Raffles and Fairmont Makati has named Fergus Mac Devitt as its new hotel manager.
Mac Devitt brings over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience across Europe and Asia, including senior roles at Swissôtel and Fairmont properties in Germany, China, Japan, and Singapore. He previously served as hotel manager at Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland.
Having spent most of his career with Accor, the parent company of Fairmont and Raffles, Mac Devitt will now lead operations in Makati, focusing on delivering high-quality guest experiences.
Tourism continues to drive Indonesia’s economy, but its environmental cost is drawing renewed attention. Bali’s recent floods have reignited debate over sustainability and calls for the hotel sector to take greater responsibility in protecting the environment.
At a coordination meeting of Bali’s hospitality industry, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, minister of environment and head of the Environmental Control Agency, said: “The hotel sector is not only the driver of the economy, but also the face of the nation in the eyes of the world.”
Tree planting by hotel staff in Bali reflects growing efforts to integrate sustainability into tourism
He warned that tourism growth carries serious consequences for nature, citing the recent floods as a reminder of the impact of land conversion and shrinking green space.
He stated: “This is the time for the hotel industry to take responsibility for maintaining the ecosystem, not just enjoying economic benefits. We must ensure that tourism growth goes hand in hand with environmental sustainability.”
The meeting followed the 2025 Corporate Performance Rating Assessment Programme (PROPER) by the Ministry of Environment, which evaluated companies with significant environmental impact. Of 229 hotels assessed in Bali, none met the criteria for environmentally friendly properties, with some still receiving the Red ranking – the second lowest.
Hanif acknowledged hotels that have adopted energy-saving technology, improved waste management, and constructed green buildings. The government, he said, will continue to support such efforts through training, technical guidance, and policy measures to encourage sustainable practices.
Hotels that consistently apply sustainability principles will qualify for Green Hotel certification and promotional support. The ministry also encourages integrating corporate social responsibility with activities such as tree planting, watershed restoration, and the creation of green spaces. Hanif further recommended green infrastructure like meadows, green roofs, and vegetation walls, which offer ecological benefits while improving hotel surroundings.
“Simple steps such as planting trees, building infiltration wells, or reducing waste, if done together, will have a big impact on tourism sustainability,” he said.
The PROPER findings surprised many in the industry, as several assessed hotels had previously received national and international sustainability awards.
Rizki Handayani, deputy for industry and investment at the Ministry of Tourism, said the results would be discussed with the Ministry of Environment and the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA). “It is important for us to examine this closely because this assessment will affect branding,” she said, adding that limited land in urban areas like Jakarta poses challenges for compliance.
IHRA chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani said sustainability had become inseparable from tourism but noted ongoing difficulties.
“Space limitations are a key challenge for the hotel industry; because of limited land, many hotels cannot process waste on site and instead outsource waste management.”
At the Hotel Public Relations Summit, industry leaders said that despite internal sorting, separated waste is often re-mixed by collection services due to the lack of proper waste facilities. Hariyadi added that efforts to reduce carbon emissions also require significant investment, noting that switching from fossil fuels to electric energy remains costly.
Hilton has released new research showing that nearly half of travellers in Asia-Pacific are planning international trips around major sporting and music events.
The survey, conducted across China, India, Australia, Singapore and Japan, highlights the growing influence of sports and entertainment on travel decisions, with 70% of respondents citing quality of hospitality as a key factor.
Nearly half of travellers plan international trips around major events, with loyalty programmes driving demand for exclusive experiences
Interest in sports tourism is particularly strong in China (59%) and India (57%), with 70% of respondents willing to travel for events such as Formula 1 races, and 63% for concerts and festivals. These trips are often social, with most travellers attending alongside friends or partners. Among 18 to 24 year olds, 60% prefer travelling with friends.
Accommodation choices are driven by proximity to the event (72%), price (72%), and hospitality standards (70%). Respondents in China placed the highest importance on proximity (81%) and hospitality (80%). More than half (54%) of travellers across the region said exclusive access and rewards were strong motivators when choosing where to stay.
Hilton Honors, the company’s loyalty programme, continues to play a central role in enabling access to experience-led travel. At the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, Hilton Honors members redeemed over nine million points for McLaren F1 Team VIP packages, which included trackside hospitality, McLaren-hosted activities and a two-night stay at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay. 40% of respondents expressed interest in redeeming points for access to exclusive hospitality lounges with food and beverage offerings.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hilton’s partnership with the McLaren F1 Team. Hilton is hosting the team at 21 properties throughout the race season, including in Singapore. The collaboration has evolved into a platform for fan engagement, with recent activations including a sleep soundtrack created by Lando Norris and Max Fewtrell, and the launch of the Stay Like McLaren Racing suite at The Trafalgar St James London, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Hilton Honors Experiences continue to offer members access to exclusive events, including the McLaren F1 Team VIP Experience at the Singapore Grand Prix. Conrad Singapore Marina Bay will feature interactive elements such as a reaction wall, photo opportunities with the McLaren F1 car, and a themed afternoon tea.
“Sports and entertainment tourism is becoming one of the defining travel trends in Asia-Pacific, and F1 is leading the charge,” said Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director, Asia Pacific, Hilton. “At Hilton, we have always believed that incredible travel experiences start with an exceptional Stay. Our partnership with the McLaren F1 Team allows us to connect guests and fans with the moments they are most passionate about – both on and off the track.”
Phnom Penh marked a major milestone on September 9, 2025, with the opening of Techo International Airport, Cambodia’s largest aviation infrastructure project. Fully funded and built by Cambodian entities, the airport draws on Angkorian heritage in its design and begins operations as a modern hub for tourism and business.
The launch was commemorated with the arrival of Air Cambodia’s first commercial flight, greeted by a traditional water salute.
Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh’s new main international gateway on its opening day
In its first month, the airport introduced two new routes and supported Cathay Pacific by temporarily hosting aircraft during Typhoon Ragasa.
Developed by Cambodia Airport Investment Co. (CAIC) – a joint venture between the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation and Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC) – the airport is designed to handle up to 15 million passengers annually in its initial phase. It is expected to boost tourism, facilitate trade, and enhance Cambodia’s role in regional air networks.
The project involved a consortium of local and international contractors, engaging more than 200 Cambodian engineers and 17,000 workers. It demonstrates the country’s capacity to deliver large-scale infrastructure through a blend of domestic expertise and global collaboration.
The terminal blends Cambodian heritage with modern design, featuring rumduol (Cambodia’s national flower)-inspired structures and a nine-metre Buddha statue that creates a serene, culturally rich arrival experience.
To support operations, CAIC has partnered with Vinci Airports, Lagardère Travel Retail, Newrest, and Singapore Airlines Engineering Company for airport management, retail, catering, and aircraft maintenance.
Retail and dining options include Malis, Paul, Starbucks, Brown Coffee, Bodia, and Artisans d’Angkor, combining Cambodian heritage with international hospitality.
The opening coincides with the 25th anniversary of OCIC, which has played a key role in Cambodia’s economic development across infrastructure, real estate, healthcare, and education. The group has delivered over 10,000 homes and major transport projects across Cambodia, Laos, and Hong Kong.
Techo International Airport now stands as a symbol of Cambodia’s identity and ambition, positioning Phnom Penh as a growing player in global aviation.
“Welcoming the first passengers at Techo International Airport is a defining moment,” said Pung Kheav Se, chairman of OCIC and CAIC. “It creates new opportunities for Cambodia – for visitors, businesses, and investors – and marks the beginning of a new chapter for our country.”
Marriott International has launched Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors, a digital platform designed to help travellers discover and book trips based on preferred outdoor activities.
The platform includes access to more than 450 hotels, 50,000 homes and villas, and curated tours and activities across categories such as skiing, hiking, cycling, diving, surfing, fishing and paddling.
Travellers can now book nature-based stays and experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors
The company has also introduced the Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy, a portfolio of properties located in nature-focused destinations. These include cabins near national parks and boutique hotels in remote settings, offering basic amenities such as beds, running water and restrooms.
The first two brands in the Outdoor Collection are Postcard Cabins and Trailborn Hotels. Postcard Cabins operates over 1,200 properties across 29 locations in the US, each within two hours of major cities. Trailborn Hotels offers accommodation in areas such as the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Grand Canyon and Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, with guided excursions and locally focused programming.
Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors has partnered with Outside Interactive to offer Marriott Bonvoy Moments, including hiking and kayaking in Hawaii, kayaking in the Maldives and snorkelling in Belize. Further Moments will be announced throughout 2026.
To promote the launch, Marriott Bonvoy has introduced the Drop Pin Challenge, a treasure hunt across 20 outdoor destinations in the US and Canada. Participants can scan physical map pins to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, with 10 million points available in total.
“We built Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors to help people, whether that’s cresting a mountain trail, catching the perfect wave, or simply finding quiet under the stars,” said Peggy Roe, executive vice president and chief customer officer, Marriott International.
“Travel is at its best when it speaks to who we are and what we love. It’s about reconnecting with yourself and the people you love in the places that inspire you most. With the new Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy, our curated Marriott Bonvoy Moments, and even playful activations like the Drop Pin Challenge with Dylan Efron, we’re not just offering places to stay – we’re opening doors to experiences that inspire, connect, and stay with you forever.”
Legoland Malaysia Resort will host its annual Brick-or-Treat Monster Party from October 2 to November 2, 2025. The event will feature themed activities across the resort, including workshops, live performances and interactive installations.
Visitors can begin at the Beginning Area, where children may participate in Lego Spider Build and Frankenstein Comes to Bricks, or join activities such as Scare Slam Dunk and Build-a-Lego Monster. At Kingdom Castle, guests will encounter the Witches’ Party and Vampire Carnival, as well as the Wicked Maze Runner and Lord Vampyre’s Carnival, which includes Frankenstein’s Games Room, a Candy Corn Hunt and the Trick-or-Trade Station offering limited-edition Halloween mini figures.
Families explore Halloween-themed activities at Legoland Malaysia’s Brick-or-Treat Monster Party, running until November 2
Daily performances will include Monstrous Morning Bash, Zombie Cheer Squad, The Great Candy Caper and Wizard’s Spellbound. Additional entertainment includes Monster Mash Mob and Jam with the Monsters, with a Monster Flash Mob scheduled every Friday and Saturday evening.
Weekend activities will include the Candy Trail, allowing children to collect sweets throughout the park, and Boo-tiful Bakes, a cupcake decorating workshop. A Halloween costume contest will also take place, with categories for Best Family Costume, Most Creative Costume and Most Monster-est Costume. Winners and runners-up will receive Lego sets.
Meet-and-greet sessions with Lego characters such as Frankenstein, Lord Vampyre, the Green Witch and Zombie Cheer Leader will be available. Other activities include the Candy Trail and Boo-tiful Bakes. The Monster Flash Mob will take place at 19.45 on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Great Monster Chase 4D will be screened during the event, featuring Lego characters in a short film with in-theatre effects including wind and lighting.
Children aged three to 11 who arrive in full Halloween costume will receive free entry with a paying adult from October 2 to November 2.
Minor Hotels has appointed Jason Kruse as complex general manager for Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli, and Naladhu Private Island Maldives.
He will oversee strategy and operations across the three distinct resorts, driving guest experience, brand alignment, and sustainable growth.
With over 20 years’ experience in luxury hospitality across Asia-Pacific, including leadership roles at Amilla, Kurumba, and JA Manafaru in the Maldives, Kruse brings deep market insight and operational expertise to his new role.
The Indonesia Ministry of Tourism (MoT), in partnership with the Indonesia Gastronomy Network (IGN), has introduced Wonderful Indonesia Gourmet (WIG), a flagship programme to develop the country’s gastronomy tourism.
Indonesia’s minister of tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, said the initiative is part of the Elevating Tourism Class programme and reflects the ministry’s commitment to enhancing tourism quality, with gastronomy playing a key role in Indonesia’s future tourism growth.
Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana (second from left) launches Wonderful Indonesia Gourmet which aims to showcase Indonesia’s culinary heritage, promote sustainable gastronomy, and attract global food travellers
WIG kicked off with the Indonesia Gourmet Guide, created with Mastercard Priceless, featuring 120 curated restaurants in Jakarta and Bali. Activities continued in Bali with a WIG Talk on gastronomy and the F&B industry, followed by an Artisan Food Market open to the public.
Widiyanti added that the ministry was also hosting a Restaurant Week initiative to increase activity in the gastronomy sector through partnerships with selected restaurants.
Indonesian cuisine is gaining international recognition, ranking seventh globally and first in South-east Asia in TasteAtlas’ publications. Six Indonesian cities were included among the 100 Best Food Cities. Agoda data from June to July 2025 placed Indonesia among the top five most-searched destinations for food and beverage activities.
“With foreign tourist arrivals reaching 8.5 million up to July 2025, a 10 per cent growth compared to the same period in 2024, this achievement is good news and still holds much greater potential if we drive it through the power of Indonesian gastronomy,” Widiyanti added.
IGN chair Vita Datau commented: “The Indonesia Gastronomy Network hopes this flagship programme will encourage the commitment of regional leaders to promote local wisdom and develop quality, sustainable gastronomy destinations ready to attract global gastronomic tourists.”
Kevindra Soemantri, head of the WIG committee, noted the programme could map Indonesia’s restaurant landscape onto the global stage. Bali, chosen as a pilot destination alongside Jakarta, combines culinary heritage with community, culture and sustainability through farm-to-table initiatives, organic farming, and community-based culinary tourism.
In 2024, Bali’s GDP from food services reached 27.6 trillion rupiah (US$16.5 million), with F&B manufacturing contributing 9.7 trillion rupiah, together representing 12.5 per cent of the island’s total GDP. Nearly four million international visitors went to Bali up to July 2025, accounting for 46.5 per cent of arrivals.
Wayan Sumarajaya, head of the Bali Tourism Office, said: “This synergy is also expected to help local cuisine, especially products from micro, small, and medium enterprises, to level up and become increasingly known, loved, and recognised globally.”
PATA showcased its commitment to sustainable and inclusive tourism at the World Tourism Day and World Tourism Conference 2025, held in Melaka, Malaysia, from September 27 to 29.
The event was officiated by Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, deputy prime minister of Malaysia; Ab Rauf Yusoh, chief minister of Melaka; Tiong King Sing, minister of culture, arts and tourism Malaysia; and Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary general, UN Tourism. The conference, held under the theme Tourism and Sustainable Transformation, focused on tourism’s potential to drive economic, social and environmental progress.
PATA underscored initiatives supporting youth, women and community development across Asia-Pacific tourism at the Melaka conference
During the session People-Centred Tourism: Unlocking Opportunities through Education, Innovation and Investments, moderated by Antonio López de Ávila of UN Tourism, PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid joined panellists Amran Hamzah, Phillip Seiji Vincent, David Bardolet and Aradhana Khowala to discuss how investment in human capital, particularly youth and women, can strengthen resilience, equity and future readiness in tourism. The panel also examined how targeted investment can foster entrepreneurship, accelerate digitalisation and support sustainable development across destinations.
PATA continues to place sustainability and social responsibility at the centre of its work, supporting long-term transformation in destinations, businesses and communities across the Asia-Pacific through initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Its programmes cover food and plastic waste reduction, climate resilience, digital transformation and social inclusion, while also developing the skills of tourism stakeholders at all levels.
The association recently launched a 2025 World Tourism Day campaign highlighting projects from members, partners and stakeholders that advance sustainable transformation through education, governance, innovation and climate action.
Noor said: “As a proud UNESCO Heritage City, Melaka not only showcases its rich cultural legacy but also demonstrates how well-planned tourism infrastructure can deliver real benefits to local communities through thriving community-based tourism initiatives and successful home-stay programmes.
“As always, PATA is honoured to contribute to critical discussions that are shaping the pathway toward a more sustainable and inclusive future for our industry and the communities it serves.”
The Amadeus Trav-Tech Hackathon 2025 closed on September 16 in Bangkok, Thailand with 11 teams from across the Amadeus ecosystem pitching agentic AI-driven solutions designed to solve some of the industry’s most persistent pain points.
The competition underscored a major theme: the arrival of “agentic AI” – systems that not only generate outputs but act autonomously to interpret policy, validate decisions, and execute bookings.
Trip.com’s developer team celebrates its first-place win for Click & Go, an agentic AI-powered travel assistant redefining how travellers search, book, and manage journeys; photo by Amadeus
“Developers from our client network were given access to Amadeus’ Self-Service APIs, combined with Google Cloud’s AI offerings such as Gemini models, Agent Engine on Vertex AI, and the Agent Development Kit, along with optional tools like Langgraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, and Python agents – a very powerful combination,” said Ramona Bohwongprasert, senior vice president – Southeast Asia, inside sales & startups APAC at Amadeus.
Bohwongprasert added that teams were selected from Amadeus’ clientele across the travel ecosystem to showcase diverse representation of customer and travel agency types – and that agentic AI can be applied anywhere in the industry.
“We saw very clearly the OTAs, but we also wanted business travel and leisure travel involved too. For example, AsiaOneClick is a travel provider focused on helping us to meet the needs of the SME segment. We tried to ensure a variation to demonstrate 360 degrees of the challenges, yet also more opportunities and how we can use tech from Amadeus and Google to help,” she shared.
After two months of collaboration, groundwork and focused problem-solving, teams of developers from the offices of Amadeus clients – many of whom were meeting in person for the first time – had just one day to collaborate in person and refine their final presentations before stepping in front of an expert jury that included executives from Amadeus and hackathon partner Google.
Entries spanned the gamut from voice bots to automated policy validation tools for corporate travel, with teams demonstrating how agentic AI can anticipate disruptions, recommend and implement solutions, and autonomously orchestrate bookings end-to-end.
Unlike many competitions, the Trav-Tech Hackathon did not offer cash or physical prizes.
Instead, recognition came in the form of titles awarded by judges and peers.
Trip.com emerged as the overall winner with its Click & Go personalised travel assistant, while ClearTrip secured first runner-up with MyTravel.ai, a tool designed to deliver tailored inspiration. Richmond Travels followed as second runner-up with RABBIT, an assistant aimed at simplifying business travel.
The peer-voted Hackers’ Favorite went to AsiaOneClick for its FareSmart AI, an autonomous agent to handle booking inquiries across multiple channels for smaller travel operators.
Jerome Daniel, senior vice president of R&D and head of travel, shopping & reservation at Amadeus – who sat on the judging panel – said the hackathon was designed to showcase Amadeus’ technology investments in partnership with Google, spark discussion, and validate industry direction.
He noted that while all submissions were strong, Trip.com stood out for its innovation, dynamism, and near-market readiness, reaffirming its position as a major player.
“Agentic AI is advancing quickly, but it’s still in its early stages and its direction remains uncertain. What’s clear is that it demands deep knowledge of the travel industry – intelligence without understanding the rules simply won’t work. Amadeus brings that expertise and, together with partners like Google, we can build the ecosystem that will power the travel engine of the future. That’s really what we hope to find (through these events),” he added.
Meanwhile, Bohwongprasert – whose division also mentored the teams – underlined that the event’s true value was networking and knowledge-sharing among agencies facing similar issues. She said the collaboration demonstrated how common challenges can be tackled by pooling expertise across the Amadeus ecosystem.
This was the second Amadeus Trav-Tech Hackathon, following its 2022 debut in Bangalore.
Amadeus executives hinted more editions will follow as the company continues to use collaborative forums to accelerate innovation.
Having spent most of his career with Accor, the parent company of Fairmont and Raffles, Mac Devitt will now lead operations in Makati, focusing on delivering high-quality guest experiences.
With over 20 years’ experience in luxury hospitality across Asia-Pacific, including leadership roles at Amilla, Kurumba, and JA Manafaru in the Maldives, Kruse brings deep market insight and operational expertise to his new role.
