W Kuala Lumpur has introduced Little Guests. Big Experience, a one-night family stay package aimed at Singapore-based travellers planning short breaks during May and the June school holidays. The offer combines accommodation with dining, activities and family-focused services in a location near Kuala Lumpur City Centre.
The package includes daily breakfast for two adults and up to two children under 12, along with a three-course family-style dinner. Activities include a choice of a mocktail mixology session or dessert decorating, as well as a “fun tub night” with bath items for children.
Families take part in poolside and in-room activities at W Kuala Lumpur, with dining and children’s experiences included in the stay
Families also receive access to Wet Deck pool, including a reserved cabana and fresh coconuts. Additional inclusions cover children’s welcome amenities, an extra bed and one “Whatever/Whenever” request per stay.
The package is available for booking until June 28, 2026, for stays until June 30, 2026. Rates start from S$600 (US$445) per stay.
Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) programme members and fans of the Chelsea Football Club (CFC) were brought into the same space as Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink through a two-day exclusive engagement event in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The international fan engagement event hosted by Ascott on April 17 and 18 is the fourth such activity to have materialised from the lodging specialist’s partnership with the English Premier League club, first inked in 2024.
From left: Oakwood Residence Hanoi’s Remco Vaatstra; Ascott’s Haslam Preeston; Chelsea Football Club’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink; Ascott’s David Cumming and Tan Gan Hup
The latest CFC’s international fan engagement programme is held across Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi, Oakwood Residence Hanoi, and Somerset West Point Hanoi. The highlight is A Night with the Blues, an exclusive event on April 18 for Chelsea fans – also members of The Famous CFC – hosted by the club and Ascott.
Hasselbaink’s participation in the engagement marks his first official club visit to Vietnam.
The high-profile A Night with the Blues also provides an opportunity for the newly-opened Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi to showcase its new function spaces, and the property’s ability to welcome both corporate and social events.
Tan Bee Leng, chief commercial officer, Ascott, said: “From Singapore and Bangkok in the first season, to Jakarta and now Hanoi in the second season, our Famous CFC tour follows a purposeful arc across South-east Asia – Ascott’s home region and an energetic hub for Chelsea fandom.
“This edition is particularly special. Fans will not only get the rare opportunity to meet Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, but will also be among the first to step inside Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi, a large-scale project that brings together premium accommodation and a purpose-built event destination. It is the perfect venue to showcase Ascott’s all-rounded hospitality expertise in one integrated setting.”
Tan emphasised that partnerships, such as the one with CFC, “are very much a core strategy for us, especially in the loyalty space for our ASR members”.
Such partnerships allow Ascott to curate “exclusive, money-can’t-buy” experiences for loyal guests.
She noted that the ASR membership had about 4.5 million members two years ago, and the count now stands at close to 8.3 million.
“Of course, I won’t attribute (the growth in membership entirely) to CFC but it definitely played a part in creating that desire among travellers to be part of our loyalty ecosystem so as to get a chance to experience all these fan engagement packages that we curate,” explained Tan.
Tan Gan Hup, Ascott’s vice president (marketing, loyalty & partnerships), who joined a media interaction with striker Hasselbaink on April 17, said the partnership helps CFC to better engage with its South-east Asian fans.
“Ninety to 95 per cent of CFC fans have not been to Stamford Bridge (football stadium and home of the club in West London). But with Ascott and Chelsea coming together, we are able to bring fans together for an opportunity to meet their legends and heroes,” he elaborated.
John Rogers, head of partnerships at CFC, said in a press statement: “Our partnership with Ascott continues to raise the bar for how we engage supporters around the world. After successful editions across South-east Asia, we are thrilled to bring The Famous CFC to Hanoi, a vibrant city with a loyal Chelsea following.”
Indonesia’s government has allowed airlines to raise domestic ticket prices by nine to 13 per cent, and increased the fuel surcharge ceiling, as global fuel costs continue to climb.
At the same time, the government is introducing fiscal measures to keep fares within a manageable range.
Indonesia adjusts aviation policies to support airlines amid rising fuel costs and economic pressures; Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, pictured
Speaking at a recent press conference in Jakarta, Airlangga Hartarto, coordinating minister for economic affairs, said that the government was preparing mitigation measures to ensure airfares remain affordable for travellers.
“The government has also allocated 1.3 trillion rupiah (US$76.4 million) in monthly subsidies for the exemptions. The programme will run for two months, bringing the total allocation to 2.6 trillion rupiah,” he said.
In addition, the government has set the fuel surcharge ceiling at 38 per cent for all types of aircraft, including both jet and propeller planes. Previously, the fuel surcharge cap was set at 10 per cent for jet aircraft and 25 per cent for propeller aircraft.
Airlangga added that the additional support includes the removal of import duties on aircraft spare parts, aimed at reducing maintenance costs and helping airlines sustain operations across domestic routes.
“This way, we can minimise the impact on our airline industry while keeping fares within reach for travellers, so people should still be able to afford the tickets,” he said.
Responding to the measures, Denon Prawiraatmadja, chairman of the Indonesia National Air Carriers Association, said the policy came at a time when the airline industry needed support.
“We hope this policy can be immediately implemented in the field so that it can help airline operations in maintaining flight safety and comfort, as well as supporting air transport connectivity,” said Denon in a statement.
Travel agents, however, are more cautious in their perspective. Pauline Suharno, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agents, noted that even a modest rise could quickly affect demand, particularly as consumer spending has not yet fully recovered.
The effects are already beginning to surface, particularly among operators in secondary cities. “They are likely to face the greatest pressure, especially those outside the Java-Bali island,” Pauline added.
Budijanto Ardiansjah, secretary general of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies, projected that demand and sales could fall by as much as 40 per cent over the next two months.
“This is a very challenging situation, as domestic conditions are slowing economically. Combined with global uncertainty, people are now choosing to hold back and prioritise essential spending such as food and education,” he said.
Both Pauline and Budijanto hope that conditions will improve within the next couple of months, particularly if geopolitical tensions ease and fuel prices stabilise.
Halal tourism certification could give hospitality businesses an added health and safety advantage, opined speakers at MITE 2026’s dialogue session, Muslim Tourism Opportunities Salon – Insights into New Opportunities in Muslim Tourism: Exploring New Cultural and Tourism Channels for Macao last week.
Panellist, Sharifa Leung, who is general manager of GBA Halal Certification Centre, stated that halal certification is beneficial for everyone, as it offers “an additional layer of safety” since assessment considers products that are of “high quality, from farm to fork and farm to table”.
Halal certification is seen as strengthening health, safety and service standards as Macao steps up efforts to attract Muslim travellers
“The process is comparable to HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point),” stated Leung, adding that businesses pursuing halal certification also uphold “verification and traceability”.
Panel moderator Jacky So, former president of the Greater Bay Area (Macao) Halal Industry Chamber of Commerce, echoed Leung’s view that certified halal food “denotes a healthy product”.
He believes that Macao and Hong Kong could work together to achieve synergy in Muslim tourism development, and that Macao’s private-public partnership is an effective way to improve Macao’s welcome to Muslim visitors.
The panel also discussed challenges in halal tourism development.
Speaker Willie Tay, general manager of Regency Art Hotel in Macao, said staff education was “the most difficult” part of his property’s halal certification process.
“Our new halal restaurant was certified in 2024 after a long research process. The hardest part of the journey was to train our staff to understand, respect, and execute the work needed to cater to different religions,” said Tay.
“You have to be committed to study and understand the culture, needs, and tradition. The more you understand, the better you can deliver the service,” Tay concluded.
Mark Yip, director of Hong Kong-based In-Mart, which retails Indonesian food supply, agreed that the “lack of understanding or knowledge about halal food remains a challenge” in Hong Kong.
“We want to inform people in Hong Kong that halal certified food is not just for Muslims,” said Yip.
In Macao, Muslim-friendly tourism development has attracted keen attention. The Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan explicitly stresses the importance of Muslim tourism, and the government has adopted a multi-pronged approach for this segment, with attention paid to marketing, promotion, and certification.
Jennifer Si Tou, deputy director of Macao Government Tourism Office, said such efforts ensure that both infrastructure and frontline services are well prepared to meet the needs of Muslim visitors.
Macao has been included for the first time in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2025 (GMTI) ranking, published by CrescentRating and Mastercard. This recognises Macao’s ongoing efforts to cater to Muslim travellers.
The GMTI 2025 ranks Macao fifth globally in the Muslim women-friendly travel destination category, 16th in the overall ranking as a Muslim-friendly destination, and as one of the top Muslim-friendly accessible destinations – all among non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation destinations.
Jumeirah has outlined plans for a phased restoration of the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, aimed at preserving the building’s interiors and long-term condition after more than 25 years of operation.
The programme will run for around 18 months and will focus on maintaining the property’s architectural features while updating interior elements. The work will be led by interior architect Tristan Auer, whose approach centres on restoration that retains original design intent while introducing contemporary adjustments.
Jumeirah will carry out phased interior restoration of landmark property over 18 months
Opened in 1999, the hotel has become a defining feature of Dubai’s skyline, known for its sail-shaped structure and role in shaping the city’s luxury hospitality sector. It has 198 suites and interiors that incorporate materials such as marble, gold leaf and crystal.
Auer founded his design studio in Paris in 2002 and has worked on a range of hospitality and heritage projects, including Hôtel de Crillon in Paris and the redevelopment of Les Bains Douches. His work focuses on balancing preservation with modern use.
The restoration will focus on interior spaces, with attention to craftsmanship and detail, while maintaining the building’s existing structure and identity. The project follows a selection process to appoint a design lead with experience in heritage-focused work.
“Jumeirah Burj Al Arab is far more than an architectural landmark; it is a symbol of ambition, craftsmanship and enduring excellence. This restoration programme marks a new chapter in the story of Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, one that will carefully preserve the heritage of what is currently the sole property in our Jumeirah limited-edition collection of iconic landmark addresses defined by design distinction and prestige,” said Thomas B Meier, CEO of Jumeirah.
Trafalgar has launched its river cruise programme with inaugural sailings on the Rhine and Danube, extending its guided travel operations beyond land-based itineraries.
The first sailing took place aboard Trafalgar Verity in Amsterdam from April 10 to 12, hosting more than 100 trade partners, media and company representatives. The programme included a naming ceremony and a series of onshore and onboard activities reflecting the brand’s approach to guided travel.
Trafalgar’s Damien O’Connor, Alexander van Der Graaf, TTC Tour Brands’s Melissa DaSilva, and Trafalgar Verity’s godmother Cassie Estrella-Roca
A second vessel, Trafalgar Reverie, began its first sailing on the Danube on April 11. The departure, which was fully booked, follows a route from Passau to Budapest, with stops including Vienna and Bratislava.
Both ships accommodate 128 guests and operate itineraries designed around smaller group experiences. Trafalgar Verity sails between Basel and Amsterdam on a 10-day route, while Trafalgar Reverie operates on the Danube through Central Europe.
The itineraries include visits to cultural and heritage sites, as well as hosted dining experiences and activities linked to local communities. Onboard programmes combine destination briefings, wellness activities and shared spaces.
The launch marks the start of a wider river cruise strategy. A third ship, Trafalgar Harmonie, is scheduled to enter service on the Seine in 2027, with further expansion planned by 2030.
“Introducing river cruising is a dream in the making for Trafalgar, shaped by the trust our travel advisor partners have placed in us over the years and their support every step of the way,” said Melissa DaSilva, deputy CEO and chief sales officer, TTC Tour Brands.
Nicole Mazza, chief marketing officer, Travelsavers, added: “From the personalised service to the intimate, thoughtfully designed spaces, it feels both elevated and incredibly welcoming. What stands out most is how seamlessly they’ve brought their signature connection to destination onto the river – this is something advisors can feel confident recommending to their clients.”
TripWorks has warned of rising risks from AI-generated booking platforms, as new research points to accuracy issues and operational weaknesses across the travel tech sector.
The warning reflects wider industry debate over the role of generative AI in travel distribution, particularly as new entrants bring products to market more quickly but with varying levels of operational maturity.
Fessler: generative AI can build a beautiful demo, but it can’t build operational maturity
The company said generative AI is driving a wave of “copycat” systems that replicate established booking interfaces but lack the infrastructure needed to handle real-world travel complexity. These platforms may perform well in demonstrations but can struggle with disruptions such as weather events, cancellations and itinerary changes.
TripWorks cited recent studies indicating widespread adoption of AI in travel planning, alongside ongoing concerns about reliability. It noted that while many travellers use AI tools, a large share still verify results through original sources.
The company also pointed to reported cases of AI-related errors, including incorrect routing and system failures, as signs of broader risks as the technology is deployed at scale.
TripWorks CEO Aaron Fessler stated booking systems should be treated as operational infrastructure rather than front-end tools, and called on travel businesses to assess platforms based on proven performance, reliability under peak demand, and transparency in how systems are built and tested.
He said: “AI is a powerful accelerator, but it’s not a substitute for engineering, testing, or operational experience.”
In his new role, he will oversee hotel operations and positioning, with a focus on guest experience and team performance.
In her new role, she will oversee sales, marketing and communications, with a focus on revenue performance and brand positioning.
In his new role, he will oversee hotel operations, with a focus on guest experience and team performance.
