Newsmaker

From the launch of flagship properties to the integration of AI-driven training tools, Frasers Hospitality is proving that staying at the top requires a blend of local respect and global innovation – CEO Eu Chin Fen dives into the philosophy and future plans of a brand that continues to set the benchmark for extended-stay living

China’s H World Group has marked South-east Asia as a key pillar of its globalisation strategy, with a growing presence across Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos — chief strategy officer He Jihong outlines the path ahead

Family-owned Riu Hotels & Resorts will enter South-east Asia in April 2026 with the 504-room Riu Palace Phuket – Oliver Kluth, SVP sales & business development for the Indian Ocean & Dubai, discusses the group’s eastward expansion, its all-inclusive model in Phuket, and completing its global footprint

Seasoned hospitality personality, Arthur Kiong, will bow out of his role as managing director of Far East Hospitality (FEH) at the end of 2025 – he recalls lessons from his four-decade-long career and is certain that retirement will continue to bring fruitful days

As Thailand’s hotel sector stabilises after the pandemic, Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the 62-year-old Thai Hotels Association (THA), discusses the industry’s push for higher standards, sustainability, and policy reform, while reflecting on the rise of FIT markets and efforts to maintain Thailand’s competitive edge

Lesser-known destinations and rich local experiences, all parts soothing, enriching and active, are what luxury river cruise expert, AmaWaterways is offering to lure curious explorers, especially those from Asia-Pacific – a source market that CEO Catherine Powell is keen on

Sarawak Tourism Board’s CEO,  Sharzede Salleh Askor, sheds light on the Malaysian state’s tourism game plan, which takes local communities, local heritage, and the environment into serious consideration

As Dusit Thani Public Company enters the final year of its nine-year transformation – initiated when group CEO Suphajee Suthumpun took the helm in 2016, she reflects on unlocking value from the group's three-phase strategy – culminating in the grand reopening of its iconic flagship and the launch of Dusit Central Park in the heart of Bangkok

Following Sabre’s US$1.1 billion sale of its Hospitality Solutions business, Deepshikha Sehgal, head of demand, APAC – lodging, ground and sea (LGS), shares her insights on the future of B2B hotel distribution and its impact on travel agencies and hotels

Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s global asset enhancement initiative has progressed into Australia, where properties are being scaled up to match elevated brand standards and evolving customers’ expectations. CEO Choe Peng Sum reflects on the process