TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Thursday, 25th December 2025
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Page 73

Aviation safety leaders to converge in Manila

By TTG Asia
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The Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2025 (APASS 2025) is set to take place in Manila, the Philippines on September 10 and 11, bringing together more than 200 safety professionals from across various aviation verticals.

The event, organised by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), will bear the theme, Safety Without Borders: Global Partnerships, Local Impact.

Manila will host the Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2025

Sessions will spotlight the most pressing safety challenges today in aviation, including the future of aviation safety leadership and organisational culture, crew performance and decision-making in dynamic environments, fatigue management for crew, maintenance and dispatch, and more.

New features at APASS 2025 include dedicated Flight Operations and Cabin safety components, a joint Engineering/Airlines/MRO collaboration panel, and roundtables involving turboprop and regional jet operators, enhancing the practical value of the seminar to participants.

The event is endorsed by the Flight Safety Foundation, supported by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Subhas Menon, director general of AAPA, said: “As the Asia-Pacific region continues its rapid growth trajectory, the need for shared strategies, transparency, and trust across borders becomes ever more important. APASS 2025 will convene leading voices from across the industry to drive meaningful, and objective improvements in safety performance.”

Anantara Siam Bangkok begins US$50 million transformation

By TTG Asia
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Anantara Siam Bangkok is embarking on a US$50 million enhancement project focused on cultural storytelling, sensory rituals, and guest immersion, aiming to reaffirm its role as a cultural landmark in Thailand.

Opened in 1983 in Bangkok’s Ratchadamri district and designed by George Wimberley, the hotel is known for its murals, garden courtyards, and Thai hospitality. The upgrade, guided by Transformed. Timeless. Thai. concept, will blend contemporary design with heritage.

The guestrooms will be refurbished to enhance comfort while reflecting Thai heritage

The renovation will occur in two phases to avoid guest disruption. Phase one, until November 2025, covers Montathip and Kannika Court rooms, Garden Terrace Rooms, Kasara Lounge, pool, fitness centre, and select meeting spaces. Phase two, from May to September 2026, includes Garden Pool Villas, Parichart Court rooms, Spice Market restaurant, Kids’ Club, lobby, ballroom, and remaining event spaces.

Dining and upper-level functions remain open throughout.

New features include a redesigned lobby, Kasara Lounge, Jim Thompson Suite showcasing Thai silk, six Garden Suites with private plunge pools, a landscaped pool area, and a wellness centre with advanced equipment.

Cultural immersion is key, with daily programming offering alms-giving, cultural storytelling, and Thai botanical cocktail hours. Guests can also join spiritual ceremonies, mask-making workshops, and cooking classes, alongside subtle cultural touches throughout the hotel.

During renovations, service continues uninterrupted. Kasara guests will receive dining credits and minibar upgrades. Spa treatments will move to converted suites, and guests will also have access to The St Regis Bangkok’s wellness and pool facilities nearby, with staff assistance.

“This transformation marks a defining moment in Anantara Siam’s journey,” said Torsten Richter, general manager, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel. “For nearly five decades, this hotel has been a symbol of classic Thai luxury and cultural refinement. Iconic hotels must strike a balance – remaining relevant to the expectations of today’s traveller while protecting and preserving their heritage. Our discerning clientele, who value first-class quality and immersive experiences, expect nothing less than the extraordinary, and it is our responsibility to continually exceed those expectations.”

He continued: “We believe there is still extraordinary growth potential in Bangkok’s luxury hospitality segment. Anantara Siam has long played a vital role in anchoring the heart of the capital – not just for international visitors, but for our local community as well. We look forward to continuing that legacy, and to delivering a new era of unforgettable experiences that only Anantara Siam can provide.”

Ennismore signs deal for Mama Shelter hotel in Bangkok

By TTG Asia
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Ennismore has teamed up with Thailand’s Platinum Group to launch Mama Shelter Bangkok Platinum, the brand’s first property in Thailand. Scheduled to open in 2029, the hotel will be part of The Platinum Square, a new mixed-use development in the city’s Pratunam district.

The 578-room hotel will occupy 47 floors of a 48-storey building that also houses a four-storey shopping centre. The property will include over 300m² of meeting space and 210m² of private dining space. Facilities will feature a restaurant, sports bar, arcade, pool bar and lounge, and a rooftop area offering views of the city.

Artist’s rendition of Mama Shelter Bangkok Platinum, set to open in 2029

Guestrooms will be equipped with luxury bedding and organic bath amenities. Interiors will include design motifs inspired by Bangkok’s street culture and local elements.

The development will be located within walking distance of Siam and Chidlom BTS Skytrain stations, with further access planned via the upcoming MRT Orange Line, expected to be completed by 2030. Across the street, The Platinum Fashion Mall offers over 2,500 retail outlets.

Mama Shelter is part of Ennismore’s portfolio of lifestyle brands. The brand, founded by Serge Trigano and his sons, is a bold and playful hospitality brand offering affordable stays with personality. Since launching in Paris, it has expanded to cities across Europe and Dubai, with upcoming locations in Singapore, Zurich, Casablanca, Cape Town, and Amsterdam.

Cedric Gobilliard, brand chief operating officer for Mama Shelter at Ennismore, said: “This vibrant city offers something new to experience at every turn, and the thrill of the unexpected excites us with the signing of Mama Shelter Bangkok Platinum. Mama Shelters are living places, offering something for everyone, and we can’t wait to bring Mama’s distinctive spirit to Thailand for the first time with Platinum Group.”

Surachai Chotjurangkool, chairman of the executive committee of The Platinum Group, added: “The company is delighted to collaborate with the Mama Shelter brand from Ennismore to launch Mama Shelter Bangkok Platinum, the first of its kind in South-east Asia. This exciting venture promises a vibrant and uniquely energetic travel and hospitality experience, embodying the distinct personality of Mama Shelter.”

Singapore Airlines adopts Qualtrics platform to improve customer feedback analysis

By TTG Asia
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Singapore Airlines (SIA) has entered a three-year agreement with Qualtrics to strengthen its customer feedback systems. The airline is adopting the platform to streamline how it gathers, analyses and responds to passenger input across multiple channels.

The partnership supports SIA’s use of research, data analytics and AI to gain deeper insights into customer sentiment and behaviour. The platform allows SIA to collect experience data across various touch points and identify changing preferences or concerns.

SIA enhances data-driven service with Qualtrics’ experience management tools

SIA is also exploring the use of Qualtrics’ generative AI features to analyse open-ended feedback. The tool is expected to help the airline extract more detailed insights from written comments and suggestions in order to enhance different stages of the travel experience.

“By integrating advanced analytics with our customer experience strategies, we can better understand our customers’ evolving expectations, address their needs more effectively, and enhance their end-to-end journey with Singapore Airlines,” said Melvin Ng, vice president of customer experience at SIA.

Qualtrics president Brad Anderson added: “As consumer feedback habits evolve, thousands of leading organisations across the world, including Singapore Airlines, are using Qualtrics to understand and improve their customer experience with omni-channel insights captured across the customer journey. These rich insights provide companies with intelligence and capabilities they need to win now and in the coming era of agentic AI.”

Oceania Cruises uncorks new Gérard Bertrand wine lunch at sea

By TTG Asia
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Oceania Cruises will launch a new Gérard Bertrand Food and Wine Pairing lunch on board its ships. The experience has started on Oceania Allura during her first sailing on July 18, and will be followed by Oceania Vista in September.

It will also be available on Oceania Marina and Oceania Riviera in 2026.

Savour six courses and fine Gérard Bertrand wines with Oceania Cruises’s new onboard pairing lunch; photo by Oceania Cruises

The six-course lunch pairs dishes with selected Gérard Bertrand wines. It takes place in the French restaurant Jacques and is guided by the ship’s chefs and sommeliers. The event is open to up to 40 guests and costs US$175 per person, excluding gratuities. It will be held on selected days during each cruise.

Dishes include potato fritter with caviar, calamari risotto, duck and foie gras pâté, braised beef short rib, goat cheese spread, and chocolate cake. Each course is served with a wine from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.

This new lunch joins other food and wine experiences on Oceania Cruises ships, such as the Moët & Chandon Champagne Experience, the Dom Pérignon dinner, and wine pairing events with Mediterranean menus. There are also private dinners for small groups and other tastings held in special venues on board.

For more information, visit Oceania Cruises.

Malaysia Airlines unveils promo fares for 2025-2026 travel

By TTG Asia
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Malaysia Airlines has rolled out limited-time fare promotion under its ongoing Time for Memorable Journeys campaign, offering discounted Economy Class fares from July 8 to 21, 2025, for travel until May 31, 2026.

Return fares start from 119 ringgit (US$25) for domestic routes and 559 ringgit for international destinations. The offer applies to travel across the airline’s network, including Sydney, Tokyo, Bali, and Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia Airlines launches limited-time fare deals for travel through May 2026

In addition to discounted fares, passengers will have access to a range of services aimed at improving the end-to-end travel experience. This includes in-flight Wi-Fi across the airline’s Airbus A350-900, A330neo, Boeing 737-8, and select A330-300/200 aircraft, and the option to pre-order meals from the Best of Asia inflight menu from 30 days to 24 hours before departure.

On selected routes to Melbourne, Auckland and Bali, Malaysia Airlines will operate its new Airbus A330neo, equipped with 269 Recaro R3 Economy Class seats, 24 of which offer additional legroom. Each seat features a 13.3-inch 4K entertainment screen with Bluetooth connectivity, Kids Mode, and parental controls.

The promotion also includes discounts of up to 10 per cent on seat selection and additional baggage allowance on selected routes.

For more information, visit Malaysia Airlines.

Global Hotel Alliance strengthens leadership team with three senior appointments

By TTG Asia
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Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has appointed three seasoned executives to key leadership roles as part of its continued growth: Katharina Dein has been promoted to vice president commercial, Jelena Kezika steps into the role of vice president strategy, and Andrea Krenn has been appointed senior vice president communications.

In her new role, Dein will oversee commercial strategy, with a focus on optimising the performance of newly integrated properties, onboarding new brands, and launching new products and services across GHA’s portfolio. A long-serving GHA team member since 2013, she has played a pivotal role in brand relations and developed the alliance’s global online training platform.

From left: Katharina Dein, Jelena Kezika and Andrea Krenn

Kezika will oversee the development of future-facing initiatives to strengthen GHA’s positioning and loyalty ecosystem, while Krenn will lead GHA’s global communications strategy.

Amid global uncertainty, the need to learn and grow shines brighter: PATA

By Karen Yue
0

Despite mounting challenges in travel and tourism, business leaders and industry professionals continue to maintain a vigorous appetite to learn and grow through virtual and in-person events, observed PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid.

Noor told TTG Asia in an interview that the mood to learn, share best practices and build network is not dampened by concerns about macro-environmental factors.

Asia-Pacific tourism leaders stay committed to growth and knowledge-sharing despite uncertainty

“On the contrary, we believe that growing macro-environmental challenges, whether economic uncertainty, climate change, shifting geopolitical dynamics, or evolving consumer behaviour, only heighten the urgency for the industry to come together, learn from one another, and build stronger networks,” he stated.

Noor added that “fear or uncertainty” are no “barriers to collaboration”.

“In fact, they often motivate deeper engagement and dialogue. Industry professionals are increasingly aware that no single entity can tackle these challenges in isolation. Collective intelligence and cross-sector collaboration are more vital than ever.

“That is why events like the PATA Annual Summit and the PATA Travel Mart continue to draw strong interest. They’re not just about business meetings; they are about building community, trust, and shared purpose, especially in uncertain times,” he said.

The association’s next major trade gathering is the PATA Travel Mart 2025, set for Bangkok, Thailand from August 26 to 28. The event includes the one-day PATA Knowledge Forum on August 26, where a host of industry experts will discuss major trends and developments in the business.

PATA’s calendar of events covers a broad range of topics relevant to the travel and tourism industry. This variety is necessary, according to Noor, to cater to PATA’s diverse membership base across Asia-Pacific, made up of national tourism organisations, airlines, hotels, tour operators, DMOs, academia, and tech innovators.

“Because of this diversity, a one-size-fits-all approach simply does not work; variety in our events is not just a strategy – it is a necessity,” he explained.

Noor expressed commitment to championing learning “as a proactive investment in the future of a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia-Pacific travel ecosystem”.

PATA’s events line-up will get even more exciting next year, opined Noor, who pointed to the association’s 75th anniversary. He described it as a “significant milestone that reflects our enduring legacy and continued relevance”.

To commemorate the occasion, PATA will host two Annual Summits for the first time – one in Gyeongju and another in Pohang, both cities in South Korea.

STB, OpenAI to collaborate on AI integration in Singapore’s tourism industry

By TTG Asia
0

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and OpenAI have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the tourism sector’s adoption of advanced AI.

This marks OpenAI’s first partnership with a national tourism organisation in Asia, and reinforces Singapore’s position as an innovative destination that continuously pursues solutions to meeting the evolving expectations of global travellers.

From left: OpenAI’s Oliver Jay and STB’s Jordan Tan at the MoU signing

Advanced AI refers to systems that perform complex tasks such as natural language understanding, large-scale data analysis, and context-aware response generation. The collaboration will support the use of OpenAI’s tools to enhance visitor experience, improve productivity, and inform tourism strategies.

The partnership aims to support the tourism sector in adopting new technologies responsibly and preparing for future developments in AI. Under this MoU, STB will explore potential use cases to incorporate advanced tools and robotics within the tourism context, and evaluate their potential impact on the sector. STB will further explore the scalability and potential trials with relevant partners within the sector.

By incorporating OpenAI’s technology, it will prepare STB and the tourism sector for an AI-driven future by laying the groundwork for the tourism sector to benefit from the newest and latest advancements in AI, allowing for new applications to flourish.

Jordan Tan, chief technology officer, STB, said: “By leveraging OpenAI’s capabilities, we envision AI as a key enabler in addressing productivity challenges and accelerating digital transformation across the sector.

“This collaboration aligns with our Tourism 2040 roadmap to prepare the industry for evolving technological advancements, laying the foundation for transformative changes in the travel industry. From helping businesses boost operational efficiency to enhancing visitor experience through greater personalisation and engagement, these initiatives will ultimately encourage repeat visits and advocacy for Singapore.”

Oliver Jay, managing director of international at OpenAI, added: “Singapore has consistently set global standards in innovation, and we are proud to support STB’s commitment to shaping the future of tourism through AI. By integrating OpenAI’s technology across multiple applications, we look forward to helping STB redefine visitor experiences at scale and drive new standards of excellence within the global tourism industry.”

Ulsan’s stone age petroglyphs earn World Heritage status

By TTG Asia
0

The petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream in Ulsan have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming South Korea’s 17th World Heritage Site and the country’s first from the Stone Age.

The newly recognised site includes the Petroglyphs of Bangudae Terrace in Daegok-ri and the Petroglyphs of Cheonjeon-ri. These ancient rock carvings offer rare insight into prehistoric life, with vivid depictions of everyday scenes, rituals, and beliefs.

Ulsan’s newly listed petroglyphs offer a rare glimpse into South Korea’s Stone Age life and artistry; Petroglyphs of Cheonjeon-ri, pictured; photo by Korea Heritage Service

The Bangudae Terrace carvings are notable for their detailed whale-hunting imagery, while those at Cheonjeon-ri illustrate aspects of life from prehistoric times through to the Silla dynasty.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee praised the petroglyphs as “a masterpiece of creative genius” and a testament to South Korea’s 6,000-year-old rock-carving tradition.

The listing is expected to boost cultural tourism in Ulsan, with local authorities planning to introduce city tours and enhance nearby attractions such as the Ulsan Petroglyph Museum and Ulsan Daegok Museum.

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Hilton teams up with Explora Journeys to expand loyalty programme to luxury ocean voyages
TTG Asia | PATA Singapore Chapter debuts industry dialogue on hot issues
TTG Asia | Cross Hotels to develop Bali Uluwatu Resort