SINGAPORE, 27 October 2025: Sabre Direct Pay, the travel payments division of Sabre Corporation, introduces a new service designed to help travel companies simplify and scale chargebacks, enabling dispute resolution more efficiently across both issuing and acquiring channels.
Developed in partnership with Chargebacks911, the solution enables users to initiate and represent charge disputes without navigating multiple issuer or acquirer systems, removing the need for separate logins, manual data entry, or technical integration—bringing together what is typically a disjointed set of workflows into a single interface tailored for the travel industry.
Chargebacks911 will operate as the dispute-resolution engine for the service, providing the expertise, infrastructure, and issuer connectivity required to manage chargebacks at scale. All access and interaction will take place through Sabre Direct Pay, ensuring customers engage with a single, unified platform for both payments and dispute management.
The launch builds on Sabre Direct Pay’s broader efforts to streamline financial operations across the travel industry. Recent partnerships have extended the platform’s footprint across multiple regions and capabilities — from Pay by Bank solutions with Trustly in Europe, to instant cross-border payouts through TerraPay, airline payment orchestration via CellPoint Digital, and large-scale virtual card issuance with Revolut, Sunrate, and WEX.
SINGAPORE, 27 October 2025: The Asia Pacific hotel investment market will increase in 2026 as strong travel demand and changing tourism habits will offset global economic volatility and uncertainty.
According to JLL, investment volumes in 2026 will total approximately USD13.3 billion, up from the revised 2025 forecast of USD11.9 billion.
Nihat Ercan, CEO, JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, Asia Pacific.
JLL’s forecast underscores a market characterised by strong buyer appetite confronting increasingly constrained asset supply, with safe-haven destinations commanding premium valuations while emerging markets present relative value opportunities. Furthermore, continued macroeconomic uncertainty is driving extended due diligence timelines and heightened focus on cost management among institutional investors, leading to more selective capital deployment strategies across the region, causing a more stable investment outlook.
JLL’s analysis has identified Japan, Singapore, and Australia as remaining highly sought-after destinations in the latter parts of 2025 and into 2026, particularly among private wealth investors targeting landmark assets. Elsewhere, the firm sees opportunities in markets, including Vietnam, which is gaining significant traction as an emerging market.
“A challenging economic environment and uncertainty in geopolitical spheres influence both investment decisions and travel habits. As a result, the Asia Pacific hospitality investment landscape is reflective of a maturing market where quality and operational fundamentals increasingly drive capital allocation decisions,” said JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, Asia Pacific CEO Nihat Ercan. “While transaction volumes remain below historical peaks, the underlying tourism recovery story provides compelling support for long-term asset values.”
Market fundamentals remain robust, with UN Tourism forecasting continued international arrivals growth of 3% to 5% throughout 2025. Regional performance data supports this optimism, with international arrivals in the Asia Pacific rising 11% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, reaching 92% of pre-COVID levels. North-East Asia demonstrated the strongest recovery trajectory, with 20% growth, while leading destinations, including Japan and Vietnam, each recorded exceptional 21% increases in arrivals, and South Korea delivered 15% growth.
Revenue performance metrics further validate a hypothesis of investment stability in 2026. Asia Pacific’s hotel industry has delivered a respectable 3% growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR) year-to-date August 2025.
JLL’s revised 2025 transaction volume forecast of USD11.9 billion reflects the impact of prolonged transaction timelines and enhanced due diligence requirements amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. Liquidity is expected to remain concentrated in five core markets — Japan, Australia, Greater China, Singapore, and South Korea — which continue to attract the majority of institutional capital flows.
“Despite near-term headwinds, the structural drivers supporting Asia Pacific hospitality investment remain intact,” said Ercan. “Volatility can’t be ignored, but the region’s growing middle class, strategic geographic positioning, and improving tourism infrastructure create compelling long-term growth prospects that sophisticated institutional investors recognise and are positioning to capture.”
SINGAPORE, 27 October 2025: Registration is now open for Business Travel Show Asia Pacific 2026, returning to Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, on 14 to 15 April 2026.
Launched in 2025, the event was created to meet a growing need across the region: a dedicated platform for serious travel buyers, suppliers and solution providers to share insights, strengthen partnerships, and navigate the complexities of corporate travel in the Asia Pacific.
Photo credit: BTN Group.
Backed by more than three decades of Business Travel Show success in Europe and the BTN Group’s long-standing leadership in global business travel, the Asia Pacific edition continues to build momentum as the region’s most relevant meeting place for corporate travel professionals.
Drawing on the legacy of Business Travel Show Europe, the 2026 edition should welcome more than 200 hosted buyers and 75 exhibitors, reflecting the show’s growing influence across the Asia Pacific market.
The 2026 conference programme will continue the show’s focus on timely, practical education developed by the BTN editorial and conference team.
Last year’s agenda featured high-level sessions such as The State of the Industry with BTN’s editorial director Elizabeth West, the Business Travel Innovation Faceoff, and discussions on traveller experience, sustainability, supplier sourcing and travel risk.
Hosted buyers
The hosted buyer programme offers participants complimentary travel to Singapore, two nights of four-star accommodation, access to pre-scheduled one-to-one appointments with exhibitors, entry to networking events, including the hosted buyer dinner, and priority access to all conference sessions.
Registration is free for corporate travel buyers, procurement professionals, travel managers and executive assistants responsible for travel within their organisations. Check Business Travel Show Asia Pacific 2026.
BANGKOK, 27 October 2025: Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (TG) and Drukair Corporation Limited — Royal Bhutan Airlines (KB) have signed an Interline Agreement to strengthen network connectivity between the two airlines.
The signing ceremony was held in Paro, Bhutan, between the two airlines represented by Chai Eamsiri, THAI Chief Executive Officer and Tandi Wangchuk, Drukair Chief Executive Officer.
Signing on the dotted line: Tandi Wangchuk, Drukair Chief Executive Officer (left) and Chai Eamsiri, THAI Chief Executive Officer (right).
The collaboration enables passengers to enjoy more convenient travel connectivity by issuing a single ticket for journeys combining flights operated by Thai Airways and Drukair.
The agreement also provides check-in for both passengers and baggage to the final destination, reducing transit time and enhancing travel convenience via Suvarnabhumi Airport. In addition, passengers can also benefit from cheaper interline fares that offer greater flexibility and value.
Drukair passengers will now have access to Thai Airways’ international network via a seamless connection in Bangkok, offering seamless connections without re-check-in to destinations such as Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Seoul and Tokyo.
SINGAPORE, 27 October 2025: Lufthansa Allegris, the airline’s latest onboard travel experience designed for long-haul routes, is now available on flights from Munich, Germany, to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, effective today, Monday, 27 October 2025.
The first Lufthansa Allegris flight from Tokyo to Munich, LH715, departed the same day at 1045 local time. Served with an Airbus A350-900 aircraft, all classes are fully equipped with the new Allegris product line, including its first class cabin.
Photo credit: Lufthansa. Allegris First Class offering includes two individual suites and the unique Suite Plus in the A350-900 aircraft.
Allegris first class cabin
The Allegris First Class offering includes two individual suites and the unique Suite Plus in the A350-900 aircraft. The furnishings in the first-class suite set new standards. Guests can heat or cool their nearly one-meter-wide seats in the suite according to their personal needs.
The separate suites set new standards in comfort with ceiling-high walls and a lockable door, a large table and a wide seat, a giant TV screen and wireless over-ear headphones.
A personal wardrobe provides ample storage so travellers can comfortably change and keep all their personal items at hand. Individual lamps let travellers create their own feel-good atmosphere.
Currently operating 22 weekly flights from Europe to Japan, the Lufthansa Group is significantly enhancing the experience of Japanese guests at its Munich hub and beyond with the introduction of its Allegris product.
BRISBANE, Australia, 24 October 2025: Allianz Partners is urging Australian travellers to rethink their approach to travel insurance, following new ICA and DFAT research revealing that one in seven travellers still travels overseas uninsured.
The findings underscore Allianz Partners’ ongoing commitment to helping Australians when things go wrong overseas.
Photo credit: Allianz Partners: One in seven Aussies skip travel insurance.
“It is concerning that those travellers who might decide against purchasing insurance are doing so because they think a destination is safe, because this doesn’t consider accidents, medical emergencies and travel interruptions that can be very costly if travelling without insurance,” said Allianz Partners Australia Executive Head of Travel Damien Arthur.
Despite growing awareness of travel risks, misconceptions persist about the value of coverage. Two-thirds (65%) of uninsured travellers said they had consciously chosen to forgo coverage, citing beliefs that their destination was safe (31%), that insurance was poor value (27%), or that they could handle emergencies themselves (22%).
The survey found Australians under 30 and those born overseas were significantly more likely to travel uninsured, with 23% of both groups reporting they did not purchase travel insurance on their last trip. Travellers visiting friends, relatives, or returning to their home country were also more likely to skip coverage, often citing short trips or familiarity with their destination.
“The reality is nobody plans for things to go wrong,” Arthur noted. “Even in destinations considered safe, such as Japan, medical emergencies can result in claims worth tens of thousands of dollars, covering hospital care, extended accommodation, and repatriation.”
About Allianz Australia Allianz Partners is a world leader in B2B2C insurance and assistance, offering global solutions that span travel insurance, assistance and health insurance. Present in over 75 countries, the group handles over 72.5 million cases annually.
ICA & DFAT Travel Insurance Survey Data derived from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Travel Insurance Survey 2025. The survey was conducted independently by Quantum Market Research to assess traveller understanding of risk, behaviours and awareness of travel insurance.
SINGAPORE, 24 October 2025: Sarawak made a giant stride to reach out to Singapore’s travel consumers by taking the tastes of Borneo to the Lion City for four days.
The launch of Sarawak Mega Fair 2025, at Suntec Singapore, from 16 to 19 October, successfully showcased the state’s rich culture, eco-tourism, and investment potential as Borneo’s hidden gem.
The highlight of the fair was the tourism-focused programme on Friday, 17 October 2025, which strengthened Sarawak’s positioning as Borneo’s Hidden Gem as well as reinforced cross-border partnerships in the run-up to Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Sarawak Mega Fair 2025 served as a flagship regional platform to strengthen Sarawak’s brand as authentic, green, and globally connected, while remaining deeply rooted in multicultural harmony and ecological stewardship in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Tourism in Sarawak is not a slogan. It is a promise. A promise to protect what is sacred. To uplift what is often overlooked. To balance what is beautiful with what is essential,” said Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He also highlighted that Kuching is a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, where food tells the story of its people and their ancestral connections to land and identity.
Jointly organised by the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) and the state government, with strategic support from the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, the event focused on deepening engagement with Singapore through meaningful
collaborations rather than mass marketing. The event highlighted the region’s diverse strengths in tourism, trade, food, culture, and the creative economy, positioning it as a high-value, sustainable destination ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Sarawak Mega Fair 2025 highlighted Sarawak’s advancement under the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), where tourism plays a vital role in driving inclusive and sustainable growth.
The Minister added: “As we look toward 2026 and beyond, our commitment is clear — tourism must serve both our environment and our people. Everything we do is grounded in global alignment, with the Sustainable Development Goals, with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, and with the shared ASEAN vision of a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous region.”
Themed “Experience Sarawak: Borneo’s Hidden Gem,” the Sarawak Mega Fair 2025 highlighted Sarawak’s identity through featured exhibitions, cultural performances, culinary showcases, trade networking, and a high-level business conference.
It created a multi-sensory journey through the state’s diverse offerings in tourism, culture, investment, and innovation while strengthening ties with Singapore and boosting tourism ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
SINGAPORE, 24 October 2025: Korean Air announced this week it has acquired an 11.02% stake in WestJet’s parent companies, Kestrel Topco Inc. and Kestrel Holdings Inc., through an investment of USD217 million.
The investment gives Korean Air a 10% equity stake in WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline.
Photo credit: Korean Air.
The transaction, first agreed upon on 9 May 2025, has now been completed, with Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM also investing in WestJet’s parent companies.
Hanjin Group and Korean Air Chair and CEO Walter Cho has also been appointed to WestJet’s Board of Directors. Board members also include other global aviation leaders such as Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, and Alex Cruz, former Chairman and CEO of British Airways.
In addition to his ongoing role as a key leader on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) ’s Board of Governors since 2019, Walter Cho’s appointment is expected to support future benefits for travellers and contribute to the sustainable growth of the global aviation industry.
The investment underscores the growing importance of the Canadian aviation market, which was valued at USD33 billion in 2024 and ranked among the world’s top ten, with double-digit growth since 2019.
Building on its ongoing integration with Asiana Airlines, Korean Air will continue to pursue diverse strategic partnerships across the global aviation market to broaden customer choice, enhance convenience, and reinforce its position as a leading international airline.
KUCHING, Sarawak, 24 October 2025: Across industries and communities, one truth remains constant: The people driving real change often go unseen.
Grassroots leaders and local changemakers quietly build impact through trust, relationships, and accountability, yet their efforts rarely reach the visibility or recognition needed to inspire others or attract wider support.
Lord Dr Foo Ming Wei speaks to Business Events Sarawak about how a personal passion for protecting the environment grew into a national movement.
That’s exactly the gap the Borneo Inspires Legacy Awards (BILA) set out to bridge. Held for the first time on 3 October 2025 in Kuching, the awards were created to spotlight the unsung heroes of community transformation and to give corporations a credible way to connect, collaborate, and invest in changemakers making a tangible difference.
Among this year’s winners, one stood out for reimagining what corporate responsibility could mean. The Corporate Meetings and Corporate Incentives (CSR) Champion Award was presented to Brewspark Technologies Group, a Malaysian tech company whose sustainability vision extends far beyond mere financial contributions.
“True change happens when organisations get involved, not just donate,” said Lord Dr Kazuki Foo Ming Wei, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Brewspark Technologies Group. “Spogomi proves that protecting the planet can be fun, active, and something the next generation can be proud of.”
Those words capture the spirit behind Spogomi Malaysia, Brewspark’s award-winning sustainability initiative that is redefining how Malaysians engage with environmental responsibility. What began as a simple idea – turning litter collection into a competitive team sport – has grown into a national movement that combines teamwork, fitness, and advocacy for a cleaner planet.
Spogomi, a concept born in Japan in 2008 through The Nippon Foundation, merges two words: sport and gomi, the Japanese word for trash. The idea was designed to encourage communities to clean their surroundings while fostering a sense of fun, cooperation, and purpose.
Teams compete to collect and properly sort waste within a time limit, earning points based on the type and quantity of trash gathered.
“When we first introduced Spogomi to Malaysia in 2023, we didn’t know how people would respond,” Foo shared. “But Malaysians embraced it wholeheartedly. What started as a small pilot event in one city soon evolved into a nationwide sensation. By 2025, Spogomi Malaysia had expanded to eight regional events, attracting 135 teams from across the country.”
Across all events, Spogomi Malaysia collected and sorted an impressive 1,027kg of waste, all processed according to each city’s recycling guidelines. The national finals showcased the movement’s energy and efficiency, as participants sorted a remarkable 540kg of waste in just one hour.
But behind those numbers lies a deeper story of strategy, innovation, and collaboration. Brewspark approached Spogomi Malaysia not merely as a corporate social responsibility project, but as a national sustainability model, one that could drive behavioural change, inspire environmental pride, and produce real data for long-term solutions.
The group collaborated with local councils to develop waste segregation heatmaps, an innovative approach to visualising the distribution and types of waste collected across different communities. This data helped local authorities identify problem areas and tailor their recycling and waste management strategies more effectively.
Brewspark also partnered with the Centre for Marine Research Studies, leveraging scientific expertise to interpret the data and propose actionable insights — turning a regular clean-up into an ongoing, evidence-based sustainability effort. Still, Foo admits that the journey wasn’t without its challenges.
“When people come together for a good cause, the results speak for themselves. But coordinating a project of this scale was no easy task,” he reflected. “Each city had its own systems and priorities. Getting everyone aligned to a single sustainability vision required patience, flexibility, and a lot of communication.”
Despite the hurdles, teamwork and perseverance saw them through, and the outcome proved what can happen when purpose drives collaboration.
A Legacy of Action Beyond the waste collection, Spogomi Malaysia has become a catalyst for awareness and community spirit where environmental conservation is an act of pride rather than an obligation. Schools have begun incorporating Spogomi principles into student activities, while local councils are exploring ways to adopt similar models for ongoing community engagement.
Through initiatives like this, Brewspark Technologies Group is proving that corporate social responsibility can be a living legacy that empowers citizens, creates partnerships, and contributes to national sustainability goals. Their recognition at the Borneo Inspires Legacy Awards isn’t just about an achievement, but a stand that sustainability is most powerful when it’s shared.
“Change begins the moment you choose to act,” Foo concluded. “No effort is ever too small when it’s driven by purpose and heart.”
Borneo Inspires Legacy Awards (BILA) Held on 3 October 2025 in Kuching, Sarawak, BILA marked the first award ceremony of its kind in Malaysia and Borneo to recognise changemakers who are shaping the future of the business events industry.
HONG KONG, 24 October 2025: Fliggy, an online travel platform subsidiary of Alibaba Group, reported strong growth during China’s National Day holiday eight-day period from 1 to 8 October.*
The platform achieved 48% growth in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) for fulfilled travel transactions, with a 30% increase in the number of people served, surpassing industry benchmarks.
Photo credit: Fliggy.
Daily records were set for domestic flight bookings, fulfilled global hotel bookings, and occupied room nights.
New merchant success in the hotel sector
Fliggy’s hotel partners performed strongly during the National Day holiday despite industry headwinds affecting the broader hospitality sector.
Hotels on the platform not only significantly outpaced the market in booking volume but also maintained upward momentum in Average Daily Rates (ADR).
Global hotel bookings hit an all-time high, with occupied room nights surging 78% YoY compared to 2024, while over 100 cities in China experienced a doubling of hotel room nights.
More than 100 hotel brands on the platform also saw their occupied room nights at least double during this holiday period.
Prominent hotel chains, including Jinjiang, Huazhu, BTG Homeinns, Marriott, Hilton, Atour, Wanda Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt, and Narada, performed well via their official flagship stores on Fliggy.
Newly onboarded hotel partners recorded an 83% increase in average occupied room nights per day during the holiday period compared to the May Day holiday.
During this holiday period, nearly 20 leading hotel brands partnered with Fliggy to offer exclusive benefits for Alibaba’s 88VIP members, resulting in an impressive YoY doubling of occupied room nights from this member group compared to last year by 8 October, with some hotels enjoying up to a nine-fold increase.
Enhanced ecosystem integration
Fliggy’s strong performance reflects a strategic realignment since its integration into the Alibaba China E-Commerce Group alongside Ele.me in June 2025. This move has fostered operational synergies while maintaining independent management and agile decision-making.
Under Alibaba’s comprehensive consumption platform strategy, Fliggy established a stronger user portal on the Taobao app and integrated with Alibaba’s new cross-platform loyalty programme, enhancing lifestyle experiences and commercial opportunities.
The expanded service scenarios and enhanced member benefits have significantly improved consumer travel service experiences across the Fliggy and Taobao apps. For merchant partners, this translates into robust growth in both traffic volume and high-value customer segments.
Travel orders placed through the Taobao app increased 74% during the holiday period compared to 2024, with 88VIP members contributing to a 120% increase in occupied room nights for hotels and sustained growth in per-capita spending.
*China’s National Day holiday in 2025 was an extended eight-day period from 1 to 8 October, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival on 6 October.
