TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Wednesday, 24th June 2026
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Therme Singapore breaks ground on wellness destination at Marina South

By TTG Asia
0

Therme Group has broken ground on Therme Singapore, a large-scale wellness and leisure destination planned for Marina South and scheduled to open in 2030.

Spanning more than 66,900m², the development will be Therme Group’s first project in Asia and will include more than 20 indoor and outdoor pools, over 70 wellness treatment rooms, dining facilities and landscaped public spaces.

Therme Group and its partners break ground on Therme Singapore, the company’s first project in Asia

The seven-storey development will be organised into three zones: Play, featuring family-focused water attractions and 18 water slides spanning more than 1.8km in total length; Relax, with thermal pools, mineral baths and wellness facilities; and Restore, which will house saunas, steam rooms and treatment spaces.

Nature forms a central part of the project, with more than 200,000 plants across 200 species planned throughout the development. A public coastal park covering almost four hectares will also be created, linking the site to Marina Barrage and expanding public access to waterfront green spaces.

Therme Singapore is being developed in partnership with Kajima Overseas Asia and designed by DP Architects together with Therme ARC. Sustainability features will include solar panels, energy-efficient building systems, smart irrigation technology and climate-adaptive landscaping.

The development will also incorporate technologies including RFID wristbands for access and cashless payments, a robotic locker system and ozone-based water filtration systems.

The project is expected to create around 400 jobs across hospitality, operations, engineering and facilities management. Therme Singapore has also signed agreements with the Institute of Technical Education and Republic Polytechnic to support skills development, internships and employment pathways.

Robert Hanea, founder and CEO of Therme Group, said: “As our first destination in Asia, Therme Singapore will serve as a gateway for regional growth to develop partnerships, capabilities and models that can be scaled across Asia and beyond.”

Mah Bow Tan, chairman of Therme Group Asia and Therme Singapore, added: “Beyond the visitor experience, Therme Singapore is also about people, creating jobs, developing new capabilities, and supporting Singapore’s tourism, hospitality and wellness sectors.

“Singapore is the ideal platform for Therme’s growth in Asia. It offers the right environment for this vision through strong connectivity, a deep talent ecosystem and a culture of innovation, enabling us to serve both local communities and visitors from across the region.”

World Gourmet Festival brings global culinary talent back to Bangkok

By TTG Asia
0

The World Gourmet Festival will return to Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel from September 29 to October 4, bringing together international, regional and local culinary talent under the theme, The World of Flavours.

The annual event will feature a programme of dining experiences, chef collaborations, culinary showcases and industry discussions. Chefs from Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel will also participate in selected events throughout the festival.

The World Gourmet Festival will take place at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel from September 29 to October 4

Highlights will include dinners led by international guest chefs, collaborative tasting menus, live culinary demonstrations, afternoon tea experiences, bar takeovers and panel discussions featuring industry figures.

A new addition for 2026 is the Young Chef’s Award, which will recognise emerging culinary talent through a competition judged by a panel of local and international chefs. Participants will be assessed on their creativity, technical skills and culinary vision.

The festival follows its 25th edition in 2025, which featured solo chef dinners, collaborative dining events, masterclasses, bar takeovers and food-focused experiences across Bangkok. The event brought together chefs representing nearly 30 Michelin stars.

According to the organisers, this year’s programme will focus on showcasing a range of culinary traditions, techniques and influences from around the world through a series of curated experiences.

Additional details, including participating chefs and event schedules, will be announced closer to the festival.

William Heinecke, founder and chairman of Minor International, said: “The World Gourmet Festival has become one of the region’s most recognised culinary events, bringing together leading chefs and gastronomic talent from around the world.”

The organisers said the festival aims to continue strengthening Bangkok’s position as a destination for international dining experiences and culinary events.

Crossroads Maldives combines three resorts in one island escape

By TTG Asia
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Crossroads Maldives has launched 1 Journey, 3 Vibes, a multi-resort package allowing guests to experience three distinct properties within a single stay.

Located 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the programme combines stays at SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and SO/ Maldives without the need for domestic flights or seaplane transfers.

The new 1 Journey, 3 Vibes programme allows guests to experience three Crossroads Maldives resorts in one stay without changing islands or taking additional transfers

Guests can choose between a nine-night itinerary spanning all three resorts or a four-night option covering two properties. Packages include full-board dining, return speedboat transfers, a personal butler and a Crossroads Passport stamped at each resort.

The experience begins at SAii Lagoon Maldives, continues at Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and concludes at SO/ Maldives, with each resort offering a different style of accommodation and activities.

Guests also have access to The Marina @ Crossroads, which features restaurants, retail outlets, wellness facilities and family attractions.

The Standard Package is priced from US$7,780 and includes three nights each at the three resorts. A Premium Package from US$8,880 includes upgraded accommodation across all properties.

The offer is available for bookings until October 31, 2026, for stays through December 20, 2026.

For more information, visit Crossroads Maldives.

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort appoints GM

By TTG Asia
0

Hervé Duboscq has been named general manager of Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas.

He brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience across Asia, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean.

He most recently served as general manager of Shangri-La Colombo.

New ways to explore the world by river

By TTG Asia
0
Explore historic towns along the Rhine River with AmaWaterways

Brought to you by AmaWaterways

Explore historic towns along the Rhine River with AmaWaterways

Small but upscale ships, a high level of personal service and itineraries that take travellers to places less travelled, river cruising offers a different way to experience cities and towns in the heart of countries. 

Offering this is AmaWaterways with a brand refresh that reflects its high-touch service and commitment to immersive travel experiences, as it accelerates its fleet expansion with more than 50 ships planned by 2032. 

Global voyages

AmaWaterways’ new itineraries in Africa will take you to see animals in their land

With itineraries across continents, the world is one’s oyster. 

In Europe, AmaWaterways continues to deepen its presence along the Danube with the launch of AmaSofia this year. The new vessel expands the company’s offerings on one of Europe’s most iconic rivers, sailing through destinations rich in history, culture and architecture in western and central Europe. 

Travellers seeking a more immersive journey can also pair their river cruise with the brand’s new City Escapes programme. Designed to extend stays in major European cities and during quieter travel periods, guests can spend more time exploring key cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Strasbourg and Budapest, as well as other historic towns in a more authentic and relaxed way. 

AmaWaterways is also expanding its presence in Africa with four new itineraries designed to showcase the continent’s landscapes, wildlife and cultures.

The itineraries combine river cruising with safari experiences, allowing travellers to explore destinations through multiple perspectives. Guests can encounter wildlife in national parks, cruise along waterways and engage with local communities, creating journeys that go beyond traditional sightseeing.

The expansion underscores AmaWaterways’ continued investment in long-haul experiential travel and growing demand for immersive itineraries that connect guests more closely with nature and culture.

In Asia, AmaWaterways will debut a new ship on the Mekong River in 2027. Joining the AmaDara, the 60-stateroom AmaMaya will introduce travellers to the cultural traditions and way of life as it cruises through Vietnam and Cambodia through curated itineraries.

The AmaWaterways difference onboard

Be treated to local and regional specialties for each meal

A key differentiator for AmaWaterways lies in its onboard experiences, particularly its culinary offerings. Across its fleet, regional cuisine plays a central role in the guest experience, with menus crafted using locally sourced ingredients and inspired by regional traditions.

Guests can discover the flavours of each destination through dishes that reflect local culinary heritage, bringing an added sense of place to every journey. On select sailings, The Chef’s Table Experience offers an elevated dining concept showcasing carefully curated menus and immersive gastronomic storytelling.

For instance, it has also introduced experiences such as Cooking with Mamie on select France itineraries, where a French grandma will host intimate cooking sessions for small groups and share stories and techniques that have been passed down through generations, connecting travellers more deeply to the destinations they visit.

Supporting travel advisors

The company is also strengthening support for the trade with enhanced digital tools for travel advisors. 

Through a new partnership with Approach Guides, advisors can now create free co-branded marketing pages featuring AmaWaterways itineraries and experiences.

The tool allows advisors to personalise content with their own branding and contact details, making it easier to market river cruises and generate leads without requiring technical expertise or additional logins. 

Embark on your next river voyage now at AmaWaterways.

Muslim travel growth accelerates as demand broadens beyond traditional markets

By S Puvaneswary
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The Muslim travel market is growing faster than previously expected, driven by increasingly diverse source markets and a rising preference for regional travel, according to the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2026.

Released at the Halal in Travel Global Summit 2026, the report forecasts Muslim international arrivals will reach 196 million in 2025, exceeding earlier projections by 10 million travellers.

Fazal believes destinations that are trusted before arrival will have a stronger advantage than those relying solely on flights, hotels or halal facilities

CrescentRating has consequently revised its 2030 forecast upwards from 245 million to 262 million arrivals, with annual expenditure expected to reach US$310 billion.

The figures suggest Muslim travel has moved beyond post-pandemic recovery and entered a new phase of long-term growth.

Fazal Bahardeen, founder and CEO of CrescentRating and HalalTrip, said Muslim travel demand is no longer concentrated in a small number of traditional source markets.

According to the report, nearly 90 per cent of Muslim outbound travellers originated from just 30 source markets in 2019. By 2026, that figure had fallen to 77 per cent as demand expanded from emerging and diaspora communities across Europe, North America and East Asia.

For destinations, the shift means traditional market strategies may no longer be sufficient.

“The destinations that win Muslim travel over the next decade will not be the ones with the most flights or the most hotels or even the most halal restaurants. They will be the ones that travellers can trust before they arrive,” Fazal said.

The report also highlighted a growing shift towards what it termed “home-continent mobility”. Rather than cancelling travel plans amid geopolitical tensions, airspace disruptions and economic uncertainty, Muslim travellers are increasingly choosing destinations closer to home that offer greater predictability, convenience and confidence.

South-east Asia is emerging as one of the main beneficiaries of this trend, combining proximity to major Muslim source markets, extensive air links, cultural familiarity and established halal tourism offerings.

Aisha Islam, senior vice president, customer solutions centre, Southeast Asia, Mastercard, stated the region is well positioned to benefit from these shifts.

“As AI becomes more embedded in travel planning, destinations and businesses need to make trusted information, secure payments and Muslim-friendly services easier to discover and act on. For South-east Asia, this presents a strong opportunity to strengthen its position as a connected, inclusive and digitally enabled travel corridor.”

Technology is also reshaping how travellers discover and evaluate destinations. GMTI 2026 found that 80 per cent of travellers now use AI tools for travel planning, accelerating the shift from traditional search-based discovery to AI-assisted recommendations.

“Modern travellers are looking for certainty before they step onto a plane, and they are increasingly delegating that validation process to intelligent systems,” Fazal said.

In response, CrescentRating introduced two new initiatives at the summit: the AI Recommendation Readiness Auditor, which assesses how visible and credible destinations appear within AI-powered recommendation systems, and the Destination Activation Stack, a framework designed to strengthen destination readiness and visitor experience.

According to Fazal, destinations are no longer judged solely on the availability of halal food and prayer facilities. Increasingly, they must demonstrate that Muslim-friendly services are accessible, reliable, digitally discoverable and aligned with traveller expectations around safety, inclusivity and experience quality.

The growing importance of South-east Asia was reflected in this year’s GMTI rankings. Malaysia retained its position as the world’s leading Muslim-friendly destination for the 11th consecutive year, while Indonesia climbed to share second place with Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.

Among non-OIC destinations, Singapore remained the highest-ranked destination and placed 11th globally. Hong Kong ranked second among non-OIC destinations, while Taiwan and the UK shared third place.

The report also recognised Mindanao in the Philippines as the Most Promising Muslim-Friendly Region among non-OIC destinations, while West Java received the same accolade among OIC destinations.

Thailand, Agoda renew partnership to support tourism growth

By TTG Asia
0

Agoda and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have renewed their collaboration to support tourism growth through marketing, tourism development and industry initiatives.

The partnership will combine Agoda’s travel data and digital marketing capabilities with TAT’s destination promotion efforts to support international visitor demand and domestic travel across Thailand.

Representatives of Agoda and the TAT celebrate the signing of their renewed partnership agreement

Areas of cooperation include promoting Thailand’s tourism products, highlighting emerging travel trends such as wellness tourism, and encouraging travel to secondary destinations. The partnership will also support industry development through sustainability initiatives and capacity-building programmes under the Trusted Thailand programme.

According to the organisations, the collaboration will focus on using market insights and digital tools to strengthen Thailand’s tourism sector and enhance the destination’s visibility among travellers worldwide.

Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of Agoda, said: “We see many opportunities to work together on TAT’s priorities, from highlighting wellness travel as the new luxury to amplifying communications around travel safety. Our joint efforts will promote Thailand’s rich and trusted offerings to travellers around the globe.”

TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool added: “Our partnership with Agoda enables us to develop targeted campaigns that showcase Thailand’s rich cultural heritage, diverse tourism experiences and strong commitment to visitor satisfaction. By leveraging digital innovation and market intelligence, we can better connect with travellers worldwide and further reinforce Thailand’s reputation as a premier travel destination.”

Collaboration key to growth of Muslim-friendly tourism, say industry leaders

By S Puvaneswary
0

Stronger collaboration between Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and non-OIC destinations will be critical to the future growth of Muslim-friendly tourism, according to speakers at the Halal in Travel Global Summit 2026.

Speaking during a panel session titled Cross-border collaboration: How OIC & non-OIC destinations can learn from each other, panellists said destinations should focus less on competition and more on knowledge-sharing to better serve the growing Muslim travel market.

Liew Chian Jia says OIC destinations benefit from deeply embedded halal ecosystems that are difficult for non-OIC destinations to replicate

Mahmood Godel, CEO of Halal 360, said both OIC and non-OIC destinations have strengths that can benefit the wider industry.

According to Mahmood, many OIC destinations have invested heavily in tourism infrastructure, destination branding, hospitality and digital transformation, while non-OIC destinations have developed expertise in visitor journey mapping, service standardisation, multilingual accessibility, data-driven tourism planning and customer experience management.

He added that OIC destinations possess advantages that are difficult to replicate, including a deep understanding of Muslim traveller expectations, integrated Muslim-friendly lifestyles and established hospitality traditions.

“The future is not about comparing OIC and non-OIC destinations,” he said. “The future is about building stronger ecosystems through shared learning.”

Mahmood noted that Muslim-friendly tourism is evolving beyond the provision of halal food and prayer facilities towards delivering higher-quality visitor experiences.

With the Muslim travel market projected to reach 245 million travellers by 2030, he said destinations will need to focus on service quality, staff awareness, family-friendly offerings, digital accessibility and traveller trust.

“The strongest ecosystems will not necessarily be those with the largest budgets. They will be those that learn faster, collaborate better and adapt more effectively.”

Liew Chian Jia, regional director, South-east Asia, at the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said OIC destinations benefit from large domestic Muslim consumer bases and deeply embedded halal ecosystems, creating a sense of familiarity for Muslim travellers.

She noted that halal dining options, prayer facilities and social norms are often integrated into daily life in OIC destinations, while non-OIC destinations such as Hong Kong must invest heavily in staff training, education and certification programmes to deliver similar levels of service.

Liew added that one of the main barriers to collaboration is that tourism boards are often measured by their ability to attract visitors and spending to their own destinations.

To address this, she suggested initiatives such as staff exchanges, joint training programmes and the sharing of best practices.

She said OIC destinations could offer expertise in frontline staff training and cultural understanding, while non-OIC destinations could contribute knowledge in areas such as digital infrastructure, destination marketing and visitor journey management.

The session was moderated by Irshad Cader, CEO and director of Globothink Halal Tourism Development Consultants.

Archipelago exits Cuba following US sanctions order

By Mimi Hudoyo
0

Archipelago International, South-east Asia’s largest privately owned hotel management group, has ceased operations in Cuba following a directive from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

The move follows an order requiring the company to sever ties with military conglomerate GAESA, which controls a significant portion of Cuba’s economy and is subject to US sanctions.

Flood: we remain optimistic about the future of tourism in the country and sincerely hope to have the opportunity to return one day

The decision follows similar actions by hotel operators Blue Diamond, Meliá and Iberostar.

Prior to its exit, Archipelago International operated six Aston-branded hotels in Cuba with a combined inventory of around 3,500 rooms.

John Flood, president and CEO of Archipelago International, told TTG Asia: “We are naturally disappointed to be concluding our operations in Cuba after the significant time, effort, and investment we have made in the market over the years.”

 He said the company had become one of Cuba’s most active international hotel operators, with its properties consistently ranking among the top performers for guest satisfaction. He added that the company had also trained hundreds of local hospitality professionals, many of whom progressed to senior management positions globally.

Flood praised Cuba’s tourism assets and hospitality workforce.

“Our decision should not be viewed as a reflection on Cuba itself. We remain hopeful that, in the future, the broader geopolitical and economic situation between Cuba and the US will improve. When that happens, we would certainly welcome the opportunity to return and contribute to the growth of Cuba’s tourism sector once again,” he said.

Beyond Cuba, Archipelago International is continuing its expansion across the Americas.

“From a regional perspective, our exit from Cuba has minimal impact on our broader expansion strategy across the Americas,” Flood said.

“Several years ago, we relocated our regional headquarters for the Americas from Cuba to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, where it remains today. We also maintain an office in Mexico, both of which continue to support our development and operational activities throughout the region.”

The Caribbean, Dominican Republic and Mexico remain key growth markets for the group. Across the Dominican Republic and Mexico, Archipelago currently has 22 hotels in the development pipeline, representing more than 7,000 rooms.

“These projects span multiple brands and market segments, reflecting our long-term commitment to the region and our confidence in its tourism fundamentals.

“While we are saddened to leave Cuba, we remain optimistic about the future of tourism in the country and sincerely hope to have the opportunity to return one day.”

Australia hotel bookings outpace regional growth, says SiteMinder

By TTG Asia
0

Hotel bookings in Australia are projected to increase by 5.6% year-on-year between June and September 2026, according to new data from hotel commerce platform SiteMinder.

The findings place Australia among the strongest-performing accommodation markets in Asia-Pacific, behind only Taiwan and New Zealand, and above the regional average growth rate of 3.4%.

Domestic travel continues to underpin Australia’s accommodation sector, accounting for 84 per cent of hotel bookings; Bondi Beach, pictured

The mid-year edition of SiteMinder’s Hotel Booking Trends report is based on booking data from its platform, which processes more than 135 million hotel reservations annually across 22 tourism markets.

The report found that travellers are booking accommodation earlier and staying slightly longer. Average booking lead times increased from 158 days to 160 days, the longest in Asia-Pacific, while the average length of stay rose from 2.17 nights to 2.18 nights.

Australia’s average daily room rate increased by 5.2% year-on-year from A$369 (US$241) to A$388, making it the highest among Asia-Pacific markets covered in the report.

Domestic travellers continue to account for the majority of hotel demand, representing 84% of bookings between June and September 2026, up from 81.8% a year earlier. Australia also recorded the highest domestic booking share and the largest year-on-year increase in domestic bookings across the region.

The report noted a slight increase in cancellations, with the rate rising from 17.65% to 18.98%. Despite the increase, Australia recorded the second-lowest cancellation rate in Asia-Pacific, behind New Zealand.

Bradley Haines, regional vice president, Asia-Pacific, SiteMinder, said: “What we’re seeing is a more deliberate traveller, one who is booking earlier, committing to longer stays and placing a greater value on experiences.

“For accommodation providers, that creates greater certainty around future occupancy and supports stronger revenue planning.”

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGassociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Beijing crafts new visitor experiences to attract international markets
TTG Asia | Onyx strengthens talent pipeline to support regional growth
TTG Asia | Radisson aims to double South-east Asia portfolio within five years