The long-delayed Singapore-Australia travel bubble could be established in the next week or so, as both governments enter final talks on the arrangement, revealed Australian prime minister Scott Morrison this morning, according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald.
The talks are focused on allowing vaccinated students and business travellers to benefit from the arrangement first, before opening up to tourists. Top-most priority is to bring Australians home.
As with Australia’s plans to resume international travel, the Singapore-Australia travel bubble will also depend on the quarantine arrangements of each state. At present, New South Wales and Victoria have removed mandatory hotel quarantine for vaccinated international travellers from November 1.
International visitors may be welcomed “before the end of the year”, said Morrison, but he emphasised that the country’s reopening will not be rushed.
Morrison’s announcement is met quickly by flight adjustments on the part of Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Jetstar.
Singapore Airlines will add daily flights to Sydney from December 1, while Qantas will restart flights between Singapore and Sydney on November 23, four weeks ahead of schedule. Qantas’ Singapore-Sydney operations will run thrice a week with an A330 aircraft, and be ramped up to daily from December 18.
Jetstar will fly from Melbourne and Darwin to Singapore from December 16.
Qantas and Jetstar’s scale-up of Singapore services is part of the airline company’s overall restart of more international flights in preparation for Australia’s planned reopening without quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated arrivals next month.
Commenting on Qantas and Jetstar’s decision to speed up flight resumption to a number of destinations, including Singapore, Australian Tourism Export Council’s managing director Peter Shelley said: “This is another strong sign that Australia is on the path to reopening, giving hope to thousands of tourism businesses who have been left without an income since March 2020.
“While this move is about getting Australians back home and families back together, it will also help the industry to open up and fine tune services for the resumption of full-scale travel.”
Around the world the desire to travel is palpable. Research from McKinsey puts 
Six Senses Fort Barwara, India
The 14th-century Six Senses Fort Barwara has been sensitively transformed into a 48-suite resort in a conservation effort that has taken more than a decade to complete.
Once owned by a Rajasthani Royal Family, the hotel property incorporates two original palaces and two temples within the walled fort. Suites in the East Wing overlook the countryside and those in the West Wing offer views to Barwara village and beyond. Each suite is designed in a contemporary Rajasthani style to complement the historic backdrop of the fort while subtly incorporating state-of-the-art in-room technology along with the groundbreaking Sleep With Six Senses standards. These include handmade mattresses, cotton bedding, and additional sleep amenities to promote a good night’s sleep.
The hotel features the 2,800m2 Six Senses Spa and fitness centre, where signature massages, Ayurvedic treatments, nurturing facials, mindfulness practices, and personalised wellness programmes are offered.
Guests can go on a culinary journeys through Roohani, the hotel’s flagship dining destination where local produce are used to create Rajasthani-inspired dishes.
The Barwara Royal Ballroom is ideal for weddings and other celebrations.
Hyatt Place Beijing Shiyuan, China
The 136-room Hyatt Place Beijing Shiyuan sits in the Chinese capital’s Yangqing district, which is regarded as the Summer Capital of Beijing. The district is known for its remarkable natural landscapes, and is close to Badaling Great Wall and the Beijing Garden Expo Park.
The hotel features the Hyatt Place brand’s intuitive design, casual atmosphere and practical amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and 24-hour food offerings.
Breakfast is served at Gallery Kitchen, while Gallery Lounge features specialty coffees and premium beers, as well as wines and cocktails.
Club Wyndham Flynns Beach, Australia
Club Wyndham Flynns Beach has doubled its size following an expansion, and now features an additional 53 one- to four-bedroom villas, with 20 designated as Deluxe, 25 as Grand and eight as Presidential.
The four-bedroom Presidential villas are designed as an unparalleled product within New South Wales’ Port Macquarie region, featuring four spacious bedrooms, four bathrooms, full kitchen, laundry facilities, a private ground floor deck with outdoor spa, and a large upper balcony.
The project also saw the creation of a new café, games area, kids’ pool, common area pavilions and car parking, as well as a refreshed gym and refreshed reception.
The resort has also enhanced its offerings further by including complimentary bike hires, fishing equipment, body boards and a beach cricket set for Club members.
The Orient Jakarta, Indonesia
The new boutique hotel opens in Central Jakarta with 153 guestrooms across 32 floors. It is designed to bring guests on a nostalgic journey inspired by a bygone era of Asia.
Seven room categories are offered, ranging in sizes 32m2 to 265m2. Each room promises panoramic views of the Jakarta skyline.
Guests have various F&B destinations to enjoy: Caspar Spanish restaurant, Furusato Izakaya Japanese diner, The Library Lounge, and The Pool Bar.
The hotel also features an infinity swimming/hydrotherapy pool, and a gym and spa will soon open.
The Orient Jakarta is designed by landscape architect and maximalist interior designer, Bill Bensley, who has brought in traditional art form with a pop art twist.