TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Thursday, 22nd January 2026
Page 41

TTG Asia Media’s Karen Yue wins TravMedia’s Media Lifetime Achievement

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TravMedia Awards Asia 2025, the first pan-Asian award that recognises excellence in travel media and public relations, has given TTG Asia Media’s group editor, Karen Yue, the Media Lifetime Achievement recognition.

The Awards was held on Tuesday, during International Media Marketplace (IMM) Asia, a platform of meetings designed for travel communicators and storytellers.

TTG Asia Media’s Karen Yue (left) receives the TravMedia Awards Asia 2025 – Media Lifetime Achievement award from TravMedia’s Nick Wayland

Other award categories included PR Lifetime Achievement, Travel Writer of the Year, Content Creator of the Year, Travel Magazine of the Year, Travel Section of the Year, PR Professional of the Year, and PR Team of the Year.

The winners were determined by a panel of leading editors, journalists and communications experts, ensuring integrity, diversity and excellence in the final selections.

The judges recognised Yue as a “true force in the industry who has been shaping travel reporting in the region”, and “praised her editorial integrity, ability to mentor rising voices, and strategic thinking in an ever-shifting travel landscape”, shared TravMedia in a press statement.

Commenting on her win, Yue said: “March 3, 2026 will mark my 20th year with TTG Asia Media, which seems like a pretty brief period in the context of a lifetime. I am just 45 years young and have so much more to learn about our industry.

“Yet, this hefty recognition seems just about right, considering today is the oldest I have ever been and this is longest ongoing chapter in my professional story.

“Thank you to the folks who nominated me, and to all the judges who saw the good I was doing.”

As the group editor of TTG Asia Media’s TTG Travel Trade Publishing business unit, she leads a team of almost 20 editors, reporters, correspondents and editorial service staff across Asia-Pacific. Together with her team, she produces a stable of titles including TTG Asia, TTG Asia Luxury, TTGmice, TTGassociations, TTG India and TTG Show Daily.

She oversees TTG Content Lab, a division she birthed in 2015 to support industry stakeholders in their content creation across multiple platforms.

She fronts the TTG Conversations: Five Questions video news series.

Under her charge, features published under the various TTG titles have won several PATA Gold Awards, a recognition of editorial quality.

Raffles Sentosa Singapore unveils bespoke four-day luxury escape

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Raffles Sentosa Singapore has introduced The Butler Did It, a four-day, three-night package that offers personalised service and curated experiences.

Guests are welcomed by a private limousine and attended by a dedicated Raffles butler throughout their stay in a villa featuring a private pool, garden terrace, and spacious living areas.

Guests enjoy personalised service, curated dining, wellness, and a private yacht tour in a four-day, three-night villa escape

The experience includes breakfast in the villa or at Empire Grill, the resort’s modern Italian restaurant, as well as curated tasting menus at Empire Grill and Royal China, showcasing Cantonese cuisine by executive chef Ling Heng Yao. Guests can enjoy a private Rolls-Royce tour of Sentosa, a Raffles Sentosa Sling tasting session, and a fragrance-making workshop to craft bespoke scents.

A well-being butler collaborates with the resort’s wellness team to offer tailored spa treatments, nutritional guidance, and mindfulness practices. The stay concludes with a private yacht charter to the Sisters’ Islands, featuring champagne and gourmet canapés at sunset.

The package starts from S$4,985 (US$3,650) per villa per night for a Garden One-Bedroom Pool Villa, subject to service charge and government tax.

For more information, visit Raffles Sentosa Singapore.

Plaza Premium Group appoints chief sales officer

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Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has promoted Becky Lim to chief sales officer.

With over 20 years’ experience in payments, loyalty, and airport hospitality, Lim has spent six years as managing director, commercial, building a global client portfolio and driving consistent revenue growth.

In her new role, Lim will lead PPG’s global sales teams, drive revenue growth, refine sales strategies, oversee product development and pricing, and expand responsibility for Airport Meet & Greet and Lounge Operations.

She previously held senior roles at DragonPass Asia Pacific, Visa, American Express, and DBS Bank, and holds a BA in Marketing with High Honors from Michigan State University.

Ponant welcomes Benoît-Etienne Domenget as group CEO

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Benoît-Etienne Domenget has been appointed group CEO of Ponant, effective November 3, 2025, succeeding Hervé Gastinel, who is leaving to pursue new professional opportunities.

With 25 years in hospitality, luxury, travel, and tourism, Domenget will focus on driving the Group’s international growth while upholding Ponant’s maritime expertise, hospitality standards, and environmental commitments.

He most recently served as CEO of Sommet Education, leading its international expansion across Glion, Les Roches, École Ducasse, Indian School of Hospitality, and Invictus Education, establishing the group as a global leader in hospitality and luxury management education.

Holy Door Jubilee revives Indonesian pilgrimage travel to Europe

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Indonesian travel to Europe has slowed this year due to global economic and geopolitical factors, but the Vatican’s opening of the Holy Door for the 2025 Jubilee has renewed interest in pilgrimage travel and helped sustain the market.

Although the introduction of a new five-year Schengen visa was expected to encourage more travel, its impact has been limited. Ricky Hilton, general manager of communications and CRM at Golden Rama Tour & Travel, said some clients have received the visa from France, Spain, and Norway, but the overall number remains small.

The Holy Door for the 2025 Jubilee draws renewed interest in European travel from Indonesia to the Vatican City, pictured

Hellen Xu, CEO of Panorama JTB Tours Indonesia, explained that the five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa is available only to applicants who have obtained a Schengen visa in the past three years.

“However, there is no guarantee that eligible applicants will always get the five-year visa,” she said, adding that its effect on group bookings has been minimal.

“This policy is still limited to operational services, not a sales driver.”

Amid weak demand for European travel, the Vatican’s Holy Door, which opens every 25 years, has become a key source of business. Ricky noted that pilgrimage tours, such as Golden Rama’s Porta Sancta (Holy Door) packages, have provided much-needed stability.

“The Porta Sancta in the Vatican has opened up opportunities to boost travel to Europe. Cities like Paris, Milan, and Barcelona have become popular routes for pilgrimages, and this trend has become a ‘safety net’ that stabilises our European traffic,” he said.

The tours typically last 10 to 12 days, covering the four holy doors in Rome – St Peter’s Basilica, the Basilica of St John Lateran, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, and the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls – as well as stops in cities such as Monaco, Lourdes, and Pisa. Itineraries also include leisure activities such as museum visits and shopping.

Xu said the Holy Door has also driven Panorama JTB’s performance in Europe for 2025. “Without the Holy Door, our European performance would likely have been flat compared to 2024,” she said.

Wyndham, Worldwide Hotels set to open Days Inn Singapore Novena

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Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has signed a franchise agreement with Worldwide Hotels (WWH), Singapore’s largest home-grown hotel group, to introduce Days Inn by Wyndham Singapore Novena.

The 362-room property, currently Value Hotel Thomson, will be rebranded and renovated from late 2Q2026, with reopening planned for August 2026. It will feature a swimming pool, fitness areas, and an all-day dining restaurant.

From left: Worldwide Hotels’s Carolyn Choo and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’s Joon Aun Ooi

The hotel will cater to leisure, business, and group travellers from China, India, South-east Asia, and beyond. Located along Balestier Road, it is within walking distance of Novena MRT station, a 15-minute drive from the CBD, and about 30 minutes from Changi International Airport.

The partnership strengthens the relationship between Wyndham and Worldwide Hotels, combining international reach with local expertise. It adds to Wyndham’s Singapore portfolio, which includes Wyndham Singapore Hotel and Hotel Traveltine Downtown Singapore, Trademark Collection by Wyndham.

Days Inn by Wyndham operates about 1,500 properties globally and is known for dependable, affordable stays supported by Wyndham Rewards, which has around 120 million members worldwide.

Joon Aun Ooi, president of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific, commented: “Our collaboration with Worldwide Hotels reflects our shared vision to deliver quality, accessible hospitality that meets the evolving needs of travellers. This new addition under the Days Inn brand not only expands our diversified portfolio but also reinforces our long-term partnership with one of Singapore’s most respected hospitality groups. Together, we are setting the stage for sustained growth and stronger brand presence in this key gateway city.”

“We are proud to rebrand our property under Worldwide Hotels as Days Inn by Wyndham. This strategic franchise partnership lets us leverage Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ global reputation and loyalty programme, all while continuing to offer the comfort and value our guests expect,” said Carolyn Choo, CEO and managing director of Worldwide Hotels.

She added that the property’s location near major medical facilities makes it well suited to accommodate medical tourists in addition to leisure and corporate travellers, and that the rebranding reinforces Worldwide Hotels’s commitment to its promise of ‘Hospitality that matters, Stay better’ while extending its reach to travellers globally.

Agoda-Premier Inn partnership targets Asia’s rising demand for European travel

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Agoda has partnered with the UK’s largest hotel chain, Premier Inn, to make more than 900 of its properties in the UK, Germany and Ireland available to Agoda’s customers.

With Premier Inn now on the platform, travellers gain access to a wider range of reliable, quality stays while Premier Inn benefits from exposure to high-potential markets, as the collaboration aims to offer greater choice and value to the growing number of Asian travellers exploring Europe.

The partnership aims to connect travellers from Asia and beyond to over 900 properties across the UK, Germany and Ireland

Agoda data shows a 20 per cent increase in searches for travel to the UK and Europe in 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. Excluding intra-Asian destinations, the UK ranks among the top five most searched international destinations for Asian travellers.

The partnership also connects Premier Inn with new international audiences through Agoda’s strong presence and digital reach in Asia.

“Premier Inn’s commitment to delivering great value, consistent quality, and ensuring every guest enjoys a good night’s sleep are shared values that underpin Agoda’s mission to make travel more accessible and rewarding. Together we’re bringing trusted stays to millions of new travellers across Asia and beyond,” said Andrew Smith, senior vice president of supply at Agoda.

“Partnering with Agoda is another exciting step forward in reaching even more guests and travellers across international markets. Greater visibility of all of our 900+ hotels will allow a new set of travellers to enjoy the comfort, service and convenience we consistently offer,” said Tim Sleep, director of sales and distribution, Premier Inn.

Emirates enhances travel experience for passengers with accessibility needs

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Emirates has introduced new services and products for people with disabilities at the 7th AccessAbilities Expo at Dubai World Trade Centre. The airline’s offerings include an Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub on its website, providing information for travellers with varying accessibility needs and allowing journey planning by specific requirements.

Emirates also unveiled new onboard sensory products and fidget toys, enhancements across the in-flight experience, improved on-ground features at Dubai hub, and initiatives under development.

A new wheelchair-accessible Mercedes V250 joins Emirates’ Chauffeur Drive service, providing safer and more independent travel for passengers with mobility needs

The Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub contains information on Mobility Assistance, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment, and Hidden Disabilities. Customers can explore sections by journey stage: Before your flight, Departure from Dubai, Onboard your flight, Connecting in Dubai, and Arriving in Dubai. They can also browse by specific needs, such as booking special assistance, autism-friendly travel guides, Dubai Airport maps, Be My Eyes support, and applying for a Sanad tourist card.

Other sections cover Travelling with a Wheelchair and Mobility Aids, Medical Travel, and Family Travel, including Travelling with Children, Travelling during pregnancy, and Unaccompanied Minors.

From November 1, 2025, sensory products and fidget toys will be available in all cabin classes. These include a tactile stress reliever, two types of fidget cube, and a rubber popper, provided to neurodiverse passengers, those struggling onboard, and nervous flyers if required. In Business Class, a new mattress hood secures the seat mattress, reducing disruption for customers with mobility disabilities.

Emirates’ in-flight entertainment system, ice, now offers more than 600 movies with closed captions and 200 with audio description. Headphones are compatible with hearing aids in the ‘T’ position. The Airbus A350-900 features a redesigned interface with audio cues, voice metadata, touch and swipe support, and access to audio-descriptive content.

At Terminal 3, Dubai International, barrier-free corridors with biometric access enable independent movement. Self-service kiosks have text-to-speech functionality, braille and tactile features, headphone jacks, and adjustable heights.

Emirates has also introduced a wheelchair-accessible Mercedes V250 van for its Chauffeur Drive service, with electric lift and safety restraints, available for First and Business Class customers in Dubai and expanding to 10 vehicles by early 2026.

Furthermore, Emirates has established an Office of Accessibility and Inclusion and became the world’s first autism-certified airline in March 2025. More than 35,000 staff have received training, and the Travel Rehearsal initiative has been rolled out in 17 countries.

The airline continues to develop policies, products, and processes to improve accessibility across online, call centre, airport, and in-flight services.

Singapore Oceanarium marks World Sea Jelly Day with educational activities this November

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Singapore Oceanarium will celebrate World Sea Jelly Day with Animal Spotlight: Sea Jellies from November 1 to 23, 2025. The second in its Animal Awareness Days series, the programme highlights the ecological importance of sea jellies and aims to deepen public understanding of their role in ocean ecosystems.

Visitors can join a 45-minute guided session offering a behind-the-scenes look at sea jelly care, feeding, breeding, and conservation. Priced at S$28 (US$20) per person aged four and above, the programme includes a complimentary plush keychain.

Discover the vital role of sea jellies in sustaining ocean ecosystems through guided tours, expert insights and themed family activities this November; photo by Singapore Oceanarium, Resorts World Sentosa

On November 1, Hiroshi Miyake of Kitasato University will lead an expert session on global collaboration in sea jelly and deep-sea animal research. A workshop on plankton sampling and species identification will also take place at the Marine Lab.

The series includes themed food and retail offers, and a children’s Abyssal ArtVenture workshop held in partnership with the National Library Board on November 1, 8, and 15.

The Animal Spotlight series supports Singapore Oceanarium’s goal to promote marine biodiversity awareness through hands-on learning and guided experiences. Other editions focus on manta rays and corals.

For more information, visit Singapore Oceanarium.

South Palms Panglao offers family adventures by the sea

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Guests can be among the first to experience South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao – MGallery Collection on Panglao Island with the exclusive Elite Access offer, available for stays until October 31, 2025.

The promotion includes 3,000 pesos (US$52) in resort credit for dining and leisure activities, with additional benefits for ALL and Accor Plus members.

Aya Kids Club offers over 150m² of indoor and outdoor play space with cultural games, crafts and activities for younger guests

The 188-room luxury resort caters to families with cultural, wellness and island experiences. Villas and suites feature Visayan-inspired décor, while the Aya Kids Club provides indoor and outdoor play spaces with cultural games and crafts. Guests can snorkel or dive in world-class reefs, explore local farms, join cultural ceremonies, and relax on the beach.

Sirenna, a mythical sea guardian, inspires the nightly Sunset Ritual of music, light and storytelling that celebrates Boholano traditions. Families can take part in the South Farm Journey to learn organic farming and meet animals, or join the M Moment to craft rare Asin Tibuok sea salt with local artisans. Curated island excursions visit the Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Sanctuary, Loboc River cruise with cultural show, Baclayon Church and the Blood Compact Shrine, with guided trips to Balicasag and Pamilacan including dolphin watching and picnic lunches.

Lola’s Sanctuary offers farm-to-spa wellness treatments rooted in traditional Boholano practices, including hilot massage with coconut oil, lemongrass and Asin Tibuok. Guests can enjoy detox juices, herbal teas, and educational sessions, while the Mindful Walk combines meditation and discovery through gardens and coastal paths.

Dining ranges from UMA, serving Filipino cuisine, to Manja with international comfort food, and Sirenna beach bar with Mediterranean-tiki style meals. Water activities include a Maui canoe, kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats, bamboo rafting and snorkelling.

South Palms also provides venues for celebrations, from the Acqua Pavilion for intimate gatherings to the Marcela Ballroom and beachfront lawn for weddings and multi-generational events.

To make reservations, e-mail South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao – MGallery Collection.