The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) and Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) have joined forces to help provinces that were hit hardest by the tropical storm Trami (named Kristine in the Philippines).
Both will continue to raise funds and accept contributions of essential items like non-perishable food, rice, medicines, blankets, diapers and drinking water for families in the Bicol Region and Batangas province.
PTAA and PHILTOA will collect contributions to help provinces that were hit hardest by the tropical storm
The two areas were hit hardest by Trami, which has claimed over 130 lives and over 30 still missing and destroying agricultural crops, houses and infrastructure worth billions of pesos.
On November 3, PTAA and PHILTOA members will be in Agoncillo, Talisay and Laurel in the province of Batangas for the distribution of the relief goods. They have already visited several areas in the Bicol Region where, in Naga City alone, 500 individuals were given assistance.
The first 25hours Hotel will debut in Asia with the 25hours Hotel The Oddbird Jakarta, scheduled to open November 22.
The 25hours Hotel brand originates from Hamburg, Germany, and the Jakarta premium property will stay true to the brand’s DNA, boasting an eccentric design filled with unique stories while embracing the Come As You Are philosophy.
25hours Hotel The Oddbird Jakarta opens later this month
Located within District 8 at the Sudirman CBD, the 25hours Hotel The Oddbird Jakarta rises 38 stories above Ashta Mall, one of the city’s premium business and lifestyle destinations.
Drawing inspiration from the neighbourhood’s original concept as a garden city within a city, the hotel offers 210 rooms and 135 serviced apartments.
The hotel rooms are divided into two themes – Garden and Retro Urban rooms – each furnished with original vintage mid-century pieces and curated local and international art. It also offers co-working spaces with a bar, along with themed meeting rooms. All public areas will be furnished with an eclectic mix of original mid-century modern furniture.
Speaking at the press conference, Jesper Soerensen, general manager of the hotel, remarked: “We want to be a second home for cultural chameleons who blend business and leisure, providing freedom and a place where the odd is beautiful. We also plan to bring joy through collaborations, installations, pop-ups, and partnerships.”
Other facilities include a spa and outdoor infinity pool, the 25hours Things Shop with direct access to Ashta mall, as well as two F&B outlets with another two concepts to open on the hotel’s rooftop. More details will be announced in 1Q2025.
When asked the 25hours Hotel brand was chosen, Alexander Kusuma, CEO of Agung Sedayu Retail Indonesia (ASRI), District 8 and hotel owner, said that in each location, ASRI provides a unique hospitality and retail concept tailored to the surrounding community.
He explained that in the area facing the business district and Senayan, they offer The Langham, Jakarta; while 25hours Hotel The Oddbird Jakarta on the other side, which is mainly residential and entertainment, matches the vibrant and relaxing atmosphere.
In addition to being a quirky and unique property, ASRI aims to create a market rather than target specific groups.
To this, Soerensen added: “Our target market is everyone. We start with a broad ‘hello, here we are’, welcoming anyone attracted to our services and offerings. From that, we focus on building repeat customers.”
PATA has renewed its partnership with OAG for another three years, reaffirming the company as the PATA’s preferred partner and exclusive aviation data provider.
As part of the renewed agreement, OAG’s Schedules Analyser – a platform with comprehensive OAG’s airline schedules database and analytic tools – is available through PATAmPOWER, granting PATA members access to vital flight frequency and seating data for personal and internal business purposes, helping to optimise destination management, refine marketing strategies, and enhance the overall visitor experience.
PATA’s extended collaboration with OAG will benefit its members
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid stated: “This extended collaboration will greatly benefit PATA members, providing them with essential aviation data to monitor flight capacity and identify emerging trends shaping the tourism industry. With OAG’s world-class aviation data, our members are well-equipped to make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving landscape.”
“This collaboration marks a significant step forward in advancing data-driven insights for travel and tourism in Asia-Pacific. By combining OAG data and expertise with PATA’s in-depth regional knowledge, the partnership will empower stakeholders with actionable intelligence that will foster innovation and growth in the travel and tourism sectors,” added Mayur Patel, head of Asia, OAG.
Accor and Perth Airport will introduce the first hotel on the airport estate under the Pullman Hotels & Resorts brand, set to open in 2027.
Pullman Perth Airport will feature 240 rooms and suites across eight floors, a rooftop restaurant and bar, lobby lounge café, gym, sauna, meeting facilities, and co-working spaces.
Artist’s impression of the Pullman Perth Airport, which will open in 2027
With more than 20 hotels and resorts across Australia and New Zealand, Pullman Perth Airport will be the fourth Pullman airport hotel in the Pacific, joining Pullman Sydney Airport, Pullman Brisbane Airport, and Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel (which opened in December 2023).
Accor Pacific COO PM&E Division, Adrian Williams, said the expansion of the group’s airport hotel network highlighted the evolution of airport precincts into major commercial and service centres.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Perth Airport to deliver Pullman Perth Airport. Given the hotel’s unrivalled location and exceptional facilities, we anticipate strong interest and demand for Pullman Perth Airport from both business and leisure travellers alike,” said Williams.
Perth Airport’s chief property officer Dan Sweet commented: “The new Pullman Perth Airport hotel will be a world-class facility located at the front door to our major terminals. It will make it even more convenient for international and interstate visitors, providing a place to stay and relax during connections.
Qantas will roll out a multi-million dollar investment in cabin upgrades for its Economy class across 10 A330-200 aircraft – these include installation of new seats with larger OLED entertainment screens, as well as USB-C fast charging and Bluetooth audio connectivity which allow users to use their own headphones.
The upgrades are part of the airline’s major refurbishment programme to enhance international flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo.
Passengers can look forward to brand new Economy seats on Qantas’ A330-200 aircraft
Other key elements of the A330 cabin upgrade programme include new mood lighting and the replacement of all curtains and carpets.
The existing Business Suites with fully-flat beds will remain on the aircraft.
The A330 aircraft being upgraded are scheduled to leave the Qantas fleet towards the end of the replacement programme. Work on the first A330 is expected to start in mid-2025 in Qantas’ Brisbane maintenance facility, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said: “We’ve used our fleet renewal programme to completely rethink the in-flight experience and these cabin upgrades mean we can bring next-generation features and designs to our existing aircraft.
“Customers can look forward to brand new Economy seats that have been specially created to maximise comfort and provide features that our customers want for international travel. They are the same seats that will feature on our ultra-longhaul A350-1000ULR aircraft, so it will be a preview of the Project Sunrise flying experience.”
In addition, Qantas has also started its international Wi-Fi roll out across the A330 fleet, providing connectivity for passengers on the Wi-Fi enabled A330 aircraft from December this year.
Royal Caribbean has introduced the summer 2026 getaways for travellers to discover the wonders of Alaska, offering a choice of seven-night adventures from Seattle or seven- to 13-night getaways from Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada or Seward, Alaska.
Voyager of the Seas makes its Alaskan debut and joins Anthem of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Ovation of the Seas with a line-up of multi-night cruise tour experiences.
Royal Caribbean has released its Alaska Summer 2026 season, with sailings on four vessels; Ovation of the Seas, pictured
Some highlights of the Alaska Summer 2026 season include the seven-night sailing from Seattle on Voyager of the Seas, where vacationers venture to Dawes Glacier, Endicott Arm fjord, Juneau, Sitka and Skagway, as well as Icy Strait Point; the seven- to 13-night voyage on Ovation of the Seas departing from Seward and Vancouver to Juneau, Sitka and Skagway, as wellas Hubbard Glacier, one of the state’s largest tidewater glaciers.
On Anthem of the Seas, the ship leaves Seattle for seven nights and explores the rich culture of Gold Rush-era town Skagway and the wildlife in Sitka, which can include whales, raptors and bears. Vacationers can also take in the views of the fjords of Endicott Arm, Dawes Glacier and the mountain-framed capital city of Juneau.
Lastly, travellers opting to start their cruise holiday from Vancouver will set sail on Serenade of the Seas, which will bring them to destinations and passages like Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Tracy Arm fjord.
The new 2026 Alaska vacations are now open for bookings on Royal Caribbean’s website for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members.
Minor Hotels has named industry veteran Omar Romero as its chief development and luxury officer, a newly-created position based in Bangkok, Thailand.
In his new role, Romero will drive the global development strategy of Minor Hotels, identifying new business opportunities, overseeing the planning and execution of projects, and managing relationships with key stakeholders. He will also play a pivotal part in shaping and supporting the curation of Minor Hotels’ luxury brands.
He brings over two decades of experience to Minor Hotels, and most recently served as chief development officer at Six Senses.
Hilton is launching its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts in Udaipur, marking its debut in the City of Lakes. Developed with Elysian Hotels, the 118-key Hilton Udaipur is set to open in early 2026.
Hilton currently operates two hotels in Rajasthan, namely Hilton Jaipur and DoubleTree by Hilton Jaipur Amer. This signing solidifies Hilton’s commitment to broadening its portfolio in the northwestern state, following the signings of its iconic Waldorf Astoria brand in 2023 and India’s third Conrad Hotels & Resorts property in Jaipur, earlier this year.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts will make its debut in Udaipur in 2026
The new-build Hilton Udaipur will offer views of the city’s lakes and palaces, including Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar Lake, and easy access to Udaipur’s city centre, airport, and railway station will further boost the hotel’s appeal.
Upon completion, Hilton Udaipur will offer 118 guestrooms and suites, four dining outlets, outdoor pool, spa, fitness centre, and executive lounge. The hotel also boasts 1,850m2 of indoor event spaces and 438m2 of outdoor event spaces.
Zubin Saxena, senior vice president and regional head, Hilton, South Asia said: “Udaipur, often referred to as the Venice of the East, is a preferred destination for both international and domestic travellers for both tourism and weddings. This presents an exceptional opportunity for us to cater to the rising accommodation demands of the city. We found a wonderful partner in Elysian Hotels and together we will deliver exceptional hospitality experiences to guests in the charming city of Udaipur.”
“This hotel, situated in the city’s iconic lake precinct, will set a new benchmark for hospitality experiences reflective of the region’s regal splendour and will contribute to Udaipur’s growing appeal and desirability as a preferred tourist and wedding destination,” added Ravindra Singh, director, Elysian Hotels.
She will continue in her current role as chief people & culture officer.
He brings over two decades of experience to Minor Hotels, and most recently served as chief development officer at Six Senses.
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