TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Sunday, 14th December 2025
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Mekong Tourism Forum heads to Yunnan’s Dali

By TTG Asia
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The old town of Xizhou (pictured) will be hosting part of the Mekong Tourism Forum 2019

This year’s edition of the Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) will be held on May 28 and 29, hosted by the Ministry of Culture & Tourism of China (MCT) and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province in collaboration with the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO).

The two-day event will be held in Dali, and the heritage town of Xizhou in Yunnan in south-western China. The theme for this year is Tourism – a driver for cultural heritage preservation and poverty alleviation.

The old town of Xizhou (pictured) will be hosting part of the Mekong Tourism Forum 2019

The first day (May 28) will start off at the Dali Conference Centre, and feature the official opening, and MTF keynotes and sessions.

Mekong Tourism initiatives for the first day’s session include the launch of a new Mekong Trends Report on Responsible Tourism in the GMS (Greater Mekong Subregion), the introduction of the new Experience Mekong Collection website, and the screening of videos from the Mekong Mini Movie Festival campaign.

One of the two keynotes of MTF 2019 will be Brian Linden, the owner of Linden Centre hotel in Xizhou, looking at how sustainable tourism is shaping the industry development.

The afternoon keynote will be given by Mei Zhang, founder of travel company Wild China. The Dali native will take MTF 2019 delegates on her own personal journey of Yunnan, and relate the importance of connecting culture with tourism to achieve heritage preservation, poverty alleviation, and sustainability.

The day will close with a gala dinner hosted by the People’s Government of Yunnan at Dali International Hotel, next the conference centre.

The second day (May 29) will be hosted in the heritage town of Xizhou, located 20km north of Dali Old Town and part of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in north-western Yunnan.

In the spirit of showcasing sustainability and inclusivity, Jens Thraenhart, executive director of the MTCO, revealed that MTF’s cultural learning experiences will be held in small artisan businesses and lunches served in local restaurants.

Registrations for this year’s MTF are free of charge for travel and tourism professionals. In order to secure a place, delegates are asked to follow the online registration process, including submitting a valid Chinese visa.

For more information about the 2019 MTF, visit www.mekongtourismforum.org.

Hilton hotels in Singapore do good for brand’s 100th anniversary

By TTG Asia
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Trio of Hilton hotels coming together to observe Earth Hour

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hilton, three hotels in Singapore managed by the US hospitality group have committed to a year of giving back to the community.

Across the span of the year, more than 260 staff from the three hotels will volunteer over 800 hours through various partnerships with non-profit organisations and volunteer communities.

Trio of Hilton hotels coming together to observe Earth Hour

Conrad Centennial Singapore, Hilton Singapore and Hilton Garden Inn Singapore Serangoon have signed on to champion the initiatives ranging from community outreach to charity fund raising, and driving awareness on caring for the environment, in line with the company’s CSR mandate to reduce the company’s environmental footprint by half and double its social impact.

Efforts included a walkathon-clean up during the recent Earth Hour 2019 in March to raise awareness and drive change for nature. The joint walk started from Hilton Garden Inn Singapore Serangoon to Hilton Singapore and ended at Conrad Centennial Singapore. In addition, all non-essential lights at the three hotels were dimmed for over 100 minutes.

Moreover, 25 team members from Hilton Singapore will conduct a full-day refresh exercise for the home of a low-income family and take part in community activities of clean-ups at parks and beaches in Singapore.

The newest addition to the Hilton family, Hilton Garden Inn Singapore Serangoon, will be celebrating its second anniversary on June 1, 2019 by engaging Krishna’s Kitchen, a local soup kitchen to cook for its team members in return for a token donation that will go towards providing meals for the needy in Singapore.

Celebrating 45 years of TTG Asia: Bringing travel and people to the fore

By Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
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Everything that we know about travel today, from driverless cars to navigating airports with the help of humanoid robots to big data anticipating our travel needs even before we know them, is a far cry from 1974, the year the first issue of TTG Asia was published.

Travel then was hardly the way we know it today. In 1974, Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport had just opened as the biggest airport in Europe; air travel was glamorous and people dressed up for their flights; while Bali, Bangkok or Shanghai did not register on travel radars yet.

The ensuing four decades have brought phenomenal changes to the world we live in – technologically, socially and economically. In these 45 years, TTG Asia has also remained at the centre of chronicling industry change, growing and developing into a leading travel trade publication.

As TTG Asia marks 45 years of publication, we’re commemorating this milestone with a special anniversary issue this month. We look at what make the travel and tourism industry great, and what will make it greater, putting the spotlight on how a new generation of leaders, companies and ideas will shape the future of the industry.

But the success of TTG Asia was not built by the company alone but by a community – i.e. you, the readers, whom this magazine was created for. Many industry members, past and present, old and new, for their part in shaping and contributing to the many vital and vibrant conversations over the past 45 years. Not to mention the advertisers who supported the magazine over the years, for without them there would not be a publication at all.

Indeed, it’s been a honour and pleasure to be part of the travel fraternity in Asia, and also be part of the this 45 years of influential and authoritative journalistic effort covering the regional travel trade.

We always felt that we have a role to fill in the Asian travel trade, by bringing the hottest topics in the industry to the fore and to share views that matter. When readers give feedback that the magazine helped them secure a business connection or informed them on a topic that aid them in running the business, it gives us a deep sense of satisfaction and pride.

No one can say for certain what the next 45 years will bring, but what we do know is that the pace of change isn’t slowing. Travel is at the cusp of an exciting, uncertain and fascinating moment in history.

With international tourist arrivals reaching 1.4 billion in 2018, the opportunities and challenges we face as travel business professionals and as citizens of the world have never been more important, more laden with responsibility, more brimming with potential.
We’re excited to be your guide and partner as we chart the future together.

New GM named for Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu

By TTG Asia
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Kanit Sangmookda has been appointed as general manager of Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu, following his most recent role as general manager for Le Méridien Jakarta.

Born in Thailand, the hospitality veteran brings with him more than 19 years of experience, having worked in international chain hotels including Marriott International, Minor Hotel Group and former Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

Kanit began his hospitality career as a reservation agent in JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok. He was then appointed as director of revenue management at Bangkok Marriott Resorts & Spa and The Westin Kuala Lumpur, as well as the regional director of revenue management for Starwood Hotels & Resorts – South-east Asia. He then moved to Sabah, where he served as general manager of Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan for nearly three years.

Sands, David Beckham unveil details on Cotai IR’s transformation

By TTG Asia
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(L to R) Mr David Beckham, Mr Rob Goldstein and Dr. Wilfred Wong.jpeg

The Sands Cotai Central’s transformation into The Londoner Macao will add new dining and entertainment options, and see the Holiday Inn rebranded into an all-suite hotel with some of the design input of London-loving football star David Beckham.

Las Vegas Sands president and COO Robert Goldstein said: “Sands has invested heavily here because we believe wholeheartedly that Macau’s complete arrival as one of the world’s greatest tourism and business destinations is just on the horizon.”

(From left) David Beckham, Las Vegas Sands’ Rob Goldstein; and Sands China’s Wilfred Wong

Reports say the transformation of Sands Cotai Central is part of the group’s US$2.2 billion of new investment in Macau until 2021.

The new project will open progressively over 2020 and 2021, and revamp has already begun at the Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central, which will be rebranded into The Londoner Hotel, believed to be an all-suite offer with half the inventory of its 1,200-key predecessor.

At the hotel, celebrity footballer and Sands’ China global brand ambassador David Beckham will work with the interior design team to bring his vision and style to the top floor suites, his first foray into this design field.

Beckham commented: “Interior design is a real passion for me. To be involved in the design process and help shape this project is another important step in our long-standing partnership with Sands Resorts Macao.”

There will be four hotel brands in The Londoner Macao complex: the new The Londoner Hotel, alongside existing properties Conrad Macao, Cotai Central, Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central and The St Regis Macao, Cotai Central.

Reportedly, the IR’s transformation into The Londoner Cotai will also see the addition of over 15ha of space across hotel, meetings and events, food, retail and entertainment offerings.

Among the over 20 dining options, Sands confirmed in a statement that there will be several new restaurant concepts including a British style gastropub by Gordon Ramsay and a new Thai restaurant – The Mews. In addition,there will be 200 stores at Shoppes at The Londoner (previously Shoppes at Cotai Central), 34,300m2 of meeting and convention space, three spas and four health clubs.

Meanwhile, new entertainment at The Londoner Macao will include a virtual reality experience, British-themed Streetmosphere shows such as the famous Changing of the Guards, and daily retail parades featuring characters from British history, culture and literature.

When completed, the integrated resort will offer a new 6,000-seat arena versatile enough to accommodate events from live entertainment to sporting events and conferences.

The Londoner Macao will also feature recreations of classic British landmarks, such as an exterior facade modelled on the Palace of Westminster and Houses of Parliament and the 96m-tall Elizabeth Tower and clock face.

Professionalism, safety key to Philippines’ pursuit of dive tourists

By Rosa Ocampo
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Philippines can leverage on dive tourism, but there are professionalism and safety issues to be addressed; diver in Cebu pictured

Recent market research has outlined the Philippines’ strengths as a diving destination, although there are also professionalism and safety issues that need addressing.

“What gives us the edge in when you dive in the Philippines, you dive with the community,” said Kristoffer Li, consultant at Frost & Sullivan, which did the six-month study.

Philippines can and should leverage on dive tourism, but there are professionalism and safety issues to be addressed; diver in Cebu pictured

Another strength is the hospitality and English language proficiency of many Filipinos. “That’s not something you can (as easily) find in, say, Indonesia or Malaysia,” Li remarked on the sidelines of Messe Berlin’s Travel Meet Asia forum.

In terms of tourist perception, however, the Philippines is still lagging far behind Indonesia despite both having comparable dive sites.

A key difference is that Indonesia’s dive professionals or dive masters are more professionally trained, according to Li.

“In Indonesia, when you ask the dive guide what critters you will see, they’re very confident in their reply and will give you a checklist. Whereas in the Philippines, the dive master will say, ‘we’ll see,’” Li remarked.

Safety is also an issue due to the “institutional disconnect” between the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD) – which formulates rules, regulations, safety standards and operating procedures – and the local government units (LGUs) that approve the business permit.

It’s possible that operators who fail to meet the standards of PCSSD can still obtain a business permit from LGUs.

Maya Bay closure extended for another two years

By TTG Asia
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Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) will extend the closure of Maya Bay for at least another two years.

The destination popularised by Hollywood movie The Beach was closed for ecological recovery last June, and is now scheduled to reopen from 2021 onwards.

Maya Bay (pictured) will be closed for at least another two years

DNP is implementing measures to minimise the environmental impact of tourism, as well as build facilities such as nature study trails, a dock for tourist boats and housing for officials.

An e-ticket system and a vessel monitoring system are also expected to improve tourist management.

The new facilities and systems would be trialed to assess their impact on the environment before authorities make a decision on whether and when to reopen Maya Bay for tourism.

Other islands in the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park will remain open to tourists.

IHG extends footprint in Malaysia with latest Holiday Inn signing

By TTG Asia
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A rendering of the upcoming property

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with City Motors Group for a Holiday Inn in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Slated to open in 2023, Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Bangsar will feature 220 rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, gym and six meeting rooms – the largest of which will hold approximately 400 people. IHG also plans to incorporate the Holiday Inn Open Lobby concept, which will combine public facilities within a single, open cohesive space.

A rendering of the upcoming property

Located at Jalan Maarof and Jalan Bangsar, the hotel will stand 350m from the Bangsar LRT station, which is close to key destinations within Kuala Lumpur, including KLCC, Chinatown and Bukit Bintang.

Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Bangsar will be the fourth IHG property in the Malaysian capital. In total, the hospitality giant has five hotels operating across four brands in Malaysia, with a further 10 in the development pipeline.

Sabre strengthens presence in India with appointment of MD

By TTG Asia
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Sabre Corporation has appointed Jaya Kumar K as vice president & managing director for Sabre Global Development Center in Bangalore.

In his role, Kumar will be responsible for propelling the centre’s innovation capabilities, as well as attracting key talent to deliver cutting-edge technology solutions.

Kamar joins Sabre from Walmart, where he was managing director and vice president, global technology services, where he grew Walmart Labs India significantly, and established Centers of Excellences for analytics across e-commerce and in-store technologies.

Prior to that, Jaya also co-founded and built Neta, a pioneering data mining tool.

Established in 2005, the Global Development Center in Bangalore has been driving innovation for Sabre’s global customer base of over 425,000 travel agents, 350 airline partners and 40,000 hotel properties.

New hotels: Jetwing Surf, Sri Lanka; Mason, Thailand; and more

By TTG Asia
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Jetwing Surf, Sri Lanka
The newest addition to the Jetwing family of hotels is tucked away at Pottuvil Point along the east coast of Sri Lanka. The property comprises 20 luxurious cabanas, all of which come equipped with modern amenities such as king-sized beds, Wi-Fi, an espresso machine, and a hot and cold indoor and outdoor shower. There is also an infinity pool by the sea, a pool bar and a restaurant.

Jetwing Surf also organises twice-daily boat safaris to the Pottuvil lagoon, and occasional visits to the Uraniya river, where wildlife can be found in abundance. For more wildlife experiences, located an hour’s drive from the property are the Kumana National Park and Gal Oya National Park.

Mason, Thailand
Set on 150m of Pattaya’s Na Jomtien Beach is the recently-opened Mason, a five-star property offering only pool villas. There are 35 villas in total, across five categories from the lead-in 90m2 Garden Pool Villa to the two-bedroom, 180m2 Double Grand Pool Villa. Aside from in-villa pools, there are also two other swimming pools (one for the kids) alongside facilities such as three F&B venues, a spa, fitness studio, and a sun deck on the beach that can be accessed via a private beach entrance.

voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley, Australia
The second voco-branded hotel in Australia has opened, following a rebranding of the 28ha Kirkton Park, one of Hunter Valley’s most prestigious estates. The hotel’s 70 rooms have undergone a voco refresh, including upgrades to luxury Aveda amenities, high speed Wi-Fi, and duvets made from recyclable plastics.

There are two F&B venues on-site – Locavore Dining and Epoche Lounge Bar provide lunch and dinner, while The Conservatory offers a high-tea experience overlooking the rose garden. Guests will also be able to enjoy other facilities including tennis courts, a billiards room, an indoor heated pool, sauna and spa, and gym.

Artotel Wahid Hasyim – Jakarta, Indonesia
The Indonesia-based Artotel Group has opened the Artotel Wahid Hasyim – Jakarta, its second property in the capital city. The hotel has 122 rooms starting from 20m2, all of which were decorated by five emerging local artists. Facilities include MeetSpace, an event space for up to 50 people; Artspace, an art gallery for the local artist community and a mandatory fixture at Artotel properties; and the 24-hour Bang Bang Restaurant & Bar.

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Salter Brothers Hospitality names Chris Curran as COO
TTG Asia | Le Méridien Putrajaya welcomes new GM
TTG Asia | Building a new world