NEWS
Hyatt Enters 2026 With Unscripted Milestone
In the wink of an eye, Unscripted by Hyatt gains its first members and doubles Hyatt’s presence in Vietnam
Integrated Resorts May be the Next Big Thing for Maldives
Raini Hamdi checks in at Fari Islands in the Maldives and discovers why integrated resorts make sense for the archipelago
The Fairytale Story of Kurt Rufli
How a young Swiss general manager created the largest hotel chain in the early years of Thailand tourism
SO/ Maldives: The Promise vs The Delivery
So/ Maldives sashayed into the archipelago with every intention of making “a fashion statement”, the gist of the brand SO/ in three words. Is the hotel a model for the brand SO/, part of Accor’s Ennismore?
Lessons From a Retiring Hotel Industry Poster Child
He was a poster child who showed Asian hoteliers they too could rise to the top of the food chain. Arthur Kiong, managing director of Far East Hospitality, is retiring in April 2026 after 40 years in the industry. Lots of wisdom for aspiring hotel leaders in this Q&A
Lessons from Apurva Kempinski on ‘powerful’ marketing
By taking destination marketing seriously, Apurva Kempinski Bali packs a punch in positioning Indonesia
Hotels Ripe for Innovation in so Many Ways, Says Disruptor Banyan Tree
Raised in a family that is no stranger to innovations, Ho Ren Yung, senior vice president of brand and commercial, Banyan Tree Group, urges the industry to see constraints such as manpower shortage, and new wellness and sustainability demands, as opportunities to innovate. Take a leaf from the Banyan Tree
Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach: The Promise vs The Delivery
This hotel holds a special place in IHG’s Indigo brand history, being the very first Indigo resort property launched globally in 2017. Here’s a review on how Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach has delivered on the brand promise
Asset Managers Rise in Asia as Chains Hobble to Support Owners
Asset management is relatively new to Asia but that is set to change as downsized chains hobble to support owners
Asian Elephant Tourism Needs New Optics, This Thai Resort Shows a Way
For observation-only elephant tourism to take off, it has to look appealing. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Thailand shows a way with its Jungle Bubble idea. It’s jumbo good and important as the kingdom reopens
How to Keep a Brand Alive and Kicking
Too many brands, too little differentiation. Veteran hotel CEO Stephan Vanden Auweele writes about it and offers his views on how brands could stay current despite ever-changing needs of customers
Do’s and Don’t’s of Running a Family Business
More owners in Asia are passing the baton to the next generation. Success is no guarantee. New Zealander Gavin Faull, founder of Hong Kong-based Swiss-Belhotel International, tells Hotels-Asia how he got all his three sons up-and-running at the chain