TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Tuesday, 10th February 2026
Page 9

Public art installation Lobster Beach opens on Sentosa

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International contemporary artist Philip Colbert has unveiled Lobster Beach, a large-scale public art project at Tanjong Beach on Sentosa Island, Singapore. The installation spans the beach environment and surrounding public spaces, marking one of the largest artist-led public art projects staged in the city.

The project transforms Tanjong Beach and Tanjong Beach Club into an outdoor exhibition featuring Colbert’s lobster works installed along the shoreline. At its centre is Lobster Ice Cream, an eight-metre-tall steel sculpture positioned on the beach. The work is intended as a semi-permanent installation and will remain on site beyond the exhibition period.

International artist Philip Colbert transforms Tanjong Beach into a temporary outdoor exhibition during Singapore Art Week 2026; photo by Philip Colbert Studio

Across the sand, a series of large inflatable sculptures including Lobster Shark, Lobster Octopus and Lobster Fish reinterpret the artist’s lobster figure in marine forms. The works draw on visual references from popular culture and art history, including soft sculpture traditions, and are designed for public interaction.

The Sentosa installation coincides with Singapore Art Week 2026. Alongside Lobster Beach, Colbert will present a solo exhibition titled Temple of the Sunflower at Whitestone Gallery Singapore from January 24, 2026 to March 14, 2026. The exhibition focuses on colour, surface and floral imagery across new paintings.

Colbert shared: “In my travels, I’ve often been struck by how artworks can integrate deeply with the landscape. When they connect with the local community, they create a higher social impact and become genuine landmarks of a city.

“Creating Lobster Beach felt like the perfect context to celebrate the natural world and our interaction with it in a playful, fun way, while also creating a local icon. Thanks to the vision of the Sentosa local government, I’m honoured that my Lobster Ice Cream sculpture will have a home in Singapore for years to come.”

Gallop into the year of the horse at Legoland Malaysia Resort

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Legoland Malaysia Resort will mark the Year of the Horse with a Lunar New Year celebration running from January 22 to February 22, 2026. The month-long programme is open to families and visitors across the resort.

The celebration follows a Garden of Prosperity theme and includes seasonal décor and Lego installations throughout the park. A 2.4 m Lego Horse display will be placed at the centre of the event. The structure is based on the Lego Year of the Horse Chinese Zodiac set and will be available for photos.

A 2.4m Lego Horse centrepiece marks the Year of the Horse at Legoland Malaysia Resort during its Lunar New Year 2026 celebrations; photo by Legoland Malaysia Resort

Guests can take part in a self-guided activity trail using an activity card collected in the park. Activities include building a LEGO horse, assembling a LEGO orange tree, contributing to a LEGO calligraphy mural and minifigure trading. Visitors can also take photos with the Lego Horse display to enter weekly prize draws.

From February 17 to February 22, 2026, the programme will include a Spring Festival series with scheduled performances. These include lion and dragon dances, acrobatic acts, live music, drum shows and face-changing performances. Daily stage shows will run throughout the celebration period.

A Fortune Fest promotion will run from February 17 to February 22, 2026. Guests who spend 188 ringgit (US$40) or more in a single receipt at participating retail or food and beverage outlets may enter a prize draw. Prizes include Lego sets valued up to 800 ringgit, with total prizes worth 10,000 ringgit.

During the Lunar New Year period, the resort will also offer ticket promotions for visitors from Singapore. These include discounted day tickets and a six-month play pass that allows access to the theme park, water park and Sea Life attraction.

For more information, visit Legoland Malaysia Resort.

Thailand tourism leaders warn of strategic crossroads amid regional competition

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Industry leaders at Thailand Tourism Forum 2026 warned that the kingdom is at a “defining nexus”, saying infrastructure gaps and the rise of neighbouring destinations such as Vietnam require a strategic shift.

C9 Hotelworks managing director Bill Barnett said Thailand’s international arrivals fell 7.2 per cent in 2025, while Vietnam recorded a 20.4 per cent increase. He also launched the firm’s Thailand Tourism Report: A Defining Nexus at the forum.

From left: Marriott International’s Gautam Bhandari; Central Group Capital and Central Pattana’s Phoom Chirathivat; and C9 Hotelworks’ Bill Barnett; photo by C9 Hotelworks

“Thailand’s tourism industry stands at a critical juncture where strategy matters more than scale. Regional competitors are investing billions, and Thailand cannot rely on past success. The choices made now will define the next decade,” Barnett said.

He added: “The government needs to focus on infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure. It needs to attract foreign capital to have infrastructure, (particularly) transportation infrastructure renewed.”

Despite high household debt and global volatility, investment sentiment remains cautiously optimistic.

Phoom Chirathivat, managing partner at Central Group Capital, emphasised the resilience of the market and also “the need to look beyond the ‘big five’ of Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Bangkok” to places such as Isarn and Nakhon Sri Thammarat on the south-east coast with over 3,000 kilometres of undeveloped coastline”.

He stated: “We would only execute on deals and transactions where we feel that we can do something considerably different and better from the market.”

Marriott International is responding by diversifying its footprint, with four new brands and 31 hotels in its Thailand pipeline.

“It’s not just about getting value or higher rated customers, just luxury or upper-upscale projects. Some of the brands we are launching are mid-scale brands, such as Four Points Flex by Sheraton. This is an area which we did not play with (previously) – but we definitely see a customer there for the future,” commented Gautam Bhandari, chief development officer for Asia-Pacific (excluding China), at Marriott International.

Thai Airways signals resurgence with A321neo debut

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Thai Airways officially entered a new phase of short- and medium-haul travel on January 22, 2026, as its first Airbus A321neo, named “Bowonrangsi”, completed its inaugural commercial flight from Bangkok to Singapore.

The flight, TG413, marked more than a fleet upgrade, representing a milestone in the carrier’s recovery following the completion of its court-supervised business rehabilitation triggered by Covid-19.

Thai Airways’s Kittiphong Sansomboon addressing invited guests and media last Thursday at Raffles Hotel Singapore; photo by Rachel AJ Lee

Speaking at a launch event at Raffles Hotel Singapore on the evening of January 22, Kittiphong Sansomboon, chief commercial officer of Thai Airways, shared that the A321neo has a total of 175 seats, comprising 16 in Royal Silk and 159 in Economy.

In Royal Silk, travellers have access to fully flatbed seats with a 180-degree recline, paired with 17.3-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems. The Economy cabin accommodates 159 passengers in a 3-3 layout, with seats featuring a 10-degree recline, six-way adjustable headrests, and 13.3-inch personal displays.

Asked why Singapore was chosen as the A321neo’s first destination, Kittiphong replied that the outbound market remains important to the airline.

“In the 1960s when Thai Airways went international, Singapore was among the first few destinations that we operated flights to. There is so much history and heritage, hence I thought it fitting,” he said.

Kittiphong also told TTG Asia that this aircraft is the first of 32 A321neo ordered from Airbus, with deliveries scheduled over the next three years. In 2026, 16 aircraft are due to be delivered.

On network deployment, he stated: “The A321neo will be deployed to India and China. In China, aside from Beijing and Guangzhou, we plan for it to serve new secondary destinations (for Thai Airways) such as Chongqing, Changsha and Shenzhen. We will also deploy this aircraft in the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) region.”

He also addressed sustainability as the airline expands across Asia-Pacific.

“Sustainability is not just a marketing slogan for us – it is our promise. The A321neo delivers a 20 per cent improvement in fuel consumption compared with the A320, and it is also capable of operating on up to 50 per cent SAF (sustainable aviation fuel),” he said.

PATA formalises collaboration with Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association

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PATA and the Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association (APOLA) have formalised a partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

APOLA is a not-for-profit organisation established to support the development of the outdoor lodging sector in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes accommodation formats commonly referred to as glamping. The association focuses on sustainability, sector standards and knowledge sharing.

PATA and APOLA confirmed their partnership at the Thailand Tourism Forum 2026 in Bangkok

The MoU was signed on January 22, 2026, at the Thailand Tourism Forum 2026 in Bangkok by PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid and APOLA executive committee member Willem Niemeijer.

Under the agreement, both organisations will provide reciprocal membership access, allowing each to extend selected member benefits at the association level. The partnership also includes cooperation on research and knowledge exchange, with APOLA contributing selected research findings, tourism insights and travel trend analysis on a quarterly basis through PATA’s members-only communication channels.

The agreement further outlines support for joint activities, including mutual promotion of events and participation by speakers where appropriate. Members of both organisations will have opportunities to engage through networking and annual events, with registration support provided in line with the terms of the agreement.

The partnership is intended to support information exchange and collaboration related to the outdoor lodging sector across the Asia-Pacific region.

Noor shared: “This partnership between PATA and APOLA will lead to a stronger foundation for international collaboration within the Asia-Pacific region, opening the door to effective exchange of best practices and meaningful collaborations. We look forward to jointly advancing responsible and sustainable tourism in the region alongside APOLA, and bringing value to our respective members.”

“Outdoor lodging is growing at around 11 per cent a year in the region. It is therefore fitting that APOLA works with PATA, the leading voice and authority on tourism in Asia-Pacific, to draw attention to the potential that the sector has to deliver quality, nature-based responsible tourism experiences,” added Niemeijer.

Avani+ Fares Maldives to stage multi-day music event in May

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Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort will host the Your Paradise Maldives music festival from May 11 to May 16, 2026, marking the event’s first edition in the Maldives and the resort’s first music-led festival.

Your Paradise is a destination-based electronic music festival previously held in Fiji. In the Maldives, the programme will take place across open-air stages and shared spaces around the island, with performances scheduled from late afternoon through to evening.

Avani+ Fares Maldives is set to host a multi-day music festival in May 2026, marking the resort’s first event of this kind; photo by Blake Crew

The initial line-up includes Ayybo, Arielle Free, Coco & Breezy, Double Touch, Jordan Brando & William Kiss, Low Steppa, Melé, Niiko x Swae, Sarah Story, Sasha Spielberg, Tom & Collins and Tori Levett. Additional artists will be announced.

Attendance will be limited, with travel packages offered alongside festival access.

Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is located on Fares Island on the western edge of Baa Atoll, within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Accommodation options include beach and overwater villas, as well as larger multi-bedroom pavilions and residences designed for groups.

Outside of scheduled performances, guests will have access to the resort’s facilities, including water sports, snorkelling, diving, yoga and spa services. The resort also offers access to nearby marine sites in Baa Atoll, including Hanifaru Bay.

Packages for Your Paradise Maldives start from US$2,599 per person. The package includes five nights’ accommodation at Avani+ Fares Maldives on a half-board basis, access to festival performances and scheduled group wellness sessions.

Meliá signs new resort and convention hotel in Sentul, Indonesia

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Meliá Hotels International has signed a management agreement for Meliá Sentul Resort & Convention Center, a new five-star hotel under development in Sentul, West Java, Indonesia.

Scheduled to open in 2028, the property will operate under the Meliá Hotels & Resorts brand, becoming the group’s seventh hotel in Indonesia and its first in Sentul.

Meliá Sentul Resort & Convention Center is scheduled to open in 2028 as the group’s first property in Sentul, West Java

Sentul is located around one hour by road from Jakarta and has developed as a leisure and lifestyle destination for residents of the capital. Situated within Bogor Regency, the area is characterised by green hills, a cooler climate and access to outdoor and family-oriented attractions, including hiking routes, waterfalls, the Sentul International Circuit and JungleLand Adventure Theme Park.

The area has also grown as a residential and business district, supported by proximity to the Sentul International Convention Center, established road networks and ongoing urban and transit-oriented developments.

The hotel is planned to include multiple dining venues, a rooftop bar, lounge areas, an outdoor swimming pool, gym and spa facilities. Family-focused amenities will include a dedicated kids’ club.

For meetings and events, the property will offer a ballroom measuring 1,160m² and 15 meeting rooms with a combined area of 1,640m².

The project forms part of Meliá Hotels International’s continued expansion in Indonesia and builds on its long-term partnership with Saraswanti Group, which has worked with Meliá since 2013 on INNSiDE by Meliá Yogyakarta.

Ignacio Martín, managing director Asia Pacific, Meliá Hotels International, said: “Sentul’s proximity to Jakarta, combined with its natural setting and expanding infrastructure, makes it a compelling destination for both leisure and corporate travel. We are delighted to be expanding alongside our trusted partners and bringing the Meliá brand to this fast-growing area.”

“Meliá Hotels International is widely recognised for its strong global reputation and proven management expertise across various international markets. We are confident that this collaboration will create meaningful value for the partnership as a whole and further reinforce Saraswanti’s standing in the property sector,” added Bogat Agus Riyono, COO of the Saraswanti Group’s property division.

Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi to complete phased renovation by 2026

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Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi – MGallery Collection is undertaking a multi-phase renovation programme scheduled for completion in 2026. The hotel is located near the Hanoi Opera House and the Old Quarter and will remain open throughout the refurbishment, with works carried out in stages to limit disruption.

The first phase of renovations took place between May and October 2025 and covered around half of the hotel’s rooms and suites on the first to fourth floors. Two dining venues, Lautrec and Son Mai, were also refurbished during this phase. A final phase is expected to begin in mid-2026 and will include the remaining rooms, the lobby and additional facilities such as the pool, banquet spaces and new dining concepts.

Renovation works at Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi – MGallery Collection will continue in stages through 2026

The renovation continues to reference the hotel’s long-standing “A Night at the Opera” narrative, with updates focused on materials, colour palettes and lighting rather than structural changes. Guestrooms and suites have been redesigned to combine French colonial references with contemporary interiors, using muted tones alongside clean-lined furniture and Art Deco elements. Bathrooms are designed to resemble private dressing rooms, incorporating vanity mirrors, mosaic tiles and layered lighting.

Lautrec, the hotel’s main restaurant, has reopened within its atrium setting with an updated layout centred on a live kitchen. New guest spaces are also planned, including a library lounge on the seventh floor and a coffee lounge on the second floor. An Italian luxury brand is scheduled to open a boutique connected to the hotel, with direct street access.

A new M Moment experience is under development and will draw on the hotel’s cultural setting and artistic identity. Details have not yet been announced.

Infrastructure upgrades form part of the renovation, including new chiller systems to improve energy efficiency and comfort. The hotel has also installed 600m² of rooftop solar panels, expected to reduce reliance on grid energy by about five per cent.

The hotel continues its community partnerships, including food redistribution with VietHarvest and support for The Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. These initiatives contributed to its inclusion among Vietnam’s Top 10 Best Green Hotels at the Vietnam Tourism Awards 2025.

“Our renovation is not about changing who we are, but about refining it,” said Alberto J Lugo-Vina, general manager of Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi – MGallery Collection, adding that the updates are guided by respect for the hotel’s theatrical heritage while ensuring comfort, relevance and functionality for contemporary travellers.

Iconic Group names executive assistant manager, sales and marketing

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Catherine Ooi has been appointed executive assistant manager, sales and marketing at the Iconic Group. In this role, she is responsible for commercial leadership across Iconic Marjorie Penang, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott International; Iconic Hotel Penang, Bukit Mertajam; and Iconic Regency Service Residences.

Ooi joins the group following her role as director of sales and marketing at Aloft Langkawi Pantai Tengah. She has more than 20 years of experience in hospitality and has held senior commercial roles with Shangri-La, St Giles and Hilton. She reports to group general manager Kevin Cheah.

Anne Newman to lead visitor economy at ChristchurchNZ

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ChristchurchNZ has appointed Anne Newman as general manager of visitor economy. She starts in the role today and is responsible for leading the agency’s visitor economy function, including strategy and delivery across tourism and major events.

Newman was previously founding chief executive of Christchurch Adventure Park, where she led the operation through fires, flooding and the Covid pandemic. She was recognised with the Emerging Tourism Leader Award at the New Zealand Tourism Awards in 2024.