Regal Hotels' Green Meetings initiative helps event organisers deliver more eco-conscious meetings
Deks Air has been appointed as the general sales agent for Regal Hotels International in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Regal Hotels’ Green Meetings initiative helps event organisers deliver more eco-conscious meetings
The partnership with Deks Air enables the hotel group to support clients looking to host eco-friendly and successful events in Hong Kong.
Regal Hotels is known for its Green Meetings initiative, designed to help event organisers achieve their sustainability goals merging environmental responsibility with commercial success. The programme includes services such as low-carbon menus and detailed carbon emissions monitoring and reporting.
From left: Pear Anderson’s Hannah Pearson (moderator); Malaysia Budget & Business Hotel Association’s Sri Ganesh Michiel; AirAsia MOVE’s Nadia Omer; and Booking.com’s Yang Li
OTAs have revolutionised the travel industry, but while they offer hotels benefits like increased visibility and access to a global audience, they also present challenges that can strain relationships.
During the Friend or Foe? Navigating the Role of OTAs in the Tourism Industry session at the recently-concluded ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025 in Johor Bahru, Ganesh Michiel, national president, Malaysia Budget & Business Hotel Association, addressed high commission fees charged by OTAs.
From left: Pear Anderson’s Hannah Pearson (moderator); Malaysia Budget & Business Hotel Association’s Sri Ganesh Michiel; AirAsia Move’s Nadia Omer; and Booking.com’s Yang Li
“High commission rates impact the profit of smaller players. There is also a lack of control between the hotels, guests, and OTAs. For example, if a guest needs something and approaches the OTA, the OTA has to contact the hotel, and this lack of communication will result in the hotel getting a bad name,” he elaborated.
Yang Li, head of public affairs APAC, Booking.com, acknowledged the varying importance of OTAs for hotels, emphasising the value of OTAs for smaller hotels reaching a global audience, as compared to the larger chains with numerous well-known brands.
Li shared: “Later this year, we will launch a fund to assist small and medium-sized accommodation providers with improving their hospitality practices. We recognise that many of these businesses may lack the resources for comprehensive staff training, particularly in areas like international customer service and English language proficiency, and this fund aims to bridge that gap and enhance their ability to attract travellers.”
Another speaker, AirAsia Move’s CEO Nadia Omer, shared that AirAsia Move – formerly known as AirAsia Superapp – is positioned as a budget travel OTA focused on meeting the needs of middle- and lower-income travellers.
“Value travel is all about creating a shared value for all players within the ecosystem. Do not eliminate choice for the traveller. Win by still being the best choice, even with all of these options,” she stated.
With larger OTAs moving towards offering multi-modal bookings – where one booking could also include flights, accommodation, attractions, and rental of cars – AirAsia Move was created to “protect the aviation industry”. Omer stressed that it is important to have a balanced and sustainable travel ecosystem to stem the potential undercutting of airfares and a focus on hotel-driven revenue models.
Michiel concluded by stating that success hinges on collaboration with all stakeholders. “We all have to work together, and have mutual understanding (such as optimising commission structures). We also have to work with government agencies to enforce regulations for online platforms to safeguard product owners, while protecting the users, and ensure the (long-term viability) of online platforms.”
Guests on a journey with Regent Seven Seas Cruises this year can expect brand new entertainment onboard that features high-energy performances, immersive storytelling, and innovative concepts.
The new shows have been curated across its fleet following guest feedback and exemplify Regent’s commitment to delivering luxury experiences which are “Unrivalled at Sea”.
New entertainment has been curated for all Regent ships sailing in 2025, and will be performed in the grand theatre and on lounge stages
The upcoming productions promise fresh creativity and a modern approach, blending iconic music, dance, and interactivity. The shows range from homages to legendary female rock artists and British pop acts, to celebrations of Motown and 1940’s big band, as well as a brand-new music trivia game show concept and more.
“Along with beautifully designed ships, exquisite cuisine, immersive exploration, and heartfelt hospitality, world-class entertainment is a key element of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises experience,” said Jason Montague, incoming chief luxury officer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
“With our new lineup of shows, we continue to push the boundaries of luxury cruising by offering our guests fresh, innovative, and exhilarating performances that cater to their refined tastes and elevate the overall vacation experience.”
Under the artistic direction of Kai Alan Carrier, director creative, shows and experiences, Regent’s entertainment strategy combines expert choreography, captivating storytelling, and state-of-the-art production values. With over 25 years of experience, Carrier has crafted an exciting mix of new performances that resonate with Regent’s sophisticated guests.
These shows are complimentary to guests as part of Regent’s all-inclusive cruise fare.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is looking to add three more restaurants in the Philippines following the success of his namesake bar and grill that opened in Newport World Resorts five months ago.
The new ventures might include the fine dining Hell’s kitchen restaurant, Ramsay said in his first visit to the country where he engaged with chefs, culinary students and fans in the Newport Performing Arts Theater on January 20.
Gordon Ramsay (left) intends to add more restaurants in the Philippines
He said that as a testament to the support for Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill, the restaurant got over 10,000 bookings in the first 30 days of its opening.
“It’s very hard to open a restaurant that is fully booked from day one”, he said, expressing gratitude to the staff for having done “an amazing job”.
Ramsay said Filipino cuisine is the ‘Sleeping Beauty of Asia’ and has no reason why it cannot become one of the frontrunners in the region.
The 14th edition of the Thailand Tourism Forum (TTF) 2025 underscored Thailand’s growing prominence as Asia’s luxury hub and highlighted the interconnectedness of emerging trends in luxury travel and wellness.
“Luxury is very resilient,” commented Jesper Palmqvist, regional vice president, Asia Pacific, STR, pointing to the enduring nature of the luxury travel market.
TTF 2025 sessions discuss the value of wellness tourism in the luxury tourism space; photo by Thailand Tourism Forum
“It stands on its own around the world. Through crisis and through uptake, it proves that a market can take it and that people with money who are willing to pay will do it,” he added.
Palmqvist also pointed out that luxury businesses have adapted to challenges forced by the pandemic, by reducing staffing levels, which lowered operational costs. He highlighted how even with staffing levels reduced to 70 to 75 per cent of pre-pandemic numbers, the luxury sector has successfully navigated financial pressures.
A key theme at the forum was the evolving mindset of luxury travellers, which David Johnson, CEO of Delivering Asia, said is marked by a shift from FOMO (fear of missing out) to JOMO (joy of missing out).
Johnson explained this shift as a growing desire for more meaningful, restorative experiences: “It’s good to miss out. It’s good to be different. The joy of missing out is disconnect. It’s kind of a form of self-care, if you like – it’s about wellness,” he remarked.
This evolution is reflected in Thailand’s burgeoning wellness sector, valued at 1.2 trillion baht (US$34.6 billion), which ranks 24th globally.
Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks, noted that wellness tourism – a trend particularly evident in luxury hotels – is one of the key drivers of this growth, contributing 22 per cent to the wellness economy, just behind nutritional wellness and weight management (26 per cent).
Siradej Donavanik, vice president of development at Dusit Hotels & Resorts, discussed how regenerative wellness is reshaping the luxury hospitality landscape.
“We have all the data points that say that customers who travel seeking wellness tend to spend higher than the average traveller, and this is one of the things which we have integrated quite strongly (into) our hotels,” Siradej shared.
Wanviput Sanphasitvong, a physician at VitaLife Scientific Wellness Center and Bumrungrad International Hospital, has observed a demographic shift in wellness travellers.
“While one might expect people in their 50s or 60s to be the primary audience, the largest group using longevity services, both at Vitalife and globally, is actually between 44 and 59 years old,” she stated, adding that these travellers are increasingly seeking proven results and “want to get younger by staying in these (wellness) hotels”.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok, Thailand
The Ritz-Carlton marks its brand debut in Thailand with an opening in Bangkok, located in the 216m-high tower at One Bangkok, the capital’s largest integrated district and business and lifestyle destination.
Designed by Chicago-based SOM and Thailand’s A49, the hotel has ascending open-air terraces that provide sweeping views of Lumpini Park and the city’s skyline. Room interiors are a blend of classic Thai artistry and contemporary design, while floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the surroundings. Deluxe rooms begin from 50m2, Gardenia Suites at 102m2, Marigold and Amaranth Suites at 127m2, and the penthouse at 389m2.
The hotel also offers a club lounge, three dining options including one led by a Michelin-starred chef, spa, and kid’s club.
The Ritz-Carlton Grand Ballroom, the largest of its kind in the city, can accommodate up to 1,200 people, while nine function spaces are on a dedicated events floor.
The Park Lane Hong Kong, Autograph Collection
The Park Lane Hong Kong, Autograph Collection, Hong Kong
Autograph Collection Hotels has debuted its first Autograph Collection brand in Hong Kong with the opening of The Park Lane Hong Kong, Autograph Collection in the heart of Causeway Bay. Its strategic location puts it in close proximity to landmarks such as Victoria Park, World Trade Center and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, as well as shopping malls, night spots and Michelin-starred restaurants.
The 820-room hotel offers views of Victoria Park and Victoria Harbour, while the interior design of guestrooms and suites are inspired by its surroundings.
The hotel features three distinctive dining venues: a lounge, main restaurant with theatre kitchen concept, and a rooftop bar and brasserie. Over 1,700m2 of meetings and events space is also available.
Mercure Kathmandu Sukedhara Heights
Mercure Kathmandu Sukedhara Heights, Nepal
Mercure has arrived in Nepal with the opening of the 104-key Mercure Kathmandu Sukedhara Heights in the capital. Guestrooms feature contemporary design with traditional Nepali accents.
The property offers five dining options including an all-day dining restaurant with international cuisine and an Indian restaurant, as well as a rooftop lounge and infinity pool, fitness centre and sauna. There are also meeting spaces, including a ballroom, for weddings and corporate events.
Four Points by Sheraton Chennai Velachery
Four Points by Sheraton Chennai Velachery, India
Nestled in one of Chennai’s most dynamic neighbourhoods, the 106-room hotel is designed to cater to both business and leisure travellers. Located at the crossroads of the bustling Velachery district and the OMR Business Corridor, the hotel offers easy access to Chennai’s IT hubs, shopping districts, and cultural landmarks.
Elegantly designed rooms feature artwork that reflect Chennai’s modernity and connection to local culture.
The hotel’s all-day dining venue offers international cuisine, while the bar offers a curated selection of spirits and local craft beers.
Singapore will welcome the return of the annual Yuewen Global IP Awards on February 28, a gala event that will boast a star-studded guest list comprising influential artists and creative talents from China. This year, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) will step in as Official Venue Partner for the 2024 Yuewen Global IP Awards, which will be held at the Resorts World Ballroom.
To cater to fans of Chinese digital entertainment content keen on attending the event, RWS has curated Yuewen Global IP Awards Packages that include two award show tickets that are not for sale elsewhere, two-night stay at the integrated resort’s premier hotel properties, complimentary daily breakfast, and two tickets to Adventure Cove Waterpark. These packages are priced from S$860++ (US$634.50).
Fans can purchase a Yuewen Global IP Awards Package, which comes with exclusive event tickets, hotel stay and complimentary perks; Equarius Hotel’s deluxe room pictured
An RWS spokesperson told TTG Asia that the integrated resort works closely with the Singapore Tourism Board and industry partners to position Singapore as a must-visit tourism capital for leisure and business travellers from the region, including Greater China.
“Our diverse venues have enabled brands and partners to stage their marquee business and entertainment events in various venues across the resort,” said the spokesperson.
RWS’s varied facilities enable event attendees, including those participating in the 2024 Yuewen Global IP Awards, to have a complete destination experience under one roof.
The spokesperson added: “Visitors can look forward to a wave of exciting new offerings this year, such as Illumination’s Minion Land at Universal Studios Singapore; a transformed retail and dining biophilic enclave at the Forum; a reimagined boutique and all-suites luxury hotel; the much-anticipated Singapore Oceanarium, and much more. These exciting new-to-market thematic concepts set us apart as a premier resort destination that boldly pushes the tourism boundaries of possibilities.”
China’s travel trade is upbeat about outbound travel business, and more than half of travel agents polled by Dragon Trail International (DTI) at the end of 2024 think the market will fully recover by the end of 2025.
The third and largest DTI survey to date, with 465 respondents, show that industry players are optimistic about the economy and consumers’ buying power, while noting that consumers are also looking for the best price.
DTI latest survey finds that Chinese travellers seek gourmet experiences, beach environments, and island hopping trips while on island holidays
Sienna Parulis-Cook, DTI, director of marketing and communications, said other key survey takeaways show young travellers as a growing demographic; the silver market has high potential; tradeshows in China stand out over international events; the luxury travel market is diverse; new sales channels Douyin and Xiaohongshu offer the best conversion; and Chinese-language services are still in demand, especially in hotels.
Breakdown of travel sales by world region show 92 per cent of respondents sell Asia, with 78 per cent saying the region sold the best in 2024.
Of the 78 per cent selling Europe, 43 per cent said the region sold the best last year; and of the 55 per cent selling Americas, 16 per cent said the region sold the best in 2024.
Forty-four per cent said East Asia had the most potential this year, followed by 36 per cent for South-east Asia, citing reasons such as short distances, similar culture, visa-free or favourable visa policies, cost effectiveness and favourable exchange rate.
Western Europe received a 25 per cent share of having the most potential and Northern Europe 22 per cent – the former for being economically developed, offering good scenery and environments; the latter for unique, extraordinary natural landscapes, being quieter, less crowded and providing social media hotspots.
The recovering economic environment is leading to increased disposable income for travel, respondents noted.
Future visa-free or visa-simplified policies will stimulate demand for specific outbound travel destinations, while niche destinations and unique experiences are on the rise, and silver travel represents a blue ocean market, they added.
Focused findings among 194 respondents show that Chinese island travellers are seeking gourmet experiences, beach environments and island hopping trips; while focused findings among 100 respondents on cruise travel show it has market potential with a young customer base as well as increasing demand for experiences and appetites for diverse itineraries and destinations.
Finland is intensifying existing tourism promotions in South-east Asia, with a focus on pushing the country’s diverse, year-round experiences that extend beyond its renowned winter attractions.
Speaking to TTG Asia, Juha Markkanen, Finland’s ambassador to Singapore, said that for 2025, campaigns in South-east Asia will focus on sustainable visitor experiences, Finnish cuisine, cultural highlights such as the Moomins’ 80th anniversary, and year-round travel experiences.
Finland is seeing growing interest in autumn visits, driven by opportunities to view autumn foliage and the aurora borealis at more affordable prices
Finland’s cities, particularly Helsinki and Tampere, are leveraging their sustainability credentials to appeal to the eco-conscious business and leisure traveller.
Helsinki, recently named the world’s most sustainable travel destination in the Global Destination Sustainability Index, plays a central role in Finland’s green tourism appeal. With 90 per cent of its hotel rooms environmentally certified and a goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, Helsinki offers visitors eco-conscious experiences paired with simple pleasures like clean air, saunas, and design-driven city life.
While winter remains a key draw, the strategy covers non-winter seasons as well.
Markkanen shared: “Finland is traditionally seen as a winter destination for the South-east Asian market because people from these markets prefer a cold destination for their holidays and some change to daily weather.”
However, there is growing interest in autumn visits, driven by the stunning Ruska (autumn foliage) and opportunities to witness the aurora borealis at more affordable prices.
Summer, on the other hand, remains a tougher sell, as perceptions are dominated by iconic winter experiences like snow-covered landscapes and the northern lights.
“It’s easier to promote Finland as part of a multi-destination Nordic holiday during summer than as a standalone destination,” Markkanen noted.
To encourage more year-round arrivals from South-east Asia, Finnish travel organisations and cities are promoting their summer season through both B2B and B2C marketing efforts.
There are also partnerships between local travel agencies and the national carrier, Finnair, which operates daily flights from Singapore.
Visit Finland also organises fam trips for South-east Asian travel professionals, and leads Finnish partners to key trade events such as ITB Asia in Singapore.
He noted that Singapore is one of the fastest-recovering Asian markets for Finland, with a 40 per cent growth in Singaporean tourist overnights during the first 10 months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
Sentosa Development Corporation welcomed its travel and tourism partners to an evening filled with joy and grandeur – all in a bid to head boldly into the new Year of the Snake.
The Lunar New Year celebrations were hosted on January 21 at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove.
Sentosa Development Corporation welcomed its travel and tourism partners to an evening filled with joy and grandeur – all in a bid to head boldly into the new Year of the Snake.
