Mövenpick Resort & Spa Bintan Lagoon has named Richard Margo as general manager ahead of its 2Q2026 opening.
Margo brings over 30 years of international hospitality experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
He most recently spent nearly a decade with Onyx Hospitality Group, where he served as hotel manager of Amari Phuket.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group appoints Kung Teong Wah as cluster general manager overseeing Parkroyal Collection Pickering, Singapore and Parkroyal on Beach Road, Singapore.
In his expanded role, he will continue to lead Parkroyal Collection Pickering while assuming strategic oversight of Parkroyal on Beach Road. He previously served as general manager of Parkroyal on Beach Road and brings more than three decades of hospitality experience, with deep expertise in Singapore’s hotel sector.
Under his leadership at Parkroyal Collection Pickering, the hotel strengthened its market positioning through renovation, sustainability initiatives and operational transformation, including workforce redesign and digital adoption programmes.
oneworld has appointed Ole Orvér as its CEO, effective April 1, 2026.
Orvér brings more than 20 years of aviation experience and most recently served as chief commercial officer at Finnair.
Prior to this, he was senior vice president – network management at Qatar Airways and has held leadership roles at Air Berlin, LOT Polish Airlines, and SAS Scandinavian Airlines.
Amari Bangkok has appointed Jose Luis Duran Sanles as its general manager.
He brings over 15 years of hospitality experience and most recently served as general manager of Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel.
His career includes leadership roles at Anantara Siam Bangkok, Shangri-La Bangkok, and Conrad Seoul.
Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has named Robert Downey Jr as godparent of Disney Adventure, the newest and largest vessel in the DCL fleet, ahead of its maiden voyage next month from Singapore.
The appointment follows the maritime tradition of naming a godparent to bless a ship before it enters service, a custom believed to bring good fortune.
Disney Adventure features seven themed areas drawing on more than a century of Disney storytelling, including several Marvel experiences. At Marvel Landing on the upper decks, guests can ride Tony Stark’s Ironcycle Test Run, described as the first roller coaster on a DCL ship and the longest of its kind at sea.
In the open-air Disney Imagination Garden, the Avengers Assemble! live stage production will showcase Marvel characters in a large-scale performance. Disney’s Oceaneer Club will also include the Marvel WEB Workshop, an interactive experience designed for younger guests.
The ship offers character encounters, Broadway-style theatre productions, themed stateroom and concierge accommodation, and more than 20 dining and lounge venues serving international and Asian-inspired cuisine.
Downey is best known for portraying Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was named a Disney Legend in 2019 and is set to appear as Doctor Doom in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in December.
The Disney Adventure begins sailings from Singapore next month, marking an expansion of Disney Cruise Line’s presence in Asia.
Chinese outbound travellers, the third-largest source of visitors and the largest source of international tourism spending in 2019, are projected “to recover in aggregate in 2027” and rank number one by 2030.
Michael Shoory, head of APAC Tourism Analysis at Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, said: “We have downgraded our near-term forecasts as data has disappointed, but long-run outlook has remained solid.”
Speaking at a recent Dragon Trail International webinar, Shoory said China will continue to drive global tourism growth, albeit at a slower pace. Relative to 2019 levels, outbound volumes are expected to reach around 50 per cent by 2030.
China is forecast to outpace other outbound markets later in the decade and gain further prominence despite a weakening economic outlook, driven by uncertainty surrounding US tariffs, softer consumer sentiment, and safety and security concerns in destinations such as Thailand and parts of South-east Asia.
The market is expected to expand in the “travelling households” category over the coming decade, supporting outbound growth, he noted.
Data indicates that Chinese outbound travel will recover more strongly in the Middle East by 2027, reaching around 60 per cent of 2019 levels. Latin America and Asia-Pacific are projected to reach approximately 20 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively.
By 2030, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore are expected to see the strongest growth compared with 2019 levels, while the US and Taiwan are projected to be among the weakest performers. Shoory added that there are downside risks for travel to Japan, although the full impact remains unclear.
Chinese travellers are expected to remain high spenders, averaging just under US$500 per night in 2024, with a slight dip projected by 2030.
According to Shoory, the propensity for outbound travel remains relatively low in China, pointing to significant long-term upside potential, particularly if a larger share of the domestic travel market shifts towards international trips.
Marriott Bonvoy and Bank Mandiri, Indonesia’s largest state-owned bank, have launched the Marriott Bonvoy Mandiri Credit Card in Jakarta.
The co-branded card marks Marriott Bonvoy’s first co-branded credit card in South-east Asia and Bank Mandiri’s first collaboration with a global hospitality group.
The partnership aims to capture Indonesia’s rapidly growing travel segment and provide cardholders with enhanced convenience, comfort and value when travelling domestically and internationally.
Speaking at the launch, Ramesh Daryanani, vice president of Marriott International Global Sales, loyalty operations and partnerships, APEC (Asia Pacific excluding China), said: “This co-branded credit card is our first in South-east Asia. It also marks Marriott’s 35th credit card globally. We are privileged to partner with Bank Mandiri in launching this milestone and in sharing our ambition to unlock more rewarding travel experiences for Indonesians.”
“Indonesia is one of the most dynamic, and fastest growing travel markets in Asia-Pacific. And Marriott International is committed to its growth. With nearly 90 hotels currently operating across the country, and a further 30 planned by 2030, the Marriott Bonvoy Mandiri credit card will support Marriott’s focus on deepening engagement with our local consumers. This partnership connects Indonesia’s largest bank with its nationwide reach and digital leadership to Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of more than 30 brands across 10,000 destinations worldwide.”
Henry Panjaitan, vice president director of Bank Mandiri, emphasised that the collaboration marked a strategic milestone in strengthening the bank’s integrated ecosystem-based financial solutions, while delivering tangible added value for customers by optimising daily transactions into global travel benefits.
“We welcome this co-branded credit card issuance through a synergistic partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, a global leader in the hospitality industry. This initiative reinforces the integration of Bank Mandiri’s ecosystem and accelerates the delivery of value-added financial solutions that enable customers to maximise their everyday transactions into a wide range of rewards, while supporting more efficient and measured expense management,” said Henry Panjaitan.
He added: “We recognise that the Travel and Tourism sector plays a strategic role as a driver of economic growth in Indonesia; therefore, this collaboration is part of Bank Mandiri’s commitment to meeting the financial needs of the community across various sectors.”
Ramesh Jackson, regional vice president, Indonesia & Malaysia, Marriott International, said: “We’re always looking for meaningful ways to help our members travel better and experience more. Bank Mandiri’s scale and strong reputation makes it the perfect partner to connect us to more deeply with guests in Indonesia, delivering greater value and premium lifestyle solutions to customers.”
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) and IAS Hospitality, a subsidiary of InJourney Aviation Services, have partnered to expand reciprocal lounge access for travellers in Indonesia and worldwide.
Under the agreement, customers of PPG’s partners will gain access to 26 IAS Hospitality-operated lounges across Indonesia, while IAS Hospitality’s partner customers will be able to use up to 100 Plaza Premium Lounges globally.
The arrangement connects PPG’s international lounge network – which includes hubs such as Singapore Changi, Dubai International, London Heathrow, Toronto Pearson and Dallas Fort Worth – with IAS Hospitality’s domestic airport footprint across Indonesia. The collaboration allows PPG customers travelling to Indonesia to access lounges in airports where PPG does not operate directly, while Indonesian travellers benefit from expanded global lounge coverage.
The collaboration is intended to support both inbound and outbound traffic flows while strengthening lounge connectivity for airlines, corporate clients and international travellers.
Song Hoi See, founder and CEO of PPG Group, said: “This partnership underscores PPG’s and IAS Hospitality’s shared ambition to raise the bar for airport hospitality by offering a consistent, high-quality lounge experience for business and leisure travellers, whether departing from Indonesia or connecting through major international gateways.”
Ariadevi Hermaini, director of commercial IAS Hospitality Indonesia, added: “This collaboration further extends the global reach of IAS Hospitality’s airport lounge network. By integrating IAS Hospitality into a world-class global network, this partnership strengthens Indonesia’s position as a key gateway in international aviation while reinforcing our commitment to service excellence and an elevated travel experience for both inbound and outbound passengers.”
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) has signed an agreement with Fincantieri to build a fourth vessel in its Prestige-Class series, scheduled for delivery in 2036.
The ship will follow the launch of Seven Seas Prestige in December 2026, with sister ships due to enter service in 2030 and 2033. All four vessels will be constructed at Fincantieri shipyards in Italy.
The Prestige-Class marks RSSC’s first new ship class in a decade. Seven Seas Prestige will have a gross tonnage of 77,000 and accommodate 822 guests, supported by 630 crew members. The ship is approximately 40 per cent larger than previous RSSC vessels while carrying around 10 per cent more guests, resulting in higher space-to-guest and crew-to-guest ratios.
Accommodation will comprise all-balcony suites across 12 categories, including four new suite types such as the Skyview Regent Suite. The ship will feature multiple dining venues, including a new Mediterranean concept, Azure, alongside established restaurants such as Chartreuse, Prime 7 and Pacific Rim.
RSSC’s all-inclusive model will apply across the class, covering shore excursions, speciality dining, beverages, Wi-Fi, valet laundry, gratuities and a pre-cruise hotel stay for Concierge-level suites and above.
Seven Seas Prestige will begin operations with a 14-night transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to Miami departing December 13, 2026, followed by Caribbean, Panama Canal and European itineraries.
Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa introduces the Seaside Pony & Picnic Experience for the March school holidays. Available from March 13 to 22, 2026, this limited-time family stay package combines guided pony interaction, a seaside picnic and signature resort experiences in one programme designed for families seeking a relaxed coastal escape.
During a guided one-hour session by the sea, children take part in riding, grooming and feeding activities while learning about pony behaviour and daily care. Conducted in a structured and supervised setting, the experience encourages hands-on interaction while helping children build confidence and responsibility. Participation is open to children aged three to 12 years old, weighing below 40kg.
Families can also enjoy a seaside picnic along the resort’s private beach, complete with a picnic mat and take-home bag. The package includes daily breakfast at Silver Shell Cafe and access to selected sea sports such as kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and pedal boating.
Guests may participate in daily Rasa Fun activities suitable for all ages, while adults can explore available wellness experiences. In-house privileges at The Palawan @ Sentosa, located five minutes away via the resort’s complimentary shuttle bus or buggy, further extend the family experience beyond the resort grounds.
The Seaside Pony & Picnic Experience offers a rare opportunity for children to enjoy guided pony interaction by the sea as part of a beachfront resort stay in Singapore during the March school holidays.
Bookings are open from now to March 17, 2026 for stays between March 13 and 22, 2026.
For more information, visit Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore.
