Raffles Sentosa Singapore has opened Raffles Sentosa Spa, a wellness facility located within the resort’s grounds on Sentosa island.
Set within 100,000m² of landscaped greenery, the spa is housed in a restored heritage building that previously formed part of a British military barracks.
Raffles Sentosa Spa offers personalised wellness programmes, hydrotherapy facilities and dining within a restored heritage building on Sentosa island
The spa offers personalised programmes guided by a consultation process and structured around four areas: movement, nourishment, restorative wellness and connection. These form the basis of five treatment programmes focused on detox, relaxation, physical conditioning, longevity and holistic well-being.
Facilities include 12 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy areas, indoor and outdoor pools, a mud pool, steam room and fitness centre. The spa also features a hair and scalp care service using biotechnology-based treatments.
Dining is available at Le Jardin, which serves a menu based on plant- and protein-focused dishes using locally sourced ingredients.
Raffles Sentosa Spa also collaborates with wellness and skincare brands to support its treatment programmes.
Access is available through memberships, day passes and for resort guests. Memberships start from S$6,800 (US$5,000) per year, while day passes start from S$88.
Thailand’s tourism industry is adapting to challenging conditions ahead of the 2026 Songkran holiday.
Amid global volatility, flight disruptions and high travel costs, both the hospitality and aviation sectors are introducing discounts and increasing capacity to stimulate domestic and regional travel.
Hotels and airlines introduce discounts and additional capacity as Thailand prepares for lower demand during the Songkran holiday period; photo by Pixabay
According to a report by the Bangkok Post, hotel operators have slashed room rates by 20 to 40 per cent to attract guests during the upcoming Thai New Year. Three-star and lower-tier properties are leading the price cuts to retain local guests, while four- and five-star hotels are maintaining their prices.
This pricing strategy comes in response to a drop in European and Middle Eastern arrivals, largely driven by flight connection disruptions linked to geopolitical conflict in the Gulf.
Domestic travel has also been affected by local fuel shortages and rising pump prices, with Thai travellers unable to find fuel or hesitating to book long-distance road trips.
Paisarn Sukjarean, president of the Upper Northern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, noted that forward bookings for the April Songkran holiday have fallen to 55-60 per cent from 60-70 per cent. In a normal year, the surge of Thai New Year travel pushes occupancy rates to 90 per cent; this year, the hotel sector is targeting around 70 per cent occupancy.
Paisarn added that Chiang Mai’s tourism outlook remains relatively stronger, supported by returning Chinese visitors and growing Asian markets. Chinese forward bookings for Songkran have increased by 10-20 per cent, while authorities are proceeding with a full 12-day Songkran festival.
To ease the financial burden on travellers and encourage domestic movement, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has intervened.
As reported by The Thaiger, CAAT is working with six major airlines to reduce domestic airfares by 15 per cent to 30 per cent on 11 popular routes, including flights from Bangkok to key destinations such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and Samui.
Despite a global increase in aviation fuel costs, the initiative will see the addition of 191 flights and nearly 30,000 extra seats between April 10 and April 15.
Airlines are also increasing capacity, with Bangkok Airways adding two dozen extra flights to Samui, while Thai Airways is deploying wide-body aircraft to accommodate the festival period.
BWH Hotels is preparing for a brand transformation centred on a revamped loyalty programme designed to strip away industry complexities and appeal to a rising demographic of Emerging Explorers.
Joelle Park, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at BWH Hotels, unveiled the multi-year strategy to more than 150 hoteliers, owners and partners during the 2026 Pan Asia Pacific Regional Conference held at Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit on Monday morning, marking 2027 as the pivotal year for the group’s “new story”.
Joelle Park outlines a new loyalty strategy focused on simplicity and hyper-local experiences at the Pan Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Bangkok
The new loyalty programme is set for a soft introduction at the BWH Hotels International Convention in October 2026, followed by a full global launch in January 2027. Key features include three simple tiers – Bronze, Silver and Gold – alongside an unpublished, invitation-only tier for elite frequent travellers. To lower barriers to entry, Silver status will be achievable in as few as five nights. BWH will also ensure that earned points do not expire.
The shift is driven by global research identifying a core target: travellers aged 25 to 45. Park described this group as Emerging Explorers – millennials and Gen Z travellers who are 92 per cent more likely to go off the beaten path.
“These travellers do not want the cookie-cutter chain. They want an independent hotel or a brand that delivers a truly authentic local experience,” Park said. Unlike The Opposition (those strictly loyal to established competitors) or Loyalists (existing BWH customers), these younger travellers are open to trying new brands if the experience feels hyper-local and the digital interaction is seamless.
Moving beyond the strength of its branding, BWH Hotels is refocusing its 4,000-strong portfolio through a hyper-local lens. Park described the move as a shift away from standardised hospitality, trading predictable “chain” stays for an insider perspective and neighbourhood immersion.
She also challenged attendees to move beyond “TripAdvisor tips” and instead provide hyper-local insights, such as recommending a specific fruit stall across the street or sharing the best way to enjoy a local coconut.
To bring this strategy to life, BWH Hotels hosted a media immersion in Bangkok. Journalists were led out of the hotel lobby for a series of local experiences: a tea-blending workshop at Monsoon Tea Bangkok, a visit to Wat Traimit Withayaram to view the world’s largest solid gold Buddha, and an exploration of Song Wat Road – a riverside district – before ending the evening with Thai dishes at Ega.
“These Emerging Explorers love to discover something, explore, and then share it through a screen. We need to have a role in their lives so that they are telling our story,” Park said.
EHL will introduce a two-year associate degree in international culinary arts, fine-dining experience and restaurant management, with the first intake scheduled for September 2027.
The programme expands the institution’s academic offering into gastronomy-focused education and is designed to prepare students for roles in professional kitchens and food and beverage businesses. It combines training in culinary techniques with instruction in guest experience and restaurant operations.
EHL’s new associate degree will combine culinary training, guest experience and restaurant management, with practical learning in professional kitchen settings
The development reflects wider changes in the hospitality sector, where interest in gastronomy, food culture and culinary tourism has increased in recent years. EHL said there is also growing demand for professionals who can respond to changing customer expectations and deliver experience-led dining concepts.
Research conducted during the programme’s development indicated a preference among students for shorter academic pathways. The associate degree format is intended to provide a direct route into employment while remaining a recognised qualification for further study.
The course is aimed at students aged 18 to 25 and integrates three areas: culinary arts, guest experience and restaurant management. It includes a six-month internship with partner restaurants, along with field trips across Europe’s main gastronomic regions and masterclasses led by visiting chefs.
Teaching will be delivered by a faculty comprising chefs, hospitality professionals and academic staff. Training will take place at EHL’s food and beverage facilities, including training outlets, demonstration kitchens and a Michelin-starred restaurant. Around 60 per cent of the programme consists of practical classes.
Graduates may pursue careers as chefs, restaurant managers, sommeliers or food entrepreneurs, or continue their studies towards a bachelor’s degree.
“The new programme also responds to evolving expectations within the restaurant and hospitality sectors, as well as from future students and consumers. Today’s gastronomy professionals increasingly need to combine culinary expertise with skills in guest experience, beverage culture, sustainability, marketing and business management,” said Patrick Ogheard, dean of EHL School of Practical Arts.
Grab Thailand is advising food service operators to adapt their digital and commercial strategies to capture a highly lucrative demographic – tourists.
“We expect an 11 per cent growth in inbound tourists for 2026,” said Bhuree Ackarapolpanich, director of commercial for Grab Thailand, at a Thaifex HOREC Asia 2026 Academy session.
Grab Thailand’s Bhuree Ackarapolpanich details high-yield inbound tourist dining trends for food service operators at the Thaifex HOREC Asia 2026 Academy in Bangkok; photo by Anne Somanas
This influx presents a major revenue opportunity for the hospitality sector. Data from the platform indicates international visitors exhibit significantly higher purchasing power compared to domestic users.
“Tourists spend almost 1.7 times more than local consumers. These travellers generate a basket size 1.68 times larger than local customers, alongside a 25 per cent higher repeat purchase rate,” Bhuree noted.
User data shows high spending growth among European, the US, and Middle Eastern demographics. Within the capital, orders cluster densely around Sukhumvit, Asok, Pathum Wan, and Rama 9.
To attract this demographic across hot spots like Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, operators must align menus with precise consumer demand.
For European, the US, Australian, Israeli, and Russian markets, comfort food is essential. These tourists seek safe choices structured as complete meal sets.
Grab data identifies fried chicken as the undisputed leader for Western markets, while Chinese travellers distinctly favour mala dishes and seafood with food presentation critical to facilitate photo-sharing on WeChat and Weibo. South Asian and Japanese tourists prefer the tastes of home, like curries or sushi. Middle Eastern tourists peak from June to August, prioritising burgers.
A distinct consumer group nicknamed the “SEAblings” encompasses travellers from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan, who are highly open to diverse local cuisines.
Beverage sales represent another substantial upselling stream.
“Just like fried chicken, don’t sleep on coffee. Iced Americano remains top even for tourists,” Bhuree explained.
Reaching these consumers requires proper digital infrastructure, along with targeted digital advertising, which is critical to expanding market share.
“Return on ad spend on foreigners is at four times that of Thais,” Bhuree stated.
Success ultimately relies on accurate localisation and clear product details to convert profile views into confirmed orders.
“Prepare your content well and ensure that the English information is there,” Bhuree concluded.
The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) has signed 12 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with international arts and cultural institutions, as Hong Kong prepares for Art Week 2026 and the Hong Kong International Cultural Summit.
The agreements, signed at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on March 22, involve partners from China and markets including Australia, France, Germany, the UK and Saudi Arabia. They cover areas such as exhibitions, programme development, talent exchange and professional training.
The West Kowloon Cultural District is expanding international partnerships as Hong Kong prepares for Art Week and the Cultural Summit 2026
The move forms part of efforts to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a cultural tourism destination. The summit, held from March 22 to 23, is the first major international event of Hong Kong Art Week and is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates from Hong Kong and overseas.
The new agreements bring the total number of WKCDA’s global partnerships to 46. Recent collaborations include exhibition partnerships with institutions such as Museums Victoria in Australia and Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden in Germany, as well as performing arts exchanges with organisations including Sadler’s Wells and Factory International in the UK.
Additional initiatives include artist-in-residence programmes, professional training courses and collaborations with academic institutions such as SOAS, University of London, and RMIT University. A partnership with the China Association of Auctioneers will focus on professional development in the art market.
The agreements also support upcoming developments in the district, including preparations for the WestK Performing Arts Centre, scheduled to open in 2027, and expanded programming at the Hong Kong Palace Museum.
The summit programme includes panel discussions and presentations involving speakers from 14 countries, addressing topics such as museum development, performing arts and the role of cultural institutions in community engagement.
The event takes place alongside Art Basel Hong Kong and other major exhibitions, forming part of Hong Kong Art Week, which draws international visitors to the city’s cultural venues.
“These collaborations translate shared vision into action by supporting high quality programmes, talent exchange and professional development. Together, they reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a leading international arts and cultural hub and bring lasting impact to the sustainable development of the industry,” said Bernard Charnwut Chan, chairman of the board of the WKCDA.
Star Alliance has introduced a new Star Connection Centre at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), aimed at supporting passengers transferring between member airlines.
The facility is the alliance’s ninth connection centre globally and is located at one of its key transfer hubs. More than 350,000 passengers connect between Star Alliance airlines at LAX each year.
The new Star Connection Centre at Los Angeles International Airport supports passengers transferring between member airlines
The centre is designed to assist passengers with tight connections, particularly when inbound delays risk disrupting onward travel. It uses monitoring systems to identify affected passengers and coordinate assistance to help them reach their next flight.
Dedicated staff track transfer windows and work across member airlines to manage connections. Support may include meeting passengers at arrival gates and guiding them through the airport to departure gates.
Star Alliance has operated connection centres for more than a decade, supporting both passenger and baggage transfers across major hubs. In addition to Los Angeles, centres are located in Brussels, Chicago, Frankfurt and Toronto. Separate baggage-focused facilities operate in Houston, Newark, Washington Dulles and San Francisco.
At LAX, 16 Star Alliance member airlines operate, including Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines. Together, they operate more than 2,000 weekly flights to over 80 destinations in more than 20 countries.
“Every moment matters when connections are tight, and our goal is to make multi-airline journeys feel seamless,” said Ambar Franco, vice president, customer experience at Star Alliance.
“At Star Connection Centres, our member airlines come together as one to ensure that, regardless of which airline passengers are flying with, they are supported from an Alliance perspective. This is what Star Alliance stands for – delivering a smooth experience across our global network. Our latest Star Connection Centre at LAX will benefit our members and customers alike.”
Zentis Osaka, a member of Design Hotels, has introduced the Stay & Savor package, combining a two-night stay with afternoon tea and daily breakfast.
Since opening in 2020, the hotel has focused on design-led accommodation and dining at Upstairz Lounge, Bar & Restaurant. The afternoon tea service is presented on a tiered stand inspired by the hotel’s central staircase, designed by Tara Bernerd & Partners.
Zentis Osaka’s Stay & Savor package includes a two-night stay, seasonal afternoon tea at Upstairz and daily breakfast
The current seasonal menu, available until May 10, 2026, features a selection of sweets and savoury items. Sweet options include strawberry macaron, mini pavlova, cheesecake and a strawberry-themed dessert. Savoury items include wagyu beef tartare, wholewheat pie with paprika mousse, shrimp fritter and a burrata salad with citrus.
Guests can choose free-flow tea or add a glass of champagne at an additional cost. Afternoon tea is served at Upstairz Lounge, which includes indoor seating and an outdoor terrace.
The package also includes breakfast at Upstairz Restaurant, with a choice of American, vegan or Japanese-style options.
Rooms range from studios to suites, with interiors based on a minimalist Japanese design approach. Shared spaces include a guest lounge and garden terrace.
Rates start from 56,500 yen (US$380) per stay, based on single occupancy. Reservations must be made at least three days in advance.
AI-powered travel marketing platform, Sojern, has appointed Sylvia Weiler as president and general manager of its global destinations business.
Weiler returns to the company after previously helping build its destinations segment. She most recently served as chief revenue officer at Zartico and has held senior roles at Tripadvisor and Airbnb.
A recent survey conducted by the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) and Pear Anderson has revealed that 48 per cent of South-east Asian travel businesses believe that the prospects for their business in 2Q2026 are worse than they had originally anticipated at the start of the year, due to the US-Israel-Iran war impact.
The report showed that inbound operators in particular were pessimistic about future enquiries, with 74 per cent of inbound travel businesses much gloomier about prospects than at the start of the year, compared to 50 per cent of outbound travel businesses.
Travel businesses expect demand to shift towards South-east Asia, with smaller gains anticipated for East Asia and Europe and Central Asia
Singaporean travel businesses were the most pessimistic overall, with two-thirds (67 per cent) expecting enquiries in 2Q2026 to be worse than what they expected at the start of the year, compared to 64 per cent in Malaysia, 54 per cent in Indonesia, 50 per cent in the Philippines, and 43 per cent in Thailand.
Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of outbound travel businesses reported at least some postponements and cancellations for trips to the Middle East, 70 per cent to Europe, and 58 per cent to other regions, demonstrating that the impact on travel was beyond connectivity.
As for a potential redirection of outbound travel flows, 64 per cent of businesses believed that South-east Asia would see the benefit, followed by East Asia (47 per cent) and Europe and Central Asia (24 per cent).
Thai travel businesses were the most confident that Europe would see a growth of interest (56 per cent), likely due to the higher number of direct flights to Europe already operating to Thailand, while the Philippines saw a greater chance of travel interest being redirected to domestic (30 per cent).
For inbound travel businesses, 54 per cent have received cancellations for May, with the number sharply decreasing for cancellations received in June (21 per cent), and just three per cent seeing cancellations from October and onwards, a sign that travellers are taking a wait-and-see approach.
Sixty-two per cent of businesses saw some trips postponed or cancelled from Middle Eastern travellers, with a higher number (67 per cent) for travellers from Europe, signalling the significant role that Middle East transit hubs play to facilitate inbound travel into South-east Asia.
Fuel price increases, leading to higher airfares, as well as fuel shortages in general remain of concern for South-east Asian travel businesses, who noted their impact on inbound operations in-destination, and their potential knock-on impact on traveller purchasing power in the medium-term.
Inbound cancellations are highest for May bookings, with a sharp decline in later months as travellers adopt a wait-and-see approach
“The high percentage who believe that travel will be redirected to South-east Asia confirms that we must work together as one ASEAN to support our tourism and travel ecosystem,” said Eddy Soemawilaga, president of ASEANTA.
“Travel businesses commenting on the current situation were quick to point to the overall resilience of the South-east Asian travel industry, and that they believed traveller demand would recover once the situation stabilises.”
“There is no denying that travel businesses, whether outbound or inbound, are suffering at the moment,” stated Hannah Pearson, director at Pear Anderson. “While on the face of it the lack of transit flights to the Middle East is immediately impacting flows both in and out of the region, ASEAN has an opportunity to present itself as an alternative transit hub between Australia and Europe, potentially opening up more direct flight routes – and new opportunities.”
Weiler returns to the company after previously helping build its destinations segment. She most recently served as chief revenue officer at Zartico and has held senior roles at Tripadvisor and Airbnb.
