Philippine Airlines (PAL) has appointed Richard Nuttall, a British national with extensive experience in the airline industry, as its new president, effective May 29, 2025.
Nuttall will report to Lucio C Tan, chairman and CEO, and Lucio C Tan III, president and COO of PAL Holdings, the parent company of PAL.
Nuttall brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles in airlines across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Most recently, he served as CEO of SriLankan Airlines, where he successfully led the airline’s turnaround, returning it to operational profitability and contributing to the growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
He also served as an executive board member of the SkyTeam Alliance, where he played a key role in reforming its governance structure to enhance decision-making and collaboration.
Nuttall will be supported by Carlos Luis Fernandez, who will take on the role of executive vice president and COO, also effective May 29, 2025.
Banyan Group has released its 2024 Sustainability Report –One Banyan, One Sustainable Future. The 19th edition highlights the group’s progress in driving impact across environmental, social, and economic areas, reaffirming sustainability as a core business value.
Guided by its mission of Embracing the Environment, Empowering People, the report outlines several key achievements. The group continued its commitment to decarbonisation and energy transition by investing in energy-efficient infrastructure and on-site renewable energy. These upgrades, including lighting system improvements, air conditioning and room control units, as well as the installation of solar panels and timer controls across properties, led to a 5.7 per cent reduction in emissions intensity per occupied room over 2023.
The 2024 report details Banyan Group’s progress in sustainability, from energy efficiency to community support
In waste management, the group increased efforts to reduce, recycle, and repurpose, diverting 28 per cent of its total waste from landfill, a five-point increase from the previous year. Through proactive measures such as infrastructure repairs, leak detection, and water reuse, the group also improved water efficiency per occupied room by 5.1 per cent compared to 2023.
Banyan Group also expanded its marine conservation initiatives, notably with the growth of Our Marine Lab in the Maldives and the launch of the Coral Reef Restoration Project in partnership with the China Environmental Protection Foundation.
The group’s support for local communities remained strong, with the Seedlings programme nurturing 93 young people through training and mentorship, while 2,515 internship opportunities were provided. In addition, the group expanded its artisan network, commissioning products from 306 artisan communities, including 66 newly engaged groups, helping to support local economies and preserve heritage traditions.
Finally, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Banyan Global Foundation funded 30 associate-initiated projects as part of the Greater Good Grants. These projects, selected based on their long-term social, environmental, welfare, and financial benefits, address key material topics and aim to deliver lasting positive change in the communities where the group’s hotels and resorts operate.
“Sustainability is a cornerstone of Banyan Group’s purpose, and our journey will continue to evolve as we look to scale increasingly impactful practices in the upcoming years – with more ambitious climate action, deeper community engagement, and greater support for our associates to take action,” said Ho Ren Yung, deputy CEO, Banyan Group.
“To achieve this, we have introduced key performance metrics aligned with our identified material issues for all senior level associates in front-line and corporate roles, empowering them to champion our ambitions. As we track our progress in 2025, we will further refine our associates’ roles to more meaningfully support the integration of responsible practices across our operations.”
Malaysia Airlines has announced its return to Brisbane, reinstating direct flights to Queensland from November 29 with five weekly services, following a two-year hiatus. The airline suspended flights to Brisbane in March 2023 as part of cost-cutting measures and efforts to adjust its operations.
In addition to resuming Brisbane flights, Malaysia Airlines will increase its frequencies to Melbourne and Sydney.
Saw: Malaysia Airlines’ flight increases to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane will help boost arrivals from Malaysia
Flights between Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne will increase from 16 to 18 weekly services from September 29. Services to Sydney will rise from 17 to 18 weekly flights from October 4, with a further increase to 21 weekly flights from October 31.
Malaysia Aviation Group managing director, Izham Ismail, said this is part of Malaysia Airlines’ commitment to the Australian market and the group’s broader efforts to expand its Asia-Pacific network and position Kuala Lumpur as a key transit hub.
The increased capacity is expected to provide improved connectivity and more travel options for passengers across the region.
Karen Saw, country manager, Malaysia, Tourism Australia, shared that in the previous year, Malaysian visitors to Australia totalled 202,600 arrivals, a 15 per cent year-on-year increase over 2023.
She noted that over 80 per cent of outbound travel from Malaysia to Australia last year were repeat visits.
Saw added: “In our research, we have found that Malaysians are drawn to our cities, wildlife, landscapes and aquatic destinations – which we have leveraged our Aussie Specialist Travel Agents to promote in market.
“We also continue to work closely with airline partners such as Malaysia Airlines, whose increase in flights to Australian destinations like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be a valuable move to boost arrival numbers from Malaysia.”
StarCruises’s Star Voyager will homeport in both Bangkok and Hong Kong in 2025, expanding cruise options for travellers across Asia. The ship’s deployment from Laem Chabang Port near Bangkok and Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong marks a strategic step in strengthening regional cruise tourism.
In Thailand, Star Voyager will operate two round-trip cruises from Laem Chabang on April 22 and May 7, 2025. Each sailing includes port calls at Ko Samui and Singapore. This development supports the growth of cruise tourism in Thailand by boosting inbound passenger traffic and increasing accessibility for local and regional travellers. A welcome event was held at Laem Chabang, attended by representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, government officials, and StarCruises leadership. The ship enters service following a US$50 million refurbishment.
Star Voyager homeports in Bangkok and Hong Kong, expanding StarCruises’s footprint across Asia
Star Voyager will homeport in Hong Kong from June 27 to August 31, 2025. The summer programme includes multiple two-, three-, and five-night sailings to destinations in Taiwan and Japan.
Cruises to Taiwan feature a three-night itinerary to Kaohsiung and Penghu on June 29, July 13, and August 10, and a two-night itinerary to Kaohsiung on July 2, July 16, and August 13.
Cruises to Japan include a five-night itinerary to Ishigaki and Naha on July 6 and August 3, and a five-night sailing to Naha and Ishigaki on July 20 and August 17. A combined itinerary to both Taiwan and Japan includes a five-night cruise to Ishigaki, Keelung, and Penghu on July 27 and August 24. In addition, the ship will operate two-night weekend cruises departing every Friday from June 27 to August 29, offering a short getaway at sea.
“We’re excited to homeport the Star Voyager in Bangkok as we introduce the revitalized StarCruises brand in Thailand,” said Michael Goh, president of StarDream Cruises. “We are (also) proud to return to Hong Kong, a city that holds a special place in StarCruises’s history and heritage.”
Marie Kondo, renowned for her tidying method that helped millions declutter their lives, is now embracing a new journey: one of travel and self-discovery. In partnership with Klook, Kondo is featured in the brand’s latest global campaign, The Best You. This collaboration marks a shift from her structured approach to life towards a more spontaneous exploration of joy and personal growth.
The campaign invites travellers to view travel not just as a break, but as a means of personal transformation. Kondo, who became famous for her tidying system, explained that her priorities shifted to focus on her family.
Travellers can follow in Marie Kondo’s footsteps with a curated itinerary in Japan
“My system for tidying took the world by storm, but things had to change as I needed to focus on my family. I’m coming back to where it all started, to discover what can spark joy in this new phase of my life. I want to always be open to new experiences, to never stop searching for things that touch my heart,” she said.
Klook’s Travel Pulse study reveals that personal transformation is a key motivator for millennial and Gen Z travellers. Half of these generations are seeking meaningful experiences rather than just picturesque getaways. Nature retreats and short weekend escapes are increasingly seen as pathways to deeper, more transformative experiences.
The campaign highlights the power of travel, with 48 per cent of travellers reporting feeling fully recharged after their trips. The Best You encourages individuals to find joy and personal growth through both local and international travel experiences.
To support this, Klook has launched an interactive online quiz that helps users discover their travel personalities. This quiz, blending personality insights and storytelling, leads participants to one of eight travel personas, each offering tailored experiences that aim to help them achieve their best selves.
For those interested in following in Kondo’s footsteps, a specially curated itinerary in Japan offers experiences such as participating in a kintsugi workshop, learning samurai techniques for balance and focus, and enjoying a robot dance session.
Marcus Yong, vice president of global marketing at Klook, emphasised: “We’ve always believed experiences offer more than just activities—they’re a way to see yourself differently. When the world feels unpredictable, people look for moments that bring them back to who they are.”
Udaipur Marriott Hotel, India Marriott International has opened Udaipur Marriott Hotel, its first property in the city, overlooking Fateh Sagar Lake and the Aravalli Hills. The 226-room hotel features Mewar-inspired architecture, modern amenities, and views of the lake or hills.
Dining options include Okra, Udaipur Baking Co., and Opal Lounge. Facilities include a spa, rooftop yoga, fitness centre, kids’ club, and a pool. The hotel offers over 6,039m² of event space and is close to major attractions like City Palace and Lake Pichola.
Hotel Indigo Auckland
Hotel Indigo Auckland, New Zealand Hotel Indigo has opened its first New Zealand hotel in Midtown Auckland. Located on Albert Street, the 225-room property spans 27 floors and features rooms which offers locally sourced mini-bar items.
The hotel has three dining venues: Bistro Saine, Café Etiquette, and The Henry lounge. Public areas feature artworks by local artists, including a 25-floor photographic series and installations by Raukura Turei.
Nearby attractions include Sky Tower, SkyCity Casino, Britomart, Wynyard Quarter, and the Viaduct, with the New Zealand International Convention Centre set to open in 2026.
Radisson Resort Mui Ne
Radisson Resort Mui Ne, Vietnam
Radisson Resort Mui Ne has opened along Suoi Nuoc Beach in Binh Thuan, Vietnam, offering 126 rooms, including villas with private pools. Located three hours from Ho Chi Minh City, the resort features direct beach access, family amenities, spa facilities, and water sports like kite surfing.
Dining highlights local, organic ingredients and traditional Vietnamese cuisine. The resort also implements eco-friendly practices such as solar power and on-site water bottling. Nearby attractions include Mui Ne’s sand dunes, Ta Cu Mountain, and Bau Trang lakes.
Fairfield by Marriott Bekasi
Fairfield by Marriott Bekasi, Indonesia Located in the Pakuwon Mall Bekasi Superblock, the 166-key Fairfield by Marriott Bekasi offers direct mall access and is near the Bekasi Barat LRT Station and major toll roads.
Rooms include Queen, King, Twin, and family options, with themed Family Adventure Rooms and Fairfield Suites. Facilities include a gym, event spaces, and an all-day dining restaurant serving Asian and Western dishes.
The hotel is part of a dual-brand concept with Four Points by Sheraton Bekasi, and is close to Hutan Kota Bekasi city park and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah museum.
Oceania Cruises has added four more 2026 solar eclipse sailings, offering guests five itineraries to view the event. These unique voyages will position guests to witness the eclipse on August 12, 2026, off the coasts of Ireland, Iceland, Portugal, and the UK.
Each itinerary will navigate key locations within the eclipse’s path to maximise viewing conditions at sea. Oceania Marina will be positioned in the path of 100 per cent totality, while Oceania Insignia, Oceania Sirena, and two voyages aboard Oceania Vista will be in the path of more than 90 per cent totality, ensuring a memorable experience for travellers and astronomy enthusiasts.
Guests will gather on deck for eclipse viewing, complete with themed celebrations and solar-inspired treats
The cruise line’s enrichment programmes will enhance the solar eclipse with insights from a roster of guest speakers, including astronomers and NASA ambassadors. Guests can explore the scientific and cultural significance of solar eclipses, enhancing their voyage.
During the eclipse, guests will be invited to deck parties, offering viewing of the event, along with celestial festivities and solar-themed culinary offerings.
Oceania Marina’s 14-day sailing departs July 30, 2026, from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Reykjavik, Iceland, with stops in Invergordon, Scrabster, and Akureyri. Eclipse viewing will take place in Grundarfjordur, Iceland. Astronomer Dennis Mammana will guide guests.
Oceania Insignia’s 12-day sailing departs August 3, 2026, from Reykjavik, Iceland, visiting Killybegs, Dingle, and Cork before reaching Glengarriff, Ireland for the eclipse. Jerry Krassner, a former NASA space shuttle mission specialist, will be on board.
Oceania Vista’s 25-day Grand Voyage departs August 2, 2026, from Southampton in the UK, with stops in Falmouth, Holyhead, and Kristiansand. The eclipse will be viewed off the coast of Belfast, Northern Ireland. NASA Ambassador Ted Blank will share his expertise.
The second segment of Oceania Vista’s Grand Voyage, a 15-day sailing, departs August 12, 2026, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, to London, with stops in Scrabster, Copenhagen, and Berlin.
Oceania Sirena’s 12-day sailing departs August 5, 2026, from Southampton in the UK, visiting Ferrol, Oporto, and Almeria. The eclipse will be visible as the ship departs Lisbon, Portugal.
In one of the deadliest terror attacks in the picturesque Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, at least 28 tourists lost their lives when gunmen opened fire near the Baisaran meadow, popularly known as ‘Mini-Switzerland’, on April 22. The meadow was crowded with visitors at the time of the attack.
Among the deceased were two foreign nationals from the UAE and Nepal, according to a report by The Times of India.
Militants opened fire on visitors in Kashmir’s tourist hotspot
A militant outfit identifying as Kashmir Resistance claimed responsibility for the assault through a message posted on social media.
Despite facing insurgency over the years, Kashmir has emerged as a popular domestic tourism destination in recent times, buoyed by improved security and infrastructure. The region has witnessed a steady influx of tourists especially during the summer season.
However, this latest terror attack has cast a shadow over Kashmir’s tourism prospects for the current season.
Ved Khanna, president of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India, strongly condemned the attack while speaking to TTG Asia.
“Kashmir’s tourism sector was flourishing and this cowardly act appears aimed at derailing that progress. Flights to the region were operating at full capacity and the recent launch of the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express has further enhanced regional connectivity.
“In fact, owing to the tourism boom, the state government is planning to develop nine new tourist destinations. I am confident that, with the continued support of the local population, Kashmir’s tourism industry will recover and emerge even stronger.”
In response to the incident, Indian carriers including IndiGo and Air India have announced waivers on cancellation and rescheduling fees for flights to Srinagar until April 30.
In a follow-up advisory today, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said there has been “an unexpected demand from tourists seeking to return to their homes”.
Thus, it has advised airlines to “take swift action to increase the number of flights in response to heightened demand and also to ensure uninterrupted connectivity from Srinagar to various destinations across India, facilitating evacuation of stranded tourists”.
The Indonesia Ministry of Tourism and UN Tourism have launched Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Indonesia, an investment guide designed to help investors navigate and engage with the country’s tourism sector.
The guide includes detailed information on Indonesia’s tourism potential, highlighting 10 super-priority destinations, three regenerative tourism zones, and special economic zones designed to attract and support investment.
The new guide highlights key investment opportunities in Indonesia’s expanding tourism industry
The guide was officially released during the Joint Commission Meeting for the UN Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP) and the 37th UN Tourism Commission for South Asia (CSA), held in Jakarta on April 16. It is the first investment guide of its kind by UN Tourism in the Asia-Pacific region.
Indonesian minister of tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said: “This is a significant milestone in our efforts to promote sustainable tourism and strengthen Indonesia’s position as a premier destination for tourism investment and business.”
UN Tourism secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili stated that the investment guide represents a significant step for both UN Tourism and Indonesia, emphasising that investment is a key priority in tourism development: “There are many priorities to work on, but investment is especially important in this region, and Indonesia has a lot to offer, many places, many opportunities.”
Presenting the investment guideline, Natalia Bayona, executive director of UN Tourism, said: “We created a methodology that help investors find projects and find the key facts that can help them conduct good due diligence and good case studies.”
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Martini Diah Paham (Diah), deputy minister for resources and institutional affairs at the Ministry of Tourism, shared that the guide issued by UN Tourism is a valuable tool to promote investment in Indonesia. She added that the ministry, in collaboration with UN Tourism, plans to organise roadshows in key target countries.
While the current guide is available in English, she noted that there are plans to translate it into other languages, particularly those spoken in priority markets. “The guide is a living document that we can update accordingly,” Diah said.
She explained that investment opportunities are currently available in the five super-priority destinations – Lake Toba, Mandalika, Borobudur, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang – as well as in Greater Jakarta, Batam-Bintan, Bali, and Nusantara.
However, Diah highlighted that if other areas with strong potential are identified, investment opportunities may also be extended there.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) has renewed its partnership with Community Chest (ComChest) with a three-year commitment to donate S$1 million (US$762,514) to support vulnerable communities in Singapore.
A partner of ComChest since 2023, MHR will contribute S$500,000 in 2025, followed by S$250,000 annually in 2026 and 2027. The donations will support children with special needs and at-risk youth, key focus areas for ComChest. MHR will also continue its support for ComChest’s Change for Charity initiative, which benefits over 200 critical social service programmes.
Millennium Hotels and Resorts celebrates its 30-year legacy with a S$1 million donation to Community Chest, supporting vulnerable communities in Singapore
Since 2022, MHR has implemented inclusive hiring practices, actively employing individuals with disabilities as part of its commitment to creating an equitable workplace. Department heads are trained to understand the unique needs of these team members and to match them with roles that suit their strengths. Duties are tailored to provide a supportive environment, and each employee is paired with an experienced work buddy and offered flexible arrangements, such as reduced starting hours, to ensure smooth integration into the workforce.
Welcoming the partnership, Community Chest chairman Chew Sutat shared: “Millennium Hotels and Resorts is leading by example in sustainable philanthropy through their three-year commitment in partnering Community Chest to support over 82,000 individuals and families in need. On top of a longer-term approach to uplifting lives, their generous contribution also qualifies for the SG Gives matching grant, which multiplies the impact of their donations.”
Kwek Eik Sheng, City Developments Limited group COO and executive director of MHR, said: “When we first partnered with ComChest in 2023, our aim was to extend our impact beyond the hospitality industry. With this pledge, we are taking a bigger leap in our commitment to giving, honouring all who have supported us throughout the years and contributed to our success today. Together, we hope to strengthen resilience within the community and rally more businesses and individuals to create more opportunities to support those in need.”
Saurabh Prakash, interim chief operating officer and chief commercial officer, MHR, added: “The hotel industry offers many opportunities and pathways. With the right training, right job placement and the right support system in place, our special needs employees have found their sense of belonging and adapting well to the fast-paced environment and high volume of guest interactions.”
MHR’s other initiatives to drive long-term and sustainable social impact include supporting over 200 programmes from 2025 to 2027, focusing on disability inclusion, youth empowerment, family resilience, mental health advocacy, and elderly care. To mark its renewed partnership with ComChest, MHR will host its Annual Charity Dinner on August 29, 2025, as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations. The company is also rallying employee donations for SGSHARE, a nationwide initiative by Community Chest, and sponsoring a monthly meal programme for The Salvation Army’s Gracehaven Children’s Home, ensuring children in need receive nutritious meals each month.
Nuttall brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles in airlines across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Most recently, he served as CEO of SriLankan Airlines, where he successfully led the airline’s turnaround, returning it to operational profitability and contributing to the growth of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.
