspired by the Pixar film WALL-E. I especially enjoyed the latter and even felt tears well up by the end of the show.
Other not-to-be-missed shows on board include Moana: Call of the Sea, Baymax Super Exercise Expo, Duffy and The Friend Ship, Avengers Assemble!, and the fireworks night extravaganza: The Lion King: Celebration in the Sky.
Marvel Landing on the ship’s upper deck is a zone dedicated to all things Marvel. Highlights include three attractions: Groot Galaxy Spin, Pym Quantum Racers and Ironcycle Test Run, the first roller coaster on a Disney Cruise Line ship and the longest at sea, spanning more than 250m – I was lucky to get a chance to ride this, and it is way more thrilling and faster than it looks!
My teen spent most of his time at San Fransokyo Street, which is inspired by Big Hero 6. The area features youth clubs Edge and Vibe for tweens and teens, Baymax Cinemas for Disney films, and the Big Hero Arcade with video games and interactive experiences. Guests can also visit the Duffy and Friends Shop, and may even spot Baymax appearing for meet-and-greet moments.
Guests can use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app – an essential tool on board – to check show times, book character meet-and-greet photo opportunities, and see where they are scheduled to dine that evening.
Families with children aged three to 12 who dream of becoming royalty can opt for a makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, or join The Royal Society for Friendship and Tea, a paid character dining experience featuring Disney Princesses, music and storytelling.
Service All the staff were friendly and helpful, and did their best to accommodate guests’ requests. The counsellors in the kids, tweens and teens clubs knew the children by name and kept them engaged, and there were smiles all around. Housekeeping was provided twice a day, and the staff were prompt in meeting our needs. I also had a few matters to sort out at Guest Services, which were resolved in a timely manner.
Verdict As my first Disney cruise, I had high expectations after seeing many videos and reviews on social media. I can say Disney Adventure did not disappoint. While there were some teething issues, such as technical problems with shows and rides, the crew responded quickly and arranged additional showings where possible. They were also very apologetic, which helped smooth things over. We will certainly be back to cruise on Disney Adventure again, perhaps to try the Concierge experience next time.
Multi-generational travel is thriving across Asia-Pacific markets, where 50 per cent of surveyed families are going on holidays with three or more generations of a family, finds Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report. Within this movement, Hilton is also seeing a spike in skip-generation travel, where grandparents are choosing to connect with their grandchildren on leisure trips.
In this episode of TTG Conversations: Five Questions, Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director for Asia-Pacific, Hilton, details the appetite for family travel, reflects on factors that are spurring skip-generation travel demand, and discusses business opportunities tied to family travel.
