TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Wednesday, 24th December 2025
Page 62

New hotels: Peppers Hunter Valley, Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur and more

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Peppers Hunter Valley

Peppers Hunter Valley, Australia
Peppers Hunter Valley has reopened following the rebrand of Grand Mercure The Vintage and a multi-million-dollar refurbishment. The property returns to the Hunter Valley, where the Peppers brand was first established.

The hotel offers one-, two- and three-bedroom villas upgraded with modern kitchens, as well as refreshed lighting and new furnishings. A redesigned reception area combines Peppers’ signature style with the relaxed atmosphere of the countryside.

Located within The Vintage precinct, the property is surrounded by vineyards, rolling hills and the Greg Norman-designed 18-hole golf course. A new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar, Mezze, will open upstairs, adding to the precinct’s culinary offerings.

Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur will open in the iconic Merdeka 118, the tallest skyscraper in the Asia-Pacific.

The hotel occupies levels 75 to 114, offering guests panoramic views of the city skyline.

The property features 252 keys, including 27 suites, with wellness facilities and dining options reflecting Malaysian culture.

Situated near Petaling Street in Chinatown, the hotel provides easy access to Kuala Lumpur’s historic and cultural attractions.

Aloft Surabaya Pakuwon City

Aloft Surabaya Pakuwon City, Indonesia
Aloft Surabaya Pakuwon City will open on August 22, 2025, introducing the Aloft brand and Marriott’s first hotel in eastern Surabaya. The hotel features 233 rooms designed for business travellers, digital nomads and weekend visitors.

Guests can enjoy a fitness centre, outdoor pool, meeting spaces, W XYZ Lounge, Vibe Restaurant and Echo Lounge & Bar. The hotel is directly connected to Pakuwon City Mall, The Courtyard and Park Shanghai, putting shopping, dining and entertainment just steps away.

Pullman Sydney Penrith

Pullman Sydney Penrith, Australia
Pullman Sydney Penrith, the first five-star hotel in Penrith, offers 24 Junior Suites, 95 Superior Rooms, 25 Deluxe Rooms and eight accessible Superior Rooms. Junior Suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, a sitting area, work desk, full-sized fridge and microwave, along with in-room amenities such as Hunter Lab skincare products and Nespresso machines. All rooms include smart controls, digital compendiums and a Sleep Therapy Menu with a range of wellness options.

The hotel features F&B options, a fitness and wellness centre, a 10-person sauna, and sustainably minded operations including zero single-use plastics and electric vehicle charging stations.

Located 21 minutes from Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, Pullman Sydney Penrith provides easy access to the Blue Mountains, Sydney CBD and Harbour, as well as coastal attractions. The hotel is adjacent to the Western Sydney Convention Centre, and offers a central base for business and leisure travellers in New South Wales.

Singapore throws music party to celebrate 60 years of homegrown sounds

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This December, Singapore will host Sing60 Music Festival, a two-day outdoor event at Fort Canning Park on December 6 and 7. Organised by The Rice Company and produced by Global Cultural Alliance, the festival marks 60 years of Singapore’s music, showcasing both classic and contemporary homegrown sounds.

Performances will take place across two stages, Fort Canning Green and the Battlebox, with three strands: Homegrown Icons, Bandwagon Sessions, and Bunker B2B.

From left: Shye, Mavis Hee and Shazza take the stage with classic favourites and fresh performances, celebrating Singapore’s musical legacy

Homegrown Icons features established solo artists performing original songs and covers of Singaporean music that shaped their careers. Bandwagon Sessions highlights indie and alternative bands across generations. Bunker B2B at the Battlebox pairs veteran DJs with emerging talents in back-to-back sets, covering electronic genres from house to experimental.

Celebrations extend to the Festival Village, where independent design, lifestyle, and food brands will be featured, reflecting Singapore’s creative community.

Sing60 operates a pay-it-forward model, with every ticket enabling a child from an underserved background to attend.

The festival is supported by sponsors including the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore, which helps recognise and support local music creators.

Tickets are available online at SISTIC.

For more information, visit Sing60 Music Festival.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers multi-destination Asia cruises in 2026

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Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2026 Asia itinerary offers travellers the chance to visit multiple destinations across the region in a single trip, without the need for separate transportation or accommodation bookings. This provides opportunities to explore a range of cultural, historical, and natural sites throughout Asia.

The 2026 Asia ports of call include Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand, where visitors can explore temples, markets, and local cuisine; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which features the Petronas Towers; Papeete, French Polynesia, offering outdoor activities such as surfing and hiking; Seoul, South Korea, which combines history and modern city life; Singapore with its mix of temples and skyscrapers; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, providing cultural sites like museums and temples; and Tokyo, Japan, where visitors can enjoy a range of traditional and modern experiences.

Explore multiple Asian destinations in one trip with Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2026 itinerary, such as Singapore, pictured

Other highlights include Hong Kong, China, with markets, Victoria Peak, and Cantonese cuisine; Kyoto, Japan, with shrines, temples, and historic districts; and Phuket, Thailand, featuring beaches, temples, and national parks.

For more information, visit Norwegian Cruise Line.

TAAI returns to Abu Dhabi for 68th convention after nine years

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The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has confirmed Abu Dhabi as the host destination for its 68th Convention-cum-Exhibition, scheduled for September 17 to 19 at the Grand Hyatt, Abu Dhabi. The event is expected to attract over 350 delegates.

The association last hosted its convention in the emirate in 2016.

The 68th TAAI Convention in Abu Dhabi aims to strengthen ties and promote Indian visitor arrivals with immersive cultural experiences

“Much has changed in Abu Dhabi since our last convention there. A number of new products and experiences like teamLab have been introduced and we want our members to be updated on these developments. We are confident that hosting our convention in Abu Dhabi will further boost Indian visitor arrivals to the destination,” said Sunil Kumar, president, TAAI, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi on August 11 to announce the convention.

Held under the theme Business with Goodness, the convention will highlight tourism’s role as a promoter of peace and include knowledge sessions on industry insights and emerging trends. The delegates will also be offered the opportunity to discover Abu Dhabi through various tours. Some of the products and experiences covered will include BAPS Temple, Qasr-Al-Watan Palace, teamLab, The Louvre, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace among others.

“This convention will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange while offering our members an immersive introduction to Abu Dhabi’s diverse cultural, leisure and business attractions. Our exhibition, the India Travel Trade Expo will create business opportunities and provide strong visibility for exhibitors, enabling them to network and forge new partnerships,” added Kumar.

The convention aligns with DCT Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, which aims to welcome 39.3 million visitors annually by the end of the decade.

Sun Siyam Resorts powers youth apprenticeship

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Sun Siyam Resorts, which operates a number of properties in the Maldives and Sri Lanka, has joined hands with the Ministry of Higher Education, Maldives to offer hospitality apprenticeship for young Maldivians.

The new programme is conducted through the World Bank-funded SAILS Project (Sustainable and Integrated Labour Services), which sets out to enhance skills development and youth employability in the Maldives.

Sun Siyam Resorts launches hospitality apprenticeship programme to boost skills and employment for young Maldivians

The first intake kicked off in July with 13 apprentices. Over the next six months, these apprentices will gain structured, on-the-job experience across key departments of Siyam World Maldives resort, from diving, finance, engineering, culinary, IT and more.

The programme includes mentorship by senior team members, skill-focused workshops, and real-world exposure aligned with national certification standards and Sun Siyam Resorts’ own service philosophy.

Apprentices who successfully complete the programme will be offered employment at any property under Sun Siyam Resorts.

Abdulla Thamheed, vice president of operations, Sun Siyam Resorts, said the project is a “long-term investment in the future of Maldivian tourism”.

The new hospitality apprenticeship reflects the same values that drive the group’s broader commitment to people and purpose, and joins other initiatives carried out under the Sun Siyam Cares framework that focuses on sustainability, environmental protection, and ethical tourism.

Sun Siyam Resorts spokesperson Claudia Klingbeil told TTG Asia that a second enrolment will follow in January 2026 – and this time it will be conducted across all properties.

Mama Shelter set to open first Asian hotel in Singapore

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Mama Shelter will open its first hotel in Asia this September with Mama Shelter Singapore on Killiney Road in the Somerset district. The 115-room property is part of Ennismore, a global lifestyle hospitality group under Accor.

Founded in Paris, the brand has grown to 20 locations worldwide, including London, Lisbon, Dubai and Nice.

Mama Shelter opens its first Asian property in Singapore in September 2025, featuring its first bunk room for families or friends, pictured

Mama Shelter Singapore is designed as a space for living, dining, socialising and entertainment. The hotel combines open-plan public areas with an active programme of live music, events and community engagement. The design, created by Dion & Arles, reflects Singapore’s multicultural identity through local motifs, Peranakan influences and a rooftop garden setting.

The rooftop includes a pool and tropical greenery, with nearly half the rooms featuring private terraces, a first for the brand. A large ceiling mural by Parisian street artist Beniloys spans the restaurant, rooftop and lift lobbies, illustrating Singapore’s maritime and cultural heritage.

The ground-floor restaurant and bar serve a brasserie-style menu overseen by executive chef Eugene Tan, with drinks developed alongside bartender Hazel Long. The Sunday brunch offers a selection of cold cuts, salads, pastas, roasts and desserts. The rooftop bar and restaurant provide Mediterranean-inspired dishes and live entertainment by the pool.

Rooms are designed with comfort and practicality in mind, featuring five-star bedding, soundproofing, large screens with films on demand, and bathroom products from Australian brand Ink & Water. The hotel also includes a retail shop with branded merchandise.

Located between Orchard Road and New Bahru, the hotel is a short walk from Somerset MRT and close to retail, dining and cultural venues.

Cédric Gobilliard, COO of Mama Shelter, shared: “Locals and travellers here want more than a room; they want character, connection, and soul. That’s exactly what Mama brings: a new kind of hospitality that’s human, playful, and open to everyone.”

Serge Trigano, co-founder of Mama Shelter, added: “When we opened the first Mama in Paris, we never imagined she would travel so far – but here we are in Singapore. A city full of life, creativity and character. I feel a real sense of pride seeing Mama’s spirit take root in Asia for the first time. This is not just another opening for us. It is a new chapter in the Mama story.”

To mark the opening, rooms are available at a starting price for bookings made before the deadline. The offer applies to stays within a set period, subject to availability. Special booking codes and membership discounts are also available.

Club Med restructures Asia-Pacific operations

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Club Med has consolidated three existing business units into two integrated entities – East & South Asia and Pacific (ESAP) and China – with effect from May 1 this year.

The business transformation reinforces the brand’s commitment to deepening regional focus, unlocking new growth potential, and enhancing operational agility in high-priority markets.

Rachael Harding leads Club Med’s consolidated East & South Asia and Pacific operations

The new structure is aligned with the distinct business environment in ESAP and China, yet allows the company to preserve its collaborative “One APAC” mechanism.

Rachael Harding takes on the role of CEO of the newly integrated ESAP business unit, encompassing both commercial and resort operations management. She reports to Gregory Lanter, deputy CEO of Club Med.

The ESAP business unit also sees several key appointments: Cindy Beleau as vice president of revenue management APAC; Sandrine Rossi as vice president, operations and product; Anastasiya Kulish as vice president of Japan resort operations; Michelle Davies as general manager Pacific and ESAP new markets; Olivier Monceau who adds on meetings & events segment to his leadership of Singapore and Malaysia; Jerome Ferrie chief financial officer; and Arezki Haddad as chief HR officer.

Henri Giscard d’Estaing, president of Club Med, said in a press statement that the move “opens a new chapter for Club Med in Asia-Pacific”.

“With empowered leadership and a shared ‘glocal’ vision, Club Med now has even more agility to seize opportunities in key markets and reinforce our position as the worldwide leader in premium, all-inclusive travel,” said d’Estaing.

Harding said the “business transformation empowers us to scale with greater purpose and precision across the region”. She noted ESAP’s strong 2024 performance and significant growth potential for Club Med.

Meanwhile, in China, which is Club Med’s second-largest market with over 260,000 guests welcomed in 2024, the strategic realignment will see Andrew Xu carrying on as CEO of Club Med China. He will also serve as deputy CEO of Club Med, overseeing global finance.

Princess Cruises increases Japan presence with dual ship deployment in 2027

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Princess Cruises will base two Japanese-built sister ships, Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess, in the Tokyo region for its 2027 Japan season. This marks the first time the company will deploy two ships in Japan in one season.

The 2027 programme includes 78 departures across 50 itineraries, with voyages lasting from seven to 28 days, representing Princess Cruises’ largest Japan deployment to date.

Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess offer extended stays and visits to Japan’s key cultural destinations throughout the 2027 season

The season runs from March to December 2027 and opens for sale on August 20, 2025. Prior to the Japan season, both ships will be homeported in Singapore from December 2026 for sailings around South-east Asia.

The two ships, each with a capacity of 2,670 guests, were built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki. The season covers 45 cruise destinations across six countries, operating from the Tokyo region.

Itineraries include cherry blossom voyages timed to follow the bloom from south to north across Japan’s four main islands, festival cruises featuring summer events such as the Aomori Nebuta and Tokushima Awa Odori festivals with late-night stays, circle and grand Japan voyages circumnavigating the country with stops including Osaka and Hiroshima, Okinawa and Taiwan itineraries exploring subtropical and cultural destinations, and Japan explorer cruises visiting cities such as Shimizu, Kobe and Kagoshima.

Seven festivals are featured with late-night port stays: Aomori Nebuta Festival (August 2 and 7), Hakodate Minato Festival (August 3), Akita Kanto Festival (August 6), Yamagata Hanagasa Festival (August 7), Kochi Yosakoi Dance Festival (August 12), Tokushima Awa Odori Dance Festival (August 13), and Kumano Fireworks Festival (August 17).

The season offers 12 late-night port stays in locations including Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakodate, Sakata, and Halong Bay, allowing extended time ashore.

Guests can visit 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Mount Fuji (from Shimizu), Itsukushima Shrine and Hiroshima Peace Memorial (from Hiroshima), Ancient Kyoto Monuments (from Kobe or Osaka), and Jomon Prehistoric Sites (from Aomori or Hakodate).

Scenic sailings include views of Mount Fuji from Shimizu Bay, the Kanmon Straits and Japan Inland Sea, and Sakurajima Volcano from Kagoshima Bay.

The itineraries provide access to cities ranging from Tokyo’s Ginza district to Kyoto’s Zen gardens, Shimizu’s fish markets, and Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park.

Onboard, guests will find regional cuisine including noodles and freshly prepared sushi, Japanese beverages such as whisky, sake and shochu, traditional storytelling called rakugo, evening karaoke, and performances of folkloric dance.

Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary to hold yoga, sound and meditation retreat this October

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Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, located in the Neyphu Valley above Paro, is Bhutan’s only five-star all-inclusive wellness retreat, with an emphasis on well-being through its treatments and environment.

From October 19 to 24, Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary will host the Bhutan Yoga, Sound & Meditation Retreat in partnership with Kalm Wellbeing in the UK. The retreat will offer sessions in Kundalini yoga, meditation, breath work, vocal empowerment, sound healing, and traditional Bhutanese healing practices. Led by UK teacher and author Kathryn McCusker, the event aims to support self-discovery and balance.

Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary provides a tranquil environment for wellness, featuring daily treatments and traditional medicine consultations

The sanctuary offers personalised consultations with traditional Bhutanese medicine doctors, daily treatments, and therapies such as deep tissue massages, herbal compresses, and hot stone baths. Guests can choose activities at their own pace, including meditation, guided hikes, or quiet reflection with mountain views.

Meals are included, prepared daily with organic, locally sourced ingredients and tailored to guests’ dietary needs.

For more information, visit Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary.

Six Senses Uluwatu, Bali welcomes new director of sustainability

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Six Senses Uluwatu, Bali has appointed Armand Thieblemont as director of sustainability. He also takes on the role of regional director of sustainability, supporting the brand’s strategy and operations across Asia-Pacific while based in Bali.

Thieblemont began his hospitality career in Indonesia and joined Six Senses Zighy Bay in 2022 as sustainability director. He has contributed to key initiatives, including the opening of Six Senses Kyoto and the reopening of Six Senses Shaharut.

In his new role, he will lead environmental stewardship, sustainability innovations, and community outreach at Six Senses Uluwatu, with the aim of integrating luxury hospitality and sustainability.