BANGKOK, 29 September 2026: Khiri Travel has won the award for Best Destination Management Company (DMC) at the TTG Travel Awards 2026, held last week in Bangkok.
Willem Niemeijer, CEO and founder of Khiri Travel, accepted the award on behalf of the staff and management of the 33-year-old DMC, which has grown to 20 offices in eight Asian countries.
Khiri Travel’s CEO and founder, Willem Niemeijer, receives the Best DMC Award, 24 September.
Travel industry readers of TTG Asia and its related titles voted in the annual awards, which were founded in 1989.
After receiving the award, Niemeijer said: “Thank you to our travel industry voters. They recognised Khiri’s commitment to both responsible tourism and creating new travel experiences that appeal to discerning long-haul visitors from Europe and North America.”
Khiri Travel opened a second office in the Philippines in July.
Khiri Travel has recently won awards such as Best Destination Management Company in Southeast Asia at the 2025 World Luxury Travel Awards, Destination Management Company of the Year in the 2025 Travel Daily Media Excellence Awards, the Outstanding Achievement Award for Most Sustainable Travel Company at the 2025 TTG Travel Awards, and 2025 Best Travel Agent & Specialist at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards, Asia Pacific.
Niemeijer added: “Khiri Travel is committed to constant improvement. We are motivated by the 4Cs operational guidelines of conservation, culture, community, and commerce, promoted by The Long Run travel advocacy group.”
Khiri Travel is also a co-organiser of the pan-Asian Steps for Impact 2027 grassroots charity event taking place on 30 January in eight Asian countries.
SINGAPORE, 29 September 2026: Polar expedition travel is highlighting a broader shift in premium tourism, as travellers increasingly seek access, expertise and deeper experiences rather than scale, according to Quark Expeditions President Sam Seward in the latest episode of the Travel Trends Podcast.
Speaking to Travel Trends host Dan Christian, Seward describes a market where both booking behaviour and traveller expectations are changing – from earlier bookings for Antarctica to growing demand for specialist experiences such as photography, kayaking and citizen science.
Photo credit: Quark Expeditions.
“People are looking for something different, something that is unique, something that they can’t necessarily do anywhere else,” said Sam Seward, President of Quark Expeditions. “And I think that is one of the real appeals of expedition travel.”
From scale to specialised experiences
Unlike conventional cruising, expedition travel is built around smaller vessels, expert-led experiences and access to remote destinations.
Quark is responding with increasingly specialised experiences within its expedition programmes. Its Guided Photography Program, for example, creates dedicated groups of no more than 16 guests, supported by specialist guides and Zodiac excursions. The company is also seeing demand for experiences combining exploration with education and conservation, including citizen science and expert-led programmes.
Antarctica is being booked further in advance
The shift is also visible in booking behaviour. According to Seward, Antarctica is increasingly being booked further in advance and at higher average booking values, while the Arctic has historically seen more last-minute demand.
“We’re seeing people booking Antarctica further and further out. The average booking value is higher, and people are willing to commit earlier,” said Seward.
The trend points to a broader change in high-value travel, as travellers increasingly plan to secure specific itineraries and experiences rather than waiting for availability or discounts.
Technology supports the experience
Technology is also playing a growing role in expedition travel, with digital tools and data being used to make the journey more seamless and better understand guest preferences.
But Seward argues that technology is ultimately there to support – rather than replace – the human element.
“Technology can make the experience easier, but it can’t replace the people who make the experience special – the guides, the scientists, the crew and the people you meet along the way.”
For Christian, this tension between technology, access and human connection reflects a wider question for the travel industry: as travellers seek more personalised and meaningful experiences, how can technology enhance the journey without becoming the experience itself?
Travel Trends Podcast launches season 8
The conversation with Quark Expeditions opens Season 8 of the Travel Trends Podcast, which launched on 9 September. The new season covers polar and expedition travel, wellness, culinary tourism, Indigenous and culturally driven travel, marketing, distribution and startups, alongside its ongoing focus on travel technology and AI.
About Travel Trends Podcast The Travel Trends Podcast is a B2B travel podcast focused on the people, innovations and trends shaping the global travel industry. Hosted by travel industry executive Dan Christian, the podcast features conversations with executives, entrepreneurs, founders and industry leaders across travel technology, hospitality, aviation, tours and activities, cruising and destinations.
KATHMANDU, Nepal, 29 September 2026: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter concluded its 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 51st Anniversary celebration last week and unanimously elected a new Executive Committee.
The chapter appointed Narendra Deo Bhatta, Managing Director of Heritage Tours & Travel, as chairman. He succeeds Khem Lakai, who has served as Chairman since 6 June 2024 and remains on the Executive Committee as Immediate Past Chairman.
Photo credit: PATA Nepal Chapter.
The AGM also elected Romi Aryal, Managing Director of Square Hotel, as General Secretary, and Prakash Chandra Lohani, Chairman of Alpine Rescue Service, as Honorary Treasurer.
The other elected executive members are: Vijay Shrestha (Vice President, Himalaya Airlines);
Prakash Lama (Managing Director, Mega Treks & Expedition);
Suman Maharjan (General Manager, The Plaza).
The Executive Committee also includes six public-sector members: the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board as First Vice Chairman; the Marketing Director of Nepal Airlines as Second Vice Chairman; and four Ex Officio Members, namely the Director General of the Department of Tourism, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the Corporate Director of Nepal Airlines, and a representative of Nepal Tourism Board.
At the formal ceremony, PATA Nepal Chapter also honoured individuals for their extraordinary courage, humanity, and contributions to Nepal during the recent Bhotekoshi flood crisis and beyond.
The honorees were:
Professor Arnold Dix, International Tunnelling and Underground-Space Specialist;
Captain Priya Adhikari, Nepal’s First Female Helicopter Captain;
André Lüthi, Author and President, Globetrotter;
Dylan Dugas, World Central Kitchen;
Rajendra Dawadi, Head Teacher, Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School;
Bikram Karki, Search and Rescue Team Leader, Mountain Rescue Coordinator, Nepal Mountaineering Association;
Choy Teh, Head of PR & Partnerships/ Destination Strategist at Horus Development & Consulting.
PATA Foundation Chair Andrew Jones delivered the keynote address at the AGM. He reflected on Nepal’s resilience over the years and reaffirmed that Nepal remains a priority for PATA, which will continue to support the country through these challenging times. He also highlighted the PATA Foundation’s Nepal Tourism Recovery Fund, including its plans to support the livelihoods of tourism workers and to support the PATA Nepal Chapter and its Student Chapter.
(Source: Pacific Asia Travel Association Nepal Chapter)
SINGAPORE, 29 September 2026: HBX Group (HBX.SM), a leading B2B travel technology marketplace, has announced the global expansion of its partnership with Virtuoso, a leading network specialising in luxury and experiential travel.
Building on a successful relationship that began in North America in 2001, the agreement now extends worldwide, giving Virtuoso member agencies access to Bedsonline’s full portfolio of travel products and services for the first time.
Expanding from a North American relationship to a global partnership unlocks greater choice, wider reach, and new growth opportunities for both organisations and the Virtuoso travel advisor community.
Through Bedsonline, Virtuoso advisors can book accommodation, premium transfers, car rental, experiences, and activities through a single platform designed specifically for travel professionals. They will also have access to Bedsonline’s Luxury Collection, featuring a carefully selected portfolio of luxury hotels complemented by The Luxurist’s concierge service, helping advisors deliver seamless, tailored experiences for their clients.
Virtuoso’s global network includes more than 20,000 travel advisors and over 2,800 preferred travel partners, making it one of the most influential communities in luxury travel. For HBX Group, the expanded agreement creates new opportunities to connect its hotel and travel partners with an engaged global advisor network while further extending the reach of Bedsonline’s premium offering.
About HBX Group HBX Group is a leading global B2B travel technology marketplace that owns and operates Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, The Luxurist, Roiback Civitfun and PerfectStay.
BANGKOK, 29 September 2026: Almaty presented its growing potential as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions and corporate travel at Kazakhstan’s pavilion during the 34th IT&CMA and 29th CTW Asia-Pacific, held last week at the Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld.
For Almaty Tourism Bureau, participation in IT&CMA 2026 provided an opportunity to strengthen the city’s presence in the Asia-Pacific MICE market, establish new business contacts and present its infrastructure, services and experiences to international buyers and corporate travel professionals.
Photo credit: Almaty Tourism Bureau.
According to the organiser’s statistics, this year’s event brought together 600 exhibitors from 280 companies and organisations, 361 buyers from 50 countries and territories, and 30 media representatives. MICE professionals accounted for 79% of the hosted buyers, while 30% were new buyers participating in the event for the first time.
Almaty Tourism Bureau, which promotes Visit Almaty, was among the new destination and corporate brands taking their own pavilion or booth at IT&CMA 2026 for the first time.
The Almaty delegation included tour companies and airlines, representing key areas of the destination’s MICE offering, including business tourism, accommodation, excursions, corporate events and air connectivity.
During the three-day event, Almaty representatives introduced international buyers and MICE professionals to the city’s possibilities for corporate meetings, incentive programmes, conferences and business events. The destination’s key advantage is the opportunity to combine professional events in a modern urban environment with cultural, gastronomic and outdoor experiences.
Almaty Tourism Bureau’s participation in IT&CMA 2026 supported the development of the city’s international MICE network and promoted Kazakhstan’s largest city as a destination for business events, incentive travel, and corporate programmes.
BANGKOK, 29 September 2026: AirAsia is celebrating a milestone — winning the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline by Skytrax for the 17th consecutive year.
To say thank you to millions of guests for their loyalty, the airline is rolling out the ‘AirAsia Flight Lotto’ campaign, turning every flight booking into an exciting chance to win an unbelievable prize: 17 Winners • 17 Trips • 17 Months of free travel. Bookings are open now on AirAsia MOVE and all channels
Thai AirAsia Head of Commercial Tansita Akrarittipirom, for Thai AirAsia, said: “The ‘AirAsia Flight Lotto’ campaign is our way of giving back — turning everyday journeys into thrilling rewards while inspiring everyone to take off on new adventures late this year. We’ve beefed up our network and bumped up flight frequencies across domestic and international routes, so we’re 100% ready to welcome everyone aboard for the upcoming high season!”
Under the ‘AirAsia Flight Lotto’ campaign, 17 lucky winners will score 17 round-trip flights each, valid for travel across 17 months.
How to join Flight Lotto
Book a Flight: Grab any Thai AirAsia (FD) or Thai AirAsia X (XJ) ticket between 22 September and 15 November 2026.
Stack Your Chances: One passenger name on an issued ticket = 1 entry. The more you fly, the higher your chances of winning!* Bookings can be made on AirAsia MOVE or any official channel.
The lucky draw will take place on 27 November 2026, and the lucky winners will be announced on 3 December 2026 on the Fly AirAsia Facebook page.
SINGAPORE, 29 September 2026: Starlux Airlines and American Airlines have launched a codeshare partnership, with tickets now available for flights connecting Starlux’s transpacific services with American Airlines’ flights to 20 major US destinations.
The partnership lets travellers book a single itinerary that combines American Airlines’ eligible connecting flights with Starlux services to Taipei and onward to destinations across Asia.
New codeshare cities
Via Phoenix: Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, El Paso, Kansas City, San Antonio, San Diego, St. Louis, Tucson, Washington, D.C. (Reagan Via Los Angeles: New York (JFK), Miami
Via Phoenix and Los Angeles: Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Las Vegas, Orlando, Chicago O’Hare, Philadelphia
“This codeshare marks an important milestone for Starlux,” said the airline’s CEO Glenn Chai. “American Airlines is an ideal partner, with a network across North America that complements what we’ve built across Asia. Together, we can provide our passengers with a more seamless and convenient travel experience between two of the world’s most dynamic regions.”
The codeshare builds on the airlines’ interline agreement established in 2025, expanding their relationship to provide greater connectivity between Starlux’s growing US-Asia network and American Airlines’ extensive domestic network. The airlines expect to add more connecting opportunities as the partnership grows.
“Taipei remains a top destination for global business, visiting friends and family and leisure travel, and together with Starlux Airlines, we’re partnering to provide new travel options,” said American’s Senior Vice President of Alliances, Anmol Bhargava.
American Airlines serves more than 250 destinations across North America and has a membership base of over 100 million. Through this partnership, passengers can enjoy the convenience of a single ticket and through-checked baggage to their final destination. Upon arriving in the US, Starlux passengers can conveniently connect to American Airlines flights and travel to more than 250 cities across North America, with 20 cities selected for the initial codeshare cooperation. More destinations are expected as the codeshare partnership expands, giving Starlux passengers greater connectivity across American Airlines’ extensive domestic network.
The airlines are also preparing a reciprocal frequent-flyer partnership that will allow members of both airlines to earn and redeem miles on eligible codeshare flights, giving travelers greater flexibility in how to use their miles.
Starlux is expanding its presence in North America. Earlier this year, the airline launched its Phoenix–Taipei route, rounding out much of its network in the western US and plans to expand into the central and eastern US.
MUMBAI, 28 September 2026: Air India Express introduces flat 10% savings on domestic flights on Value fares for students across all booking channels.
Valid until 20 October 2026, the offer provides greater value for students planning their travel during the festive period.
Photo credit: Air India Express.
In addition to fare savings, students can enjoy travel benefits, including a total baggage allowance of 25 kgs (15 kgs standard baggage plus an additional 10 kgs) on domestic Value fares, available across all booking channels. Students booking domestic Value fares through the Air India Express website, airindiaexpress.com, or mobile app can also change dates for just INR99.
Students can further maximise their savings with an additional 5% off on domestic and international flights booked directly on the Air India Express website or mobile app using the code VIBES.
In addition, Air India Express guests can take advantage of several ongoing offers on direct bookings. Guests using Visa debit or credit cards can get up to INR600 off on domestic and international flights with the code VISAFLY, valid until 9 October 2026.
To claim this offer, guests should be 12 years of age or above and carry a valid student photo ID issued by a recognised educational institution. The ID should include the guest’s name and date of birth and must be presented at the airport check-in counter for verification.
ROME, 28 September 2026: ITA Airways is strengthening its operations to Israel by resuming a third daily flight between Rome Fiumicino and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport, starting 25 October, 2026, complementing flights already operating on the route.
The additional daily service will operate as flight AZ812, departing Rome Fiumicino at 1600 and arriving in Tel Aviv at 2020.
Photo credit: ITA Airways.
Flight AZ815 will depart Tel Aviv at 0830 local time and arrive in Rome Fiumicino at 1120.
With the resumption of the third daily flight, ITA Airways is enhancing connectivity between Italy and Israel, offering passengers additional options to connect through its Rome Fiumicino hub to destinations across its domestic, international, and intercontinental network.
An Airbus A321neo aircraft flies the route, featuring three classes: Business, premium economy, and economy.
Flights can be purchased on the airline’s website, through the ITA Airways Customer Information Assistance Office, at travel agencies, and at airport ticket counters.
SINGAPORE, 28 September 2026: Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) officially opened the new Singapore Cruise Centre (HarbourFront) terminal on Tuesday, following a 24-month development and testing period.
The opening marks the completion of SCC’s transition to a purpose-built facility designed to support the next phase of regional ferry and cruise travel.
Photo credit: Singapore Cruise Centre. At the launch ceremony for the new Singapore Cruise Centre (HarbourFront) terminal, from left to right: Jacqueline Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Cruise Centre; Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport; Loh Lik Peng, Chairman; and Amy Ng, Board Member, Singapore Cruise Centre.
Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Transport, Murali Pillai, said: “Singapore’s ferry and cruise networks connect people across the region, whether for business opportunities or a long-awaited holiday. As travel patterns evolve, technology and innovation will be increasingly important in making these experiences smoother and more effortless.”
Since commencing full operations on 15 July 2026, the terminal has handled more than 720,000 ferry and cruise passengers.
Designed to meet evolving traveller needs, the new terminal brings together technology, automation, and improved space planning to streamline passenger and baggage processing, while strengthening SCC’s capabilities to support future growth in regional travel.
Technology connecting the passenger journey
A key feature of the new terminal is a new interoperable ferry and cruise passenger departure control system, developed by SCC in partnership with Sqiva, a travel technology company specialising in passenger transport software.
Built around SCC’s Cruise and Ferry Operating System (CFOS), the boarding system brings ferry and cruise operations onto a common platform.
It integrates with SITA’s FAST self-service solution, an aviation passenger-processing system supporting functions such as check-in, bag drop and boarding. This enables passenger information to flow across key stages of the journey, from check-in through to boarding.
CFOS is also integrated with the terminal’s Baggage Handling System (BHS), which supports real-time tracking and image capture throughout the handling process, allowing operations teams to monitor baggage movements more closely and respond more quickly when intervention is required.
Faster, simpler journeys for passengers
Beyond connecting systems across the passenger journey, the new terminal has been designed to simplify how passengers move through the facility, with a more streamlined layout and expanded self-service options.
For ferry passengers, all operators are now located within the main terminal concourse on a single level, compared with two floors at the former terminal.
Eligible passengers who have purchased their tickets online can use self-service facilities to validate their passports, check in, and obtain their boarding passes and baggage tags in under a minute, then deposit checked baggage through self-service bag-drop facilities in a similar timeframe.
Photo credit: Singapore Cruise Centre. Self-service baggage-drop facilities at the new Singapore Cruise Centre (HarbourFront) terminal allow eligible ferry passengers to check in their baggage in about one minute, alongside staffed counters forpassengers who require assistance.
Baggage handling has also been enhanced, with self-service and assisted counters giving passengers greater flexibility while still supporting those who need it. On arrival, checked baggage is now screened before reaching the carousel, allowing passengers to collect their bags and proceed directly towards the exit without a separate X-ray screening step.
These enhancements have supported smoother passenger flows during peak periods.
It has processed 18,000 departing passengers in a single day since operations began in July 2026. This has helped to reduce processing time and manage passenger throughput during a high-volume travel period.
Singapore Cruise Centre Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Tan said: “This new terminal is more than a move to a new building. It allows us to rethink how ferry and cruise journeys end to end. By connecting systems that previously operated separately, we can make the journey simpler for passengers while giving our teams better visibility across operations. More importantly, the terminal gives us a platform that we can continue building on as regional travel evolves.”
