New hotels: Conrad Nagoya, Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit and more

August 20, 2026

Conrad Nagoya, Japan
Conrad Nagoya has made its debut in Japan’s third-largest city, occupying the upper floors of The Landmark Nagoya Sakae in the heart of the city’s business and shopping district.

The hotel features 170 guestrooms, including 29 suites, all measuring more than 50m². Facilities include six restaurants and bars, an indoor swimming pool, spa and fitness centre, as well as meeting and event spaces, including a 342m² Grand Ballroom.

Directly connected to Sakae Station, the property is close to Nagoya Castle and Atsuta Shrine, while also providing a base for exploring central Japan destinations such as Ise and Takayama.

Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand
Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit has joined Bangkok’s luxury hotel market as the brand’s first property in Thailand.

Located in Sukhumvit, the hotel features 474 guestrooms and suites, seven dining venues, Fairmont Spa, fitness facilities and more than 2,000m² of meeting and event space across three floors. Family-friendly accommodation and pet-friendly rooms are also available.

The property is close to Sukhumvit’s shopping, dining and entertainment districts, providing easy access to one of Bangkok’s busiest neighbourhoods.

Courtyard by Marriott Ghaziabad, India
Courtyard by Marriott Ghaziabad has become the brand’s first hotel in Ghaziabad, located in the city’s Rajnagar Extension commercial and residential district.

The hotel offers 106 guestrooms and suites, alongside an all-day dining restaurant, lobby lounge and bar, outdoor swimming pool, spa, fitness centre and more than 740m² of meeting and event space.

The property is about an hour from Indira Gandhi International Airport and 20 minutes from Ghaziabad Railway Station. Nearby attractions include Akshardham Temple, India Expo Mart and shopping districts in East Delhi.

Radisson Hotel Chateau de Bangkok, Thailand
Radisson Hotel Chateau de Bangkok occupies the former Chateau de Bangkok in the city’s Ploen Chit district following an extensive refurbishment.

The hotel offers 178 guestrooms and suites, including long-stay accommodation with kitchenettes. Facilities include three dining venues, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and three meeting and event spaces, with the largest catering to around 250 guests.

Located 400 metres from Ploenchit BTS station, the property provides convenient access to Bangkok’s business districts, shopping areas and diplomatic quarter, while Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports are within a 40-minute drive.

Responsible tourism development brings real impact for three Asian destinations

By Karen Yue

August 20, 2026

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Three destination leaders demonstrated the positive outcomes of responsible tourism development, with results showing an impact on local host communities.

Representatives from Sarawak, Thailand and Macao presented their case before an audience at the PATA Travel Mart 2026 Knowledge Forum on August 18.

Tourism authorities in Macao, Thailand, and Sarawak showcase community-first initiatives driving sustainable development across Asia

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director, Macao Government Tourism Office, outlined the strategic vision for Macao to become a “world centre for tourism and leisure” through integrated development and community involvement.

“We want to make tourism sustainable and relevant to our people. We are striving to make Macao a good place for people to live in, and at the same time a good place for people to visit,” said Fernandes, adding that this vision is not Macao’s alone, but also written into China’s national development plan.

This approach is seen in Macao’s “tourism-plus strategy”, which combines the advancement of tourism with other sectors such as culture, e-commerce, wellness, and technology.

Sharing an example of how culture and the local community are brought into Macao’s tourism development, Fernandes said the destination’s historic streets are turned into a living stage where visitors can experience traditions, local flavours and see for themselves the peaceful co-existence of Chinese and Western cultures. Old districts are revitalised through street art exhibitions, cultural fairs, and music performances, while a free shuttle bus service connects several resorts with local attractions.

“We want (our people) to become spirits of tradition. They have to take ownership of tourism and feel that they are part of making the city more welcoming for our visitors,” Fernandes explained.

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, director-general, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), a government agency in Thailand, introduced the Nine Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism across the country, with each being given a unique set of assignment objectives.

For example, Koh Chang Archipelago and Vicinity was designated in May 2024 as DASTA’s first assignment, and the Thai cabinet’s order was to develop the region into a world-class destination in carbon neutral tourism.

Siripakorn shared that DASTA’s vision is built on 4Cs – Community’s benefit, Conduct infrastructure plan, Comply with international standard, and Cross-sector collaboration. The outcomes of assignments are measured against several KPIs, including income distribution, well-being of people living in the designated areas, growth in tourism-related occupations and employment, and tourists’ happiness, using data collected from 45 tourism communities.

“We see that tourism revenues have grown. Ten to 20 per cent of revenue is being used for children’s scholarship and tuition fees. The happiness indexes for both community residents and tourists have gone up. Jobs have increased; we got 200 new jobs last year,” he said, adding that infrastructure investments have also boosted the tourism potential and carrying capacity of designated areas.

When asked by session moderator Yang Li, head of public affairs, APAC, Booking.com for the most crucial KPI, Siripakorn pointed to local community indicators, as these determined the likelihood of young locals staying to build their lives in their community. Improved quality of life would also encourage the Thai diaspora to return to contribute to local and national development.

Morshidi Fredrick, permanent secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Performing Arts, Sarawak, conveyed the state’s goal for tourism to build a lasting legacy, where Sarawak’s “diverse communities, culture and nature” are leveraged as assets to turn visitors into loyal repeat guests.

“Our goal is (for travellers to) not just leave less behind but leave Sarawak better than before,” said Fredrick.

An example of how tourism in Sarawak is designed for positive impact lies in the annual Rainforest World Music Festival, which concluded its 29th edition in June this year. A percentage of the festival’s takings is channelled into local environmental conservation and tree-planting initiatives, while a project to plant 10,000 trees to mark its 30th anniversary in 2027 has been accomplished to offset carbon emissions and repair damaged habitats.

Langkawi targets European and Asian markets to offset flight losses

By S Puvaneswary

August 20, 2026

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Langkawi’s loss of two international flights in May, alongside the suspension of services from Bengaluru and Dubai, contributed to a year-on-year decline of around 200,000 tourist arrivals in 1H2026.

Singapore is currently the only international gateway with direct scheduled flights to the island, though China Southern Airlines will commence three weekly services from Guangzhou in December.

LADA and industry partners seek new air connectivity to rebuild international tourist arrivals

Waffa Wahida Zainol, manager of the Tourism Division at Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), said the island is working to rebuild and diversify its air connectivity. Plans include 20 direct charter flights from Warsaw between November and March 2027, alongside discussions with Batik Air to operate charters from Central Asia.

To encourage more services, LADA offers marketing support of up to US$20,000 to operators committing to at least 10 flights per season. The authority is also partnering with Malaysia Airports and Tourism Malaysia to attract carriers from China and India, including ongoing talks with Air India Express for a Delhi route.

Despite current airlift constraints, delegates at PATA Travel Mart 2026 noted that Langkawi maintains strong appeal through its natural attractions, UNESCO Geopark status, and quality accommodation.

Tricia Loh, country manager for Malaysia and Singapore at Discova, highlighted strong interest from France – supported by direct Malaysia Airlines flights between Kuala Lumpur and Paris – as well as Central Europe and the Baltics. Discova is also exploring combined itineraries linking the island with Kuala Lumpur and Penang for southern Chinese travellers.

Loh noted that European visitors typically stay four to five nights, attracted by year-round good weather and spacious accommodation.

The island’s resort sector is also expanding with the upcoming opening of the 251-room Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association is organising an October familiarisation trip for Chinese event planners, association leaders, and corporate buyers to highlight Langkawi’s business events potential.

AirBorneo grows flight network to support Sarawak’s tourism growth

By Karen Yue

August 20, 2026

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AirBorneo, the airline owned by the Sarawak state government, has mapped out an expansion plan for its Asian service network, which will bring to life the tourism ministry’s ambition to make Sarawak the tourism gateway to Borneo island.

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, minister of tourism, creative industry & performing arts, Sarawak, shared that AirBorneo has Indonesia’s Jakarta, Thailand’s Bangkok, and South Korea’s Jeju on the cards.

AirBorneo continues to build its international network, linking Kuching to regional travel hubs across Asia

The full-service carrier launched its first international service between Kuching and Singapore on July 22 this year.

Abdul Karim said the Kuching-Jeju connection made sense as Kuching is gearing up for a UNESCO Global Geopark designation come 2027, which would place it on par with Jeju, already a designated UNESCO Global Geopark since 2015.

“Furthermore, South Korea is a very good tourism source market. It is our top ninth market,” added the minister, who pointed to golf and education being strong magnets for inbound South Koreans.

Speaking at the PATA Travel Mart 2026 Knowledge Forum on August 18, Morshidi Fredrick, permanent secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts, Sarawak, stated that good air and land connectivity is crucial for the state to be seen as a tourism gateway.

Fredrick emphasised on the vastness of Borneo island, which is shared by several countries including Indonesia and Brunei, as well as Sabah, another Malaysian state.

He sees an opportunity for Sarawak to facilitate tourism access to all destinations in Borneo.

While AirBorneo facilitates international access into Sarawak, the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway – commissioned by the Malaysian federal and Sarawak state governments and being progressively opened to the public now – enables travellers to “explore all parts of Sarawak by road”.

The Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway connects major towns, including Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri, allowing travellers easy access via buses and cars, and to even enter Brunei, if they so wish, according to Fredrick.

PATA Gold Awards 2026 recognises 26 travel initiatives across Asia-Pacific

By TTG Asia

August 20, 2026

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PATA has revealed the winners of the 2026 PATA Gold Awards, honouring 26 initiatives across marketing, sustainability, and social responsibility.

The Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia, secured the Grand Title Winner in Marketing for its drone relay initiative, which achieved a Guinness World Record by flying 1,706.7km across the state to promote the destination ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

Grand Title winners and select category recipients were celebrated for innovation, conservation, and marketing across the Asia-Pacific region

The Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, China, received the Grand Title Winner in Sustainability and Social Responsibility for its conservation and heritage project focused on the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings.

Selected by an independent panel of tourism professionals and academics, other category winners included the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), SriLankan Airlines, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Tourism Fiji, and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), Thailand. Recognition was also extended across industry media categories.

The awards ceremony highlighted key industry themes including climate action, emerging technology, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.

“PATA Travel Mart (PTM) is about building valuable, quality business connections that extend beyond the event and the opportunities they create that can grow into lasting partnerships,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid.

“By taking PTM beyond the region’s traditional gateways, we are deliberately opening international markets to smaller and emerging destinations, helping disperse tourism, broaden economic opportunities and show that the next generation of tourism growth can come from beyond the established hubs.”

The Hari hotels join IHG’s Vignette Collection

By TTG Asia

August 20, 2026

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The Hari London, The Hari Hong Kong and the upcoming The Hari Singapore will join IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Vignette Collection later this year, expanding a partnership between the Harilela Group and IHG that spans more than five decades.

The move will extend the companies’ relationship to six hotels across Asia and Europe. The Hari Singapore, scheduled to open in spring 2027, will become the first Vignette Collection property in Singapore.

The Hari London, The Hari Hong Kong and the upcoming The Hari Singapore, pictured, will join IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Vignette Collection, with Singapore becoming the brand’s first property in the market

Vignette Collection enables independent luxury hotels to retain their brand identity while benefiting from IHG’s global distribution and loyalty programme. Member hotels must meet criteria covering design, guest experience and community impact.

The Hari properties feature contemporary interiors and rotating collections of works by local artists. Guests also have access to destination experiences such as neighbourhood audio tours and curated local itineraries. The brand also supports community initiatives through programmes including The Hari Art Prize, EarthCheck certifications and charity partnerships.

Aron Harilela, chairman and CEO of Harilela Group and founder of The Hari brand, said: “The Hari embodies relaxed elegance punctuated by eccentricity, wit, culture and intuitive, heartfelt hospitality. Joining the Vignette Collection preserves The Hari’s character while connecting our brand to a global community of travellers who value individuality and authenticity.”

Rajit Sukumaran, senior vice president and managing director, East Asia & Pacific, IHG Hotels & Resorts, added: “Welcoming The Hari’s portfolio marks Vignette Collection’s debut in Singapore and strengthens our presence in London and Hong Kong.”

Navigating a more complex era for Asia-Pacific tourism

By S Puvaneswary

August 19, 2026

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Geopolitics, economic volatility, technology and rapidly shifting consumer behaviour will reshape how destinations compete, according to PATA Travel Mart 2026 Knowledge Forum speaker Gary Bowerman, managing director of Check-in Asia.

Bowerman said on Tuesday that tourism had become increasingly embedded in economic planning, trade negotiations and diplomacy as the industry contends with conflicts, trade protectionism, currency volatility, energy shocks and climate risks. Despite these pressures, travel demand remained resilient, although rising fuel costs put constant pressure on tourism economies.

Bowerman says tourism is entering a more complex era, with AI convergence and changing consumer demand redefining how travel businesses operate

He also highlighted the strength of intra-regional travel in Asia-Pacific since the post-Covid rebound, alongside a fundamental shift in how younger consumers view travel.

Rather than seeing themselves simply as tourists, they increasingly incorporate travel into a broader “lifestyle economy” that encompasses interests such as beauty, entertainment, technology, fashion, food and mobility.

Additionally, Bowerman reflected on how travel demand across the region was becoming harder to predict. Growing value sensitivity, currency volatility and shifting supply-demand patterns are complicating travel planning, while generally short booking windows make it harder for businesses to match capacity with demand.

This is compounded by the speed at which younger Asian travellers adopt new trends, making it increasingly challenging for the industry to anticipate and respond to changing preferences.

Technology will add another layer to this rapid change.

“The big challenge for everybody going forward is going to be to leverage the AI convergence,” Bowerman said, pointing to the growing integration of generative, agentic and embodied AI into travel planning, payments, mobility and other services.

Sarawak prioritises tourism value over arrivals

By S Puvaneswary

August 19, 2026

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Sarawak is prioritising tourism growth that benefits communities, culture and the environment rather than pursuing visitor numbers alone.

Speaking at the PATA Travel Mart 2026 Knowledge Forum on August 18, Sarawak’s minister of tourism, creative industry & performing arts, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the state was targeting five million visitors this year, after recording 4.97 million in 2025.

From left: Sarawak’s tourism minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and South China Morning Post’s Eugene Tang

However, he stressed that growth should not be pursued at any cost.

“We would love to see tourists who are appreciative of the kind of things that we are doing here,” he said, adding that Sarawak also wants a diverse mix of source markets.

Community participation is another priority of the government, particularly in rural areas, where tourism is being used to support cottage industries and indigenous crafts. He shared that the government is encouraging larger corporations to help develop these rural enterprises, allowing communities to generate livelihoods from products that can also become part of the visitor experience.

“Tourism must benefit both local communities and tourists,” he stated.

The minister emphasised that sustainability should underpin tourism development, arguing that environmental considerations must be built into tourism policy and activities, and not be treated as a standalone initiative.

He cited tree-planting initiatives linked to the Rainforest World Music Festival and the elimination of plastic bottles at the event as examples of how Sarawak is putting this approach into practice.

Abdul Karim further discussed the importance of responsible tourism development and its direct impact on travellers’ destination choice during a media briefing on the sidelines of the Knowledge Forum.

He told TTG Asia that travellers today prioritise destinations that are safe, stable and responsible to its people and environment.

When asked how the state accomplishes responsible tourism objectives through events held in the destination, such as the ongoing PATA Travel Mart, Sharzede Sallaeh Askor, CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board, told TTG Asia that the NTO is pursuing the ISO 20121:2024 standard for Event Sustainability Management Systems and has successfully cleared its Stage 1 audit.

This will then shape “how we run our shows and how we collaborate with our stakeholders”, stated Sharzede.

With the certification, Sarawak Tourism Board will “drill every stakeholder” on sustainable practices and commitment. – Additional reporting by Karen Yue

AWC looks to global events to drive 2H2026 hotel bookings

By Anne Somanas

August 19, 2026

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Asset World Corp (AWC) is banking on a run of global events, led by the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Bangkok, to power hotel bookings in the second half of 2026, with on-the-books room revenue already 30 per cent ahead of a year earlier across its Thai portfolio.

Wallapa Traisorat, CEO and president of AWC, said forward bookings as of early August pointed to broad-based demand, led by Pattaya at 283 per cent and Bangkok at 45 per cent year-on-year, with Chiang Mai up 39 per cent, Krabi 12 per cent and Koh Samui 10 per cent.

Wallapa says AWC is also preparing to establish a real estate investment trust holding up to 50 billion baht of operating hotel and commercial assets; photo by AWC

The figures accompanied second-quarter results showing hospitality revenue of 2,761 million baht (US$83 million), up 5.7 per cent year-on-year.

“Key global events are driving strong bookings in Bangkok and Pattaya,” Wallapa said, adding that she expected the recovery to deepen in the second half of 2026 “supported by government tourism stimulus measures”.

AWC’s Bangkok hotels for meetings, among them The Okura Prestige Bangkok, The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok and Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, are running at 75 per cent occupancy for the event from October 12 to 18, 2026, with average daily rates (ADR) 98 per cent above the same period last year.

In Pattaya, AWC’s hotels, including Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa and Meliá Pattaya Hotel, are at 62 per cent occupancy for Tomorrowland from December 11 to 13, with ADR up 105 per cent. The Gastech 2026 Bangkok conference from September 14 to 17 is adding further demand in Bangkok.

Second-quarter momentum was led by Pattaya, where RevPAR rose 169 per cent on the back of two hotels opened in 2025, followed by Chiang Mai at 31 per cent and Koh Samui at 10 per cent.

Hospitality EBITDA margin widened from 25.9 to 26.9 per cent on cost control, with EBITDA up 9.7 per cent to 742 million baht.

AWC will open Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit, the first Fairmont hotel in Thailand, this month, deepening its focus on luxury MICE. The group is also repositioning operating assets to lift rates, converting The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket into a Ritz-Carlton, which it expects to triple ADR, and rebranding the Jubilee Prestige Hotel Ratchadapisek as a JW Marriott, where it expects ADR to roughly double.

The moves feed a five-year investment plan worth 100 billion baht through 2030 that will grow AWC’s hospitality portfolio to 35 hotels and 9,312 room keys, from 25 hotels today.

AWC is also preparing to establish a real estate investment trust holding up to 50 billion baht of operating hotel and commercial assets, a move the group says will revitalise Thailand’s REIT market and shift its balance sheet towards an asset-light model.

TTG Asia Luxury’s wellness cover feature wins PATA Gold Award

By TTG Asia

August 19, 2026

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The cover feature of TTG Asia Luxury’s December 2025 issue, Shades of wellness, has won the PATA Gold Awards in the category of Marketing – Industry Article.

Shades of wellness, written by group editor Karen Yue, explores trends in wellness tourism among affluent travellers, and discusses how wellness holidays for the rich and famous are becoming more intentional.

From left: PATA’s Noor Ahmad Hamid, Macao Government Tourism Office’s Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, TTG Asia Media’s Karen Yue receiving her PATA Gold Award, and PATA’s Henry Oh

This is the third PATA Gold Award for TTG Asia Luxury. Its second award was won last year for Rise of Chinese female explorers, an analysis also written by Yue.

The magazine’s first PATA Gold Award was acquired in 2016.

TTG Asia Media publications – TTG Asia, TTG Asia Luxury, and TTGmice – have previously earned 12 PATA Gold Awards for outstanding journalism.

New hotels: Conrad Nagoya, Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit and more

Responsible tourism development brings real impact for three Asian destinations

Langkawi targets European and Asian markets to offset flight losses

AirBorneo grows flight network to support Sarawak’s tourism growth

PATA Gold Awards 2026 recognises 26 travel initiatives across Asia-Pacific

The Hari hotels join IHG’s Vignette Collection

Navigating a more complex era for Asia-Pacific tourism

Sarawak prioritises tourism value over arrivals

AWC looks to global events to drive 2H2026 hotel bookings

TTG Asia Luxury’s wellness cover feature wins PATA Gold Award

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Fraser Residence River Promenade, Singapore

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New hotels: Conrad Nagoya, Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit and more