Amari Bangkok, part of Onyx Hospitality Group, has unveiled its new EV Tuk-Tuk, a modern, eco-conscious version of Thailand’s iconic three-wheeler. The service allows guests to explore Bangkok neighbourhoods such as Pratunam and Ratchaprasong in comfort while promoting sustainable travel.
Guests can enjoy convenient drop-offs at city highlights including the Four Face Buddha, Siam Square, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, and the Jim Thompson House with its teak architecture and gardens.
Guests at Amari Bangkok can enjoy the EV Tuk Tuk as part of their stay, adding a sustainable and distinctive dimension to their Bangkok visit
The EV Tuk-Tuk reflects Amari’s commitment to enhancing guest experiences while reducing environmental impact. It provides a low-emission way to explore the city, combining eco-conscious travel with cultural discovery.
Each ride is guided by a dedicated city explorer who shares the stories, traditions and hidden gems that make Bangkok unique. The experience offers convenient access to key landmarks, cultural immersion at each stop, and sustainable transport throughout the journey.
Rooted in Amari’s brand ethos, the EV Tuk-Tuk transforms each ride into a story-led experience. Guests can visit temples, discover street art, or explore shopping streets, blending environmental responsibility with authentic cultural storytelling.
Tuk-tuks emerged in Thailand after World War II and became widespread by the 1960s. While modern transport relies on taxis, buses and ride-hailing services, tuk-tuks remain popular for short trips and as a cultural experience for tourists.
Philippine Airlines resumes Manila-Sapporo seasonal flights
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has resumed seasonal non-stop flights between Manila and Sapporo, operating from November 24, 2025, to March 27, 2026. The service runs three times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays using the airline’s Airbus A321neo.
The route strengthens PAL’s network in Japan, which includes non-stop services to Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Tokyo Haneda and Tokyo Narita, as well as direct flights from Cebu to Osaka and Tokyo Narita.
The Airbus A321neo used on the route has 12 business-class and 156 economy seats, with in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Passengers received a welcome reception on the inaugural flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Manila at Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Vietjet expands Vietnam-Con Dao and Manila-Ho Chi Minh routes
Vietjet has strengthened its network with two new routes in Vietnam and the Philippines.
From December 3, 2025, the airline will resume direct flights to Con Dao, offering daily round trips from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. From December 15, the frequency will increase to two round trips per day.
Separately, Vietjet has launched its first route to the Philippines with a direct service between Manila and Ho Chi Minh City, operating five times weekly. The inaugural flights were celebrated at both Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport, with special guests welcoming the first passengers. Ho Chi Minh City serves as a hub with onward connections to Hanoi, Danang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Hue, and other major cities in the region.
Vietjet’s fleet provides complimentary checked baggage, in-flight meals, and eSIM options for international travellers.
TransNusa; photo by axell.rf
TransNusa commences Jakarta-Penang route
TransNusa has launched a new Jakarta-Penang route, expanding its regional network and enhancing connectivity between Indonesia and Malaysia.
The service initially operates three times weekly, moving to daily flights from December 1, with plans to increase frequency in 2026.
Penang becomes TransNusa’s third route to Malaysia, alongside its Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur.
The airline offers bundled fare options including Seat, Seat-Plus and Flexi-Pro, providing additional baggage, seat selection, meals and flexible schedule changes. Aircraft are configured with 174 seats, offering around 30 inches of legroom.
This festive season, Mett Singapore becomes the ultimate holiday retreat, offering Italian feasts, sparkling evenings, and leisurely poolside mornings.
L’Amo Bistrò del Mare serves refined Italian cuisine, while Canning Bar & Lounge hosts festive teas, cocktails, and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Guests can complement their celebrations with curated stay packages that pair luxurious accommodation with seasonal experiences.
Festive Italian menus, seasonal cocktails, and indulgent holiday dining await at METT Singapore’s L’Amo Bistrò del Mare and Canning Bar & Lounge
At L’Amo Bistrò del Mare, Christmas Eve Dinner on December 24 features a five-course Italian coastal menu from S$168++ (US$120), with optional free-flow Bolla Prosecco for S$88++ or Boizel Brut Réserve NV Champagne for S$128++.
Christmas Day Lunch on December 25 offers a five-course shared menu from S$138++, with the same Champagne pairings available. New Year’s Eve Golden Soirée on December 31 includes a six-course menu from S$228++ with optional free-flow Boizel or Krug Champagne. New Year’s Day Brunch on January 1, 2026 offers seafood and Italian dishes from S$168++.
Canning Bar & Lounge presents Festive Afternoon Tea from December 25 to 28 (S$88++), with optional Champagne or signature martinis. The venue also hosts the New Year’s Eve celebration with a raw bar, classic roasts, alfresco desserts, and the Midnight Pinsa Parade from S$188++, with free-flow beverage options including Champagne, wines, spirits, and beers.
Signature cocktails across both venues include Panettone Fashioned, Crimson Solstice, Espresso Grey Goose, Passionfruit Patron Silver, and Dirty Bombay Sapphire, combining festive flavours with seasonal twists.
In addition, Mett Singapore’s seasonal stays offer a full festive experience. The Seasonal Celebration package (December 24 to January 2, 2026) includes daily breakfast, welcome cocktails, and a US$74 dining credit, with rates from S$775++. The Mett Festive Escape (December 24-26) includes breakfast and Christmas Day Lunch from S$625++. New Year’s Eve by Mett (December 31 to January 1, 2026) features breakfast and a six-course New Year’s Eve dinner, with rates from S$705++.
The Hat Yai Songkhla Hotels Association has stepped in as one of the key private-sector responders to the severe floods that have paralysed Songkhla province since November 21, with the team forging their way through floodwaters daily in an attempt to rescue and provide sustenance to thousands of tourists stranded across the city.
Association president Sitthiphong Sitthiphatprapha has been coordinating food and supply efforts and helping stranded Malaysian tourists return home, with more than 4,000 still affected. He said the hotel-association network and consular partners began coordinating assistance from the first hours of the disaster, following urgent calls for help from the Malaysian Consulate in Songkhla and affected hotels across Hat Yai.
Sitthiphong noted that effective care could help the sector recover, while inaction would leave a lasting mark on Thailand’s tourism reputation; photo by Ong Sitthiphataraprabha
“We immediately set up teams and coordinated support for stranded guests,” he noted.
Sitthiphong said the current flooding exceeds the severity of the province’s last major flood in 2000, when water covered the first storey of some houses. This year, it has risen to levels knee-deep on the second floor.
Satellite data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, Thailand’s national space agency, showed on November 25 that large parts of the city – including sections of the downtown area – were submerged under more than four metres of water.
Beyond the scale of inundation, Sitthiphong said the shortage of transport and evacuation equipment created major obstacles. Large boats were needed to extract tourists from submerged hotels, and vehicles were required to transfer them onward to the Sadao border checkpoint – yet the association did not receive either in the quantities it had requested from the government.
“Tourists wanted to return home, but we simply had no cars available,” he stated.
Attempts to deliver food were repeatedly hampered by dangerous currents and electric lines floating directly beneath the surface of the water, causing many rescue boats to capsize.
Although Sitthiphong’s own businesses were not flooded, he has remained in the field coordinating responses from the association’s network and liaising with foreign missions, including the Singapore Embassy.
Sitthiphong said the economic damage can be viewed in two broad layers. The first is the immediate collapse of tourism revenue, with hotels, restaurants, entertainment and the entire visitor economy “effectively dropping to zero” during the disruption. The second is the physical toll on properties and infrastructure, with floodwaters damaging buildings, equipment and essential systems. A full assessment of these losses will only be possible once the waters recede.
Initial assessments indicate losses “easily in the thousands” of cases across the tourism sector.
Sitthiphong issued a frank assessment of the government’s preparedness and crisis coordination. He said: “I believe the government must treat this as a lesson and plan ahead to prevent a repeat of this situation. Tourists understand that this is a natural disaster. What they expect from Thailand is safety and proper care, and in this regard, we failed to meet their expectations.”
He added: “Even today, four to five days after the disaster began, many tourists still have not had any food to eat. They are very distressed.”
He emphasised that the association has poured all its efforts into returning stranded tourists home.
“If we take good care of them and ensure their safety, we can turn this crisis into an opportunity. But when a crisis occurs and we fail to act, the damage to our tourism image is substantial. Recovering that image later will be extremely difficult,” he warned.
On Wednesday, November 26, the Tourism Authority of Thailand announced it had launched a new Tourism Crisis Monitoring Centre to coordinate travel assistance for tourists with relevant authorities and deliver verified updates, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up a local command centre to assist tourists. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, partnering with Hat Yai municipality, is also preparing a 24-hour assistance centre to aid foreign tourists.
The PuLi Group will launch next year as an exclusive collection of luxury hotels, evolving from its Shanghai property into the flagship of a growing portfolio across major global destinations.
Victor Clavell, appointed CEO, will lead the group’s strategic vision.
The PuLi Group prepares for expansion, positioning Shanghai as the flagship of its growing portfolio
Drawing on PuLi’s Chinese meaning of ‘uncarved jade’, the brand aims to continue its philosophy of understated design, thoughtful service, and cultural connection. The portfolio currently comprises three properties: The PuLi Shanghai, the inaugural flagship opened in 2009, and its sister hotels, The PuXuan in Beijing and The RuMa in Kuala Lumpur.
The PuLi Shanghai will undergo a full renovation, scheduled for completion in summer 2026, with phased work to keep the hotel fully operational. Guestrooms will feature bespoke furniture, Chinese artworks, and literature, while public areas including the Lobby, The Library, and The Long Bar will be refreshed.
The dedicated wellness floor will offer spaces for movement, nutrition, social wellness gatherings, and practices designed to support restorative sleep. Additional amenities will include a Hair Up Bar, a nail bar in partnership with Bastien Gonzalez, and an enhanced wellness membership programme. A 377m² penthouse with an outdoor terrace and panoramic city views will accommodate private events and celebrations.
Culinary offerings will expand with two new destinations: The PuLi Bar & Grill and an eight-seat omakase restaurant designed by Spin Design Studio. The Long Bar will be reimagined with a new cocktail programme blending Eastern and Western influences, with both concepts planned as signatures for future PuLi properties.
The PuLi Shanghai will also serve as a blueprint for the brand’s cultural initiatives, including collaborations with local artisans and immersive guest experiences.
Clavell, whose career includes senior roles at The Ritz-Carlton, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, Edition, and Rosewood, said: “We want to redefine conscious luxury – not through scale or spectacle, but through restraint, authenticity, and calm. Our vision is to create sanctuaries of balance within the world’s most dynamic destinations – places composed with clarity, grace, and purpose.”
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has expanded its Considerate Collection, adding 24 properties in the last 12 months.
Launched in 2021 with 25 hotels, the Considerate Collection identifies the most sustainable and regenerative hotels in the SLH portfolio. The collection, which marked its fourth anniversary in October 2025, now includes 82 properties in 41 countries to help travellers find more sustainable options.
Lilløy Lindenberg, pictured, is one of 82 hotels worldwide recognised for sustainability and community-focused practices in SLH’s Considerate Collection
SLH has encouraged travellers to stay small and considerate since its founding. As the brand marks its 35th anniversary in 2025, the newly launched SLH Call-to-Action Report outlines the brand’s sustainability initiatives to date, highlights developments in the Considerate Collection, and details portfolio-wide commitments and partnerships. The report aims to showcase impact within the SLH portfolio and the wider hotel industry.
The report also details the evolution of the Considerate Collection, including a video covering the first SLH Considerate Connections Retreat. To mark the fourth anniversary, SLH gathered Considerate Collection hoteliers at Dar Ahlam in Morocco to discuss regenerative hospitality and the role of small hotels in advancing sustainability.
Entry to the Considerate Collection remains merit-based. Each property must meet three core criteria: environmentally conscious, community minded, and cultural custodianship. Properties must also meet the highest categories of the SLH Sustainability Criteria, developed in line with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council framework and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The result is a portfolio of diverse hotels that combine sustainability with small-scale operation.
Recent additions to the collection include Lilløy Lindenberg in Norway, Quinta Da Comporta – Wellness Boutique Resort in Portugal, and The Retreat Koh Chang in Thailand.
New hotels joining in 2025 include Laguna Coast Resort in Naxos, Greece, which opened in May 2025, and Namia River Retreat in Hoi An, Vietnam, which opened in December 2024. Other additions include Calcot & Spa in the UK’s Cotswolds, and Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort in Mendoza, Argentina.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) has partnered with luxury assistance provider Knightsbridge Circle to enhance the pre- and post-cruise travel experience for guests in the Regent Suite and Skyview Regent Suite.
Guests booking the Regent Suite onboard Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Splendor, and Seven Seas Grandeur, or the Skyview Regent Suite on Seven Seas Prestige, will have access to Knightsbridge Circle. This includes a dedicated Knightsbridge Circle Personal Manager who can arrange transfers, hotel stays, local experiences, dining requests, and private shopping. Access to the concierge service and Personal Manager is included, while the experiences themselves are available at an additional cost.
Guests in Regent Suite and Skyview Regent Suite will have access to personalised services from Knightsbridge Circle; photo by Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Knightsbridge Circle provides services including travel planning, private jet charters, dining arrangements, personal shopping, wellness, private tours, helicopter excursions, and access to invitation-only events.
The Regent Suite, priced from US$15,000 per night, is over 465m² and can host up to six guests. It includes panoramic ocean views, an in-suite spa area with sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi, and a formal dining area as well as exclusive use of The Study for up to 12 guests. Suites include a dedicated butler, a full bar, and choice of toiletries. Each suite includes original artwork, a grand piano, and a hand-crafted Hästens Vividus bed with a choice of linens and pillows.
From 2026, the Skyview Regent Suite on Seven Seas Prestige, the first of three new Prestige Class ships, will be the largest all-inclusive suite in cruise ship history. Starting at US$25,000 per night, the two-storey suite covers 817m², with wraparound balcony, two bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a living room, floating stone staircase, private in-suite elevator, gym, sauna, and walk-in closet.
Jason Montague, chief luxury officer for RSSC, said: “Heartfelt, personalised service is one of Regent’s core values and the ethos of Knightsbridge Circle is seamlessly aligned. By offering the tailored approach of Knightsbridge Circle, we are building on the vast range of amenities for our Regent Suite guests to curate the ultimate luxury experience.”
Stuart McNeill, founder and CEO of Knightsbridge Circle, added: “This collaboration brings together two leaders in ultra-luxury travel to craft truly bespoke journeys – from curated local adventures and exclusive dining to exceptional stays before and after each voyage. Together, we aim to redefine what it means to travel in style, offering moments that inspire long after the journey ends.”
Fufu Tokyo Ginza, Japan
Fufu Tokyo Ginza is located at the iconic Ginza 1-chome intersection, directly connected to Tokyo Metro Ginza-itchome Station.
The property has 34 guestrooms, each featuring a private garden and natural hot spring bath. Select rooms provide views of the city lights and seasonal flora reflecting traditional Japanese gardens.
Facilities include Yusora, a rooftop lounge and garden retreat with private footbaths and open-air seating, and two dining venues: a Japanese restaurant with seasonal ingredients and private rooms, and an eight-seat omakase sushi counter.
The hotel offers curated experiences around Ginza, including traditional crafts, private cruises, sumo training visits, and helicopter tours, combining central-city convenience with Japanese culture and wellness.
Pan Pacific Dalian
Pan Pacific Dalian, China
Pan Pacific Dalian is situated on Youting Road, offering easy access to Xinghai Square, Dalian World Expo Centre, and Dalian Xinghai Convention & Exhibition Centre.
The 52-storey hotel has 216 rooms and suites with panoramic views of the Yellow Sea and surrounding hills, featuring interiors inspired by Dalian’s maritime and trade heritage.
Facilities include a rooftop bar and helipad, a fitness centre, spa, as well as meeting and event spaces.
Four Points by Sheraton Pontianak
Four Points by Sheraton Pontianak, Indonesia
Four Points by Sheraton Pontianak is Marriott International’s first property in West Kalimantan and the brand’s debut in the city. Located on Jalan Arteri Supadio, it is 12 kilometres, or a 30-minute drive, from Supadio International Airport and close to Pontianak’s commercial districts, shopping areas, and historical sites.
The hotel has 196 rooms and suites, including Family Suites and a Presidential Suite with a living area, dining table for 10, and a bathroom with a separate shower and deep soaking tub overlooking the city. Facilities include a fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool, spa, kids pool, and kids club. Dining options include Lumina, an all-day restaurant; Ārana in the lobby; the open-air Sunken Bar; and 24-hour in-room dining.
The hotel offers eight meeting rooms and, from 2026, a 1,507m² pillarless Grand Ballroom with audiovisual technology and VIP lounges.
Banyan Tree Zhuhai Phoenix Bay
Banyan Tree Zhuhai Phoenix Bay, China
Banyan Tree Zhuhai Phoenix Bay sits between hills and the South China Sea, overlooking the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and Zhuhai Grand Theatre. The resort shares its grounds with Angsana Zhuhai Phoenix Bay and is close to Gongbei Port and city landmarks.
The property has 83 guestrooms and suites, including oceanfront layouts and suites with onsen-style hot springs or private pools.
Facilities include an infinity pool, ocean-view spa with seven treatment rooms, hot spring, sauna, gym, yoga room, and outdoor wellness activities. Dining options include regional and Chinese cuisine, breakfast, a whisky and grill bar, desserts, and a lobby lounge.
Event spaces include the 863m² pillarless Phoenix Ballroom, pre-function foyer, open lawns, terraces, and a sky lawn with sea views.
Loop Luxury Travel Fair will bring top German-speaking travel designers to Madeira, Portugal in March 2026. The invitation-only B2B event will gather leading leisure and MICE buyers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, three of Europe’s most affluent outbound travel markets.
The Spring edition features Loop Leisure from March 22 to 26 and Loop MICE from March 26 to 29, both at Savoy Palace, a Leading Hotels of the World member in Funchal. The hotel offers ocean-view rooms and suites, rooftop terraces with panoramic sea and mountain views, and an adults-only infinity pool.
The 2026 Loop Luxury Travel Fair will take place at Funchal’s Savoy Palace in Portugal, pictured
Loop’s format centres on pre-scheduled meetings, with 50 appointments designed to foster meaningful business connections. Exhibitors will meet luxury designers managing ultra-high-net-worth clients, while buyers experience Madeira’s hotels, nature, and cultural attractions.
The Madeira Promotion Bureau has supported bringing the event to the island to strengthen its position as a luxury destination. Loop also reaches wider European markets where demand for high-end travel continues to grow.
Those interested in taking part in Loop Leisure Spring or Loop MICE Spring can find further information on the event’s website or by contacting the organiser directly.
Hat Yai’s tourism sector has ground to a halt with “the heaviest single day of rainfall in 300 years” on November 21 as termed by Thailand’s Royal Irrigation Department submerges the province of Songkhla in its most severe flood since the year 2000, crippling transport links, and leaving upwards of 7,000 foreign leisure tourists and business visitors – mostly Malaysians and Singaporeans – stranded in a situation that is worsening by the hour.
Thai Hotels Association (THA) president Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun said operators are facing an unpredictable and fast-moving situation.
A photo taken November 26 shows floodwaters in Hat Yai, with the Al Fahad Hotel at the centre, where dozens remain stranded without water, food, or utilities as rescuers cannot reach them; photo by Weerapong Narongkul
“We are trying to coordinate and move tourists out of the affected areas as quickly as possible, but there are still many who remain stranded. In the past day or so the water levels dropped, but then they suddenly rose again. Some tourists even entered the area during that window, only to find themselves trapped,” he said.
With Hat Yai’s transport access cut off, and most of the sector non-operational, bookings have collapsed.
“Malaysian tourists have cancelled their bookings, and there is barely any business left. We do not expect hotels in the area to reopen until after December 15 or even December 20, depending on how quickly the water recedes and debris can be cleared,” Thienprasit added.
According to Sitthiphong Sitthiphatprapha, president of the Hat Yai Songkhla Hotels Association, tourism has come to a complete standstill.
“Only about 10 per cent of hotels are still open, and those properties are not open for commercial stays. They are sheltering travellers who are waiting for a way to return home,” he said.
Recovery timelines will depend on the severity of damage in each location.
“In some areas, the entire first storey has been flooded and will need to be fully renovated. Other areas have only had their floors inundated, but all of them will require time to recover before they can reopen,” he noted.
This is a heavy blow, as Songkhla, one of Thailand’s three cluster venues alongside Bangkok and Chonburi, was set to host nine sports during the SEA Games 2025 from December 9 to 20.
The Sports Authority of Thailand indicated yesterday (November 25) it will be required to shuffle the locations or relocate certain competitions to Bangkok, as at least one venue and some access roads in the province are now submerged.
Flights continue to operate at Hat Yai International Airport, although the airport has advised all travellers to plan their transportation accordingly and allow extra time when travelling to or from the airport.
Airlines have introduced relief measures for affected travellers.
Thai AirAsia is offering one free flight change for travel between November 22 and 28, 2025, with rebookings allowed within 30 days subject to seat availability, or the option to convert the full fare into a travel credit valid for two years.
Other airlines that have activated flexible rebooking conditions include Thai Vietjet Air, Nok Air, Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways.
Sitthiphong stated that the Hat Yai Songkhla Hotels Association has submitted a full list of local hotels in dire need of help, each sheltering anywhere from dozens to hundreds of stranded tourists, to the relevant government agencies.
He added that although assistance has begun, support on the ground remains unclear, poorly coordinated, and not yet fast enough to match the scale of the crisis.
“Our most urgent request right now is help for the stranded tourists. They need to be evacuated as soon as possible, otherwise they need food and essential supplies immediately. This event is a natural disaster, and they are relying on the Thai government to assist them,” Sitthiphong underscored.
A spokesperson for the Kusoldham Phuket Foundation, a local charity coordinating with the hospitality sector, said they hope water levels will fall by this weekend, which would allow rescue teams and relief to reach affected areas more easily.
