Grand Hyatt Jakarta has named Fauzia Bonita Agustina as its new director of sales.
She has more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and had started her career with Hyatt back in 2018.
Her experience in negotiating high-value contracts and strong relationships with stakeholders will be instrumental in further elevating Grand Hyatt Jakarta.
A new long-distance hiking trail showcasing some of Japan’s rarest and most unspoiled natural environments has opened in eastern Hokkaido.
An initiative of the Ministry of Environment, the path is designed to increase the appeal of the area among inbound and domestic visitors amid increasing interest in physical activity, the outdoors and wellness, particularly among international travellers.
Japan is the third most popular destination for adventure travellers globally, according to the 2023 Adventure Travel Industry Snapshot report released by the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Among those travellers, hiking, trekking or walking were in the top five trending activities.
Hokkaido’s 410km route links the three national parks of Kushiro-Shitsugen, Akan-Manshu and Shiretoko, an expansive area that includes Japan’s largest wetland and largest caldera lake.
It links Kushiro in the south-east to Rausu in the north-eastern tip via Teshikaga, traversing marshland, volcanic landforms, farmland and the coastline to showcase the local environment.
Shiretoko is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, renowned for its rich ecosystem that supports globally endangered bird species. Here, visitors can also spot the red-crowned crane, Yezo deer, and Ezo red fox.
Campsites and lodging facilities, as well as tours for canoeing, cycling and wildlife observation, are available along the route.
According to the Hokkaido East Trail Management Office, the walking trail “will serve as a pillar of the trail network concept, allowing people to enjoy the national parks’ nature at their own pace over an extended stay and to enjoy a wider range of walking trips”.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has grown its direct franchising business in China, with nearly 600 hotel signings across the country in just five years.
The achievement is a testament to Wyndham’s owner-first approach to franchising and increased efforts in recent years to reduce its reliance for growth on master licensees – a move underscored in 2019 when the company reacquired direct franchising rights for its Days Inn brand in China.
Presently the largest US-based hotel company in China by number of properties, Wyndham has a footprint spanning more than 1,600 hotels and more than 180,000 rooms across 13 of its 25 brands. In 1H2024 alone, Wyndham signed direct franchise agreements for more than 70 hotels in key markets including Beijing, Jiangsu and Guangdong.
In addition, Wyndham has opened nearly 300 direct franchised hotels in China over the last five years spanning economy to upscale accommodations. The company also continues to broaden its portfolio of brands in the country, introducing both Hawthorn by Wyndham and La Quinta by Wyndham at that same time, the latter of which now has four hotels open and another six in the pipeline.
Standout hotel openings since 2019 include: Hawthorn by Wyndham Dali Erhai Park, La Quinta by Wyndham Weifang South, Wyndham Garden Qionglai Downtown, Wyndham Grand Shanxi Xiaohe Xincheng, Wyndham Shanghai Nanxiang, Wyndham Sun Moon Lake, and Wyndham Tai’an West.
“Through direct franchising, we gain greater control over the consistency and direction of our brands in China while unlocking the benefit of building long-term relationships with franchisees – all of which are key to driving further expansion,” said Joon Aun Ooi, president, Asia Pacific, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
KS Hotels and HMD Asia have acquired two iconic La Résidence hotels, located in Siem Reap, Cambodia and Luang Prabang in Laos.
Both properties were previously owned and managed by Belmond.
La Résidence D’Angkor is currently closed for renovation and will reopen in 4Q2025 under the management of HMD Asia. The hotel is located on the riverside in Siem Reap, the gateway to the storied temples of Angkor Wat. La Résidence D’Angkor guests will be steps away from the boutiques, cafés and tree-lined avenues of Siem Reap, and a short journey to the legendary temples.
Meanwhile, La Résidence Phou Vao, the hilltop sanctuary within the UNESCO Heritage region of Luang Prabang, Laos will continue normal operations but under the new HMD Asia management.
Anthony Lark, executive director, HMD Asia, commented: “We feel a deep sense of honour and responsibility in managing these beautiful small hotels and we are excited to continue their legacy of service and attention to detail, while continuing to develop unique guest experiences in the future.”
The Asia premiere of Harry Potter: Visions Of Magic will soon open in Singapore on November 22 at Resorts World Sentosa, and wizarding fans who joined the waitlist earlier can now get exclusive access to pre-sale tickets via Ticketmaster from now to November 7.
Ticket pricing starts at S$39 (US$29) for children and S$49 for adults.
Harry Potter: Visions of Magic is a self-guided journey exploring some of the most mysterious corners of the wizarding world. Guests will discover a series of artistic and immersive environments inspired by enigmatic places in the magical community, like the Ministries of Magic, the captivating wonders of Newt’s Menagerie, and the mesmerising Pensieve. The combination of responsive video content, bold architecture and original soundscapes become multi-sensory installations where guests are encouraged to use a wand and illuminate the invisible, revealing visions of magic that bring the entire experience to life.
The experience includes ten environments, two of which are debuting for the first time in Singapore. These include The Knight Bus, Grimmauld Place, Ministries of Magic, The Hall of Prophecy, The Chamber of Secrets (exclusive to Singapore), Newt’s Menagerie, Knockturn Alley, The Room of Requirement, The Trap Door (exclusive to Singapore), and The Pensieve.
Visitors can shop for bespoke gifts and official Harry Potter merchandise at the retail shop located at the heart of the exhibition, as well as enjoy a taste of the iconic wizarding world beverage, Butterbeer.
For more information, visit Harry Potter: Visions of Magic.
A series of exclusive events has been planned at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa to mark the 60th anniversary of the Sofitel brand, where guests, staff and the wider community will be beneficiaries.
Kicking off the year-long celebrations is a dinner on November 16 that features a collaborative eight-hand menu by celebrated chefs. The party continues on November 17 with an Italian brunch at Club Matera at The Cliff.
The month of November will also welcome various activities for Sofitel associations and the wider community, such as an employee appreciation night and award ceremony to acknowledge top performers, a photography workshop, and a visit to the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home.
Sofitel’s anniversary celebrations was earlier marked by two major announcements – the appointment of actors Gillian Anderson and Dali Benssalah as brand ambassadors along with a new campaign, which features a short film titled The Encounter, set in the flagship hotel Sofitel Mexico City Reforma; and a collaboration with sustainable jeweller Place Vendôme in Paris: Courbet to produce a collection of 18 original creations that embody the Sofitel Cultural Link.
The Sofitel brand first made its debut on June 26, 1964 with the first hotel in Strasbourg, Alsace.
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa itself was inaugurated in 2015.
For more information, visit Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa.
Qantas flies direct to Manila
Qantas customers can now fly from Brisbane to the Philippines with the airline’s non-stop flights to Manila.
The service will operate four times per week using Qantas’ Airbus A330 aircraft, and adds to the airline’s existing daily services from Sydney to Manila.
The new flight will also improve connectivity for passengers travelling to the Philippines from New Zealand, with easy connections in both directions from Auckland and Christchurch to Manila via Brisbane.
Emirates returns to Adelaide with daily service
Emirates has relaunched its daily service between Adelaide and Dubai, flying a Boeing 777-200LR between both cities.
The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft offers 302 seats across two cabins, with 38 Business Class seats set in a 2-2-2 configuration, alongside 264 seats in Economy Class.
Emirates now operates 70 weekly services from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide connecting passengers with over 140 destinations.
On December 1, Emirates will reinstate its second daily service to Perth, offering 77 weekly flights from Australia.
Korean Air adds fourth daily flight to and from Manila
Korean Air will add a fourth daily scheduled service between Seoul Incheon and Manila on November 24, enhancing connectivity between the region and North America through its Seoul Incheon hub.
The new service will be operated by Korean Air’s A321neo aircraft, featuring eight lie-flat business class seats and 174 economy class seats.
As Korean Air’s primary transit corridor between South-east Asia and North America, the Manila route plays a pivotal role in the airline’s global network. The new late-night service is strategically scheduled to align with morning departures to North America, enhancing connectivity options for passengers.
Vietjet, Emirates expand international connectivity
Vietjet and Emirates have joined forces to enhance connectivity and provide greater travel options between key cities in Vietnam, Dubai, the UAE, and beyond.
The agreement will enhance Emirates’ connectivity to popular destinations in Vietjet’s domestic and regional network via Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang, while offering Vietjet customers increased access to Emirates’ global network via its Dubai hub.
Both airlines will also explore new opportunities for technology development and the digital evolution of the aviation industry.
The Indonesia Directorate General of Immigration has partnered with VFS Global to launch a new e-Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) service for 97 eligible nationalities, including the US, Canada, India, Australia, starting in December 2024.
The VFS services will complement the existing e-VoA system that the immigration office has been operating for the past few years.
Silmy Karim, deputy minister for immigration and corrections of Indonesia, said: “This new service will enable visitors to apply for the e-VoA online before their departure, ensuring a smooth, hassle-free process that reduces delays and enhances the overall traveller experience. Upon arrival, the e-visa can be used to enter Indonesian airports seamlessly via the e-gates.”
“We believe digitalisation can simplify the process, and VFS has the technology to make it easier for visitors,” he added.
The service will also include a group booking option, making it useful for travel agents and event organisers managing large groups and conventions.
Additionally, the new service also offers to Emirates passengers an e-VoA application service.
“If you go to the Emirates website and buy a flight ticket to Jakarta or Bali, you can also apply for an e-VoA (at the same time),” explained Silmy. He also mentioned that his office is in discussions with Garuda Indonesia to provide the same service.
To further support the initiative, VFS Global has established dedicated counters in Dubai, Mumbai, and Shanghai, with plans for additional locations in Australia. This expansion aims to enhance services in key markets, including India, China, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and the Middle East.
In response to the partnership, Jongki Adiyasa, executive director of Ina Leisure, stated that the new service ensures quicker entry into Indonesia. “It provides travellers with a new option for processing their documents. The more options available, the better the chance for travellers to receive the best services.”
As for Monas Tjahjono, managing director of Monas Tours & Travel, he noted that the VFS service would be particularly useful during the peak season, as the immigration website can sometimes face glitches due to high traffic.
Vietnamese hotel chain Vinpearl has seen success in its positioning among affluent Indian tourists as a top choice for milestone events like weddings and business gatherings, with more than 10 billionaire weddings hosted along with several venue accolades achieved this year.
“This year alone, Vinpearl has hosted over 10 billionaire weddings from India, and this number is projected to double by 2025,” said Ngo Thi Huong, deputy CEO of Vinpearl.
“Vietnam is fast becoming a prime destination for weddings, MICE, and golf tourism on the global stage,” she added.
According to Vietnam’s National Tourism Administration, there is a striking increase in interest from India, with Indian arrivals rising significantly over the last decade. In 2023 alone, Vietnam welcomed over 392,000 Indian tourists – a number expected to keep climbing as global travel rebounds.
Vinpearl, subsidiary of the giant Vingroup, is meeting this demand by creating custom, high-quality experiences. Recent high-profile events, such as the four-day wedding celebration of businessman Pranay Karnawat and Sakshi Sanghvi, demonstrate this commitment. Hosted at Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An, the wedding blended Indian and Vietnamese cultural elements. The hotel team took note of cultural nuances, ensuring that details like cuisine and decor are tailored to Indian preferences.
Meanwhile, properties like Vinpearl Nha Trang and Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An have earned prestigious venue accolades issued in South-east Asia, marking their reputation as premier locations for international business events.
In a press release, Vinpearl said its properties are equipped for events of all scales, from meetings and client conferences to team-building exercises. Venue selection includes expansive auditoriums, serene beachfronts and secluded gardens.
With global business events revenue projected to exceed US$1.4 trillion by 2025, the World Tourism Organization has highlighted this sector as a promising one. In response,, Vietnam has made business events development a strategic priority.
Low-cost airline retailer Atlas has introduced its AI-solution, Athena, which helps tackle one of the industry’s most pressing issues: inconsistent quality of airline data and content.
With its monitoring capabilities and the ability to learn and evolve, Athena is designed to enhance data quality and air content performance, as well as to streamline the distribution of flights. The tool helps Atlas manage air content more effectively by monitoring airline performance across 150 carriers integrated with Atlas’s Air Travel Retailing and Information Platform (ATRIP) and resolving issues automatically in real time.
Athena is one way to apply machine learning and automation to address inconsistent content and data quality, avoid failed or inaccurate bookings, and improve traveller experience while the industry gradually develops and adopts cohesive and better aligned standards.
There are many issues impacting content performance – from scheduled maintenance and outdated technology to coding errors and payment complexities. Athena automates critical processes like monitoring airline API and HTML performance, ticketing quality checks, and data verification.
When content and data quality drops below the threshold, Athena automatically disables affected airlines, reactivating them once performance criteria are met. This proactive quality management helps Atlas’s partners deliver seamless booking experiences and avoid costly disruptions.
Atlas CEO and founder Mary Li said: “In a highly competitive industry where every booking counts, Athena is an example of how AI can provide a ‘here and now’ solution to one of the biggest industry’s pain points and enable sellers to focus on travellers, not troubleshooting.
“Airline retailing remains a hugely complex industry, constrained by legacy tech and uneven speed of technological advancement, with some airlines being quite behind on their tech journey. The scale of data quality and performance challenges in the industry is massive. It is a mammoth task to monitor and manage content from multiple channels – and AI can provide much-anticipated relief for everyone involved in the distribution of flights.”
