Silversea’s Nova-class ship Silver Nova is set to debut in Asia-Pacific from the end of September 2024 until April 2025.
The ship’s inaugural season in Asia will start off in in Kushiro (Hokkaido), Japan, on September 27, undertaking two voyages in the region before crossing over to Australia and New Zealand in November for seven sailings – ranging from 16 to 18 days – between November 18, 2024 and February 24, 2025.
Silver Nova’s inaugural season in Asia-Pacific will mark the introduction of Silversea’s culinary programme, S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) in Australia and New Zealand, while also delivering S.A.L.T. shore excursions in Japan for the first time.
In iconic destinations throughout Asia-Pacific, local experts will showcase the diversity of regional produce and demonstrate the creativity and innovation of their cuisines.
Some stand-out experiences ashore at Japan and Australia/New Zealand include participating in a culinary workshop and lunch with a Japanese master in Osaka, Japan (October 3, 2024; March 22 and 28, 2025; April 11, 2025); learning how Australian chefs and home cooks incorporate native ingredients in their menus in Melbourne, Australia (November 27, 2024; January 7 and 8, 2025; February 5, 2025); garden foraging and lunch at Adelaide Botanical Gardens (November 29, 2024; February 8 and 9, 2025); attending a cooking masterclass with chef Analiese Gregory in Hobart, Australia (December 6 and 7, 2024; January 10, 2025; February 2 and 3, 2025); and going on a guided wine experience and lunch at family-run winery Craggy Range in Napier, New Zealand (December 17, 2024; January 19, 25 and 26, 2025).
Other experiences in countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and more will provide a rounded insight into Asia’s diverse cultures.
Silversea president Bert Hernandez commented: “S.A.L.T. is all about discovering the soul of a place through its food and culture — and where better to taste and explore than these countries so rich in heritage and celebrated for their diverse cuisines? There are so many great food stories to tell in this part of the region, we can’t wait to share them with our guests.”
In her new role, Doig will drive trade and consumer marketing activity with the teams in Tourism Australia’s key markets in the region, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is expanding its presence globally, with the addition of four new regional hotel brands in some of the world’s most popular tourism destinations.
The expansion punctuates a landmark year for GHA as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Unike Hotels in Norway, Sunway Hotels & Resorts in Malaysia, Andronis in Greece, and Paramount Hotels in the UAE add 32 properties to the alliance of independent hotel brands, enriching GHA’s portfolio with a mix of city and resort hotels that cater to the preferences of a wide range of travellers.
Unike Hotels brings a distinctive Scandinavian touch where each hotel in the Unike group is a unique reflection of its local environment. Its collection of 17 hotels across the country comprise Leikanger Hotel, Rømskog Spa, Utsikten Hotel in southern Norway, and more.
Sunway Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality division of Malaysian conglomerate Sunway Group, manages 11 hotels and resorts in Malaysia as well as the cities of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Hanoi in Vietnam. Sunway’s Malaysia properties include three iconic hotels in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, such as the luxury five-star Sunway Resort Hotel, which is a favourite among family vacationers and business travellers; a Penang property located in the heart of UNESCO-listed George Town, as well as The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat in Ipoh.
Andronis brings to GHA a collection of boutique hotels on two popular islands in the Aegean Sea – Santorini and Paros, all offering unique wellness and dining experiences and overlooking the Aegean Sea. Properties range from the flagship Andronis Luxury Suites on Santorini featuring 33 villas and suites, to the Andronis Minois on Paros.
Paramount Hotels introduces Hollywood glamour and cinematic experiences to GHA Discovery members with two signature properties in Dubai. Both Paramount Hotel Dubai and Paramount Hotel Midtown are located in the city’s vibrant Business Bay.
“The addition of these four regional independent hotel brands provides our 28 million GHA Discovery members with an even greater choice of unique destination experiences,” said GHA CEO Chris Hartley. “The integration of Unike Hotels, Sunway Hotels & Resorts, Andronis and Paramount Hotels into GHA Discovery will also generate significant growth opportunities through the platform, enhancing cross-brand activity and revenue for all GHA hotel brands.”