KUCHING, Malaysia, 17 August 2026: Business Events Sarawak paid a courtesy visit to the Premier of Sarawak, The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, to discuss the next phase of Sarawak’s business events growth and strengthen collaboration in support of the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
Building on Sarawak’s strong industry foundation and international reputation, discussions focused on the next phase of growth and how business events can create greater value for the destination through economic opportunities, knowledge exchange, industry development, investment and benefits for local communities.
A courtesy call to The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg was led by The Honourable Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
During the visit, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, said the Sarawak Government’s continued support strengthens the industry’s ability to build on its progress.
“Sarawak has built a strong international reputation in business events, strengthened by our focus on legacy-driven outcomes. We are now seeing that translate into more events and wider opportunities for local businesses and industries. With the Sarawak Government’s continued support for the industry, we are well positioned to build on this progress, attract bigger opportunities and ensure the benefits extend across more sectors and communities in Sarawak as competition across ASEAN grows.”
The discussion during the visit highlighted infrastructure, venue and accommodation capacity, and air connectivity as important factors in strengthening Sarawak’s ability to attract larger and more diverse international and national business events. The events and tourism industries are also encouraged to explore creative ways for Sarawak’s growing range of venues and facilities to complement one another in supporting conventions, exhibitions, corporate meetings and incentives, performances and other major events.
With Borneo Convention Centre Kuching 2 (BCCK2) in progress and improved air connectivity through AirBorneo, the discussion also highlighted the opportunity for Sarawak to tap into and drive more business events and tourism from across the wider Asia Pacific region.
Datu Hii Chang Kee, Deputy State Secretary (Operation) and Chairman of BESarawak, emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration and coordination to ensure business events contribute to Sarawak’s wider development.
“As the industry grows, our role in connecting business events more closely with PCDS 2030 becomes even more important. With a growing pipeline of larger events addressing globally relevant issues across industries, we need to consider how each opportunity can contribute to Sarawak’s broader priorities, whether through investment, talent development, industry growth, knowledge exchange, or international partnerships.”
“This is where stronger coordination becomes essential. Government agencies, industry and institutions need to work together so that when these events come to Sarawak, we are ready to maximise the opportunities and benefits they can create for the destination.”
This direction builds on Sarawak’s growing focus on legacy impact, with business events increasingly used to create long-term benefits through knowledge, innovation and partnerships.”
Jason Tan Chin Foo, Chief Executive Officer of BESarawak, said BESarawak is clear about how it intends to build on the strengths of the past two decades.
“With the strong support of the Sarawak Government, we are excited about the next phase of growth. We have built significant momentum over the years, and our focus now is to use that momentum strategically by being intentional about the events we pursue, strengthening Sarawak’s business events ecosystem, and creating more value from every opportunity we secure.”
“As Sarawak advances towards the goals of PCDS 2030, BESarawak will continue to strengthen the alignment between its business events pipeline and Sarawak’s priority sectors, creating more opportunities to bring knowledge, innovation and partnerships that support Sarawak’s broader development.”
SINGAPORE, 17 August 2026: Digital travel platform Agoda and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have renewed and broadened their partnership through a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), extending collaboration beyond joint destination marketing into new areas of data, technology, and AI-powered travel innovation.
The MOU was signed in the presence of Agoda CEO, Omri Morgenshtern and STB Chief Executive Melissa Ow. This latest agreement entails a three-year commitment focused on promoting Singapore as a destination, deepening data and technology collaboration, and advancing industry development.
From left to right: Jun Dong, Agoda Vice President; Omri Morgenshtern, Agoda Chief Executive Officer; Melissa Ow, STB Chief Executive, and Terrence Voon, STB Executive Director, Southeast Asia, at the MOU launch ceremony on 13 August.
First established in 2022 and renewed in 2024, the partnership has evolved with each iteration to address shifting traveller behaviours and the increasingly central role of digital tools across the traveller journey.
This latest expansion broadens the scope across four pillars:
joint marketing;
data strategy and insights;
thought leadership and innovation;
tech collaboration exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The signing builds on momentum established earlier this year. In May 2026, Agoda and STB launched a joint marketing campaign to support demand for Singapore amid global disruptions, while tapping into growing interest in short-haul regional travel. With strong participation from Singapore hotel partners, the campaign delivered encouraging results across target markets — a promising sign of what the partnership can achieve.
Ow commented: “The renewed collaboration presents the opportunity to tap on Agoda’s platform reach, traveller insights and technology capabilities to strengthen Singapore’s destination appeal in the digital space. The partnership also supports STB’s Tourism 2040 ambitions, with a mutual commitment to harness technology and raise industry capabilities for Singapore tourism.”
Morgenshtern added: “Agoda shares a bond with Singapore, and this expanded collaboration reflects our investment in the market’s digital future. We’re excited to bring our AI and analytics capabilities to this partnership, enabling STB to reach travellers more precisely while supporting the innovation priorities that benefit the entire Singapore tourism ecosystem.”
SINGAPORE, 17 August 2026: Vietjet has been voted “Best Cabin Crew Uniform” at the 2026 Flyers’ Choice Awards organised by AirlineRatings, while also being named as “Favourite Low-Cost Carrier”, securing the top spot in both categories following a global traveller vote.
AirlineRatings CEO Sharon Petersen said: “Winning two categories marks an important tipping point for Vietjet. The airline is now firmly recognised on the global stage, with its uniform playing a key role in that recognition. Unique, fun and instantly recognisable, it leaves a lasting impression long after the flight. The Flyers’ Choice win for best cabin crew uniform reinforces this. “
Vietjet’s signature red uniform voted Best Cabin Crew Uniform by travellers worldwide.
Created by European designers, Vietjet’s cabin crew uniform features the airline’s signature red and combines youthful energy with inspiration from youth cadet attire.
Vietjet has consistently maintained AirlineRatings’ highest seven-star safety rating and has been recognised among the world’s safest airlines for many consecutive years. The airline has also received international recognition from CAPA, the World Travel Awards, Skytrax, and other organisations for its safety, service, customer experience, and brand value.
From its home base in Vietnam, Vietjet continues to expand across the Asia-Pacific region and into new international markets, bringing its brand to more travellers worldwide. From Singapore, Vietjet currently flies direct to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Phu Quoc, with a new direct service to Nha Trang scheduled to commence in December 2026.
The annual Flyers’ Choice Awards are the only AirlineRatings awards determined entirely by travellers. With around 40,000 verified votes cast in 2026, the awards provide direct insight into the airlines earning travellers’ confidence and loyalty.
SINGAPORE, 17 August 2026: Custom Travel Solutions (CTS), the white-label travel loyalty platform powering membership and subscription businesses, has appointed Ishan Anand as Vice President of Product.
The hire marks the latest in senior leadership additions as CTS scales its position as the most powerful infrastructure layer behind branded travel and lifestyle programmes.
Photo credit: CTS. Vice President Product Ishan Anand.
Anand joins CTS from MakeMyTrip (NASDAQ: MMYT), India’s largest travel platform, where he led product strategy and business performance for several of the platform’s highest-traffic businesses.
At MakeMyTrip, Anand repeatedly took businesses with no search visibility, no funnel, and no revenue model and built them into some of the platform’s strongest growth engines. He conceived industry-first products that raised the standard for traveller trust and was an early champion of AI-first product practices across the organisation.
‘We are deliberately bringing in leaders who have built and scaled at the highest level of the travel industry. Ishan has done exactly that – from zero to category-leading growth engines, and he’ll shape what CTS builds next for our partners and beyond,” said CTS Founder and CEO Mike Putman.
“CTS gives any brand the platform, the inventory, and the economics to turn travel into something rare: a loyalty experience their members genuinely value, and a revenue line the brand fully owns. That combination is what drew me in, and the platform is already building for where booking goes next as the industry becomes more AI-driven. I’ve spent my career turning platforms like this into trusted, category-leading businesses, and the chance to do that at CTS’s global scale made this an easy decision.” – Ishan Anand, VP of Product
At CTS, Anand will lead product strategy and vision across the company’s platform, spanning its white-label travel loyalty infrastructure, AI-powered member experience, and an expanding suite of modules.
About Custom Travel Solutions Custom Travel Solutions provides white-label travel loyalty and booking infrastructure to banks, membership organisations, fintech companies, publishers, and enterprise partners worldwide that want to grow loyalty, engagement, and non-dues revenue through travel.
PHUKET, Thailand, 17 August 2026: From inspiring business meetings and conferences to unforgettable beachfront weddings, Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, launched a distinctive setting where business and celebration come together in paradise.
Nestled along Tri-Trang Beach, just minutes from Patong Beach, the resort combines tropical surroundings with versatile event spaces, professional services, and five-star hospitality. With seven event rooms, more than 740 sqm of indoor event space, and a spectacular 3,780 sqm beach lawn venue, the resort provides flexible options for meetings, corporate events, social celebrations, and destination weddings.
Meetings designed to inspire
Meetings at Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach are designed to be productive, engaging, and memorable. The resort’s flexible venues can accommodate everything from intimate executive meetings to large conferences, with the Merlin Grand Ballroom accommodating up to 650 guests in theatre setup. Modern audiovisual technology and an experienced events and catering team ensure that every occasion is delivered professionally.
Merlin Grand Ballroom accommodating up to 650 guests
Creative and memorable coffee breaks
At Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, guests can enjoy thoughtfully designed coffee breaks, creative themed refreshments, and delectable cuisine in stylish pre-function spaces. With natural light and flexible layouts, these areas are ideal for networking, registration, entertainment, and meaningful connections.
Beach Lawn: Events by the Andaman Sea
For an unforgettable outdoor experience, the resort’s expansive 3,780-sqm Beach Lawn offers an exceptional beachfront setting overlooking the Andaman Sea.
Events by the Andaman Sea
The open-air venue can accommodate large receptions and banquets, providing an inspiring backdrop for corporate events, celebrations, and special occasions. Guests can enjoy alfresco dining surrounded by tropical landscapes and the beautiful shoreline of Merlin Beach.
For couples looking to celebrate their love in Phuket, Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach offers a romantic and secluded setting along Tri-Trang Beach.
The beach lawn can host ceremonies of up to 500 guests
From beachfront ceremonies and cocktail receptions to elegant ballroom celebrations, the resort offers diverse indoor and outdoor venues for every stage of a destination wedding. The Beach Lawn can host ceremonies of up to 500 guests, while the Merlin Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 350 guests for a seated wedding reception.
Marriott Certified Wedding Planners work closely with couples to personalise their celebration and coordinate every detail, from menus and table settings to entertainment and other wedding services.
Where business meets paradise
Whether gathering for a meeting, celebrating a corporate milestone, or beginning a new chapter together, Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach offers an inspiring destination where professional events become memorable experiences.
SINGAPORE, 17 August 2026: Singapore continues to be one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic travel markets, with Traveloka data showing outbound bookings growing 90% year-on-year, far outpacing the 21% increase in destination searches.
The result is the widest search-to-booking conversion gap in the region, suggesting Singapore travellers are moving from inspiration to purchase faster than their regional peers.
Traveloka has released the Traveloka SEA Index (Q2 2026, Singapore Edition), offering insights into how Singaporeans’ travel preferences are evolving and which destinations are gaining the strongest momentum across the region.
Key takeaways
Singapore recorded the strongest booking momentum in Southeast Asia, with outbound bookings growing 90% year-on-year, significantly outpacing search growth and highlighting strong traveller confidence and purchase intent.
East Asia is driving Singapore’s fastest-growing travel demand. Destinations such as Fukuoka, Jeju, Chengdu, Shenzhen and Kunming are growing four to eight times faster than the wider market, reflecting increasing interest in emerging destinations beyond traditional favourites.
While Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and Bali remain among Singapore’s most-booked destinations, Singaporeans are increasingly venturing further afield and spending more on distinctive travel experiences. Fukuoka, in particular, is growing at approximately eight times the market pace, making it one of the quarter’s standout performers.
Across Southeast Asia, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei were among only four destinations that outperformed overall market growth across all five Traveloka markets. At the same time, secondary Chinese cities including Chengdu, Shenzhen, Kunming and Chongqing grew at two to four times the market pace, supported by expanded visa-free access and stronger air connectivity.
In an unexpected twist, Qingdao emerged as one of the quarter’s breakout destinations, with bookings across Southeast Asia surging alongside growing flight connectivity and rising interest in China’s emerging tourism cities beyond the traditional gateways.
SINGAPORE, 17 August 2026: Royal Caribbean is extending Navigator of the Seas’ inaugural season in Asia homeporting in Singapore through to October 2027.
Navigator of the Seas will now call Singapore home year-round with sailings open for bookings on Royal Caribbean’s website starting 19 August.
Photo credit: Royal Caribbean. Navigator of the Seas.
Beginning in October 2026, Navigator will offer a year-round lineup of two- to five-night sailings to some of Southeast Asia’s most sought-after destinations in Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, along with a 12-night sailing from Tokyo to Singapore. The extended Singapore season includes short escapes to Penang and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) in Malaysia, as well as Phuket, Thailand.
“We’re excited to give vacationers even more opportunities to experience Navigator of the Seas from Singapore,” said Royal Caribbean President of Greater China and Managing Director Asia
Ben Bouldin. “From long weekend escapes to memorable family vacations, travellers can now enjoy a full year of adventures from one of Asia’s most ideal cruise gateways.”
With convenient air connectivity from major cities across Asia and beyond, Singapore continues to serve as one of the region’s leading fly-cruise hubs, providing an ideal gateway for vacationers exploring the region with Royal Caribbean.
“Royal Caribbean’s decision to extend Navigator of the Seas from a six-month seasonal deployment to a year-round homeport reflects their continued confidence in Singapore as a leading cruise hub in Asia,” said Singapore Tourism Board Director, Cruise Chitra Rajesh Kumar. “The extension is testament to Singapore’s long-standing partnership with Royal Caribbean and offers visitors opportunities to discover Singapore’s vibrant city experiences and explore the rich diversity of Southeast Asia, all within the same cruise holiday.”
Bookings for the extended Singapore season are open from 19 August, with Voyager of the Seas Asia-Pacific sailings on sale from 26 August.
SINGAPORE, 17 August 2026: Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has unveiled the next chapter of the Greater Sentosa Master Plan (GSMP). This long-term transformation will integrate Sentosa with Brani and progressively expand Singapore’s island playground and sanctuary over the next two decades.
The landmark concepts were first shared at the opening of the ‘Your Island: Reimagined’ exhibition in July at VivoCity.
Artist’s impression of the bird’s-eye view of Greater Sentosa.
Comprising Sentosa and the 120-hectare Brani, Greater Sentosa is expected to unlock new spaces for hotels, attractions and experiences while retaining the island’s charm and natural elements. When completed, Greater Sentosa is projected to attract twice as many visitors as it does today.
“For more than five decades, Sentosa has welcomed generations of Singaporeans and visitors from around the world, growing into a place that holds precious memories for many and is well-loved by all. It is, in many ways, a global Singapore brand,” said Sentosa Development Corporation. Chief Executive OfficerThien Kwee Eng. “The GSMP is the greatest transformation in our history. We will stay true to the soul and identity of this island, while shaping the next generation of world-class experiences. Before any of it is built, we wanted to share this vision openly, invite Singaporeans to step inside it and shape it together.”
Anchored on the vision of Sentosa as Singapore’s “Island Playground and Sanctuary in a Global City”, the GSMP intends to bring together new iconic landmarks, reimagined beaches and coastlines, nature-centric growth, and enhanced connectivity to create more compelling reasons for Singaporeans and visitors to return across different times of the day and seasons of life.
This builds on SDC’s longstanding mandate to develop, manage and promote Sentosa as a leisure island destination for Singaporeans and visitors. Over the decades, Sentosa has grown into a well-loved playground, known for its beaches, attractions, resorts and lifestyle experiences, while remaining a nature-centric island at its heart.
A key part of the development pipeline is Brani West, intended to be one of the largest attraction sites under the GSMP. Engagements with potential partners are underway, supporting the broader ambition to introduce novel and refreshed experiences that strengthen Greater Sentosa’s appeal to both Singaporeans and international visitors.
New iconic landmarks
With the GSMP, Sentosa’s destination appeal will be reinforced through new iconic landmarks that bring together play, nature, leisure and discovery. These include the Imbiah Canopy, a beacon and vantage point atop Mount Imbiah, that will house attractions, food and beverage, retail options, and sheltered event spaces. A treetop skywalk is planned to connect new nature-based experiences and trails, providing a comfortable walking experience to Siloso Beach.
The planned Imbiah Lookout Walk will complement this. This sheltered elevated forest canopy walk will connect Sensoryscape to Imbiah Lookout and provide access to surrounding Sentosa walking trails. New nature-based attractions will also encourage visitors to explore the secondary forests and heritage buildings at Mount Imbiah, with expanded nature and heritage trails planned in later phases to eventually connect to the Southern Ridges on the mainland. Together with plans to link forests across Brani, Serapong and Imbiah into a continuous green network, Greater Sentosa’s ecological connectivity will be further strengthened, allowing guests to enjoy nature for restoration and well-being.
Along the beachfront, the Sensorium is envisioned as a new icon that will host a range of lifestyle and indoor attractions, including a multi-purpose venue for events and festival activations. Designed with green spaces to enhance thermal comfort and elevate the guest experience, the space will also reflect SDC’s commitment to sustainability.
Guests can also look forward to discovering more upcoming experiences at Resorts World Sentosa. These include the landmark Waterfront Lifestyle Development, scheduled for completion in 2030.
Reimagined beaches and coastlines
Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong Beach will be rejuvenated alongside the introduction of coastal protection measures, creating new lifestyle developments and multi-use, day-to-night spaces for play, relaxation and community gatherings.
New experiences that highlight Sentosa’s natural assets are also being explored, including coastal activities, beach clubs, and a floating boardwalk connecting islets. An islet-hopping experience across the 3km stretch of Sentosa’s golden beaches will allow guests to explore islets across Sentosa’s beaches and discover the island’s waters and natural elements up close.
Concepts under study include beach club experiences positioned around scenic sunrise and sunset views, as well as treetop dining, turning the island’s well-loved beachfronts into more vibrant, flexible spaces for different occasions day and night.
Enhanced connectivity in Greater Sentosa
Connectivity to and within Greater Sentosa is expected to be transformed through enhanced links by land, air, sea and waterfront. The Island Heart Transport Hub is envisioned as a major gateway and key arrival point to Sentosa, linking Sentosa and Brani while providing a seamless way for Singaporeans and visitors to arrive, gather and continue their journey across the island.
A new People Mover System is intended to replace the existing Sentosa Express and provide a more seamless connection from the mainland to Island Heart and across the island, with increased carrying capacity to cater to anticipated growth in visitorship. Together with the Singapore Cable Car, water taxi connections under exploration, and additional waterfront links being studied, the journey to and around Greater Sentosa will become an experience itself for guests.
Sensoryscape, the first completed milestone of the GSMP, offers an early example of this approach. Beyond serving as a 350m green connector between Resorts World Sentosa and the island’s beaches, it combines gardens, universal design, all-weather and shaded features, digital experiences and ecological enhancements, including native plantings and a butterfly corridor, to show how infrastructure can support thermal comfort, create richer, more accessible and inclusive guest experiences, and strengthen biodiversity and visitor flow.
This integrated planning approach will guide future developments under the GSMP, with environmental studies and nature group engagements, both completed and planned, informing climate-resilient design, ecological connectivity and the sensitive integration of new experiences with Sentosa’s ridgelines, greenery, coastlines and heritage. Coastal protection measures will help build resilience against erosion and sea level rise while creating opportunities for new waterfront experiences, including coastal trails and an islet-hopping experience.
Public exhibition shares the future
The ‘Your Island. Reimagined.’ Greater Sentosa exhibition.
The ‘Your Island. Reimagined.’ Greater Sentosa exhibition brings the GSMP vision to life through interactive and immersive exhibits that invite visitors to co-create their vision for Greater Sentosa. Through quizzes, shared aspirations and an AI-enabled immersive experience, visitors can personalise a reimagined Greater Sentosa based on their inputs and the ongoing master plan study, exploring possibilities for future shorelines, beaches, ridgelines, waterfronts and purpose-of-visit attractions.
The exhibition features seven immersive zones that help visitors reconnect with Sentosa’s past, rediscover what it offers today and reimagine what it can become. These include zones on the island’s heritage, today’s offerings, future journeys, Island Heart, the ridgeline, expanded beaches and the living vision for Greater Sentosa.
After its flagship run at VivoCity in July, the exhibition will travel to Jurong Point from 19 to 23 August and Waterway Point in Punggol from 23 to 27 September, before returning to Sentosa in October. Admission is free at all locations, with exhibit-exclusive promotions for iconic Sentosa attractions and dining vouchers available.
About Sentosa The 500-hectare island resort is home to an exciting array of themed attractions, award-winning spa retreats, lush rainforests, golden sandy beaches, resort accommodations, world-renowned golf courses, a deep-water yachting marina and luxurious residences – making Sentosa a vibrant island resort for business and leisure. Sentosa is also home to Singapore’s first integrated resort, Resorts World Sentosa, which operates Southeast Asia’s first Universal Studios theme park.
Situated on the eastern end of Sentosa Island is Sentosa Cove, an exclusive waterfront residential enclave bustling with more than 2,000 homes, quayside restaurants, and retail and speciality shops. The island is home to Sentosa Golf Club and its two golf courses, The Serapong and The Tanjong. Sentosa Golf Club.
BANGKOK, 17 August 2026: Asia Aviation Public Company Limited, the parent company of Thai AirAsia, has released its financial and operational performance for the second quarter of 2026 (“2Q26”).
An unprecedented 124% jump in jet fuel prices to USD183 per barrel pushed total fuel expenses up 43% YoY to THB5 billion. Even under this heavy cost pressure environment, TAA achieved an Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) breakeven of THB25 million.
Net loss was THB2,326 million, including a foreign exchange loss of THB293 million. Core operating loss for the quarter was THB2,091 million. Overall, 1H2026 core loss was THB440 million.
Despite elevated global fuel price spikes and the regional low-travel season, the airline acted quickly to protect margins by cutting excess capacity and raising ticket yields.
Revenue from sales and services rose 2% year-on-year to THB10,046 million while ticket revenue grew 6% YoY to THB8,575 million. TAA intentionally trimmed seat capacity by 13% YoY to 5.14 million seats, focusing on core markets. Average fares surged 27% YoY, covering half of the fuel price inflation while keeping guest traffic steady at 4.03 million passengers.
On cost control, TAA reinforced AirAsia’s low-cost DNA by delivering an absolute reduction in non-fuel operating expenses. Selling and administrative expenses reduced by 17% YoY and staff costs reduced by 12% YoY. While ex-fuel absolute costs fell 8% YoY through cost discipline, cost per unit excluding fuel (“CASK ex-fuel”) rose 13% YoY to THB1.43.
Operational performance improved sharply with On-Time Performance (OTP) rebounding to 88%. TAA also retained its position as Thailand’s top domestic airline with a leading 37% market share and an 80% domestic load factor. To secure liquidity, TAA successfully raised THB 3,815 million through a new debenture issuance in June 2026, keeping its net interest-bearing debt-to-equity ratio low at 1.1x.
AAV and Thai AirAsia Chief Executive Officer Phairat Pornpathananangoon said: “We made a decisive move in 2Q26 to prioritise yield quality and liquidity during a global fuel crisis. By focusing on profitable routes, we proved the power of our brand and pricing leadership, holding an 80% domestic load factor even as average fares increased.
“Looking ahead to 2H2026, TAA is set to rebound as fuel prices stabilise from their peak levels. The airline will keep tight capacity control through Q3 before ramping up operating fleet deployment to 52 aircraft in Q4 to capture peak year-end holiday demand. TAA will reopen suspended international routes while strengthening flight frequencies across its Bangkok Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi hubs. The airline will also tap into upcoming government tourism schemes and major international events to boost passenger traffic. Fuel risk remains managed with 13% of 3Q26 fuel needs locked in at USD 89 per barrel. TAA expects to return to profitability as peak travel season returns in the last quarter of the year.”
BANGKOK, 17 August 2026: Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC) is investing approximately THB2.9 billion in a new ultra-luxury Plaza Athénée hotel on the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River.
The group’s existing River Garden property will be transformed into an 18-storey hotel featuring 146 guest rooms and more than 20,000 sqm of gross floor area. Scheduled to open in 2028, the hotel will operate under the internationally recognised Plaza Athénée brand that has been absent from Bangkok’s hotel scene since 2017.
The group’s existing River Garden property will be transformed into an 18-storey hotel scheduled to open in 2028.
The development will become part of the AWC Riverside Journey, an ambitious network connecting 11 of the group’s hotels, lifestyle destinations and visitor experiences along the Chao Phraya.
Designed as more than a traditional luxury hotel, the property will combine accommodation with wellness, dining and lifestyle experiences. Its riverside setting will also give guests convenient access to Bangkok’s historic neighbourhoods, cultural attractions, and established local communities.
The network includes Asiatique The Riverfront Destination, The Hotel Plaza Athénée Bangkok and the planned Ritz-Carlton Bangkok, The Riverside.
AWC’s broader riverside journey strategy brings together the capital’s history, art, culture and traditional ways of life with contemporary hospitality and tourism experiences. Participating properties are also expected to feature shared co-living lobby concepts, creating welcoming spaces where visitors can meet, relax and enjoy views of the river.
AWC President and Chief Executive Officer Wallapa Traisorat said the Chao Phraya had long been at the heart of Bangkok, connecting its people, communities, commerce, history and culture.
Inspired by that heritage, the riverside journey aims to introduce Bangkok and Thailand’s distinctive character to international visitors, while supporting the country’s development as a sustainable global tourism destination.
The network includes Asiatique The Riverfront Destination, The Hotel Plaza Athénée Bangkok and the planned Ritz-Carlton Bangkok, The Riverside. It also connects visitors with prominent neighbourhoods and cultural districts, including Song Wat, Yaowarat and Woeng Nakorn Kasem.
Guests will be encouraged to explore celebrated riverside landmarks such as the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Pak Khlong Talat flower market and Chinatown. The concept seeks to create a continuous journey through Bangkok’s heritage, living communities, contemporary lifestyle attractions and emerging creative districts.
MONA Bangkok cross-river cable car
AWC also plans to expand the riverside network through MONA Bangkok, a destination dedicated to art, creativity and culture. Another proposed element is a sustainable cross-river cable car, designed to provide an additional transport connection and a fresh perspective for experiencing the Chao Phraya.
About the author Andrew J Wood is a Bangkok-based travel writer and former hotelier who has lived in Thailand since 1991. A graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh, he has held senior hotel management positions in Thailand and overseas. He is a former Director of Skål International and Past President of Skål International Asia, Thailand and Bangkok.
