DOHA, 19 August 2026: Qatar Airways Holidays is poised to launch Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2026 packages, and for the first time, three-day Formula 1 race tickets have been integrated into Qatar Stopover packages along with flights and hotel accommodation.
It will allow passengers transiting through Hamad International Airport to transform their journey into a Grand Prix getaway.
Photo credit: Qatar Airways.
The new offering complements Qatar Airways Holidays’ existing Formula 1 fan packages, giving travellers another way to experience the race at Lusail International Circuit while discovering Qatar’s calendar of entertainment, cultural attractions, and world-class hospitality.
The enhanced Qatar stopover experience will include a three-day T16 Grandstand ticket to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2026 as part of the package, offering fans spectacular views of the final sector of the Lusail International Circuit and one of the race’s most exciting sections.
While Qatar Airways Holidays continues to offer its popular Formula 1 packages featuring flights, accommodation and race tickets, the new Stopover packages introduce an additional way for travellers across the Qatar Airways network to experience the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2026 as part of their journey, whether travelling to Doha for business or leisure.
To book the new Stopover packages, customers need to make sure their search dates fall between 27 and 29 November 2026. After selecting their flights and preferred hotels, the three-day race ticket will be included in their package.
The Formula 1 inclusive Qatar Stopover packages are expected to be available for booking through Qatar Airways Holidays later this month.
BANGKOK, 19 August 2026: Bangkok-based Nok Air intends to reinstate flights to India after suspending all international routes in June 2025, but it will face tough competition from Thai AirAsia on the route.
Nok Air says it plans to operate direct flights from Bangkok (DMK) to Hyderabad (HYD), India, starting 14 October, 2026.
Online advance timetables confirm Nok Air will fly a four-weekly service on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays using a B737-8 with 189 seats.
Currently, the airline flies to domestic cities in Thailand but intends to reintroduce flights to gateway cities in India during the winter timetable from October 2026 to March 2027.
Meanwhile, Thai AirAsia has scheduled a return to Hyderabad effective 18 November 2026, deploying A320s with 180 seats on the route. Advance online timetables show the airline flying four weekly services on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
FD118 will depart Bangkok (DMK) and arrive in Hyderabad (HYD) at 2255. FD119 will depart Hyderabad (HYD) at 2325 and arrive in Bangkok (DMK) at 0420 (plus a day).
SINGAPORE, 19 August 2026: SriLankan Airlines has resumed flights between Colombo and Kuwait, returning to a schedule of six-weekly flights since last week.
Flight UL229 departs Colombo at 1710 every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, arriving in Kuwait at 2005.
Photo credit: SriLankan.
The return flight, UL230, departs Kuwait at 2110 and arrives in Colombo at 0515 on the following day.
The route between Colombo (CMB) and Kuwait (KWI) is operated primarily using single-aisle Airbus A321 family aircraft (including the A321-200 and A321neo). SriLankan Airlines also deploys wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft on the route.
BANGKOK, 19 August, 2026: I have watched for more than thirty years, working in Asia, as loyalty programmes have evolved from simple points and complimentary upgrades into increasingly sophisticated digital platforms.
Yet, in my experience, many still concentrate too heavily on the transaction rather than the reason people travel.
Research has found that cultural exploration motivates 32% of Gen Z travellers, followed by outdoor activities at 30%.
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%.
Travel rewards all generations
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.
Agoda believes Gen Z is changing what travel loyalty needs to feel like.
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.
KUCHING, Malaysia, 19 August 2026: PATA Nepal Chapter has been selected as the winner of the PATA Award of Excellence, presented by the Pacific Asia Travel Association during the PATA Chapter and Student Chapter Awards Ceremony held on Monday, 17 August 2026, at Commons Café, Old Court House, Kuching — a day before the PATA Travel Mart 2026 opened in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
The PATA Award of Excellence is presented annually to PATA Chapters and Student Chapters whose activities over the preceding year best exemplify dedication to developing the travel and tourism industry within the Pacific Asia region, in a manner consistent with PATA’s aims and objectives.
PATA Nepal Chapter Immediate Past Chairman, Bibhuti Chand Thakur, received the award on behalf of the association from Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor (left) and PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid (right).
PATA Nepal Chapter Immediate Past Chairman Bibhuti Chand Thakur received the award on behalf of the association. Extending his appreciation to PATA HQ for the recognition, he affirmed the dedicated role of PATA Nepal Chapter’s Executive Committee and Secretariat team, led by its CEO, “without whom the Chapter’s significant milestones and achievements over the years would not have been possible”.
PATA Nepal Chapter CEO Suresh Singh Budal said it was a proud moment for both PATA Nepal Chapter and Nepal to be recognised once again with the prestigious PATA Award of Excellence.
He noted that PATA Nepal Chapter has consistently demonstrated excellence in its advocacy and engagement roles over the years, positioning itself as one of the most active PATA Chapters worldwide.
The chapter travelled to Kuching with 17 delegates from 10 companies to participate in business networking at the Nepal Pavilion and showcase Destination Nepal on the international stage from 18 to 20 August.
About PATA Nepal Chapter Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter is one of the independent PATA Chapters worldwide, established in 1975 in line with the spirit of PATA HQ. It has since become the only full-fledged tourism association in Nepal, encompassing almost all stakeholders of Nepali tourism from both the public and private sectors, with advocacy and engagement roles for the sustainable development of the travel and tourism industry in Nepal and beyond.
(Source: Pacific Asia Travel Association Nepal Chapter)
KUCHING, Malaysia, 19 August 2026: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced Lizam Dorji, CEO of MICE Bhutan (subsidiary of Druk Asia), as the Grand Winner of the 2026 PATA Face of the Future Award, recognising her leadership, innovation and commitment to shaping a more meaningful and sustainable future for tourism.
In addition, four outstanding young tourism professionals have been recognised for their achievements in key areas of tourism development: Abdulla Iyaan Ahmed, former Chair of the PATA Malaysia Taylor’s Student Chapter, for Student Excellence; Orawan Dinsor, Team Leader – Travelplan (Latin Markets) at Asian Trails, for Strategic Management; Alevtina Borodulina, Lead Heritage Consultant at Aquamarine Projects, for Leadership; and Uyanga Galbadrakh, Co-Founder & CEO of WildMongolia, for Sustainability Initiatives.
Photo credit: PATA
Since 2002, the PATA Face of the Future Award has recognised exceptional young professionals across the Asia Pacific region for their leadership, innovation and dedication to sustainable tourism development. It is PATA’s most prestigious honour for emerging leaders in the travel and tourism industry.
“I sincerely congratulate Lizam Dorji on being named the 2026 PATA Face of the Future,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. “This recognition reflects her leadership and contribution to the tourism industry, as well as the potential of the next generation of tourism professionals to shape a more innovative, responsible and meaningful future for our sector.”
Lizam Dorji named 2026 PATA Face of the Future
As CEO of MICE Bhutan (A subsidiary of Druk Asia), Lizam Dorji is helping shape the development of Bhutan’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, creating new opportunities for economic growth, knowledge exchange and international engagement. Before returning to Bhutan, she built more than five years of experience in Thailand with the Royal Cliff Hotels Group and Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, where she managed international conferences, United Nations events, corporate meetings and large-scale conventions involving up to 4,000 participants.
“I truly believe that tourism can be a powerful catalyst for positive change. Through our work at MICE Bhutan, we hope to demonstrate that business events can go far beyond commerce. By designing programmes that create authentic cultural exchanges and support local communities, we aim to reflect Bhutan’s philosophy of sustainability and Gross National Happiness,” said Dorji.
Four emerging leaders recognised
In addition to the Grand Winner, four outstanding young professionals were recognised for their achievements in key areas of tourism leadership and development.
Abdulla Iyaan Ahmed – Student Excellence
A Maldivian national and final-year student of the Bachelor of International Tourism Management (Honours) at Taylor’s University in Malaysia, Abdulla Iyaan Ahmed was recognised for his leadership and contribution to student development. He recently completed his term as President of the PATA Malaysia Taylor’s Student Chapter and currently serves as President of the PATA Malaysia Chapter Student Wing. Under his leadership, the Student Chapter delivered a range of initiatives, including destination trips involving students from multiple universities, a Youth Symposium debate attended by more than 200 students from five universities, a student talk series and professional development activities. Beyond PATA, he has helped organise more than 40 events through Taylor’s University Student Council and student clubs, while gaining experience in destination marketing and marine conservation through organisations including Visit Maldives Corporation and the Olive Ridley Project.
Orawan Dinsor – management
Orawan Dinsor, Team Leader – Travelplan (Latin Markets) at Asian Trails, was recognised for her strategic management, leadership and ability to deliver high-quality tourism experiences in a dynamic international operating environment. Since 2024, she has led the Latin team for the Travelplan Project, managing operations that welcome more than 1,000 Spanish travellers each month. Her experience across operations and customer service has strengthened her ability to respond to challenges, solve problems under pressure and continuously improve both guest experiences and operational performance. A Thai, English, and Spanish speaker, Dinsor places collaboration, empathy, and empowerment at the centre of her leadership approach and is committed to creating meaningful connections between travellers, destinations, and local communities.
Alevtina Borodulina – leadership
Alevtina Borodulina, Lead Heritage Consultant at Aquamarine Projects, was recognised for her leadership in heritage, cultural tourism and community engagement. A social anthropologist by training, she has conducted fieldwork across Russia and Europe and developed immersive exhibition concepts, multimedia storytelling and cultural projects that place communities and their stories at the centre of visitor experiences. In 2024, she spent six months conducting ethnographic fieldwork with the Bidayuh indigenous community in Sarawak, Malaysia, as part of a tourism masterplan, building trust with the community and translating local knowledge into practical frameworks for cultural identity and ethical, participatory community engagement. Her work reflects a commitment to developing tourism that shares culture responsibly while ensuring communities play a meaningful role in shaping how their heritage is presented and experienced.
Uyanga Galbadrakh – sustainability initiatives
Uyanga Galbadrakh, Co-Founder & CEO of WildMongolia, was recognised for her innovative approach to sustainable tourism, community empowerment and cultural preservation. After working in IT and strategy consulting in Tokyo, she returned to Mongolia in 2022. She co-founded WildMongolia with a vision of making nomadic life economically viable while preserving Mongolia’s cultural heritage. Under her leadership, the company has grown into the second-largest player in Mongolia’s luxury tourism market. At the same time, its Pop-Up Ger Camp in western Mongolia is designed and led by local Mongolian and Kazakh nomads, supporting 50 families directly and more than 300 people indirectly since April 2025. Galbadrakh has also supported conservation initiatives, including a programme providing winter care for orphaned bear cubs, with five cubs successfully released since April 2025.
Picture: L/R: Abdulla Iyaan Ahmed, PATA Face of the Future – Student Excellence; Alevtina Borodulina, PATA Face of the Future – Leadership; Lizam Dorji, PATA Face of the Future Grand Winner; Orawan Dinsor, PATA Face of the Future – Strategic Management at PATA Face of the Future Award Presentation during the PATA Board Members Networking Reception on Monday, 17 August, hosted by Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor. (centre).
KUCHING, Sarawak, 19 August 2026: The Pacific Asia Travel Association honoured its Thailand Mae Fah Luang University Student Chapter as the winner of the Best Sustainability Initiative at the PATA Chapter & Student Chapter Awards 2026 on Monday.
In a Facebook post, the student chapter said it was honoured to announce that the PATA Thailand Mae Fah Luang University Student Chapter has been named the winner of the Best Sustainability Initiative.
Photo credit: PATA. On behalf of the PATA Thailand Mae Fah Luang University Student Chapter, Head of Membership, Lucas Sit Yan Naing, accepted the award from PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid (right) at the PATA Chapter and Student Chapter Awards Ceremony in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia on Monday.
“This recognition celebrates our commitment to sustainability, responsible tourism, and creating positive impact through student-led initiatives. We hope this achievement inspires us to continue creating meaningful change and building a more sustainable future together.”
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid presented the award to Lucas Sit Yan Naing, membership coordinator and university project team leader, at the PATA Chapter and Student Chapter Awards Ceremony in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Photo credit: PATA.
PATA held its Chapter & Student Chapter Awards Ceremony on Monday, 17 August, at the Commons Café in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
2026 PATA Chapter & Student Chapter Award winners
PATA Award of Excellence (main chapter):PATA Nepal Chapter. Recognised for outstanding leadership, initiatives, and grassroots contributions to promoting sustainable tourism.
PATA Award of Excellence (Student Chapter):
PATA Philippines LPU-Manila Student Chapter
Spirit of PATA Award:PATA Malaysia Chapter
Best Engagement with Young Tourism Professionals:PATA Thailand Chapter.
The PATA Chapter & Student Chapter Awards programme was established by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) as part of its local chapter framework to recognise voluntary, grassroots achievements within the travel and tourism industry.
Parent organisation: Founded in 1951 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Local chapters established: The chapter system began expansion in the 1970s to build regional, volunteer-led networks across the Asia-Pacific region.
Student chapters introduced: To engage young tourism professionals (YTPs) and hospitality students, PATA formally established Student Chapters globally in 2002.
The dedicated Chapter & Student Chapter Awards (including honours like the PATA Award of Excellence and Spirit of PATA Award) were created to annually celebrate chapters that drive local sustainability, youth engagement, and regional tourism advocacy.
PHUKET, THAILAND: 18 August 2026: Hospitality has traditionally been a thriving place for women to work, but it has failed when it comes to translating that into seniority, where people are more empowered and can make an impactful difference.
Women in the hospitality industry make up 51.2% of the global workforce but hold only 30% of executive roles, according to industry workforce data reported by Hospitality Investor in March 2025.
(From left): Lily Udomkunnatum, Managing Director, Burasiri Hotel Group; Mary Pakamard, Managing Director & Principal Designer, M2 Plus; and Wichupan Phukaoluan Srisanya, President, Thai Hotels Association, Southern Chapter.
Thailand’s hotel, tourism, and hospitality sector reflects the same imbalance, and on 3 September, RISE 2026, a new industry platform, aims directly at it.
“Hospitality has always depended on women. We understand people, build relationships, hold teams together and often carry enormous responsibility. Yet women are still underrepresented in ownership and senior decision-making roles,” said Lily Udomkunnatum, Managing Director, Burasiri Hotel Group, who is speaking at RISE 2026.
RISE 2026: Reshaping Hospitality by Empowering Women, a not-for-profit event organised by C9 Hotelworks, Mrs B Group, and Delivering Asia, convenes on 3 September at SAii Laguna Phuket. Though staged in Phuket, the event is built as a national platform: its speaker roster draws leaders from hotel groups, global hospitality brands, and businesses operating across Thailand.
The program is structured across four themes: Vision and Voice, Systems and Sectors, Emerging Leaders, and Craft, Communication and Self. Speakers include Lily Udomkunnatum of Burasiri Hotel Group; Mary Pakamard, Managing Director & Principal Designer, M2 Plus; Kate Gerits, Director of Operations Thailand for IHG Hotels and Resorts; Pitinut Robbins, Senior Director Thailand for Marriott International; Wichupan Phukaoluan Srisanya, President, Thai Hotels Association, Southern Chapter; and Sara D Anzeo, Sustainable Finance International Consultant at UN Women Asia Pacific, alongside entrepreneurs, designers, and rising voices from Thailand’s hospitality sector.
The slow pace of change for women in leadership will be a key topic at the event, with a focus on talent rather than gender.
“I believe empowering women in hospitality isn’t just about creating opportunities; it’s about recognising the incredible talent that’s already here. We need to stop waiting for change and start making it happen,” said event speaker Mary Pakamard of M2 Plus.
“Thailand’s hotel sector has no shortage of women doing the work of building it, but too few platforms built specifically to put them in front of each other,” added Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks. “RISE exists to close that gap, not for one afternoon in Phuket, but as a marker for where the industry needs to go across the country.”
SAii Laguna Phuket, the Phuket Hotels Association, UN Women, the Thai Hotels Association Southern Chapter, TDM, and Robb Report Thailand support RISE 2026. Registration is required in advance, with a QR code from Eventbrite needed for entry. Tickets are pre-paid at THB 1,000 (approximately USD 30), with proceeds going toward running the event as a not-for-profit platform rather than to any organising partner.
SINGAPORE, 18 August 2026: Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new full-service national carrier, has expanded its international network to South Asia following its inaugural flight to Pakistan’s Islamabad International Airport (ISB) on 14 August.
The daily capital-to-capital service between King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh and Islamabad International Airport (ISB) will be operated across two flight timings: RX0659, departing Riyadh at 1345 four times a week on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and RX0661, departing Riyadh at 2010 three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Photo credit: Riyadh Air. Riyadh Air flies to Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan.
Flight RX0675 from Riyadh (RUH) to Lahore (LHE), scheduled to begin on 18 August, will operate three times a week at 1340 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. All times are local. Riyadh Air’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will serve the new routes, featuring the airline’s latest cabin interiors and onboard experience.
To mark the launch, inaugural ceremonies were held at both King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and Islamabad International Airport (ISB). The Riyadh ceremony was attended by H.E. Ahmed Farooq, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Mr Osamah Alfawaz, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Airports Company.
The direct services between Riyadh and Pakistan’s major urban centres reflect the longstanding and close relationship between the two countries.
With over 2 million Pakistani expatriates contributing across Saudi Arabia’s healthcare, technology, finance, and construction sectors, as well as thousands of pilgrims travelling annually to Saudi Arabia for religious travel, the route addresses a vital need for reliable, direct connectivity.
Flight schedule, all local time
Ticket purchases for these routes are now open through the Riyadh Air App, Riyadh Air and through preferred travel providers and platforms.
TOKYO, 18 August 2026: JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group announced Monday that it has successfully advised Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corporation on the sale of The Beach Tower Okinawa.
The Beach Tower Okinawa is a 280-key beachfront resort hotel located within American Village in Chatan, Okinawa. The property benefits from a surrounding area featuring retail, dining, and entertainment facilities, enabling stable year-round demand driven not only by tourism, but also by shopping and event-related visitors.
Photo credit: Beach Tower Okinawa.
In addition, its proximity to US military bases allows the hotel to capture diverse accommodation demand, including military-related stays.
“The Okinawa hotel market continues to attract strong investor interest, supported by growing domestic travel demand and the recovery of inbound tourism,” said JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group Managing Director, Investment Sales, James Yukio Abe. “The Beach Tower Okinawa is a highly competitive hotel asset that combines a beachfront location with excellent accessibility in Chatan, one of Okinawa’s leading tourism hubs. We are pleased to have supported the successful execution of this transaction in line with the seller’s investment strategy. JLL will continue to leverage its hotel sector expertise and global network to meet the diverse needs of our clients.”
Investor appetite for hotel assets in Japan remained resilient in 2026, with hotels accounting for 12% of Japan’s investment volume in H1 2026 according to JLL’s latest Asia Pacific Capital Tracker 2026 Mid-Year Perspective, supported by several large-scale transactions and broader market momentum.*
(*Source: JLL and Asia Pacific Capital Tracker 2026 Mid-Year Perspective)
