Each sailing is built around four core pillars designed to support a holistic approach to self-care: Culinary nutrition, physical activity, mental wellbeing and education in longevity science. 

Guests can participate in nutrition consultations, cooking demonstrations and culinary workshops.

Sailings

Fort Lauderdale to Las Palmas, Canary Islands | 20 March – 2 April, 2027 — Crystal Symphony.

Panama to New York | 3 August – 3 September, 2027 — Crystal Serenity.

New York to San Juan | 12-21 October 2027 — Crystal Serenity.

Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale | 8-22 November 2027 — Crystal Symphony.

Specialists onboard include Jenni Demus, Yoga and Mental Wellbeing Specialist; Minna McHale, Strength and Fitness Specialist; Lacey Cleland, Fitness and Dance Workout Specialist; Mandi Appelberg, Fitness and Sound Healer Specialist; Eva Estandler, Yoga and Sound Healer Specialist; Chef Abbie Gellman, Culinary Nutrition Specialist; Sabrina Sawall, Yoga and Sound Healer Specialist; and Mary Ann Adornato, Pilates Specialist and Doctor of Physical Therapy.

(Source: Crystal)

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In his new role, Tomkies will lead all the operational departments and elevate the guest experience at the NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort. He brings nearly three decades of hospitality experience to the Maldives resort, having led some of the world’s most respected hotels and resorts. 

He first joined Minor Hotels in 2024 as Cluster General Manager of the Anantara Kalutara Resort and Avani Kalutara Resort in Sri Lanka. Most recently, he served as General Manager, China Operations for Minor Hotels, overseeing hotel operations and development projects across the country.

NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort is located on a private island 400 km south of the capital city of Male. An isolated haven, the resort is home to 120 villas — 60 overwater and 60 beachfront. NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort is one of Minor Hotels’ nine resorts in the Maldives, giving travellers the choice of luxury, premium and select service resorts to match their desired experience.

(Source: Minor Hotels)

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The virtual forum provided a dedicated platform for operators of turboprop and regional jet aircraft to discuss the unique operational challenges of regional aviation across the Asia-Pacific. 

Participants exchanged information on safety performance, operational trends, training, human performance, and future priorities to strengthen aviation safety further.

The meeting was attended by operators from across the region together with aircraft manufacturers ATR, Embraer and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada. ATR and Embraer shared valuable manufacturer perspectives on operational safety and training.

Speaking at the event, Bangkok Airways’ Chairman, Captain Somchai Sopanon, said that regional and turboprop operations are essential to connectivity and economic development in many communities across the Asia Pacific. While these operations often present unique operational challenges, they also provide significant opportunities for collaboration. 

Today’s Safety Exchange demonstrates the willingness of operators, manufacturers and industry partners to openly share experiences and work collectively to strengthen aviation safety across the region further.

A key feature of the meeting was the confidential exchange of aggregated operational safety information submitted by participating operators. The anonymised information exchange enabled participants to identify common operational themes, discuss lessons learned and consider opportunities for collaborative safety improvements without identifying individual airlines.

Participants also received updates on two significant regional initiatives led by AAPA.

The first highlighted the ongoing development of the Asia Pacific Flight Path Management Manual, led by the Flight Safety Foundation with support from AAPA and regional operators. Participants were encouraged to contribute feedback through the regional survey to help ensure the Manual reflects the operational realities of the Asia Pacific.

Participants also received an update on the recently completed Asia Pacific Crew Resource Management (CRM) Manual, a collaborative initiative involving regulators, airlines, an aircraft manufacturer, training organisations and academia. Recently presented to ICAO’s Asia/Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Team (APRAST), the Manual provides practical guidance and aims to further strengthen aviation safety across the Asia Pacific, especially in the area of human factors.

The Safety Exchange reaffirmed AAPA’s commitment to providing practical forums that encourage collaboration, facilitate the sharing of operational experience and support continuous improvement in aviation safety throughout the Asia Pacific region.

(Source: AAPA)

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The service is available in Paro, Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi, Guwahati, and Dubai via Drukair sales counters and contact centre.

Meanwhile, Drukair confirmed that all its flights to India’s Guwahati (GAU) airport arrive and take off from Terminal 2 effective since 2 July

There are eight airlines with flights from Guwahati Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport:  Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, Alliance Air, Drukair, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Thai AirAsia.

Drukair has also notified travel agents and passengers that the fuel surcharge included in fares has been reduced in response to lower aviation fuel prices. The surcharge applies to the date of ticket purchase rather than the original booking date.

(Source: Drukair)

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More than 45,000 seats will be added to Tokyo and Queenstown by early next year.

Qantas has increased its Melbourne–Narita services from daily to 11 flights per week between December 2026 and March 2027 in response to growing demand. The new flights will add a total of 30,000 seats to the route.

Japan continues to be a favourite for Qantas customers, with passenger numbers up 8% between October 2025 and March 2026, totalling 350,000 passengers for the period.

In addition, the airline is increasing frequency across the Tasman over the summer peak for travel between Australia and New Zealand, including:

Over 15,000 additional seats between Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane to Queenstown over the summer peak.

Up to 10% increase between Sydney and Auckland over the same period, due to bigger aircraft and additional flights.

Qantas CEO International Cam Wallace said: “Japan remains one of the most popular destinations on our international network and is showing no signs of slowing down, with more than half a million Australians visiting between January and May this year alone.”

Japan National Tourism Organisation, Sydney Office Executive Director Naoki Kitazawa added: “We’re delighted to see even more flights between Melbourne and Narita, further strengthening ties between Australia and Japan. Last year we marked an exciting milestone, with over one million Australians visiting Japan.”

(Source: Qantas)

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But that pressure hasn’t impacted travel intent. New research from Klook surveying APAC travellers finds that 95% did not cancel or postpone a single trip.

Here are the key findings:

95% of APAC travellers didn’t cancel or postpone travel plans.

Despite six in 10 naming “rising costs” as the biggest factor shaping their travel outlook, travellers are protecting their trips.

47% are actively hunting for deals, and 42% are booking earlier to lock in pricing.

25% are trimming flight and hotel spending, and 19% are choosing destinations closer to home.

Travellers are increasingly putting experiences at the heart of their travel plans.

23% of APAC travellers choose their destination specifically for a desired activity.

The data points to a strong outlook for APAC travel through the rest of 2026, with resilience, confidence, and travel demand holding steady.

Destinations to watch in 2026

Based on Klook’s internal data, demand remains highly resilient heading into the rest of the year, anchored by sustained momentum in both core hubs and hyper-local cities across Asia and Europe.

Mainland China: Travellers are flocking to core cultural and economic cities like Guangzhou and Beijing.

Taiwan: Travellers are searching for local coastal and offshore getaways in Penghu, Pingtung, and Yilan County.

Vietnam: Cementing demand across Southeast Asia towards core destinations like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.

Korea: Experiences a surge in demand for coastal cities such as Busan, Sokcho, and Jeonju.

Italy, Switzerland and Germany: Capturing top travel demand in Europe, with travellers heading to lesser-explored cities such as Siena and Positano in Italy, Alpnach in Switzerland, and Stadt Wehlen and Pogtei in Germany.

(Source: Klook)

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The appointment followed the announcement in May that current managing director Chris Hall would transition to the newly created role of Chairman and Strategic Advisor.

Leigh brings over 15 years’ experience leading luxury retail operations across Australia and New Zealand, most recently as Managing Director of Breitling Oceania, the Swiss luxury watchmaker, a role he held for seven years after more than two years as the brand’s Marketing Director.

He led significant revenue growth for Breitling through strategic retail expansion, cost control and margin improvement measures. He also forged strategic partnerships with Qantas, News Corp and Nine.

GFOB President and Chief Executive Officer, Scott Nisbet, said: “Christopher’s success in growing a premium luxury brand through trade channel development and strategic partnerships is highly relevant to our sector. Whether you’re selling a luxury watch or a high-value holiday, the mindset and buyer behaviour are similar, and we are excited to enlist his experience and fresh perspective as we grow our touring and river cruise brands.”

Leigh will be based in GFOB’s Sydney office. 

(Source: Globus)

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The move marks a strategic expansion of Visa’s role beyond payments, positioning the company at the centre of how travellers discover, plan and experience trips. 

According to Visa research, travellers are increasingly choosing destinations based on passion, purpose, and experiences, not just geography. In a recent study by Visa, personal interests are strongly reflected in how consumers in Asia Pacific intend to travel – 66% intend to travel for global concert tours. In comparison, 54% intend to travel for sports events [1]. Increasingly, major cultural moments and events are magnets for international visitors and catalysts for local economies.

Available exclusively to Visa customers, through a mobile-first platform, Visa Destinations is designed around why people travel, whether they are drawn by food, fashion, sports, or simply by wandering the streets for hidden gems, and delivers tastemaker recommendations, city guides, and curated experiences to support Visa’s shift from being the way to pay for travel to becoming a travel companion.  

“Travel demand across Asia Pacific remains strong, but travellers are raising the bar on what they expect from every trip,” said Visa Head of Products and Solutions, Asia Pacific, TR Ramachandran. “Our Visa Global Travel Intentions study shows that travellers are more deliberate than ever, prioritising destinations they trust while seeking flexibility and greater ease in planning. Interest in distinctive local experiences continues to grow. Visa Destinations is expanding into key global locations, leveraging our insights and network to redefine access to experiences that leave a lasting impression and create new opportunities for our partners across the travel economy.

Visa Destinations is available and curating experiences in 10 cities, comprising Paris, London, Dubai, Milan, Rome, Mexico City, New York City, Miami, San Francisco and Bangkok.  

Once on board, cardholders can enhance their trips through curated offerings across dining, entertainment, culture, hospitality, wellness, shopping and transport, such as exclusive viewing moments and Priority Access to Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Centre in New York City and the Musée du Louvre in Paris, as well as dining experiences tastemakers recommend.

Premium cardholders, including Visa Infinite and Visa Signature, can enjoy enhanced benefits and tailored travel experiences. 

Strong partnerships behind Visa Destinations

Visa has partnered with global leaders across the travel ecosystem to increase the platform’s value proposition. Global anchor partners Global Blue, Star Alliance, and Trip.com Group provide Visa cardholders with exclusive access, premium benefits, and locally distinctive experiences that bring cardholders closer to the character of each destination.

“We are delighted to partner with Visa to bring the value of the Tax Free Shopping experience to travellers using Visa Destinations. In doing so, international travellers benefit from increased purchasing power, a seamless and guaranteed refund process, and an enhanced shopping journey while immersing themselves in the destination of their choice,” said Global Blue Chief Marketing Officer Virginie Alem.

“As the leading global airline alliance, Star Alliance is uniquely positioned to offer travellers access to unmatched reach through our 26 member airlines, enabling seamless multi-airline journeys. This partnership with Visa will deliver great value to travellers through exclusive experiences that will make every journey even more memorable. We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration will unlock,” said Star Alliance Vice President Corporate Strategy, Renato Ramos.

“Travel should always be inspiring, intuitive, and rewarding. That is why, at Trip.com Group, we are constantly reimagining how journeys are planned and experienced – with simplicity at every touchpoint. Our collaboration with Visa brings this vision to life, combining secure, seamless payments with curated travel offerings and elevated benefits, turning every journey into something truly extraordinary,” said Trip.com Group Chief Marketing Officer Sun Bo.

[1] Visa’s Global Travel Intentions Study 2026

About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. 

(Source: Visa Worldwide Pte Ltd)

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As the first airline to offer nonstop service between these two cities, the new route represents a key milestone in strengthening connectivity between Taiwan and the US East Coast. A special inaugural ceremony was held at Washington Dulles International Airport to commemorate the milestone and welcome the inaugural flight.

“Washington Dulles International Airport serves as a vital gateway to the nation’s capital area. We are immensely grateful for the strong support from all our partners and guests that made expanding our network into the heart of America possible,” said EVA Air President Clay Sun. “We see immense market potential in the Washington DC, metropolitan area. This new route will seamlessly enhance EVA Air’s network across the eastern US, delivering premium service to both business and leisure travellers alike.”

The Washington DC–Taipei route operates four weekly flights utilising Boeing 787-9 aircraft configured with Royal Laurel Class, Economy Class, and EVA Air’s Premium Economy Class. This newly introduced fourth iteration of the PE class is designed to elevate the in-flight experience and offers one of the industry’s most generous seat pitches, delivering enhanced comfort and functionality for long-haul travellers. 

Flight schedule

 EVA Air continues to expand its presence in the North American market, now serving 10 key gateways, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Washington DC, Vancouver, and Toronto, with 98 flights per week.

EVA Air has consistently been recognised as one of the world’s safest airlines, maintaining its SKYTRAX 5-Star Airline rating for 11 consecutive years and earning top safety rankings from AirlineRatings.com for 13 consecutive years. The carrier has also received industry recognition for its premium service, including awards for its in-flight beverage programme. 

(Source: EVA Airways Corporation)

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As part of an agreement with Fujita Corporation, the resort will mark the Alila brand’s debut in Japan, bringing its philosophy of mindful luxury to Sengokuhara, a highland district of Hakone known for its mineral-rich hot springs, open grasslands, forested ridges, and enduring sense of calm.

Set within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Sengokuhara has long been regarded as a tranquil escape from urban life. Japanese and international travellers appreciate the national park for its seasonal beauty, art museums, volcanic terrain and panoramic views toward Mt. Kintoki. 

In autumn, its celebrated pampas grass fields sway softly across the landscape, creating one of Hakone’s most iconic natural scenes. It is this balance of stillness and elemental beauty that makes Sengokuhara a natural home for Alila’s first hotel in Japan.

“With 19 properties globally, including 13 in Asia, we are excited to announce plans to introduce the Alila brand to Japan,” said Hyatt Group President, Asia Pacific, David Udell.

The design of Alila Sengokuhara Hakone will embody minimalist architecture by internationally acclaimed Kengo Kuma and Associates.

Rather than imposing itself on the landscape, the resort is envisioned as an architectural journey that moves with the land. Built forms will follow the site’s elevation changes, allowing the surrounding forest and mountains to become part of the guest experience. Layered views and materials will create a sense of subtle continuity between interior and exterior spaces.

Onsen culture through an Alila lens

At the heart of Alila Sengokuhara Hakone will be a wellbeing experience shaped by one of Japan’s most treasured traditions: the onsen. It will feature 60 rooms, including 11 suites, each with a private natural hot spring bath, allowing guests to experience the restorative qualities of Hakone’s thermal waters in a deeply personal setting.

The project will further strengthen the relationship between Hyatt and Fujita Corporation, which has cultivated a longstanding collaboration on notable hospitality projects.

“We are honoured to have the opportunity to welcome Hyatt’s luxury brand, Alila, to Sengokuhara in Hakone, marking the Alila brand’s debut in Japan,” said  Fujita Corporation President Yoji Okumura.

“Fujita has cultivated a longstanding partnership with Hyatt, including serving as the owner of Grand Hyatt Seoul and, more recently, as the contractor for Park Hyatt Niseko HANAZONO. In this new project, we will maximise Sengokuhara’s value by embracing its rich natural environment and integrating the expertise of leading architects, interior designers and landscape architects. We anticipate Alila Sengokuhara Hakone becoming a new benchmark for luxury resorts in Japan and providing a profoundly moving experience for guests from both Japan and around the world.”

There are currently 22 Hyatt hotels across nine brands in Japan. The introduction of the first Alila hotel in Japan will bring Hyatt’s Japan portfolio to 10 brands, supporting Hyatt’s broader ambition to double its portfolio in the country over the next decade.

 (Source: Hyatt Hotels Corporation)

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