Marriott Bonvoy has appointed Filipino tennis player Alex Eala as the Asia-Pacific (excluding China) ambassador for its Tennis The World campaign.
The partnership marks Marriott Bonvoy’s latest activation as the Official Hotel Partner of the Australian Open, with Eala featuring in campaigns promoting Marriott Bonvoy Moments through tennis.
Marriott Bonvoy’s Tennis The World campaign will feature Filipino tennis player Alex Eala across Asia-Pacific, excluding China
Eala, one of Asia’s fastest-rising tennis players, recently claimed her first WTA title and has recorded victories over several top-ranked players. Marriott Bonvoy said her growing international profile and strong connection to South-east Asia made her a natural choice for the campaign.
As part of the partnership, Marriott Bonvoy members will receive early access to tickets for the Australian Open 2027 and can expect additional tennis-related experiences, including opportunities to meet Eala through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments programme.
John Toomey, chief commercial officer, Asia-Pacific excluding China, Marriott International, said: “Alex embodies so much of what Marriott Bonvoy stands for. She is authentic, inspiring, and proudly connected to the region we serve. Her remarkable rise, culminating in her recent breakthrough WTA title and victories over some of the world’s best players, is a testament to her talent, resilience, and determination.
“As she continues to make her mark on the global stage, we are excited to support her journey while bringing our members closer to the game through exclusive experiences and unforgettable moments.”
Radisson Hotel Group has partnered with Accenture to launch an AI-powered hotel discovery app in ChatGPT, enabling travellers to search, compare and plan hotel stays through natural conversation.
Available as @RadissonHotels in ChatGPT, the app allows users to search more than 1,000 Radisson Hotels properties across more than 100 countries using conversational prompts. Travellers can ask for recommendations based on destination, amenities or travel preferences, with the app returning relevant properties, live rates, hotel details, amenities and interactive maps before directing users to the Radisson Hotels website to complete their booking.
Radisson Hotel Group’s new ChatGPT app enables travellers to search, compare and plan stays across more than 1,000 hotels before booking directly through its website
The launch forms part of Radisson Hotel Group’s direct booking strategy and its move towards agentic commerce, where AI supports travellers throughout the search and planning process.
According to Accenture’s Consumer Pulse Research, 87 per cent of travellers are open to using an AI-powered travel agent to find suitable travel options, while 71 per cent expect AI to influence at least half of their spending on hotels or airlines over the next 12 months.
The app connects directly to Radisson Hotel Group’s existing systems to provide real-time hotel information. Future enhancements are expected to include personalised recommendations, loyalty recognition, in-chat booking, reservation management, trip modifications and AI concierge services.
The collaboration builds on Accenture’s work with Radisson Hotel Group to modernise its digital and data platforms across more than 1,000 hotels.
Gianni Di Fede, chief commercial officer at Radisson Hotel Group, said: “AI is radically transforming how people search for and book hotel stays, and we are committed to being at the forefront of this shift. With Accenture, we are reimagining hotel discovery for the next generation of travellers – meeting guests in the planning moment with a branded experience that makes it easier to find, compare, and book Radisson Hotels properties.”
Frasers House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Singapore has introduced a new cultural programme highlighting the artisans, makers and creatives of Kampong Gelam through talks, workshops and retail showcases.
The initiative begins with The Curator’s Table, an evening discussion exploring the links between craft, culture and hospitality, before expanding into The Maker’s Serambi, a bi-monthly programme that brings local makers into the hotel through exhibitions, retail experiences and hands-on workshops.
The Maker’s Serambi will showcase local artisans, crafts and products as part of Frasers House’s new cultural programme
The inaugural edition of The Maker’s Serambi will run from August 28-30, 2026, from 12.00 to 18.00, transforming the hotel lobby into a showcase of local craftsmanship. Participating makers include Pasupathy Jewellery, textile studio A Bright Place and Sifr Aromatics, with workshops on plant-based dyeing held on Friday and Saturday from 16.00 to 16.30.
Future editions will feature ceramicist Yun the Potter and leather artisan Maverick Made, with exclusive collaborations curated by independent travel publication Eastside.
Located in the heart of Kampong Gelam, Frasers House developed the programme to connect guests with the neighbourhood’s cultural heritage through the work of local artisans and independent businesses.
Wine and dine on the regional cuisine of the destinations on Silversea’s S.A.L.T. Culinary Voyages
Silversea has launched its first dedicated collection of culinary-themed sailings, S.A.L.T. Culinary Voyages, betting that deep access to a destination’s food culture will set the brand apart in today’s luxury cruise market.
The collection builds on Silversea’s existing S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Taste) programme, expanding it into full itineraries built around four themes – Gather, Craft, Celebrate and Indulge – that connect guests with regional ingredients, traditions and people. Rather than treating food as an onboard amenity, Silversea is positioning it as the reason for the entire voyage, both at sea and ashore.
“With our new collection of dedicated S.A.L.T. Culinary Voyages, we’re building on our position as the small-ship leader in culinary variety to give guests direct access to the people and places that define a region’s food culture,” said Bert Hernandez, president at Silversea. He pointed to experiences such as a countess opening her kitchen in northern Portugal, or a chef teaching family recipes at home in Normandy, as the kind of access “guests couldn’t arrange on their own.”
Silversea’s S.A.L.T. Culinary Voyages takes guests across notable wine regions such as Portugal’s Duoro Valley
The collection debuts with seven sailings across Portugal, Spain, France and the UK aboard Silver Dawn and Silver Spirit, timed to Europe’s autumn Grape Harvest season between late August and late October 2026. The sailings run variously between Southampton and Lisbon, and as a roundtrip from Lisbon, ranging from 10 to 12 days, with stops at notable wine regions including Bordeaux, Bilbao, Santander, Vigo and Porto.
Onboard, each Grape Harvest voyage carries an expanded slate of culinary programming, including a nine-course dinner celebrating Iberian autumn flavours, sommelier-led tastings of Atlantic Coast wines and premium Bordeaux and Champagne labels, a Cognac and Armagnac tasting, and a hands-on S.A.L.T. Bar mixology class. A live seafood-focused masterclass with the ship’s executive chef and a foraged-ingredient lunch featuring wild mushrooms and truffles round out the onboard offering, alongside signature moments such as a Harvest Cruise Welcome and an Autumn Harvest Grand Brunch.
Ashore, the voyages tie into Silversea’s S.A.L.T. Experiences, its culinary-focused shore excursion programme. Highlights include a private port-blending session with an oenologist followed by a live-fire lunch at a UNESCO-listed Douro Valley estate; a behind-the-scenes kitchen visit and lunch with Michelin-renowned chef Vivien Durand at Château du Prince Noir in Bordeaux; a txakoli winery tasting and wood-fired feast at Michelin-starred restaurant Garena in Basque Country; a truffle hunt and lunch at the historic Château Royal de Cazeneuve; and a foraging session with a chef, forager and fisherman in Sintra.
These experiences are designed to be difficult, if not impossible, for travellers to arrange independently – a differentiator Silversea is leaning on as it positions itself against other luxury and expedition operators also competing for experience-driven travellers.
Grape Harvest marks the first chapter of the S.A.L.T. Culinary Voyages collection, which Silversea says it will continue to build out around distinctive culinary moments in other parts of the world.
More details on the Grape Harvest sailings and the wider S.A.L.T. programme are available on Silversea’s website.
Marisa Ng has been appointed associate commercial director at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore.
She joins from Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, where she served as director of sales and marketing.
Ng previously held the role of cluster director of sales for JW Marriott Singapore South Beach and The St Regis Singapore, bringing extensive experience in luxury hospitality sales and commercial strategy.
Agoda and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have extended their partnership with a new three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) that expands collaboration beyond destination marketing to include data, technology and AI-driven travel initiatives.
The agreement builds on a partnership first established in 2022 and renewed in 2024, reflecting changing traveller behaviour and the growing role of digital tools in trip planning. Under the latest MoU, Agoda and STB will collaborate across four areas: joint marketing, data strategy and insights, thought leadership and innovation, and the exploration of AI-powered travel recommendations for visitors to Singapore.
Agoda and the Singapore Tourism Board have renewed their partnership for a further three years, expanding collaboration to include AI, data and technology initiatives alongside destination marketing
The partnership will also support capability-building initiatives for Singapore’s tourism industry in areas including data science, AI upskilling and experience development.
The renewed agreement follows a joint marketing campaign launched by Agoda and STB in May 2026 to stimulate demand for Singapore and capture growing interest in shorthaul regional travel. According to the partners, the campaign generated encouraging results across its target markets with support from Singapore hotel partners.
Melissa Ow, chief executive of STB, said: “The renewed collaboration presents the opportunity to tap on Agoda’s platform reach, traveller insights and technology capabilities to strengthen Singapore’s destination appeal in the digital space. The partnership also supports STB’s Tourism 2040 ambitions, with a mutual commitment to harness technology and raise industry capabilities for Singapore tourism.”
Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of Agoda, added: “We’re excited to bring our AI and analytics capabilities to this partnership, enabling STB to reach travellers more precisely while supporting the innovation priorities that benefit the entire Singapore tourism ecosystem.”
Royal Caribbean has confirmed Navigator of the Seas will remain in Singapore through October 2027, making the ship a year-round homeported vessel and expanding cruise options from the city-state.
Originally scheduled for a six-month season, Navigator of the Seas will now operate year-round from Singapore from October 2026, offering two- to five-night itineraries to destinations in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as a 12-night repositioning voyage from Tokyo to Singapore.
Navigator of the Seas will remain homeported in Singapore through October 2027, offering year-round cruises to destinations across South-east Asia
The extended deployment includes short cruises to Penang and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) in Malaysia, and Phuket in Thailand.
Royal Caribbean said the move builds on the ship’s inaugural Asia season and reflects growing demand for fly-cruise holidays from Singapore, which continues to strengthen its position as a regional cruise hub.
The cruise line also outlined its broader Asia-Pacific deployment for the 2027-2028 season. Voyager of the Seas will sail from Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo between January and April 2027, offering new itineraries across the region, including cruises timed to coincide with Japan’s cherry blossom season. Meanwhile, Ovation of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas will join Voyager of the Seas for Royal Caribbean’s largest Australian summer programme to date.
Bookings for Navigator of the Seas‘ extended Singapore season open on August 19, while Voyager of the Seas‘ Asia-Pacific itineraries go on sale on August 26.
Chitra Rajesh Kumar, director, cruise, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “Royal Caribbean’s decision to extend Navigator of the Seas from a six-month seasonal deployment to a year-round homeport, reflects their continued confidence in Singapore as a leading cruise hub in Asia.”
Ben Bouldin, president of Greater China and managing director Asia, Royal Caribbean, added: “From long weekend escapes to memorable family vacations, travellers can now enjoy a full year of adventures from one of Asia’s most ideal cruise gateways.”
Thailand remains the top Asian destination for European travellers this summer, according to Agoda accommodation search data, with Bangkok, Koh Samui and Pattaya all ranking among the region’s five most-searched destinations.
The findings, based on accommodation searches made between April and June 2026 for stays during July and August, show Thailand retained the top country ranking for a second consecutive year. Indonesia ranked second, followed by Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Bangkok remained the most-searched Asian destination by European travellers for summer 2026, according to Agoda accommodation search data
Among individual destinations, Bangkok remained the most-searched city, while Bali held second place. Koh Samui climbed from fourth to third, Tokyo ranked fourth, and Pattaya completed the top five.
Germany, France and the Netherlands remained the three largest European source markets searching for Thailand, followed by Spain and Italy.
Across Asia, India recorded the strongest year-on-year growth in European accommodation searches at 14%, followed by South Korea at 13% and Vietnam at 12%, indicating growing interest in destinations beyond the region’s traditional favourites.
Akaporn Rodkong, country director, Thailand and Indochina, Agoda, said: “Thailand holding the top spots for a second year, with similar origin markets and three cities across the top five, points to something deeper than a seasonal spike.
“European travellers have built Thailand into their annual routine. Having Bangkok, Koh Samui, and Pattaya all represented also shows the draw isn’t a single experience, it’s a country offering something different depending on what travellers are looking for.”
Accor is adding Fairmont Rishikesh, Himalayas to its luxury portfolio in India. The 220-key resort in Uttarakhand is scheduled to open in 2031.
Set across approximately 6.5ha in the Shivpuri Range of Rishikesh, the resort will feature 220 guestrooms, four dining venues, 3,000m² of event space, a spa, fitness centre, swimming pool, kids’ club and a range of leisure experiences.
Accor will bring the Fairmont brand to Rishikesh with a 220-key luxury resort opening in 2031
Located in the Himalayan foothills near the River Ganges, the resort will be designed to reflect the region’s natural landscape and cultural heritage.
Known as a centre for spirituality, yoga and wellness, Rishikesh has also seen growing demand for luxury leisure travel, staycations, adventure tourism, weddings and MICE events, supported by its accessibility from Delhi NCR and other key markets.
Fairmont Rishikesh, Himalayas will become the latest addition to Fairmont’s portfolio in India, joining Fairmont Jaipur, Fairmont Mumbai and Fairmont Udaipur, with additional projects planned in Shimla Fagu, Goa and Agra.
The project is being developed in partnership with Javi Home, marking the group’s entry into the hospitality sector.
Ranju Alex, CEO, Accor, South Asia, said the signing marks a significant milestone in the growth of the Fairmont brand in India. He added that the project reflects Accor’s commitment to expanding its premium portfolio in destinations offering authentic and meaningful travel experiences.
Cebu Pacific restores two Vietnam routes
Cebu Pacific will resume direct flights between Hanoi and Clark on November 20, 2026, and between Ho Chi Minh City and Cebu on October 26, 2026, strengthening air links between Vietnam and the Philippines.
The Hanoi-Clark service will operate three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Cebu Pacific said it will remain the only airline operating direct flights between Clark and Vietnam.
The Ho Chi Minh City-Cebu route will also operate three times weekly, with flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
TransNusa; photo by Ejunk
TransNusa begins twice-daily Jakarta-Bangkok flights
TransNusa has commenced direct scheduled flights between Jakarta and Bangkok, operating the route twice daily from launch.
The new service links Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport using Airbus A320 aircraft, adding capacity on one of South-east Asia’s busiest city pairs.
The Jakarta-Bangkok route expands TransNusa’s international network, which also includes Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Perth, Guangzhou and, more recently, Bali-Phuket.
Separately, the airline has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote tourism and strengthen air connectivity between Indonesia and Thailand. The partnership is expected to support demand on the Jakarta-Bangkok and Bali-Phuket routes through joint promotional initiatives.
Vietjet expands its Australian network with Western Sydney flights
Vietjet launches Western Sydney route
Vietjet has introduced direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Western Sydney International Airport on January 9, 2027, becoming one of the first airlines to operate international services to Australia’s newest airport.
The route will operate twice weekly and expands Vietjet’s Australian network, which already includes Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
The airline also exchanged a memorandum of understanding with Western Sydney International Airport to support stronger air connectivity between Vietnam and Australia, with a focus on tourism, trade, investment and business links.
The new service will connect Ho Chi Minh City with Western Sydney, supporting travel and cargo flows between the two countries while providing additional access to one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions.
LOT Polish Airlines
LOT adds Hanoi to Asia network
LOT Polish Airlines has opened ticket sales for a new direct service between Warsaw and Hanoi, with the inaugural flight scheduled for March 31, 2027.
The year-round route will operate three times a week using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Hanoi will become the fifth destination in LOT’s Asian longhaul network, joining Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi and Bangkok.
The airline said the new service reflects growing demand for travel between Poland and Vietnam while expanding its Asian network and strengthening Warsaw’s role as a hub linking Central and Eastern Europe with Asia.
Ng previously held the role of cluster director of sales for JW Marriott Singapore South Beach and The St Regis Singapore, bringing extensive experience in luxury hospitality sales and commercial strategy.
