Located at the southern end of Sydney’s Central Business District, the 31-story hotel is in proximity to Central Station, Sydney Light Rail’s Haymarket station, Chinatown, Darling Harbour, the International Convention Centre, leading universities, and Sydney’s emerging Tech Central precinct.

Radisson RED Sydney Haymarket will feature 328 rooms, a restaurant, a lobby café-bar, a pool bar, meeting rooms totalling 218 square metres, an outdoor swimming pool, and a fitness centre. 

The property’s location, just 200 metres from Central Station and 6.3 kim from Sydney Airport, provides strong connectivity across the city and beyond. Its position at the gateway to the CBD also puts guests within walking distance of Sydney’s key commercial, cultural, educational, and entertainment destinations.

The signing of Radisson RED Sydney Haymarket further strengthens Radisson Hotel Group’s development momentum in Australasia, where the group continues to expand through a targeted mix of lifestyle, upper-upscale, resort, and conversion opportunities in key urban and leisure destinations.

(Source: Radisson Hotel Group)

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The airline will also add more flights to Cape Town (South Africa), Haneda, Tokyo (Japan), Bridgetown (Barbados), Kingston (Jamaica) and San José (Costa Rica) for the winter timetable starting this October. 

The new schedule reflects a 9% growth in British Airways’ long-haul route network, as the airline continues to invest in providing more choice for customers.  

These planned new routes and frequency growth for winter 2026 are in addition to short-term capacity increases to destinations to meet customer demand, driven by the situation in the Middle East. British Airways has already added seven extra return services to Bangkok and Singapore and will continue to review its schedule and add additional flights to destinations as needed. 

WINTER 2026  

Melbourne, Australia 

British Airways will commence flights to Melbourne, Australia, from 9 January 2027, launching in time for the Australian Open and the Melbourne Grand Prix. Flights will operate daily year-round from London Heathrow, via Kuala Lumpur, using a 214-seat 787-9. 

Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria, known as the country’s cultural hub and world-renowned for its coffee scene. It’s also the gateway to southern Australia and its array of attractions, including Grampians National Park, the Great Ocean Road, and the High Country, with its breathtaking landscapes and famed vineyards. 

Customers have a choice of four cabins — World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), Club World (business class) and First. Return fares start from UKP1,130 (including taxes and carrier fees). 

Colombo, Sri Lanka 

Launching on 23 October 2026, British Airways will fly three times per week from London Gatwick to Colombo, the gateway to Sri Lanka.  

The route will operate for the winter season only, taking customers directly to the Indian Ocean island and home to picturesque beaches, scenic wildlife, vibrant culture and rich cuisine.   

Customers have a choice of three cabins – World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and Club World (business class). Return fares start from UKP620 (including taxes and carrier fees). 

(Source: British Airways)

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Polled annually since 2005, SmartTravelAsia this year monitors travellers demanding security and service, while Dubai drops out of the top spots as Bangkok, Macau, Tokyo, Vietnam, and Bali climb; Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong gain from rerouted traffic. Here is a peek preview of the rankings and honours in 2026.

Waldorf Astoria Dubai,  Qatar Airways fly the desert flag

UAE destinations, airlines and hotels, which had held significant positions in previous years, disappeared from the top 10 lists — this, with two major exceptions: Qatar Airways (first for Business Class) and Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah (Top 10 for Luxury) — as several major brands subsisted on weekend staycation traffic, or closed.

SIA, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines soar

Singapore Airlines easily held on to the first spot as Best Airline Overall Worldwide — first for Cabin Service, followed closely in second place by Cathay Pacific. This poll marked a strong return for Malaysia Airlines (third for Cabin Service and sixth overall). Singapore’s Scoot flew away with the Best Budget Airline in Asia, nudging ahead of long-dominant AirAsia (second) with HK Express third. Boutique carrier Bangkok Airways posted an emphatic sixth place for cabin service, ahead of Thai Airways in eighth.

The search for emotional takeaways — and Service

International travellers looked for safe options with an eye on quality service. The need for an emotional takeaway and human connection was evident in the Best Hotel Service List (the hallmark of quality), which was packed to the rafters — almost every high-ranking property was listed here, and this category received the most votes. Travel uncertainties, combined with higher costs, also created pressure to find value beds without sacrificing service. 

Brand recognition is clearly at the heart of it. This year’s top Hotel for Service was the fairly new all-villa Raffles Sentosa Singapore that led a feisty pack just ahead of Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, The Peninsula Manila, and MGM Macau (in joint second place), and Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok (tied in third).

Top-ranked city-airport combo, boosted local hotels

Bangkok ranked as the top Holiday Destination while its airport was in eighth place. Tokyo ranked second (with its two airports in the top 10), and Bali and Kyoto shared third place. Singapore continued to make a strong showing in the top spot for Business & Meetings with its Changi Airport unopposed at No 1 among the World’s Best Airports. A strong destination-airport combination proved a boon for hotels in several cities.

Hong Kong made a huge comeback after several years in the doldrums. Cathay Pacific Airways ranked second Overall Worldwide (after SIA) and for Cabin Service, while the city placed third for Meetings and fourth for Leisure. 

Hong Kong International Airport ranked second worldwide, and the Peninsula Hong Kong (awaiting a huge multimillion-dollar redo) was placed first for Luxury with Regent Hong Kong in third and Upper House fourth. 

Revamping Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong and the busy Four Seasons secured a joint second place for Business and Meetings. The tiny neighbouring enclave of Macau (with a struggling airport) placed a strong fifth spot among Top Holiday Destinations in Asia as well as for Meetings, some of this fuelled by Hong Kong’s success. This helped float a few boats — MGM MACAU No 3 for Luxury and MGM COTAI No 3 for Meetings;  The Londoner (No 3 for Families), Artyzen Grand Lapa (No 7 Families), Parisian, Wynn, and Grand Lisboa Palace Resort.

Malaysia rocketed up the ranks with KLIA ranking the No 3 Best Airport Worldwide (and five KL hotels in the Top 10) just ahead of Incheon Seoul and Haneda Tokyo

Vietnam made an impressive showing with a range of hotels and destinations in the Top 10 — Mia Saigon was rated the No 1 Boutique Hotel in Asia with Alma Resort Cam Ranh and Park Hyatt Saigon both placing Top 5 in other categories.

Top brands and hotel groups with highest recognition

TOP BRANDS AT A GLANCE 2026: Singapore Airlines (Best Airline Worldwide, and for Cabin Service); Qatar Airways (Best Business Class Worldwide); Scoot (Best Budget Airline Asia); Singapore Changi Airport (Best Airport Worldwide); Bangkok (Best Holiday Destination); Singapore (Best City for Meetings); The Peninsula Hong Kong (Best Luxury Hotel, Asia); Mia Saigon (Best Boutique Hotel, Asia); Andaz Bali (Best Lifestyle Hotel, Asia); Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (Best Business & Meetings Hotel); Banyan Tree Samui (Best Spa Hotel); AYANA Resort Bali (Best Wedding Hotel); Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya (Best Family Hotel, two years in a row), Raffles Sentosa Singapore (Best Hotel for Service); and the reimagined Anantara Siam Hotel Bangkok (Best New Hotel, after a USD50 million facelift).

TOP HOTEL GROUPS: A few brands dominated the rankings this year. These included Hyatt (with the hugely popular Park Hyatt brand at the fore and Andaz making an impact); InterContinental (rolling out Kimpton, Regent, Holiday Inn, Vignette Collection, and InterCon); Mandarin Oriental (with a clutch of old, new, and the remodelled); Capella (which featured several properties in the Luxury and Boutique Lists); Rosewood; and Shangri-La. Others with a notable number of placements included Aman Resorts; luxe MGM with two wins in Macau; Thailand’s homegrown Centara; and India’s Oberoi and Taj.

JAUNTY INDEPENDENTS: It was equally a celebration of jaunty independents that caught traveller attention — and not for the lowest prices — from Amorita and The Funny Lion in the Philippines to Soori (Penang and Bali), Samode Palace and The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa (India), to Eastern & Oriental Penang, the stately riverfront Mia Saigon, and rambunctious bamboo-inspired Bambu Indah (Bali). Our Top 10 Boutique Hotels List is packed with exciting brands that hold out much promise, from old standout Dwarika’s Kathmandu to Dolkhar Ladakh and Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary.

Reader trips, interests, and engagement

TRIPS GO REGIONAL: Readers on average took 12 air trips (same as in 2025) but with a greater share of these on domestic, short-haul, and regional routes as Mid-East blockages pushed up Southeast Asian travel. And voters’ household income averaged USD156,000 per annum.

TRAVELLER INTERESTS: Key interests were broadly similar to 2025 and demonstrated a strong demand for authentic local engagement — dining and nightlife led the field (76%), followed by culture, heritage and history (68%); shopping (67%); spas and wellness (67%); adventure and nature (60%). Next in line were child-friendly resorts (60%); conferences and meetings (45%); resort weddings (35%); golf (28%); casinos (26%); cruises (22%); and diving (16%).

PURCHASES over the year include camera gear and phones (76%); luxury fashion (65%); cars (56%); city or holiday property (55%); duty-free alcohol (52%); and medical tourism (33%).

About Smart Travel Asia
Smart Travel Asia launched in February 2003 as the region’s first fully online publication. Many readers from the former print magazines migrated to its online presence. Over 60% visit the magazine directly via bookmarks, referrals, monthly e-newsletters, and social media, as well as through diverse searches via Mojeek, Brave Search, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Baidu, Yandex, Naver, Kagi, SwissCows, ChatGPT, and newer AI platforms.

For more information: Smart Travel Asia.

(Source: Smart Travel Asia)

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KE2183 departs Seoul Incheon at 1035 and arrives in Hiroshima at 1215. 
KE2184 departs Hiroshima at 1325 and arrives at Seoul Incheon at 1525 

The airline’s Airbus A321neo fleet will serve the route.

As the largest city in the Chugoku region, Hiroshima features a rich heritage of history, culture and natural scenery. Key landmarks include Itsukushima Shrine – a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised as one of the Three Views of Japan – as well as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the historic Shukkeien Garden.

The destination is also famous for its hot springs, culinary offerings, and leisure activities, featuring traditional hot spring towns such as Tomonoura and Kinoe, as well as local specialities like Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, fresh oysters, and local beef. 

Several golf courses are also within an hour’s drive of Hiroshima Airport, making the city a popular destination for golf enthusiasts.

Beyond tourism, Hiroshima is a key industrial hub, serving as home to Mazda Motor Corporation’s headquarters and manufacturing plants, a major Micron Technology semiconductor facility, and key operations for JFE Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The city also serves as a strategic regional gateway with high-speed Sanyo Shinkansen rail connections to major cities across western Japan, including Okayama.

The Hiroshima launch reflects the airline’s ongoing commitment to expanding connectivity across regional Japan. The airline has increased its Seoul Incheon–Aomori service to five weekly flights for the summer season, and expanded its Seoul Incheon-Okayama route to four weekly flights. The airline also operates daily flights to Niigata and Komatsu, and has added a late-night service to Osaka Kansai to offer passengers enhanced schedule flexibility.

(Source: Korean Air)

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The milestone portfolio deal, totalling 1,063 rooms, includes 14 hotels in Kyoto: 12 Garner hotels, one Holiday Inn Express, and one unbranded hotel. All these hotels will be converted, with phased openings after renovations and rebranding to embed the Garner and Holiday Inn Express hallmarks, over the next 12 months.

This signing represents one of the largest conversion portfolio deals in Japan in recent years and highlights Garner’s strong growth momentum in Japan as a midscale conversion brand within IHG’s portfolio. 

Garner is IHG’s fastest-ever brand to scale globally and recently celebrated reaching 100 open hotels since its August 2023 launch. It also marks the signing of IHG’s third Holiday Inn Express in Japan, following Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre – Midosuji and Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino.

The expansion of IHG’s portfolio in Kyoto further strengthens its presence in the city, complementing its existing portfolio that spans Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium and Essentials brands, including Six Senses Kyoto, ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo and Garner Hotel Kyoto Shijo Karasuma – and positions IHG as one of the largest international hotel companies in Kyoto.

Following the successful Garner brand launch in Japan around 18 months ago in Osaka, this deal demonstrates owners’ growing interest in rebranding hotels and gaining quick access to IHG’s leading enterprise resources, including our marketing, technology, and distribution platforms, as well as the scale of IHG One Rewards globally.

Kyoto remains one of Japan’s most sought-after destinations, attracting strong international and domestic demand year-round. All hotels in the portfolio are located across key districts in Kyoto, including areas around Kyoto Station, Shijo and Gojo, ensuring guests are close to major transport hubs and some of the city’s most popular cultural and tourism attractions.

IHG debuted Garner in Japan in 2025 with the opening of three Garner hotels in Osaka. The brand plays a distinctive role in the country’s hotel landscape, offering an affordable, high-quality option for both business and leisure travellers. Japan’s well-established business hotel segment is known for efficient, functional properties that maintain consistently high standards and has traditionally been dominated by domestic operators – making IHG’s growing portfolio in this space distinctive for an international hospitality company.

 (Source: IHG)

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The mart welcomed over 1,100 tourism delegates from 48 countries, including 221 buyers representing 215 companies from 29 international source markets, creating opportunities for tourism businesses and destinations to network and hold business meetings.

The Nepali exhibitors at PTM 2026 included Himalayan Holidays Nepal, ExpeditionHimalaya.com, Destinago Tours & Travels, Royal Mountain Travel, Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, Off the Wall Trekking, Mountain Delight Treks & Expeditions, Mountain Tiger Nepal, and Mission Nepal Holidays.

The “Nepal Pavilion” highlighted Nepal’s diverse offerings, including mountaineering, trekking, expeditions, spirituality, wellness, luxury travel, community-based tourism, and immersive, transformative experiences. PTM 2026 marked the first international travel trade show at which Nepali tourism exhibitors promoted wellness offerings alongside the destination’s broader appeal, as the country prepares to celebrate 2027 as Wellness Year.

At PTM 2026, the PATA Nepal Chapter also promoted the 7th Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM 2027), Nepal’s premier international travel trade show, which will take place from 1 to 4 June 2027, in Kathmandu, Nepal.

“PTM 2026 was very fruitful for Nepali exhibitors, and it gave us a proud moment to celebrate once again, as the PATA Nepal Chapter received the ‘Award of Excellence’ among global PATA Chapters,” said Bibhuti Chand Thakur, Immediate Past Chairman of the PATA Nepal Chapter.

Across the two main Travel Mart days, buyers and sellers took part in more than 4,000 scheduled business appointments, creating opportunities to develop new partnerships, explore new source markets, and generate future business. 

The next PATA Travel Mart will be held in Macao from 20 to 22 September 2027.

(Source: PATA Nepal Chapter)

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Driven by steady growth in travel between South Korea and Australia, the new route complements Korean Air’s year-round operations to Sydney and Brisbane.

Home to over 5.3 million residents, Melbourne is a major metropolitan centre known for its culture, arts, gastronomy, sports, and education. The service caters to expanding cultural, business, and leisure exchanges between the two countries.

The route will be served by Boeing 787-9 aircraft with 325 seats. 

KE409 departs Seoul Incheon at 0800 and arrives in Melbourne at 1830. KE410 departs Melbourne at 2200 and arrives at Seoul Incheon at 0735 on the following day.

Bookings are open on the airline’s website and mobile app.

Flight Schedule: 18 December 2026 – 14 March 2027

(Source: Korean Air)

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Accommodation search data on Agoda shows Thai travellers increasingly considering entire holidays around marathon race weekends, not only for races held on home soil, but across marathon cities in Asia.

The data is based on accommodation searches on Agoda for stays that lined up with three major marathon weekends in Asia: the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2026, the Mt Fuji International Marathon 2026, and the JTBC Seoul Marathon 2026.

The JTBC Seoul Marathon, taking place on 1 November 2026, is one ofKorea’ss most popular road races, known for its flat, fast course that winds past landmarks including Deoksugung Palace and Gwanghwamun Square before finishing at Jamsil Olympic Stadium. Accommodation searches from Thai travellers increased by 73%, compared to the same period in 2025. The race also draws strong interest from South Koreans keen to support their home event, as well as runners from across the region, including Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The Mt Fuji International Marathon 2026, taking place from 12-13 December near Tokyo, loops around Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Saiko, with runners taking in sweeping views of Mt. Fuji and the region’s autumn foliage along the way. Accommodation searches from Thai travellers for this race weekend rose 41% year on year, placing Thailand among the top three for search interest during the event. In addition to strong home-race searches from Japanese travellers, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia also see healthy travel interest during this event.

The Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2026, taking place on 28-29 November, is a point-to-point race through the heart of the capital, starting at MBK Centre and finishing near the Grand Palace, passing landmarks including Lumpini Park, Victory Monument, and Ratchadamnoen Avenue. 

Accommodation searches from Thai travellers for this race weekend rose 19% in 2026, compared to 2025. Domestic Thai travellers lead interest, while the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan also demonstrate strong travel interest, a sign thatBangkok’ss race is building its own international following.

Taken together, the data points to a consistent pattern across all major marathon cities, with Thai travellers not just attending their own home race, but also crossing borders to run in other Asian cities. This suggests that, for a growing segment of travellers, a marathon bib is becoming as much a reason for a trip as a beach or a theme park, and that fitness goals and travel plans are increasingly being considered as one combined experience.

Agoda Country Director Thailand and Indochina Akaporn Rodkong said: “Marathons used to be a solo pursuit, but are now becoming the centrepiece of a trip for some travellers. Thai travellers are among the most active across the region’s top races, reflecting a broader appetite for travel built around personal goals and wellness, not just sightseeing. At Agoda, we want to make it easy and accessible for these race enthusiasts to find the right place to stay, however far the finish line is from home.”

(Source: Agoda.com)

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This year, the sporting event has doubled from the previous year, bringing heightened competitive energy across multiple cities, with the vibrant social connection and ‘joie de vivre’ that define Club Med.

As one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, padel has found a natural home at Club Med, where active discovery and shared moments are part of everyday resort life. With over 75 world-class padel facilities worldwide, the sport is available and easily accessible to players of all levels. From beginners to experts, padel is part of the all-inclusive experience across Club Med resorts in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, including resorts in Bintan, Kani and Phuket, as well as the brand-new Club Med Borneo (opening end of 2026).

Tournament details

National tournaments began in July, with local champions earning their place at the Grand Slam Finale, which will take place from 30 November to 3 December 2026 at Club Med Phuket. Over five days and four nights, finalists will enjoy a programme of competitive matches, masterclasses and coaching workshops led by professional athletes, all set against the backdrop of Club Med Phuket.

Key tournament dates, Club Med Padel Cup

• Hong Kong City Tournament: 22 August

• Sydney City Tournament: 30 August

• Tokyo City Tournament: 6 September

• Kuala Lumpur City Tournament: 11 – 13 September

• Singapore City Tournament: 1 – 4 October

• Taiwan City Tournament: 9 October

Club Med Padel Cup Grand Slam

• Venue: Club Med Phuket

• Date: 30 November to 3 December 2026

Winners of the Club Med Padel Cup Grand Slam will receive coveted resort holidays in some of the most beautiful destinations in the world as well as prizes from Club Med’s long-standing padel partner Babolat.

Club Med partners with Tatler Padel Series

Club Med is also the Official Lifestyle Partner of the Tatler Padel Series, Asia’s first premium padel tournament. The 2026 series brings together more than 2,000 players, enthusiasts and members of the Tatler community across seven cities, culminating in a regional final in November 2026.

The Tatler Padel Series will travel to Bangkok, Thailand (22 to 23 August 2026); Singapore (28 to 29 August 2026); Hong Kong (October 2026); Shanghai, Mainland China (October 2026); and Dubai, UAE (October 2026), before wrapping up with the regional final in November 2026.

(Source: Club Med)

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Yet, in my experience, many still concentrate too heavily on the transaction rather than the reason people travel.

Travellers rarely remember how many points they earned from a journey. They remember the local meal, the heritage site, the unexpected landscape or the people they met along the way. This is particularly noticeable during the short road trips I regularly take with friends from Bangkok. We enjoy discovering destinations together, stopping at local restaurants and staying overnight in places we might otherwise have overlooked.

This growing preference for experiences is highlighted in Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook report. The research found that cultural exploration motivates 32% of Gen Z travellers, followed by outdoor activities at 30% and culinary experiences at 28%.

These findings closely reflect what I see in my own travels, even though my companions and I belong to a very different generation.

The desire to explore local culture, enjoy regional food and discover unfamiliar places is certainly not confined to younger travellers.

Loyalty programmes therefore have an opportunity to move beyond conventional points, discounts and room upgrades. Destination-specific activities, exclusive cultural encounters, local dining experiences and carefully designed travel packages could provide much more memorable and persuasive rewards.

Nearly three in four Gen Z travellers, or 73%, plan to take between one and six trips annually, while 86% prefer stays lasting from one to seven days. This pattern is also familiar to active seniors – retired or not.

My own group takes approximately six short road trips each year. We usually travel for three or four days in a 10-seat van with a driver, making several overnight stops at destinations located between two and eight hours from Bangkok. For us, useful loyalty benefits could include regional hotel packages, dining credits, heritage visits, wellness activities, private guides and transport arrangements.

Sustainability is also becoming more influential. Agoda reports that 23% of Gen Z travellers prefer off-peak travel to reduce their environmental impact. Active seniors are equally well placed to travel outside busy holiday periods because they generally have greater flexibility.

Airlines, hotels, banks and loyalty providers could encourage this behaviour through off-peak member fares, sustainable accommodation, responsible tourism experiences and rewards that disperse visitors beyond overcrowded destinations.

Gen Z are more prone to plan around experiences and expect a straightforward path from discovery to booking. 

The opportunity, however, extends well beyond Gen Z. I firmly believe programmes that understand how people actually travel, and reward them with relevant experiences rather than points alone, can build stronger engagement and more lasting customer relationships across generations.

About the author
Andrew J Wood is a Bangkok-based British travel writer and former hotelier who has lived in Thailand since 1991. He writes extensively about tourism, hospitality and aviation across the Asia-Pacific region. He is a long-standing senior member of Skål International, a former Director and Past President of Asia, Thailand and Bangkok.

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