As outbound tourism from India continues to grow, the Asia-Pacific region is reaping the benefits of simplified visa policies, good air connectivity and diverse offerings that appeal to both FITs and family travellers.
Several destinations including Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka are currently offering visa-free entry to Indian visitors, with the Philippines the latest to hop onto the bandwagon.
Simplified visas, new flights and diverse experiences are driving more Indian travellers to destinations across the Asia-Pacific region, such as Vietnam; Ho Chi Minh City Hall, pictured
“The surge in Indian outbound travel to Asia-Pacific has been greatly driven by the ease of visa. New entrants like the Philippines, for instance, witnessed a 25 to 30 per cent jump in queries following the announcement of visa-free entry,” said Aditya Tyagi, founder of Luxe Escape.
“Travellers from India are increasingly seeking immersive cultural experiences, adventure activities, culinary trails and even sporting events in the Asia-Pacific region,” Tyagi noted.
Australia is another destination which has reaped the benefits after simplifying its online visa process for Indian travellers.
“This has given Indians greater confidence in planning their trips, and we have seen a clear increase in numbers. Adventure in particular is a major attraction; where nearly 40 per cent of our Indian clients specifically seek thrilling experiences,” said Prateek Wadhwa, director, Dreamtrip4U.
For Wadhwa, destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef and Cairns have become especially popular for diving and snorkelling.
Chennai-based Sriharan Balan, managing director of Madura Travel Service shared that his company is planning to open an office in Sydney to catch up with the demand
“We are hiring Tamil-speaking drivers and guides to cater to our guests. We have student groups who are visiting Australia in November and January, while destinations like Tasmania, Cairns and Canberra are also climbing the popularity charts,” he added.
According to a Mastercard Economics Institute’s 2025 Travel Trend Report, Indian tourists are exploring a wider range of destinations. Supported by an expanding middle class and new direct flights, Hanoi and Bali have joined Abu Dhabi as top choices for Indian travellers.
According to the statistics from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, 387,117 Indian tourists visited the destination in the first seven months of 2025, a growth of 142.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.
“With direct connectivity between South India and Vietnam improving, we are seeing a growing interest of both leisure and incentive segments in the destination. Vietjet has also recently announced new direct flights connecting Hyderabad and Bengaluru to Ho Chi Minh City which will boost business traffic,” said Sunil Kumar, president, Travel Agents Association of India.
At present, Vietnam Airlines operates 21 weekly flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Vietjet – which first launched direct flights from Mumbai to Vietnam in 2022 – now has 10 direct routes connecting the two nations.
Thailand’s Department of Tourism has officially launched the Thailand Green Tourism Plan 2030, positioning sustainability as the nation’s new tourism growth engine.
Under the theme Igniting the Path to Global Green Success, the initiative seeks to balance economic opportunity with environmental and cultural stewardship, while propelling Thai destinations into the Top 100 Green Destinations worldwide.
Thailand’s Department of Tourism officially launched the Thailand Green Tourism Plan 2030 and unveiled its new Thailand Good Travel sustainability insignia on September 2, 2025; photo by Anne Somanas
Presiding over the launch, Nattareeya Thaweewong, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, underlined the urgency of aligning Thai tourism with global expectations.
“Amid climate change, shifting consumer demands, and new European legislation, sustainable tourism is no longer an option but a mandate. By reducing carbon emissions 40 per cent by 2030 in line with Thailand’s Net Zero 2065 pledge, and embedding the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, we can maintain both our cultural identity and our competitiveness on the international stage,” she said.
The plan is anchored by a four-party MoU signed on August 6, 2025 between the Department of Tourism, Mahidol University International College (MUIC), Green Destinations Foundation, and Travelife for Tour Operators.
Together, they form STAC Thailand – the Sustainable Tourism Action Center, a hub to coach destinations, certify operators, and connect Thai tourism to international platforms, guided by Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) standards.
An additional 49 partners across the public, private, and academic sectors have pledged support.
The Department of Tourism also unveiled Thailand Good Travel, a sustainability standard and insignia designed for local communities, travel destinations, small accommodation of up to 50 rooms, and tour operators.
Built on GSTC principles but adapted for local realities, the standard provides a step-by-step pathway toward international recognition. Operators certified under Thailand Good Travel can integrate seamlessly through the Thailand Green Tourism Plan 2030 localised digital gateway which is integrated on the back end with Travelife’s global database of over 16,000 operators, giving them access to new distribution and partnership opportunities.
Kaewta Muangasame, who heads the MUIC-led STAC Thailand, added that the plan draws inspiration from established frameworks like Swisstainable (Switzerland), Singapore Green Plan, and Slovenia Green, while tailoring tools to Thai SMEs.
“Our role is to simplify international standards into language that product and operations managers can act on, and to make the standards recognised and desired by the local industry” she stated.
Kaewta also added that applications are now open for Thailand Green Coaches, a new cadre of trained mentors who will guide businesses in self-assessment and certification, for which 700 people have already applied.
Peter Richards, a sustainable tourism expert working with the MUIC team, observed:
“Travelife is more than just a certification – it’s a living platform of guides, resources, and peer learning. By creating a Travelife-integrated, localised digital gateway for Thailand, with certification checklists adapted to the local market through multiple in-person consultations with groups of local operators, we are making international standards accessible for SMEs. This step-by-step approach helps them join the global sustainability movement, and we hope it sets a benchmark for localising other international frameworks.”
“With the right coaching, half the journey is easy, and the other half achievable with consistent support,” he added.
The Thailand Green Tourism Plan 2030 is backed by budget allocations in FY2568 (2025/26) and is framed as part of Thailand’s Tourism Vision by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports which pivots from high volumes to high-value, high-yield tourism.
Grand Prix Season Singapore returns from September 26 to October 5, 2025, offering race-themed lifestyle events across the city alongside the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025.
The 10-day programme features international and local partners, including New Bahru, Love, Bonito, Moët & Chandon, Adidas and Glenfiddich, alongside returning names such as Lego, TAG Heuer and 1-Group.
Visitors can enjoy live performances, e-racing simulators and interactive racing displays at Hit the Apex in Clarke Quay; photo by CQ @ Clarke Quay
Events will take place at four locations: Jam Off at Sentosa; GrooveDriver Festival at Marina Central; Hit the Apex at CQ @ Clarke Quay; and Performa: Singapore’s First Premium Retail Gallery at Plaza Singapura.
Jam Off returns with music performances, talent competitions, supercar displays and street food. GrooveDriver Festival features international and regional music acts, an all-female DJ night, a vintage car boot sale and an e-sports competition. Hit the Apex offers live music, an e-racing simulator tournament, miniature track displays and daytime and evening dance events. Performa showcases fitness and lifestyle retail, short workout sessions, upcycling workshops, interactive installations and race-themed photo opportunities.
New programme partners include New Bahru with local brands at ECA: Pit Stop, and Love, Bonito with a reaction-testing challenge at ION Orchard. Moët & Chandon will host the Elevation Lounge with hot air balloon rides, dining and photography opportunities, Adidas presents a Mercedes race car showcase and racing simulators, and Glenfiddich partners with Aston Martin for a Changi Airport pop-up. Returning partners include Lego with a life-sized F1 car and SG60 diorama, TAG Heuer with an immersive motorsport experience, and 1-Group with race-themed programming across its concepts.
Lilian Chee, director, sports, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “As we mark the 16th edition of Grand Prix Season Singapore in this milestone SG60 year, we have brought together an exceptional line-up of partners. We are proud to feature more Singapore establishments bringing refreshing additions to the programme, joining premier live entertainment performances and unique race-inspired dining and retail offerings.
“We hope visitors and locals enjoy these experiences. The Grand Prix Season Singapore promises to create memorable moments for all, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a leading lifestyle destination.”
Thomas Cook (India) and its group company, SOTC Travel, have signed a long-term memorandum of understanding with Tourism and Events Queensland to encourage travel from India to Queensland, Australia.
The agreement will cover content, education and training programmes and joint marketing, using Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel’s digital platforms and retail network to promote Queensland as a destination for leisure, meetings and incentives, business and sports tourism across metro and regional markets in India.
Queensland aims to attract year-round visitors from India with new joint initiatives in travel, education and marketing
The agreement was signed by senior leadership from Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel with Katie Mills, international director at Tourism and Events Queensland, in the presence of David Crisafulli, premier of Queensland and minister for veterans.
Queensland offers a range of experiences for visitors, from UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest to the Gold Coast’s beaches and theme parks, the Whitsundays’ island stays and sailing, and Brisbane’s riverfront precincts and dining. Cairns and Port Douglas serve as gateways for reef and rainforest exploration. The state attracts families, couples, younger travellers and business groups, with sports tourism also a focus, including interest in cricket and the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
Craig Davidson, CEO of Tourism and Events Queensland, commented: “This strategic connection with Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel is a powerful step forward in our mission to position Queensland as the destination of choice for India travellers. Through collaborative marketing, education and content creation, we’re excited to inspire more India visitors to discover ‘Australia’s Holiday Feeling’, which can only be experienced in Queensland.”
“Our intent is to create innovative, immersive, experience-led itineraries that appeal to our range of segments across multi-generational families, millennials and Gen Z, couples, working professionals and our powerful MICE corporates,” said Rajeev Kale, president and country head – holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India).
S D Nandakumar, president and country head – holidays and corporate tours, SOTC Travel, added: “Our strategy will focus on the key pivots of product development, education and marcom – we intend to spotlight Queensland’s iconic natural beauty while also showcasing the state’s hidden gems and exciting experiences – ensuring truly memorable and repeat visitations.”
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has launched the sale of international air tickets using New Distribution Capability (NDC) on Trip.com. As the first global travel service provider to integrate NDC with PAL, Trip.com now allows customers in Asia, Australia, and the United States to access the same fares and reservation services available on the PAL website through the content aggregator Travelfusion.
The NDC integration enables Trip.com to offer a wider selection of fares, including lower fares and student fares, as well as personalised ancillary products such as seat selection and prepaid baggage options. Customers can also access key post-booking services, including itinerary changes and refunds, improving convenience when purchasing PAL tickets via Trip.com.
The new NDC integration offers Trip.com customers a wider range of fares and enhanced booking convenience
The partnership allows PAL to engage more effectively with international students travelling between Asia, North America, and Oceania, using Trip.com’s smart segmentation tools. This supports exclusive, personalised student offers and the bundling of ancillary products, tailored for value-conscious customers such as students, first-time travellers, and diaspora communities. Through NDC technology, PAL can offer demand-based, localised fare bundles across markets, enhancing the overall customer experience.
Customers can also expect more exclusive NDC deals and options on the Trip.com platform in the future.
“This partnership will enable our users to enjoy better fare options and booking experiences, leveraging our extensive network and experience to expand PAL’s reach to customers in the region and beyond. We look forward to deepening our partnership with PAL to deliver seamless travel experiences to meet the evolving needs of today’s travellers,” said Kirk Wong, regional airline director, Oceania, Southeast Asia, ISC and Middle East, Trip.com Group.
Wellspring by Silks Beitou, Taiwan Wellspring by Silks Beitou in Taipei, Taiwan boasts 100 guestrooms and suites, plus 16 private hot spring rooms featuring Beitou’s signature white sulphur springs.
Facilities include communal baths, an outdoor pool, spa treatment rooms, fitness centre, children’s play areas and the Gallery Lounge.
Dining options include Mihan Beitou, a Japanese hot pot restaurant, and Bando Club for Taiwanese cuisine. The hotel is a three-minute walk from Xinbeitou MRT Station and combines hot spring wellness with Japanese-inspired design and service.
Sariska Lodge
Sariska Lodge, India
Sariska Lodge, set on six hectares at the edge of Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, offers 11 private suites and immersive experiences in nature and wildlife.
The retreat features a restaurant, bar, outdoor pool, wellness centre, stables and organic gardens. Guests can enjoy jungle safaris, birdwatching, forest drives, horseback rides, and visits to local villages and temples.
The lodge blends British-era and Rajasthani design with sustainable architecture and locally sourced materials, and is located 150 metres from the Tehla Gate, 50 km from Alwar, and around three hours’ drive from Delhi.
JW Marriott Cam Ranh Bay Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Cam Ranh Bay Resort & Spa, Vietnam
JW Marriott Cam Ranh Bay Resort & Spa has opened with 203 rooms and villas along Bai Dai Beach.
The beachfront resort features two main swimming pools, a lazy river, spa, a tree house, kids club and teens club. Guests can dine at seven restaurants offering local and international cuisine.
Nearby attractions include the region’s beaches, forested areas, and traditional pottery villages.
Courtyard by Marriott Kyoto Shijo Karasuma
Courtyard by Marriott Kyoto Shijo Karasuma, Japan
Courtyard by Marriott Kyoto Shijo Karasuma features 125 guestrooms designed in modern Japanese style with Serta beds and complimentary Wi-Fi.
The hotel offers an all-day dining restaurant, Le Bon Vivre, and a 24-hour fitness centre.
It is located in the Shijo district, within walking distance of Nishiki Market, Gion, Yasaka Shrine and Kawaramachi, with Shiko and Karasuma subway stations linking to Osaka Kansai International Airport.
There is no rest for hotel companies, as new signings, opening announcements, and asset enhancement projects are rolled out in quick succession.
According to industry analyst Lodging Econometrics, more than 15,000 hotels were in various stages of development worldwide at the end of 2024.
Hotel companies invest in robust leadership training courses to groom talents for leadership roles
Its 1Q2015 Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report further shared that Asia-Pacific excluding China (APEC) had 2,074 projects in the pipeline. These projects will inject an additional 408,213 rooms into the region’s room inventory.
The region also recorded 124 new project announcements with 20,181 rooms at the close of 1Q2025, while combined renovations and brand conversions stand at 211 projects with 43,230 rooms.
Along with these soon-to-come projects are new openings. Lodging Econometrics analysts noted 65 new openings with 11,151 rooms in 1Q2025; 296 hotels with 58,972 rooms are forecasted to follow throughout the rest of this year.
As more projects are completed by the end of 2026, APEC can expect to welcome an additional 311 new hotels and 63,544 rooms.
In China alone, there are 2,752 projects with 490,897 rooms under construction; 316 projects with 55,287 rooms scheduled to start construction anytime within the next 12 months; and 636 projects with 124,001 rooms in the early planning stage at the close of 1Q2025.
Lodging Econometrics analysts expects 1,153 new hotels with 173,704 rooms to join China’s hotel lodging supply by the end of this year, and another 765 new hotels with 133,332 rooms by end-2026.
In a people business like hospitality, these hefty developments require a massive pool of talents ready to be deployed across all functions and ranks, acknowledged human resource chiefs.
“Hilton has a huge appetite for talent, and it keeps me awake,” said Patsy Ng, Hilton’s senior vice president, human resources – Asia-Pacific. The company opened 221 hotels with 26,100 rooms in 2Q2025. It also added 36,200 rooms to the development pipeline in the same period, bringing its development pipeline to a record 510,600 rooms as of June 30, 2025.
“We have more than 1,100 trading hotels across Asia Pacific – managed and franchised, as well as close to 1,000 pipeline hotels – managed and franchised – based on signed deals. More than 700 of these pipeline hotels will happen in the next five years. You can imagine Hilton’s need for new talents,” Ng elaborated.
She estimated that Hilton could make at least 30,000 new hires across all levels in its hotels for the next five years, including more than 2,200 hotel leadership roles.
The same hunger for talent exists in Ascott, which has more than 300 new properties opening by 2028, as well as Minor Hotels, which will open 300 new hotels over the next three years.
According to Wong Kar Ling, chief strategy officer and managing director, Southeast Asia at Ascott, the new openings will create more than 12,000 new jobs, including over 1,500 property leadership roles.
Hiring habits
Human resource teams are challenged to not only put enough hands on deck, but also identify the right people for the property, brand, and role.
Craig Cochrane, chief people officer for Minor Hotels, said: “Our business is delivered through people. This places very high demands on how we communicate our company culture and make sure that the new people we bring on board understand the type of company we are and how they can contribute.”
Hilton believes that the quality of the hiring process can influence its ability to attract the right people.
“Modernising the entire recruitment process will deliver a top-notch candidate experience as a solution to the increasingly steep competition for talents,” stated Ng.
Hilton relies on technology to streamline intensive hiring processes. It deploys Hirevue, which allows job applicants to book their interview slots and record a pre-screening presentation on their smartphones. Tools such as Traitify helps to speed up same-day hire for high-volume jobs.
Hilton’s “multi-million-dollar investments” in new recruitment technology will yield a new AI recruitment system for all its hotels in China by the end of this year and the rest of Asia-Pacific in 2026.
It has also improved on its recruitment marketing, with the use of different social media platforms and different messaging to reach a varied audience for its various brands and roles.
Training season
The need for more leaders to helm new projects has amplified the importance of people development.
Ascott launched on July 1 the Ascott Accelerate talent programme to catapult high-potential associates into leadership roles across new properties set to open in the coming years. It features three progressive career development tracks: Aim, which builds foundational leadership skills essential for supervisors; Advance, which focuses on management capabilities for heads of departments; and Aspire, which grooms future residence managers and general managers.
Aspire is the first track to launch under the programme, with courses offered to around 30 associates selected from across South-east Asia, where Ascott is set to see its fastest portfolio growth.
Aim will launch next year with potentially 30 to 40 participants, shared Wong, who is also co-chair of the Ascott Learning Council.
Minor Hotels conducts Horizon, its general manager preparation programme that is aimed at existing general managers and department heads capable of moving into their first general manager role.
Cochrane told TTG Asia: “The general manager has great influence on how the hotel is brand- and culture-compliant. The general manager has the ability to embrace company initiatives or put up walls around his property while telling everyone to let him do things his way.
“The general manager is the conduit for communications between the company and the property. This is why we have to focus so much on grooming this position.”
Horizon is a long-term training module that combines face-to-face sessions, online sessions, mentoring, and various different exposures. At the end of it, participants will understand their responsibilities in a variety of areas.
Minor Hotels also grooms future leaders with its Ascent graduate development programme, which “builds the foundation for a hospitality career by allowing young talents to experience different parts of the business”.
Hilton offers two core leadership development programmes – Lead and Shine – to nurture hotel leaders of tomorrow.
Lead is a three-tier programme curated in partnership with Harvard and tailored to develop team members at different career stages. Shine is built for top-performing talents with the potential to step into leadership roles. Both are hybrid, with online learning resources that participants can follow through at their own pace, as well as virtual and in-person group sessions that facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge.
Ng said these leadership development programmes have definite outcomes – 60 per cent of Shine graduates last year have been promoted to hotel directors or general manager roles. The rest are still undergoing courses or waiting for the right position to open.
Training does not end at the top. As an ancient Chinese saying goes, one should keep learning for as long as one lives. At Hilton, general managers are supported by Hilton’s GM Academy, which instills the habit of continuous learning through online courses and presentations by external speakers, owners and other senior leaders.
Cathay Pacific has made key leadership appointments across South-east Asia and Oceania as part of a regional restructuring aimed at enhancing collaboration, efficiency, and growth.
Frosti Lau has been appointed regional general manager, South-east Asia & Oceania. He brings 25 years of experience across commercial, cargo, and operations in Hong Kong, China, South Africa, and Oceania.
From left: Frosti Lau, Jonathan Ng and Lynn See
Jonathan Ng has been named regional head of customer travel and lifestyle. He joined Cathay in 2011 and has held roles across China and the Middle East and was seconded to HK Express as general manager, corporate planning, supporting the airline’s acquisition transition.
Lynn See, who joined Cathay in 2021, has been appointed regional head of people, overseeing talent development, organisational design, and inclusive employee experiences across the region; while Steve Cheung becomes regional head of finance, bringing 12 years of experience in finance operations and regional leadership, managing financial planning, budgeting, and commercial initiatives.
Area and country leadership appointments include Kelly Tsang as area head for Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, Nicolas Masse as area head for Singapore and Malaysia, while Tony Sham and Vishnu Rajendran continue as country heads of Indonesia and the Philippines.
Other appointments comprise Ashish Kapur as regional head of cargo, Adam Nelson as regional head of engineering, and Dominic Vallado as regional head of airports.
This week at Asia’s largest sustainability forum for tourism, PHIST 2025, Phuket’s governor delivered a keynote reiterating calls for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status, arguing that the island’s competitiveness depends on decisive action from both central and local government.
Governor Sophon Suwannarat said SEZ designation would allow Phuket to act more independently when budgeting for planning, infrastructure, and environmental regulation.
From left: C9 Hotelworks’s Bill Barnett, Phuket Hotels Association’s Jayne MacDougall, Discover Collection’s Bernhard Bohnenberger, Minor International’s William E Heinecke, Phuket Hotels Association’s Bjorn Courage, and Delivering Asia’s David Johnson; photo by PHIST
“For too long we have spoken about transport links between the airport and southern Phuket, yet nothing has happened. Without SEZ status, we cannot address these issues quickly or effectively. Our future competitiveness depends on it,” he stated at the PHIST 2025 press conference.
He also highlighted the fiscal imbalance holding back local development.
“Phuket generates more than 400 billion baht (US$12.33 billion) for the national economy each year, yet we are given only 170 million baht for local development. This imbalance is unsustainable. If Phuket is to continue to drive the country’s tourism revenues, we must be allowed to harvest the benefits of SEZ designation and control our own resources,” he emphasised.
Sophon painted a stark picture of mounting waste pressures. With 13 million visitors last year, Phuket generated 1,200 tonnes of waste per day, but can only process 700 tonnes. The remainder is dumped at a Saphan Hin landfill. An incinerator is in development and a waste-sorting facility is planned in Thalang to manage future volumes.
The growing local wastewater management crisis is equally urgent.
“We sell Phuket through its beaches, but once wastewater starts to flow into the sea, the island will no longer be appealing,” he warned.
Four new treatment plants are under construction, with five more in the pipeline covering Patong, Karon, and Choeng Thalay.
“The project will rely partly on local administrative budgets, but we must also seek support from the central government. This is an urgent issue – the system should be operational within a year, and, in my view, it is even more important than traffic infrastructure,” he stated.
Phuket is also bracing for a looming water shortage, with 16,000 new residential units set to open next year. To avoid drilling into the fragile local water table, the province is negotiating with Suratthani to pipe raw water from the Chiew Lan Dam via Krabi and Phangnga. Current stopgap measures, the governor cautioned, are unsustainable.
The governor also called for stronger protection of natural buffers.
At Layan Beach, a new community park will be established to expand green space and curb illegal construction.
“We need to conserve green forest zones to prevent mudslides and maintain climate resilience,” he said, pointing to mangrove forests along the Gulf of Thailand as vital breeding grounds for marine species.
On infrastructure, Sophon noted progress with a new motorway through Krathu and a road funded by Laguna Phuket group, while discussions continue with the Ministry of Commerce on a central-island monorail.
Hospitality leaders backed the governor’s urgency. William E Heinecke, chairman and founder of Minor International, echoed the call for Phuket to secure SEZ ratification.
“Phuket needs the ability to plan, fund, and implement its own infrastructure solutions. Without this, tourism and community life will both suffer,” he said.
Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks and founding organiser of PHIST, pointed to the need for broader community engagement.
“The Phuket Hotels Association now has 108 members, but hotels only account for one per cent of this island. The other 99 per cent is communities. We want to champion public–private partnerships that elevate the quality of life for local people,” he underscored.
PHIST 2025, held at Angsana Laguna Phuket, is now in its eighth year and drew a record 1,300 delegates for 25 sessions, sustainable fashion and gastronomy showcases, and best-practice awards.
With arrivals slowing and visitor preferences shifting, the forum highlighted how the private and public sectors must collaborate once again – as they did during Phuket’s Sandbox initiative – to reposition the island as a model for sustainable urban resort planning.
The event was organised by the Phuket Hotels Association, C9 Hotelworks and Greenview, with support from Pan Pacific Hotels, Winnow, Luxury Escapes, Tuu, Delivering Asia, QUO, and SaiYok Springs.
Efforts to deepen staff’s skill sets and leadership opportunities as well as redesign processes to build a more inclusive workforce have earned Parkroyal Collection Pickering hotel the Workforce Transformation Award 2025.
Jointly presented by Workforce Singapore (WSG) and the Singapore Hotel Association, the award recognises hotels that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to job transformation and human capital development.
Parkroyal Collection Pickering wins the Workforce Transformation Award 2025 for advancing inclusive hiring, career development, and job redesign in hospitality
Kung Teong Wah, general manager of the hotel, told TTG Asia in an interview that the hotel’s ongoing career conversion programmes are instrumental in earning WSG and SHA’s recognition.
The career conversion programme identifies “intelligent Singaporeans” who have the capability to take on new responsibilities and deepen their contribution to the property. These identified talents are then given skills training with support from WSG, career development opportunities, and higher wages.
One of the converted staff is a Nanyang Technological University graduate who expanded her sales role to include both channel distribution and F&B revenue optimisation. Another employee, a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was moved from an asset and lifestyle management role into a managerial position overseeing quality and process improvement.
“We have many, many other similar examples of how we have career-converted our staff through job redesign, career development, and profit sharing,” said Kung, adding that this process is necessary since “young people join companies wanting to acquire new skills, land a better job, earn a better pay, and lead a better life”.
He noted that younger staff tended to lose interest in their job within 12 to 24 months, and would move on to something else that excited them.
“If the employer can offer career development opportunities and give them something to look forward to, they will be very engaged and will stay. We hope that what we do (through the career conversion programme) will help Singapore to develop talents for the hospitality industry,” said Kung.
Another success story in Parkroyal Collection Pickering’s job transformation efforts is the hiring of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Five per cent of the hotel’s employee community are PWDs who are able to contribute to the hotel following careful job redesign that bear their strengths in mind.
Citing an example, Kung said an associate with vision impairment is tasked with folding napkins in the uniform room. Her work space is designed with her in mind – a black-topped table is provided to offer stark colour contrast for ease of work.
“When she started with us, she would fold 180 to 200 napkins in five hours. Now, she can do more than 600. When she is on leave, her absence is obvious for all to see. She is probably one of the most important persons in our team today,” shared Kung.
Parkroyal Collection Pickering’s inclusive team also comprises mature workers – defined in Singapore as people aged 40 and above. The hotel’s workforce has 39.1 per cent mature workers, of which five per cent are aged above 65 years old. The oldest associate is 76 years old.
Kung shared that processes are altered to allow mature workers to still contribute to the business. For example, younger and stronger staff are assigned to clear stations and tables, so that older colleagues will not have to perform the labour-intensive function.
“We are all very proud that Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG, the parent company) promotes inclusive hiring,” he added.
Kung emphasised that PPHG’s commitment to hire PWDs and mature workers are not a “social effort”, but one that is driven by “enterprise need”.
“These people are our human capital and the work they do cannot be done by others,” he remarked.
Parkroyal Collection Pickering’s job transformation efforts are part of PPHG’s Project Lighthouse, which is aligned with the nation-wide Job Transformation Map for the Hotel Industry programme led by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and WSG.
With Project Lighthouse now complete and Parkroyal Collection Pickering’s job transformation efforts showing positive outcomes, Jastina Balen, director of communications with PPHG, said “fundamental principles” in job transformation will be shared with all hotel general managers in the group.
She recalled strong interest in what Kung and his team were doing when their initiatives were presented at PPHG’s last global leadership conference.
“We hope that some of our job transformation initiatives can be repurposed globally,” said Balen, adding that general managers will be given flexibility to decide what areas of job transformation will be relevant to their teams.
Kung said “a simplified version of what we have done” has been produced as an interactive playbook by STB and WSG, and will be shared with hotels nation-wide.
