The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore has appointed Kristy Lee as director of sales and marketing.
With over three decades of experience, Lee joins The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore from The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, where she led the sales and marketing teams for over 10 years.
Her extensive hospitality background includes her experience in a number of major international hotel groups such as The Langham, Hong Kong, Conrad International, and Shangri-La.
Hyatt has completed its acquisition of Standard International and its hotel brands, The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels.
The 100 per cent asset-light portfolio includes management, franchise and license contracts for 22 open hotels with approximately 2,000 rooms, including The Standard, London, The Standard, High Line in New York City, The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon and The Manner in SoHo.
New properties slated to open later this year include The Standard, Singapore, Bunkhouse’s Hotel Saint Augustine in Houston, and The StandardX, Bangkok Phra Arthit.
The acquisition also includes a residential business with Standard Residences under development in Miami, Lisbon, Phuket, Hua Hin, Mexico City and Tulum as well as completed Bunkhouse Residences at Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin, Texas.
The acquisition includes more than 30 future projects with a signed agreement or letter of intent, along with new projects sparked by the August announcement of the planned acquisition.
Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO of Hyatt, said: “The development community knows an industry game-changer when they see it, and the enthusiasm for bringing together the ethos of The Standard and Bunkhouse brands and the power of Hyatt’s network and distribution system is palpable.
“Developers love this combination as much as we do,” he added.
In the coming months, Hyatt will debut its new dedicated lifestyle group that will be headquartered in New York City with additional offices in Austin and Bangkok and led by president and creative director Amar Lalvani, former executive chairman of Standard International.
“The lifestyle segment isn’t for the faint of heart, it takes creativity and commitment,” noted Lalvani. “But if you get it right, you reap the benefits of outsized guest loyalty and outsized developer returns.”
Complementing its growth in lifestyle, Hyatt’s portfolio continues to grow across all segments, and has plans for a new dedicated luxury group with distinct leadership across key functions and services focused on caring for guests and customers at the pinnacle of luxury.
Club Med has teamed up with Trifecta, a premier board sports-lifestyle destination along Orchard Road in Singapore, to launch a series of activations to bring the mountains to the city-state.
With a shared mission to make skiing and snowboarding accessible to Singaporeans, this collaboration includes the launch of a Club Med Snow Academy, powered by Trifecta, as well as a ski competition and party later in the year.
The Club Med Snow Academy, launched on October 1, offers snow lessons taught by Trifecta instructors. After signing up, attendees will train at Trifecta where instructors will assess their progress and match their skills to Club Med ski and snowboarding levels. Upon completion, attendees will receive a certificate endorsed by both Club Med and Trifecta, validating their new skills unlocked. Riders can then maximise their time on the powder snow slopes, whether at Club Med resorts in Hokkaido, The French Alps, Canada and across the globe or elsewhere.
The enrolment in the Club Med Snow Academy by Trifecta is open to everyone, and Club Med guests who already have an existing booking can enjoy a 10 per cent discount on all class packs if purchased before October 15.
Both brands also announced the upcoming Club Med x Trifecta Snow Competition and Ski in the City party set for November 16. This event will be an opportunity to discover new ski and snowboarding talents of all ages, followed by a prize ceremony, where prizes include a Club Med stay for the winners, ski gears and class packs from Trifecta.
The audience can watch the ski and snowboarding competition while enjoying the mountain-themed activities around the snow arena, and can look forward to mountain-themed food options, hot chocolate booth, DJ sets, kids’ corner with fun activities, lucky draw, and more.
“We are thrilled to partner with Trifecta to offer a unique training experience in advance of their vacation at Club Med’s snow resorts. This collaboration not only enhances our guests’ enjoyment but also positions Club Med as the most desirable snow holiday brand,” said Olivier Monceau, general manager, Club Med Singapore and Malaysia.
“With over 20 snow resorts across the globe, we are confident that Singaporeans will see the value in training from Singapore before experiencing the best that Club Med has to offer without wasting a minute on the slopes.”
Ayana Hospitality Group has updated its loyalty programme, Ayana Rewards, with enhanced benefits and a range of exclusive privileges which can be enjoyed across the group’s properties in Bali, Jakarta, and Komodo, as well as on Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach’s luxury yacht, Ayana Lako di’a.
Some of the latest updates to Ayana Rewards include a welcome gift for all Gold and Platinum members upon arrival; expanded dining discounts across all participating properties; late check-out for members of the Gold and Platinum tiers; massage extensions with any purchase at Ayana Spa at Ayana Resort, Bali; as well as savings on green fees at Riverside Golf Club.
Along with the new additions, the programme continues to provide members with benefits such as room, dining and spa discounts, preferential room upgrades, and complimentary wellness activities.
Ayana Rewards is free to join and features three tiers: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Guests can upgrade to Gold with 20 nights or 8,000 points and to Platinum with 50 nights or 20,000 points.
Designed for travellers who are looking to relax, refresh and rest, while on vacation The Art of Slumber package from Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana in Bali contains elements designed to promote rejuvenating sleep.
Highlights include a 90-minute signature Tanah Gajah Jade Massage and a purification ceremony, Melukat, to help people feel more calm and centred.
Guests also enjoy a three course sleep-inducing dinner designed by the resort’s chef, then return to their villa to listen to a curated Spotify playlist of ambient music as a serenade to a special sleep turndown service that includes a tea of chamomile, pandan, and ginger. There is also a complimentary incense set-up in the room for those who wish to enjoy some meditation before turning in for the evening.
The resort also offers a daily morning yoga sessions from 7.30 to 9.00.
Additional club benefits comprise a welcome drink, butler service, daily a la carte breakfast, seasonal fresh fruits delivered to the villa or suite, afternoon tea at Panen Padi Lounge, sunset cocktails at Tempayan Restaurant, complimentary minibar including alcohol selections (replenished once daily), laundry service of up to six pieces per villa per day, car service to/from Ubud Centre in a private car, additional yoga classes as per hotel schedule, a guided rice paddy trekking along the rice fields and neighbouring village, and a one-time photo session and one complimentary digital photo.
Prices start at US$2,140 nett for a two-night stay for two people and is available until March 31, 2025.
For more information, visit Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana.
AirAsia Cambodia adds direct flights to Singapore
AirAsia Cambodia will commence its Siem Reap-Singapore service from November 9.
The services between Siem Riep and Singapore will operate daily.
The airline recently introduced direct services from Siem Riep to Kuala Lumpur and Phuket, and also offers Fly Thru services to China, Japan, Australia, India and beyond, allowing more people to fly to/from Cambodia.
Cathay Pacific introduces new route to Dallas Fort Worth, to expand US network
Cathay Pacific is expanding its North America network with the launch of non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for the very first time.
The new service, scheduled to commence on April 24, 2025, marks Cathay Pacific’s sixth passenger destination in the US and eighth in North America. The airline will operate four return flights per week between Hong Kong and DFW using its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, flying on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Cathay Pacific is also increasing frequencies on its North America passenger services in 2025, and by May next year, the airline will be operating 108 return flights per week. Aside from the new Dallas service, this will include three return flights per day to New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles respectively, and a daily return flight to both Boston and Chicago. Cathay Pacific also continues to increase flights on its services to Canada, with two daily return flights to Vancouver and 13 return flights per week to Toronto.
Malaysia Airlines launches Danang-Kuala Lumpur service
Tourism Malaysia welcomed Malaysia Airlines’ inaugural flight from Danang, Vietnam to Kuala Lumpur at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 on September 24.
Operated on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the launch of this new daily route will expand the airline’s presence in Vietnam and adds to its existing routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Tourism Malaysia, was present to greet 150 passengers on this maiden flight alongside Malaysia Airlines and Malaysia Airports Holdings representatives.
Korean Air increases South-east Asian frequencies for winter
Korean Air will expand its flight frequencies to South-east Asian destinations, including Bali, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, to meet the growing demand during the upcoming winter season.
Starting from October 20, the airline will increase flights on the Seoul Incheon-Bali route, offering a twice-daily service, up from the current 11 weekly flights. Operated on a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, this schedule will continue through to March 27, 2025.
The airline will also double its daily service to twice daily on its Seoul Incheon-Nha Trang route from October 27 and Seoul Incheon-Phu Quoc route from December 15.
In addition to South-east Asia, Korean Air will increase frequencies on key North American and European routes. Starting from October 27, the Seoul Incheon-Las Vegas route will expand to a daily service from five weekly flights. The Seoul Incheon-Vancouver route will increase to 11 flights per week, followed by a twice-daily service from December 1. The airline will also increase its Seoul Incheon-Madrid service to four weekly flights, up from three, with departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
In Asia, the airline plans to enhance schedules on its Kagoshima and Taichung routes, increasing frequencies to a daily service throughout the winter season. Currently, the Seoul Incheon-Kagoshima route offers three to five weekly flights, while the Seoul Incheon-Taichung route operates four times a week.
Digital travel platform Agoda has ranked South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia the top five Asian destinations with the strongest appeal to travellers on a culinary trip.
From a survey involving more than 4,000 Agoda users after they had completed bookings to destinations in various markets, no less than 64 per cent of travellers to South Korea said Korean culinary delights were their main reason for visiting.
Sixty-two per cent said the same of Taiwan; 55 per cent of Thailand; 52 per cent of Japan; 49 per cent of Malaysia.
Andrew Smith, senior vice president, supply at Agoda, said: “Food is a cultural experience. Some travellers are so passionate about food that they book a restaurant abroad even before securing their flights.
“Our survey data clearly shows that travellers are seeking out destinations where they can immerse themselves in local cuisines and traditions rather than just sightseeing. Agoda is proud to offer great value deals to visit these foodie heavens, so that there’s more left to spend on the tastiest local dishes.”
Singapore-based Vouch, whose solutions service more than 35,000 rooms across 32 cities, has expanded its product suite with innovative AI-powered features, designed to significantly boost operational efficiency and drive revenue growth for hotels.
Vouch’s Guest Experience Platform now boasts a new rapid one-click setup, reducing platform development time from weeks to hours as AI streamlines the process by auto-populating content, eliminating the need for manual configuration.
Another key enhancement to the platform is the inclusion of multi-language AI support, which eliminates language barriers by accurately translating service requests and responses in real-time. Guests can now submit requests, such as dietary preferences or room requirements, in any language, while hotel staff respond seamlessly in their own – guaranteeing guest needs are fully understood and met.
In addition to streamlining operations, Vouch’s AI upselling tool helps hoteliers maximise revenue potential by taking the guesswork out of the task. By analysing guest behaviour, Vouch AI anticipates what guests want and recommends high-performing room service pairings, upgrades, and add-ons. It even optimises item names and descriptions to boost conversions.
Vouch has also integrated AI into its backend task management system, enabling hotels to automate routine tasks and streamline workflows for greater efficiency. From automating housekeeping tasks to managing maintenance requests, hotels can now enhance operational efficiency, freeing up staff to focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences.
Joseph Ling, founder & CEO of Vouch, said: “We understand that dealing with complicated tech implementations can significantly drain a hotel’s time and resources. That’s why we designed our solutions to be the fastest to deploy and the easiest to use in the market.
“As exciting as AI is, our focus has always been on delivering tangible results, not just showcasing advanced technology but harnessing it to create meaningful improvements for our clients.”
Vouch’s mindful innovation has allowed it to attract a fresh funding round of US$2.5 million. A portion of this investment will be used to expand its AI development.
Tiang Lim Foo, partner at Forge Ventures, said: “Businesses today seek both efficiency and adaptability, and Vouch’s AI-driven solutions deliver on both fronts. Their strategic focus on rapid deployment and minimising disruption addresses a key pain point in the hotel industry. We believe this unique approach positions Vouch as a market leader by enabling hotels to seamlessly adopt innovation, without the usual barriers of managing complex change.”
To mark this milestone, Vouch is offering a free trial of its AI-powered solutions throughout October.
Nicholas Wong has been named the new general manager of Destination Asia Singapore.
Having first joined Destination Asia as director of leisure in 2018, he will lead the team in capitalising upon the demand growth across the company’s three core business divisions of leisure, MICE and cruise.
Fusion Hotel Group has beefed up its leadership team with four appointments in Vietnam.
Bui Duc Khiem helms as cluster general manager of HIIVE by Fusion Binh Duong and HIIVE by Fusion Binh Duong New City. Prior to joining the HIIVE brand, he was the pre-opening hotel manager for a four-star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and has more than 10 years’ experience in the hospitality sector.
Tran Huu Thanh (Colin) has been promoted from executive assistant manager to general manager of Fusion Suites Vung Tau.
Van Vu takes up the role of hotel manager at the newly-opened Fusion Resort & Villas Da Nang. Fluent in Vietnamese, Spanish and English, she brings 15 years of experience in luxury hotel management, operations, and revenue management to her new role.
Lastly, Cang Lam is now the cluster resort manager at Maia Resort Quy Nhon and The Ocean Resort by Fusion Quy Nhon. He was most recently executive assistant manager at Maia during the pre-opening and opening periods from February 2020.
