Save on cruise getaways with Silversea
Silversea has introduced its Save. Indulge. Explore. cruise promotion, offering savings of US$3,000 per suite on Door-to-Door and Port-to-Port all-inclusive fares, with a reduced deposit of just 15 per cent from now to October 31.
The promotion is applicable for a selection of Japan voyages, including the 10-day Tokyo to Yokohama sailing from September 26 to October 6; and the 16-day Singapore to Tokyo cruise from March 6 to 22, 2025.
Beyond Japan, other voyages comprise the seven-day Vancouver to Seward itinerary, sailing from July 24 to 31, 2025; and the six-day King George Island to King George Island cruise from February 13 to 19, 2026.
Foodies can also delight in Silversea’s S.A.L.T (Sea And Land Taste) culinary programme which enables guests to join in hands-on culinary workshops with renowned local chefs at selected shore excursions and indulge in destination-specific curated menus onboard.
For more information, visit Silversea Cruises.
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas welcomes new area GM
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas has appointed Torsten Richter as the property’s general manager and the area general manager of Indonesia and Malaysia.
He will oversee other Minor properties such as Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort, Anantara Ubud Bali Resort and Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort.
With a career spanning three decades in the hospitality industry, Richter is renowned for his proficiency in managing both resorts and city hotels, having held leadership positions in several major destinations worldwide, including Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives, Germany, the US and the UK. He most recently served as the multi-property general manager at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Hotel Am Steinplatz Autograph Collection in Berlin, Germany.
Uncertainty looms over Thai tourism policies after PM reshuffle
Thailand’s tourism policies face uncertainty following the forced resignation of prime minister Srettha Thavisin on August 14. The new government, led by new prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, must now decide whether to continue the tourism policies of the previous administration.
According to Thai law, ongoing policies with approved budgets will continue to be implemented, regardless of the change in leadership. However, proposed initiatives whose budgets have not yet been approved will depend on the new administration’s priorities.
Paetongtarn, who is also the deputy chair of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee, has been instrumental in efforts to establish the Thailand Creative Content Agency (THACCA). The agency organised the THACCA Splash: Soft Power Forum hosted at the end of June 2024, a three-day event hosted at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center to alert local Thais to 11 elements of soft power inherent in Thai culture.
Somjai Phagaphasvivat, a political and economic analyst, believes that the Pheu Thai Party, which leads the coalition government, will maintain significant influence.
“Under a new government with the same coalition parties, the continuity of government policies, including the digital wallet, Ignite Thailand, and other projects, will remain intact,” he stated to local news Bangkok Post earlier this week.
Speaking after the court’s decision, Srettha told CNN he had “performed his duty as best he could” and accepted the verdict. However, he expressed uncertainty about whether his policies would continue under the new administration.
Under his IGNITE Thailand strategy announced in April 2024, Srettha aimed to increase foreign investment and establish the country as a hub for eight industries: tourism, wellness and medicine, aviation, logistics, agriculture and food, future mobility, digital economy and finance. He is credited with broadening visa-free entry policies and planning to host significant events to stimulate economic growth.
Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, emphasised the crucial role of political stability in the tourism sector. Speaking to Bangkok Biz News, he noted that Thailand had already welcomed 20 million foreign visitors by July. To meet the year-end target, the country must reach 30 million visitors by October, enabling Thailand to attract an additional six million tourists during the high season in the final two months.
He stressed: “The government has a big task to attract foreign tourists to reach the target of 36.7 million this year. It is crucial to stimulate these numbers through real sector operators – not just organising events – because there is a problem of tourists’ purchasing power decreasing due to geopolitical problems and the slowdown of the global economy.”
Paetongtarn was elected to position by the House of Representatives on August 16. At age 37, she becomes Thailand’s youngest and second female leader.
Tourism New Zealand spotlights dining under the stars experiences
Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) recently hosted international tastemakers at ‘the restaurant with the most stars’ to put New Zealand’s night skies and world class cuisine on the map, part of its new strategy aimed at growing off-peak, year-round visitation and helping tourism continue to thrive as a vital export for the country.
This unique restaurant experience of dining under the starry skies of Kura Tawhiti (Castle Hill) at the foothills of the Southern Alps on New Zealand’s South Island is called Pou-o-kai, created by New Zealand chef Ben Bayly, renowned for pioneering Kiwi cuisine globally.
Guests from Australia, China, India, Japan, North America, the UK, Germany, Singapore and South Korea were treated to a bespoke six-course degustation menu under the destination’s dark skies. Meticulously crafted using the finest winter produce and native ingredients, the menu celebrated the diverse array of ingredients available to manuhiri (visitors) throughout New Zealand.
Bayly will rotate select dishes from the menu across his New Zealand restaurants (Ahi, Aosta, Origine, Little Aosta, The Bathhouse) in Auckland, Queenstown and Arrowtown through to August 2025.
To support the campaign, a suite of assets for travel trade will be made available to promote dining and stargazing experiences across New Zealand. This includes a product manual, 10-day itinerary and training videos centred around stargazing, wellness, food and wine, and accommodation. These assets will be available in Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean. The product manual is also available in Thai and Bahasa Indonesia.
René de Monchy, chief executive, TNZ, said: “Set in New Zealand’s winter, this event celebrates Aotearoa New Zealand as a culinary destination and showcases it as a compelling destination for international visitors all-year round. Deeply rooted in kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (hospitality), Aotearoa New Zealand’s food identity honours both people and place, resulting in a distinct agricultural richness and vibrant, culinary culture.”
“We think that New Zealand cuisine is in a category of its own – we call it superior cuisine, worth a journey to the edge of the earth,” explained Bayly.
S Hotels & Resorts, Ascott to advance The Unlimited Collection in the UK
S Hotels & Resorts (SHR) has partnered with The Ascott Limited (Ascott) to reposition SHR properties in Edinburgh and Leicester under The Unlimited Collection brand.
As part of the strategic move, Mercure Edinburgh City Princes Street Hotel and The Grand Hotel Leicester will be rebranded under The Unlimited Collection, and will mark the Europe debut of The Unlimited Collection brand, which originates from Singapore.
SHR has identified two hotels from its 26-strong UK portfolio for conversion into The Unlimited Collection, joining a curated selection of independent hotels in vibrant neighbourhoods that feature exquisite designs and fulfil travellers’ aspirations for authenticity and immersive local cultural experiences.
By the end of 2024, the 169-key Mercure Edinburgh City Princes Street Hotel in Scotland will be rebranded as Mount Royal Hotel Edinburgh by The Unlimited Collection, while the 104-key The Grand Hotel Leicester will be known as The Grand Hotel Leicester by The Unlimited Collection from 2Q2025 after undergoing refurbishment.
“These iconic buildings play a pivotal role in our UK strategy, and I am confident that, under The Unlimited Collection umbrella, they will fully realise their potential as investment properties. Looking ahead, we anticipate expanding our partnership with Ascott to include hotels in two additional key UK cities,” said Michael Marshall, CEO of S Hotels & Resorts.
“Ascott is honoured that the owners have identified two of their iconic hotels to be part of The Unlimited Collection. We will leverage Ascott’s established conversion capabilities to swiftly bring both hotels to market while preserving their original characters,” commented Kevin Goh, CEO for Ascott and Lodging, CapitaLand Investment.
SHATEC to cease pre-employment training, turns focus on continuous education and training
The Singapore Hotel Association’s (SHA) training arm, SHATEC, will be making a strategic move away from pre-employment training (PET) and will focus primarily on its continuing education and training (CET) programmes.
SHATEC will work closely with partners, such as Workforce Singapore, on its new focus to reskill and upskill the existing individuals in the tourism and hospitality sectors with in-demand skills, such as sustainability and digital fluency, outlined in the Jobs Transformation Map for the Hotel Industry.
Through this collaboration, SHATEC aims to strengthen the career health of these individuals and contribute to a fulfilled and resilient workforce.
In September, SHATEC will be receiving its last intake of PET students. Concurrently, SHATEC will, in consultation with the industry, continue with its CET programmes to upskill, deep-skill and reskill the hotel workforce to enable them to thrive and advance their careers.
“As we embark on the journey of job transformation for hotels, it is a natural progression for SHATEC to assume an elevated role in nurturing talents to serve hotels of tomorrow,” said SHA president Kenneth Li.
Dusit Thani College to host PATA Youth Symposium & Career Fair
PATA’s inaugural Youth Symposium & Career Fair will be held on August 27 at Dusit Thani College in Bangkok, Thailand.
This event is held in conjunction with PATA Travel Mart 2024 and the 25th anniversary of the association’s establishment in Thailand.
The one-day programme will be filled with interactive activities and feature a special career fair segment offering students the chance to explore various career paths and meet experts in their fields of interest. Seven leading organisations from the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism sector, including Dusit Careers, Khiri Travel, Rama Gardens Hotel Bangkok, and Travel Compositor, will be part of the event.
The upcoming event will be held at Srinakarin Hall located on the campus of Dusit Thani College, an educational institution renowned for shaping generations of talent in hotel management, culinary arts, and business administration.
PATA Youth Symposium & Career Fair will feature presentations addressing insightful topics, and participants will have the opportunity to engage in roundtable discussions, panel discussion, and more.
Following these sessions, recruiters from various organisations will present available career opportunities within the sector. These include DTH Travel Thailand, Dusit Careers, Khiri Travel, Navigate Journeys, Rama Gardens Hotel Bangkok, SO/ Bangkok, Travel Compositor, to name some.
“We are witnessing a new era of young trailblazers whose passion and dedication are set to revolutionise the tourism industry,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. “To support their journey, it is essential to bridge the gap between their potential and the workforce opportunities available to them. The PATA Youth Symposium is crafted with this purpose in mind. It will not only broaden young people’s understanding of the current tourism job market through professional presentations and mentorship sessions but will also offer practical opportunities through the career fair.”
Dusit Thani College’s dean of hospitality management program Simon Lloyd added: “Creating a strong network amongst students and a space where they can share, build and shape their ideas is vital for an innovative and sustainable tourism industry. The PATA Youth Symposium & Career Fair is an important platform to create a safe space for students to challenge the status quo and share their ambitions for the future.”
Interested parties may register for the PATA Youth Symposium & Career Fair here.
Aviation roundup: Air Astana, Jetstar Asia and more
Air Astana launches new flight to Phu Quoc
Air Astana is starting a new service from Almaty to Phu Quoc in Vietnam on October 28.
The new direct flights will be operated by Airbus A321LR aircraft and will initially fly on Mondays and Wednesdays, with frequencies set to increase to four times a week in December.
Jetstar Asia introduces Singapore-Colombo service
Jetstar Asia will become the only low-cost carrier to fly direct from Singapore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, when the new service takes off on November 21.
The airline will operate five return services each week using its fleet of Airbus A320s.
AirAsia to fly from Malaysia to India with new route
AirAsia is enhancing its network to and from India from Malaysia with a new route to Port Blair, Andaman Islands.
Set to commence on November 16, the airline will fly thrice weekly to the island.
Singapore Airlines adjusts network for 2025 Northern Summer season
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will increase flight frequencies and boost passenger capacity across its network in the 2025 Northern Summer operating season (March 30, 2025 to October 25, 2025), supporting the higher demand for air travel to several popular destinations.
From March 30, 2025, SIA will have a daily service to London (Gatwick), up from the current five-times weekly services – on top of its four-times daily flights to London (Heathrow) – making it a total of five daily services to the UK’s capital
Services to Rome will increase to five times a week between June 26, 2025 and August 28, 2025, up from the current four weekly flights.
SIA will delink its three-times weekly Singapore-Milan-Barcelona flights from June 24, 2025 to September 7, 2025, and operate more direct flights between Singapore and the two European cities. The airline will mount five-times weekly direct flights to Barcelona during this period, up from the current two weekly flights. Milan will have a daily service, up from four-times weekly currently.
Other increase in frequencies include flights to Adelaide up to 10 a week across the Northern Winter 2024 and Northern Summer 2025 seasons, thrice daily to Ho Chi Minh City and twice daily to Siem Reap. A three-times weekly service will be mounted to Johannesburg from December 11, 2024 to January 10, 2025, and from April 2, 2025 to October 24, 2025.
The Airbus A380 will return to Tokyo (Narita) between March 30, 2025 and May 31, 2025 on one of its two daily services, replacing the Boeing 787-10. The A380 will stop operating to Mumbai from July 28, 2025 to August 31, 2025, and Delhi from June 23, 2025 to July 27, 2025, and will be replaced by the Boeing 777-300ER.
In line with its capacity adjustments, SIA will suspend services to Houston via Manchester from April 1, 2025. However, SIA will maintain five-times weekly services between Singapore and Manchester via SQ302 and SQ301.
PHILTOA turns focus to young tourists
The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) will be courting the next generation travellers with creative approaches and unique products when it stages the 35th Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) next month.
First vice president Malou Japson said the travel mart will be rich with what the younger generation is craving for: sustainable and eco-friendly tours; digitalisation for smarter travel; inclusivity that empowers and celebrates diversity including pink and halal tourism; and health and wellness for travel that heals.
To be held from September 6 to 8 at SMX Convention Center Manila, the 35th PTM is expected to be more digitalised in keeping with the next gen travellers who are very much in control of their own decisions and travel needs, active in social media and with short attention span.
Thus, secretary-general Harold Atondo said the PTM will be having cross-marketing campaign of products and exhibitors consolidated for meta targeted audience; online and onsite registration, cashless transactions with instant online confirmation, pre-selling online ticketing; and more.
With all 18 Philippine regions joining PTM, PHILTOA is also encouraging exhibitors to use reusable and sustainable materials for their booths, design and packages during the event.
The Kai Tak Mall, part of the Kai Tak Sports Park family, will be home to CA Sega Joypolis’ first flagship outside Japan, Joypolis Sports Indoor Sportainment Park.
As the operator of Japan’s largest indoor amusement park Tokyo Joypolis, CA Sega Joypolis has over 20 years of experience in operating entertainment facilities. In its efforts to expand its global footprint, CA Sega Joypolis has authorised the launch of the first Joypolis Sports flagship outside Japan – a new sports-themed park.
Located in Hong Kong, this flagship spans five storeys and nearly 2,787m², features over 20 attractions that blend latest technology with innovative entertainment, and is poised to become Hong Kong’s most eagerly awaited new sportainment attraction.
Each floor of the Joypolis Sports Hong Kong flagship showcases a unique theme that combines play and sports. It comprises three key themed zones: Ninja Dojo, for modern ninja training; Sonic the Hedgehog Themed Interactive Playground – The First Sonic Stadium; and Future Arena, for sports and innovative entertainment.
In keeping with the Tokyo Joypolis culture, Joypolis Sports will also regularly collaborate with popular Japanese brands and IPs to launch exclusive events, featuring limited merchandise and souvenirs.
On the top floor is the Hungry Tiger Hidden Dragon restaurant and bar that blends sports elements with popular IPs. It features a semi-alfresco dining area with a view of the main stadium. Aligning with the Kai Tak Sports Park theme, the restaurant offers healthy options and limited themed meals like muscle-building dishes, vegetarian meals, and energy shakes. In the evening, it transforms into a stylish bar, providing an interactive space for spectators and event participants.
Takeshi Yoshimoto, CEO of CA Sega Joypolis, said: “Opening the first authorised JOYPOLIS SPORTS flagship outside Japan in Hong Kong is a significant step in our global expansion. We selected Kai Tak Sports Park and its Kai Tak Mall for its excellent location and first-class facilities, which are sure to attract many local and international visitors. We believe this new indoor amusement park will bring unprecedented entertainment experiences and surprises to all visitors.”
“Our goal is to become the leading sports social platform, and we believe the Joypolis Sports Hong Kong flagship will set off a new wave of sportainment excitement across the city,” shared Andrew Tsui, general manager of Joypolis Sports Hong Kong.