Puneet Dhawan has been named the head of Asia for Minor Hotels, and will be based in the group’s Bangkok Corporate Office when he joins the company in July.
He will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team.
A seasoned professional with a 30-year hospitality career spanning Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Dhawan was previously senior vice president of operations – India & South Asia at Accor.
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport has named Greg Gubiani as its new general manager.
He brings 25 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry to his new role, Gubiani will take charge of the strategic management and operations of the 575-room Crowne Plaza Changi Airport.
He most recently served as the general manager of The Westin Kuala Lumpur.
Global air and travel services provider dnata has appointed Neo Su Yin as the company’s managing director in Singapore. She will report to Charles Galloway, dnata’s regional CEO for Asia-Pacific.
In her role, Neo will oversee dnata’s ground handling and cargo operations at Changi Airport, and will manage a team of more than 1,500 employees.
A Singapore national, she was most recently CEO, Singapore, Singapore Post, and had also worked as General Manager at Changi Airport Group.
W Bali – Seminyak, the flagship W Hotels in Indonesia has named Subin Dharman as general manager.
With over two decades of leadership experience in luxury hotels across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, the US and Europe, Dharman will champion W Bali – Seminyak’s ongoing initiatives aimed at addressing global environmental concerns, underscoring the hotel’s steadfast dedication to sustainability and social impact.
He was previously the general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Bali before joining W Bali – Seminyak.
Conrad Koh Samui Resort & Residences has made significant additions to its executive team with Brent Assam as the director of operations and Marco Araujo as its new general manager.
As the new director of operations, Assam will oversee the daily operations at Conrad Koh Samui. Boasting an extensive background in F&B management and operations, his 20-year career in hospitality includes a notable tenure at Hilton Adelaide, where he served as director of operations.
From left: Brent Assam and Marco Araujo
With over two decades of experience in the luxury hospitality industry, Araujo brings with him a wealth of expertise and leadership capabilities to the team. In his new role, he will oversee the commercial and operational performances for Conrad Koh Samui.
Western Australia has been witnessing a rising trend in women-only tourism in the past six to 12 months. The development echoes a broader global movement towards creating safer, more inclusive travel opportunities tailored specifically for women.
“This year marked the launch of four innovative women-only travel products, reflecting a strong demand for experiences that allow women to connect deeply with both themselves and nature,” said Sueanne McCumstie, acting lead public relations manager, Tourism Western Australia.
Swimming Women offers a tour that comprises scenic swims in rock pools, rivers, and the Indian Ocean
“It aligns with the global trend of inclusivity and accessible tourism for all – including LGBTI, people living with accessibility needs and people seeking exclusive experiences,” she added.
Among the new offerings is a Bardi and Jawi Cultural Experience, on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome. It invites women to explore the ‘secret women’s business’ of local indigenous women through activities like fishing, oystering, and bush tucker gathering. The four-night experience provides an immersive look into the roles and skills of indigenous women.
Another product is the Reddell Beach Walk and Talk Experiences by a local elder from Jarndu Ngaank Tours. Guests are introduced to significant cultural ceremonies, including a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, and Water Ceremony designed to blend education with personal healing and well-being through cultural insights.
In Margaret River, Swimming Women has expanded its offerings with a tour that takes participants through scenic swims in rock pools, rivers, and the Indian Ocean, exploring unique aquatic spots with regional stories and nourishing food.
The fourth tour is a Yorgars basket-weaving workshop which also promotes female empowerment through artistic expression through understanding the matriarchal legacies of the indigenous Nyungar people.
These developments were highlighted at a media event where nearly 80 international media members were updated on the latest tourism developments across Australia, before the launch of the Australian Tourism Exchange 2024 in Melbourne today (May 20).
This year’s event has attracted over 1,500 seller delegates and 700 global buyers, marking a 10 per cent increase in buyer participation from last year.
The Apurva Kempinski Bali has become the first hotel in Indonesia to be awarded the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Certification.
This certification provides guidance for sustainability standards in the travel and tourism sectors which support the four pillars: Sustainable Management, Social Impact, Cultural and Community Preservation, and Environmental Stewardship.
The Apurva Kempinski Bali is the first hotel in Indonesia to receive the GSTC Certification
The rigorous audit by the GSTC’s appointed certification body, Control Union, highlighted the Indonesian resort’s key criteria, including effective sustainability management, initiatives that maximise social and economic benefits for the local community, focus on preservation of cultural heritage, and commitment to reducing the property’s environmental footprint through various sustainability initiatives such as a hydroponic rooftop garden, waste management, electric vehicles, and more.
To further emphasise its dedication to climate neutrality, the resort partnered with Eco-Tourism Bali to launch the mangrove planting programme, beginning with the planting of 1,000 seeds.
“At our resort, we continually strive to innovate and find new ways to drive sustainability forward in the hospitality industry. It is truly an honour for us to be the first hotel in Indonesia to receive the prestigious GSTC certification,” shared Vincent Guironnet, general manager, The Apurva Kempinski Bali.
“We remain dedicated to creating impactful change while delivering exceptional experiences to our guests, and shaping a more sustainable future for generations to come.”
Trip.com Group has partnered with independent online booking and distribution platform Rezdy to enhance connectivity between tour and activity operators, and travellers worldwide.
By harnessing Rezdy’s API integration, providers within the Trip.com Group ecosystem will have access to connect and promote their tours to end customers in real-time – automating pricing updates, availability, and content through this API.
This partnership will unlock new travel options for Trip.com Group users, such as whale-watching
This integration simplifies overall operations for operators, eliminating the need to create updates across multiple channels, and ensures that end-users of Trip.com Group have access to the latest offerings and best deals.
Through this partnership, Rezdy operators of all sizes will be able to tap into Trip.com Group’s vast customer base across Asia, Oceania, North America, Europe, and beyond. It will also unlock fresh travel options for Trip.com Group users, such as cruising in the Great Barrier Reef region, whale-watching, parachuting from a plane, and more.
Chase Liu, general manager of tours and tickets overseas, Trip.com Group, shared: “Enhancing our connectivity with local tour and activity partners with the help of Rezdy offers exciting new ways for travellers to explore their destinations.”
“Advanced reservation technology is revolutionising the travel industry by automating processes for operators and resellers, fostering growth and efficiency through enhanced connectivity,” added Azra Ljaljic, vice president of distribution at Rezdy.
Launched in May this year, all inbound travellers to Singapore can now use the automated lanes at Changi Airport to clear immigration without any prior enrolment in the system.
This makes Singapore among the first in the world to introduce passport-free and contactless immigration clearance, a goal the city-state has set to achieve by the end of 2024.
All foreigners visiting Singapore can now use the automated immigration lanes at Changi Airport (Photo: Fotos593)
As part of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) new clearance concept announced in 2019, which aims to provide faster and more secure immigration clearance, the system will be able to clear travellers using facial and iris scanning.
Previously, only Singapore residents and passport holders from 60 jurisdictions were allowed to use the automated lanes. In 2023, more than 160 automated lanes were installed, with another 230 lanes to be set up this year. ICA intends to install about 800 such lanes across all of Singapore’s checkpoints by 2026.
Aside from Changi Airport, Singapore residents and all departing travellers will be able to enjoy contactless immigration clearance at Changi and Seletar airports, as well as Marina Bay Cruise Centre, by the end of the year.
A seasoned professional with a 30-year hospitality career spanning Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Dhawan was previously senior vice president of operations – India & South Asia at Accor.
He remains the CEO of Scoot, SIA’s low-cost carrier subsidiary.
He most recently served as the general manager of The Westin Kuala Lumpur.
A Singapore national, she was most recently CEO, Singapore, Singapore Post, and had also worked as General Manager at Changi Airport Group.
He was previously the general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Bali before joining W Bali – Seminyak.
