MUMBAI, 20 August 2026: Air India’s flagship Maharaja Lounge at Terminal 3, Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, has been honoured with the prestigious Gold award for “Airport Lounge Opening of the Year” at the FAB 2026 Awards, held in Bengaluru recently.
Organised annually by The Moodie Davitt Report, the FAB Awards are among the most prestigious global recognitions for airport food, beverage, lounge and hospitality excellence.
Photo credit: Air India. Air India’s flagship Maharaja Lounge at Terminal 3, Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
The “Airport Lounge Opening of the Year” category brought together some of the most innovative and luxurious airport spaces launched across major aviation hubs worldwide.
Air India Chief Customer Experience Officer Rajesh Dogra said: “Receiving this global recognition for the Maharaja Lounge is a proud milestone for Air India. We sincerely thank our customers for their trust and loyalty, and our teams and partners whose commitment has helped bring this vision to life. As we continue our transformation journey, we remain focused on delivering world-class experiences that showcase the very best of Indian hospitality in the aviation industry.”
The Maharaja Lounge has been designed around a philosophy of thoughtful zoning, creating distinct spaces that cater to the diverse needs and moods of modern travellers. Spanning 16,000 sq. ft., the lounge seamlessly blends heritage-inspired warmth with contemporary elegance, offering guests the flexibility to work, dine, relax or unwind in dedicated environments tailored to their journey.
The lounge accommodates premium guests across a business section and an exclusive First Class zone. Standout spaces include The Aviators’ Bar, The Globetrotter’s Study, the Serenity Area, the Crystal Bar in the First Class section, and the Sleep Suites.
The award-winning lounge in Delhi is part of Air India’s broader strategy to drive fleet modernisation, including the introduction of new Airbus A350s, new line-fit Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, and retrofitted narrowbody and widebody aircraft.
KUCHING, Malaysia, 20 August 2026: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced the winners of the 2026 PATA Gold Awards during the PATA Travel Mart hosted in Kuching in Sarawak, Malaysia from 18 to 20 August.
Celebrating outstanding achievements across the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry, PATA identified 26 award categories that recognise innovative campaigns and impactful initiatives across marketing, sustainability and social responsibility segments.
Photo credit: PATA Annual Gold Award winners.
Among this year’s leading organisations in the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry, PATA named Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia, as the Grand Title Winner in the Marketing category, while the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, China, has gained the Grand Title Winner in the Sustainability and Social Responsibility category.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said: “The PATA Gold Awards continue to shine a light on the creativity, innovation and commitment shaping a stronger and more sustainable tourism industry. This year’s submissions were among the strongest we have seen, reflecting the remarkable efforts of PATA members and the wider industry in pursuing excellence. The winning entries show how bold ideas can create lasting impact — from innovative marketing and emerging technologies to conservation, climate action, inclusion and community empowerment. They set new benchmarks for excellence and demonstrate tourism’s potential as a force for positive change.
“I warmly congratulate all of this year’s winners and commend them for the passion and purpose behind their work. I also extend my sincere appreciation to our independent judging committee for their time, expertise and commitment to ensuring a rigorous and fair evaluation process.”
This year’s winners were selected by an independent judging committee comprising senior tourism professionals, academics, researchers and industry experts from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.
As the PATA Gold Award 2026 Grand Title Winner in Marketing, the Sarawak Tourism Board was recognised for its Sarawak Guinness World Record – Longest GPS Journey by Successive Drones.
On 31 December 2025, Sarawak officially secured a Guinness World Record for the longest GPS journey by successive drones, completing an unbroken aerial relay of 1,706.7 km across the state. The historic flight involved 128 continuous flight segments spanning the length of Sarawak and captured extensive aerial footage showcasing the state’s diverse landscapes. The achievement provided a creative and high-impact platform to promote Sarawak ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 202As the
The PATA Gold Award 2026 Grand Title Winner in Sustainability and Social Responsibility, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, was recognised for its Millennial Whispers of Stone, Shared Preservation of Heritage – Sustainable Development Program for the Systematic Conservation, Research, and Dynamic Inheritance of the Dazu Rock Carvings.
The Dazu Rock Carvings, an outstanding example of late Chinese grotto art, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The initiative establishes a sustainable system integrating conservation, research, revitalisation and inheritance through scientific protection, academic research, adaptive reuse, community participation and international cooperation, supporting the long-term preservation and sustainable development of this important heritage site.
The PATA Gold Awards recognise excellence across a broad range of disciplines, from destination and industry marketing to emerging technology, climate action, conservation, human capital development, community-based tourism, inclusivity and youth and women empowerment.
PATA Gold Awards 2026 – Grand Title Winners
1. Marketing
Winner: Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia
Submission: Sarawak Guinness World Record – Longest GPS Journey by Successive Drones
2. Sustainability & Social Responsibility
Winner: Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, China
Submission: Millennial Whispers of Stone, Shared Preservation of Heritage – Sustainable Development Program for the Systematic Conservation, Research, and Dynamic Inheritance of the Dazu Rock Carvings
KUCHING, Malaysia, 19 August 2026: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced the appointment of five additional members to its Executive Board, further strengthening the Association’s leadership and broadening representation from both the public and private sectors across the Asia Pacific region.
Photo credit: PATA. New faces on PATA’s Executive Board.
The newly elected and appointed Executive Board members are:
Jennifer Chun, Director of Tourism Research, Hawaii Tourism Authority, USA – Secretary/Treasurer;
Yang Li, Head of Public Affairs, APAC, Booking.com, Singapore – Executive Board Member;
Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director, Visit Maldives Corporation, Maldives – Executive Board Member;
Alhasan Aldabbagh, President, APAC, Saudi Tourism Authority, Saudi Arabia – Non-Voting Executive Board Member;
The first three members were elected to the Executive Board, while Aldabbagh and Pandey were appointed as non-voting Executive Board members. Together, they bring extensive industry experience, regional perspectives, and expertise to further strengthen the Association’s leadership.
Together, these appointments further strengthen PATA’s leadership and reflect its commitment to broadening industry representation, expertise and collaboration across the Asia Pacific region.
“We are delighted to welcome Jennifer, Yang, Ibrahim, Alhasan and Suman to the PATA Executive Board,” said Henry Oh, Chairman, PATA. “With the Board now fully constituted, we look forward to drawing on their diverse experience, knowledge and perspectives as we continue to strengthen PATA and support collaboration across our membership and the wider tourism industry.”
As Secretary/Treasurer, Jennifer Chun will contribute her extensive experience in tourism research and destination development to PATA’s leadership. She currently serves with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and has been actively engaged with PATA through her participation in the Association’s programmes and activities.
Yang Li brings extensive experience in the digital travel sector through his role with Booking.com in Singapore. His expertise in technology, digital platforms and the evolving travel ecosystem will provide valuable perspectives as PATA works to support its members in navigating a rapidly changing tourism landscape.
Ibrahim Shiuree represents Visit Maldives Corporation and brings experience from one of the Asia Pacific region’s leading island destinations. His perspective will further strengthen PATA’s engagement with destination organisations and the priorities of island tourism economies.
Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC at Saudi Tourism Authority, brings extensive experience in destination development, international tourism and market engagement. His appointment further strengthens PATA’s representation and relationships across the Asia Pacific region and the wider global tourism community.
Suman Pandey, Group Chairman of Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure, has been a longstanding contributor to PATA and has served in leadership roles within the Association. His continued participation as a non-voting member will provide valuable continuity and industry insight, particularly from the perspective of adventure and experiential tourism.
With the addition of the newly elected members, PATA’s Executive Board comprises:
Chair Henry Oh, Chairman, Global Tour Ltd
Vice Chair Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts
Secretary/Treasurer Jennifer Chun, Director of Tourism Research, Hawaii Tourism Authority
Executive Board Members Jackson Pek, Chief Corporate & Legal Affairs Officer, Amadeus Maria Paz Alberto, President, Ark Travel Express, Inc. Yang Li, Head of Public Affairs, APAC, Booking.com Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Director-General, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) Dr Sharzede Salleh Askor, CEO, Sarawak Tourism Board Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director, Visit Maldives Corporation Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC, Saudi Tourism Authority Suman Pandey, Group Chairman, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure
KUCHING, Malaysia, 20 August 2026: Business networking sessions got underway at the PATA Travel Mart 2026 (PTM 2026) on Tuesday, bringing together over 1,100 tourism delegates from 48 countries and destinations for one of Asia Pacific’s leading international business-to-business travel trade events.
Hosted at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from 18 to 20 August, PTM 2026 marks the first time that PATA’s flagship travel trade event has been held in Sarawak.
L/R: Noor Ahmad Hamid, Chief Executive Officer, PATA; Henry Oh, Chair, PATA; Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak and Minister for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak; Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, Chief Executive Officer, Sarawak Tourism Board.
The event brings together 221 buyers, representing 215 companies, from 29 source markets and over 365 sellers representing over 200 organisations and destinations, creating opportunities for tourism businesses and destinations to connect with international markets and develop new partnerships.
The event, organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association, is endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, hosted by the Sarawak Tourism Board, and supported by Business Events Sarawak.
“PATA Travel Mart is about building valuable, quality business connections that extend beyond the event and the opportunities they create that can grow into lasting partnerships,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. “By taking PTM beyond the region’s traditional gateways, we are deliberately opening international markets to smaller and emerging destinations, helping disperse tourism, broaden economic opportunities and show that the next generation of tourism growth can come from beyond the established hubs.”
At the heart of PTM 2026 is its business exchange programme. Across the two main travel mart days, buyers and sellers participated in more than 4,000 scheduled business appointments, providing opportunities to develop new partnerships, explore new source markets and generate future business.
The event welcomed both returning and new buyers and sellers, reflecting continued interest in the Asia Pacific region and the value the international tourism industry places on direct business engagement.
“Hosting PATA Travel Mart 2026 in Sarawak is an important opportunity for us to strengthen our engagement with the international tourism community and contribute to the future growth of tourism across the Asia Pacific,” said YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak and Minister for Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak.
“As we grow the sector, our focus remains on creating meaningful economic opportunities, strengthening our tourism industry and ensuring that development continues to benefit our communities while safeguarding the cultural and natural assets that make Sarawak distinctive.”
More than a travel trade event
While business exchange remains at the heart of PTM, the event is also bringing together the wider PATA community through a programme of knowledge sharing, professional development, leadership, networking and destination engagement.
The programme began on 17 August with the PATA Youth Symposium, bringing together university students and young tourism professionals for discussions, learning opportunities and industry engagement.
The Youth Symposium continued on 18 August with community-based and experiential activities designed to give participants a deeper understanding of Sarawak and its tourism development.
On the evening of 17 August, PATA hosted its Executive Board and Board Members Networking Reception & Life Members Get-Together, together with the PATA Chapter and Student Chapter Awards and the Face of the Future Awards, recognising the achievements and contributions of PATA’s chapters, student chapters and emerging tourism leaders.
On 18 August, the PATA Knowledge Forum is bringing industry leaders and experts together under the theme “The Next Era: Impactful Partnerships, Purposeful Growth.” The Forum explores the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of tourism, with discussions focused on partnerships, purposeful growth, technology, business innovation, communities, culture and meaningful tourism experiences.
The Knowledge Forum forms part of PATA’s broader commitment to helping its members navigate a rapidly changing tourism environment by providing opportunities to exchange knowledge, access industry intelligence and develop new partnerships.
Alongside PTM and the Knowledge Forum, PATA’s Executive Board and Board meetings are taking place in Kuching, bringing together representatives from across the Association’s membership and leadership community.
Sarawak takes centre stage
PTM 2026 also provides international delegates with an opportunity to experience Sarawak and gain a deeper understanding of the destination’s tourism offerings.
Known for its rich cultural diversity, Indigenous heritage, biodiversity and natural landscapes, Sarawak provides a distinctive setting for PTM and an opportunity for international tourism professionals to experience the destination beyond its traditional tourism proposition.
Delegates are taking part in networking activities and destination experiences throughout the event, creating opportunities to discover Sarawak’s communities, culture, gastronomy, nature and adventure offerings while building connections with local tourism stakeholders.
“PATA Travel Mart 2026 gives us an important platform to showcase Sarawak directly to the international travel trade and allow delegates to experience the destination beyond the exhibition floor,” said Sarawak Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor.
“Through our culture, communities, gastronomy, nature and adventure experiences, we want delegates to gain a deeper understanding of what Sarawak offers and take that knowledge back to their respective markets, creating greater opportunities for Sarawak to be included in future travel programmes and itineraries.”
Sarawak Tourism Board has been a PATA member since 1981, and the two organisations have continued to collaborate on initiatives supporting tourism development, sustainability, resilience, biodiversity conservation and capacity building.
Supporting the next era of tourism
PTM 2026 comes at an important time for tourism across Asia Pacific, as changing source markets, traveller expectations, technology and business models continue to reshape the industry.
For PATA, the Travel Mart provides a platform for its members and partners to respond to these changes through business connections, knowledge sharing and collaboration.
“The tourism industry continues to evolve, creating both opportunities and challenges for destinations and tourism businesses,” added Noor Ahmad Hamid. “PATA’s role is to help our members navigate these changes by providing opportunities to connect, exchange knowledge, access industry intelligence and develop new partnerships. PATA Travel Mart is one of the most visible expressions of that role.”
With the business programme continuing through 20 August, PTM 2026 will provide further opportunities for buyers and sellers to connect, explore new markets and develop partnerships, while delegates continue to engage with Sarawak and the wider PATA community.
PATA extends its appreciation to all participating buyers, sellers, members, partners, sponsors and supporters, and particularly to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Sarawak Tourism Board and Business Events Sarawak for their support in bringing PTM 2026 to Kuching.
SINGAPORE, 19 August 2026: Digital travel platform Agoda has identified growing accommodation interest around local festivals across Asia, highlighting how cultural and international celebrations can create new travel moments and commercial opportunities for accommodation partners beyond traditional tourism seasons and established destinations.
This reflects a broader shift towards experience-led exploration as travellers continue seeking engaging experiences that create lasting memories instead of simply ticking off destinations.
Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook Report revealed that surveyed travellers are increasingly drawn to secondary destinations for the authenticity and immersive cultural experiences they offer. Cited by 25% of surveyed Asian travellers, cultural exploration is among the top three trip motivations, making festivals a timely opportunity to connect travellers with destinations known for local culture and community celebrations.
“Travel planning is increasingly being shaped by the experience travellers want to have, and social media is further amplifying awareness of cultural moments and local festivals to a much wider audience. Nagaoka City in Niigata Prefecture is a great example showing how quickly that can translate into travel interest. Accommodation searches for the host location of the Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks were 50x higher during the event period than before it, demonstrating how a local celebration can put a destination on travellers’ radar. Through initiatives like the Agoda Mega Sale campaign, we’re helping accommodation partners turn that interest into booking opportunities,” said Agoda Senior Vice President, Supply, Andrew Smith.
As travellers plan around festivals and local experiences in these destinations, Agoda’s upcoming Mega Sale campaign lets participating accommodation partners put relevant offers in front of them at key booking moments.
The campaign runs until 31 August, when travellers can access hotel offers of up to 60% off.
Here is a list of some of the upcoming festivals around Asia
25 September in Singapore, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the Mid-Autumn Festival brings families and communities together under the full moon. Traditions vary by destination but commonly include lantern displays, mooncakes, family reunions and public performances; Hong Kong also stages its distinctive fire-dragon dances. The festival gives travellers different ways to experience a shared Asian tradition through each destination’s local customs. Destination tourism organisations actively promote public celebrations staged in visitor precincts. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a great opportunity for travellers to soak up the festivities when they visit these destinations during this period. It offers an interactive element with lanterns in a less crowded atmosphere compared to Lunar New Year earlier in the year.
Chuseok, South Korea 25 September in South Korea Chuseok, often called Korean Thanksgiving, is one of South Korea’s most important traditional holidays. Celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, it centres on the autumn harvest, family reunions, ancestral memorial rites known as charye, and traditional foods such as songpyeon rice cakes. The festival’s popularity is reflected in the Korea Tourism Organisation’s statement that millions of people travel to their hometowns during Seollal and Chuseok to celebrate with their families. In 2026, the official Chuseok holiday runs from 24 to 26 September.
MassKara Festival, Philippines1 to 18 October in Bacolod, Philippines Held in Bacolod, the Philippines’ “City of Smiles”, MassKara Festival is known for elaborate smiling masks, energetic street-dance competitions, music, costumes and community celebrations. Created during a period of economic difficulty, the festival’s smiling imagery has become a powerful expression of Bacolod’s optimism and resilience. MassKara is staged as a major city-wide tourism event and documented by the Bacolod City Government, with public celebrations drawing crowds into the city and indicating existing infrastructure for travel specifically for the festival.
Vietnam Jungle Marathon, Vietnam17 October 2026 at Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Vietnam Vietnam Jungle Marathon takes runners deep into Pu Luong Nature Reserve, around 160km southwest of Hanoi. Its 10km, 25km, 50 km and 70km routes cross ethnic-minority villages, ancient jungle, limestone peaks, waterfalls and rice paddies, combining endurance sport with immersion in a lesser-visited part of rural Vietnam. According to the organisers, the race was created partly to bring people to an area that sees relatively few tourists. Anticipating the travel crowd for this marathon, the organisers provide transport guidance for reaching remote Pu Luong.
Jidai Matsuri, Japan, 22 October, in Kyoto, Japan Jidai Matsuri, or the Festival of the Ages, is one of Kyoto’s three great festivals. Its two-kilometre procession recreates more than a thousand years of Japanese history in reverse chronological order, with approximately 2,000 participants, 70 horses and oxen, and some 12,000 historically researched costumes and ceremonial objects. The procession travels from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Jingu Shrine. Kyoto’s official tourism organisation publishes multilingual visitor information, a detailed procession route, and dedicated paid viewing seats to help spectators plan. The full procession takes around two hours to pass a single location.
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)
