Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) is set to launch its first Radisson Red hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
Rebranded from the existing Park Plaza Bangkok Soi 18, Radisson Red Bangkok Sukhumvit 18 is slated to open 4Q2025.
Radisson Red Bangkok Sukhumvit 18 will introduce the Radisson Red brand to Bangkok, Thailand
Surrounded by shopping malls, bars, street food and more in the heart of Sukhumvit, the upscale hotel will feature 125 guestrooms, fitness centre, rooftop pool and bar, as well as event spaces.
The hotel is nearby Asok BTS Skytrain and Sukhumvit MRT subway stations, with Queen Sirikit National Convention Center and Benchakitti Park just a short walk away.
Elie Younes, executive vice president and global chief development officer at RHG, commented: “The introduction of Radisson Red will bring a new edge to the upscale hospitality sector in Bangkok, as its fresh and bold approach will make it stand out from the crowd.”
Park Royal Co.’s owner, Chaiyud Sakchiraphong, said: “The Radisson Red brand, with its colourful and playful concept, fits perfectly within this part of the city. By introducing Radisson Red here, we are confident it will resonate with the energy of Sukhumvit, offering a unique and memorable experience for guests.”
Macau is deepening its focus on the Muslim traveller as part of its “1+4” development strategy to diversify and integrate tourism and other related industries, including culture and creativity, sports, MICE, gastronomy and health and wellness.
The goal is to be a centre for integrated tourism and leisure, while facilitating the development of four nascent industries – big health, modern financial services, high and new technology, as well as conventions and exhibitions.
Macau is taking steps to prepare and cater for an expected increase of Muslim visitors
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, said government and local tourism stakeholders attach great value to the potential of Muslim tourism (domestic and international), and steps have been taken to prepare and cater for an expected increase of Islamic visitors.
According to MGTO data, Indonesia and Malaysia already rank among Macau’s top international visitor source markets and ranked third and fourth respectively as of April.
Fernandes noted: “The perspective is for arrivals to continue to increase as direct flights and targeted promotional activities expand. Last November, direct flights between Macau and Jakarta were launched, while the frequency of flights to Kuala Lumpur will increase in July.
“At the same time, MGTO is conducting promotions targeting consumers and travel trade in these two markets, with the latest large-scale (promotion) conducted in May in Jakarta, and another one scheduled for July in Kuala Lumpur.”
The director remarked that Muslim visitors are expected to continue to increase from other places as well, including from Macau’s main visitor source market of Mainland China.
She elaborated: “Measures announced recently by the Central Government expanded the number of cities under the Individual Visit Scheme to travel to Hong Kong and Macau, with the list now also including the provincial capitals of Ürümqi (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region), Lanzhou (Gansu Province), Xining (Qinghai Province), as well as Yinchuan (Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region).”
MGTO, she added, is also eyeing the Middle East and returned this year to the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.
According to a 2023 travel behaviour survey in the Middle East, intent to visit Macau is high, Fernandes shared, and more than half of the respondents (which included the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait) are willing to visit Macau (ranging from 53 per cent to 77 per cent).”
To prepare the industry, MGTO organised an Islamic Culture in Tourism workshop in March and December last year, and in February 2024 joined hands with the industry to organise the Macao Welcomes You Training Programmes for International Guests to enhance knowledge and skills.
Training content included Islamic etiquette and cultural customs, understanding what halal-certified food is and the certification process and system.
MGTO, which was a business partner of the Halal Pavilion 2024 at the Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability Expo in Hong Kong, held in January, also organised a travel trade delegation to the event to provide a platform for the industry to increase its expertise and supplier contacts.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organised the Ignite Tourism Thailand: TAT Skill Factory workshop to upskill workers in the tourism sector, which took place on June 15 and 16 at the Ambassador Hotel Bangkok in Thailand.
The workshop aimed to attract participants such as workers in tourism service businesses, tourism operators, and relevant government and private agencies. It was conducted by experts in the field on various topics, such as the future of service, tourism safety management, first aid, tourist assistance measures, and more.
TAT’s Thapanee Kiatphaibool, with the other organisers, sharing about the purpose of the workshop
The initiative follows the Thai government’s recently introduced Ignite Tourism Thailand policy to establish Thailand as a tourism hub for international tourists and boost tourism revenue.
The two-day workshop was jointly organised by the TAT, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Ministry of Labour, and the Tourism Council of Thailand.
As well as seeking cooperation from the relevant public and private sector partners to help propel Thailand to achieve the Tourism Hub status, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports has outlined plans to elevate the value of Thai tourism.
Strategies include strengthening network, promoting secondary destinations, and fostering development of community products. Provinces will be urged to develop new attractions and routes, while helping to position Thailand as a home-stay destination and use natural resources sustainably.
Sermsak Pongpanit, minister of tourism and sports, said: “People are the heart of the tourism industry, and the development and upgrading of professionalism in the tourism industry is paramount. Through this workshop, we want to ensure that we all share the same goal in delivering unforgettable experiences to tourists every step of the way, from travel and accommodation to communication and safety.”
SiteMinder and Cloudbeds have joined forces to set a new benchmark in platform connectivity, delivering an improved onboarding experience and exceptional operational accuracy for more than 60,000 hoteliers globally.
This collaboration will provide Cloudbeds customers with direct access to SiteMinder’s revenue platform, while SiteMinder customers can explore the PMS platform offered by Cloudbeds. This means expanded distribution capabilities and deep actionable insights for hoteliers, enabling them to make better commercial decisions.
The partnership will create new distribution and revenue opportunities for hotels
“In late 2023, we announced our mission of making sophisticated revenue management accessible to every hotel in the world. We are excited to partner with an industry leader like Cloudbeds to propel this mission, by removing the friction that comes with having critical data hidden away in isolated systems,” said Sankar Narayan, CEO and managing director at SiteMinder.
Cloudbeds CEO Adam Harris added: “This partnership empowers hoteliers worldwide by providing unified visibility and control across our platforms. This is just the beginning. We are excited to deliver incremental revenue opportunities for hoteliers while optimising and streamlining the operational aspects of hotel connectivity.”
Minor Hotels has made two key promotions in Thailand at its Koh Samui and Koh Phangan resorts.
Ahmed Asim has been appointed as the new general manager of Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas, while Frederic Kolde takes on the role of general manager at Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort.
From left: Ahmed Asim and Frederic Kolde
Having started his career in hospitality in 2005, Asim was most recently the resort manager at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Hotel.
For Kolde, he joins Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort from Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel where was the hotel manager since 2023.
Gavin Maloney has been named as director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency Sydney.
With a career spanning over 25 years, he brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success with top luxury brands across four continents. He will lead the sales and marketing team at Hyatt Regency Sydney in his new role.
Throughout his career, Maloney has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have revitalised and repositioned several esteemed hotel brands across Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat, situated in the uplands of Ba Vi National Park near Hanoi, is the first hotel in Vietnam to join the collection of properties around the world that form The Meliá Collection.
The new agreement was signed in May this year, with the official name change to take place in May 2025. Located within the national park, the 55-key Meliá Ba Vi Mountain will undergo refurbishments to further elevate its dining offerings and increase the range of wellness and well-being activities. Facilities comprise a spa, swimming pool, two restaurants, lounge, and event venues.
Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat is located within the Ba Vi National Park, and offers 55 rooms and suites
The property was built upon the historic foundations of a French residence and embraces the local landscape with open spaces and a line-up of nature-based excursions such as a guided tour of the 200 relics in the historic French hill station, a rejuvenating forest bathing session with a meditation session in nature, as well as a hands-on workshop to learn the natural dyeing techniques used for generations by the indigenous ethnic community residing in the area.
“We have promoted the preservation of what Mother Nature offers and the cultural and historic values unique to Ba Vi Mountain,” said Luong Ngoc Anh, owner of Melia Ba Vi Mountain Retreat. “Right from the start, our designs were nature-friendly and in harmony with the surroundings, honouring the enduring historical legacy. We want to bring our guests a feeling of harmony and comfort through experiences that connect the past and the present and embrace sustainable development.”
Amara Sanctuary Sentosa in Singapore has undergone a five-month transformation to offer guests a new era of serenity on Sentosa Island.
Paying homage to the island’s maritime heritage as a former military fortress and the estate’s 100-year legacy, the redesign of this heritage resort showcases a selection of natural materials, including indigenous stone, venerable timber and reclaimed wood upcycled from traditional fishing vessels.
The refreshed lobby boasts a skylight and the ‘Everfresh Tree’ as the centrepiece
The island’s verdant environs are also mirrored through lush plants, which invigorate previously under-utilised spaces into tranquil spaces.
At the heart of the estate’s transformation lies the lobby, where a skylight casts a mesmerising play of light and shadow, as well as the four-metre Pithecellobium Confertum ‘Everfresh Tree’ with Davallia Fejeensis shrub as the centrepiece where at night, guests can observe the tree closing its leaves as it conserves water. The lobby also boasts cosy corners for guests to relax in, and there are plans for retail opportunities.
In the updated Villas and Suites, abundant planters are positioned to enhance the surroundings, as the outdoor courtyards and foyers provide nooks with daybeds, new settees, hammocks, or bar tables for guests’ use.
Additionally, Verandah Studios and Suites have been transformed into dual-key apartments with kitchenettes to accommodate the rise in multi-generational family travellers.
A new addition to the resort is the Sanctuary Tearoom which sits at the heart of the resort as its main dining space. The 146-seater minimalist restaurant – 88 indoors, 58 alfresco – transforms between meals to suit the occasion, such as serving the daily breakfast buffet, or hosting private functions and weddings.
There is also a patio area overlooking the lobby’s water feature, while floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the picturesque lawn outside.
Dawn Teo, chief operating officer of Amara Holdings, commented: “In today’s fast-paced world, where many seek tranquillity and rejuvenation, our refreshed design approach resonates with travellers seeking solace in nature. We aim to offer more than just accommodation; we provide an immersive experience that nourishes the soul and renews the spirit, setting a new standard for hospitality in an ever-changing landscape.”
From all of us at TTG Asia Media, Selamat Hari Raya Haji to our Muslim friends!
Throughout his career, Maloney has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have revitalised and repositioned several esteemed hotel brands across Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
Ponant has appointed Deb Corbett as CEO Asia Pacific.
Corbett has been with the company for seven years, and has amassed 30 years of experience in the industry.