International hotel operators continue to strengthen their Indonesia pipelines as demand grows for design-led, experience-driven resorts in prime leisure destinations. Cross Hotels & Resorts’ latest signing in Bali underlines this momentum, with Uluwatu emerging as a strategic location for upscale resort development. Cross Hotels & Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sono International, signs an agreement with PT The Cube Group for the development of Cross Bali Uluwatu, an upper-upscale resort located approximately 200 metres from Suluban Beach. The project is positioned near some of Bali’s most iconic surf and cultural landmarks. The signing strengthens Cross Hotels & Resorts’ presence across Indonesia as it continues to expand its portfolio of design-forward hospitality assets. Jihong An, Executive Director, Cross Hotels & Resorts, says: “Uluwatu is one of Bali’s most compelling destinations, and Cross Bali Uluwatu embodies exactly what our growth strategy stands for: meaningful sites, strong partnerships, and design with purpose. This signing reinforces our commitment to creating high-performing hotels in markets where culture and commercial potential align. Together with PT The Cube Group, we are shaping a destination that will resonate with travellers and deliver long-term value for our owners.” Design-led resort concept Developed by PT The Cube Group, the project reflects a commitment to long-term value creation through thoughtful design and community integration. Guided by environmental philosophy and community culture, the resort is planned to offer elevated design, expansive ocean views and a sense of connection to its surroundings. The resort will feature 120 keys with facilities and amenities expected of an upper-upscale hotel, combining relaxation, culture and contemporary hospitality. Danu Nurhiday, Director & Co-Founder, PT The Cube Group, adds: “We are driven by the belief that exceptional destinations …

Malaysia Airlines continues its direct-to-consumer engagement strategy in India with the fourth leg of its India Mall Activation Tour, reinforcing Delhi NCR’s role as a key outbound market ahead of the year-end travel season. Malaysia Airlines completes a three-day mall activation at Ambience Mall, Gurugram, Delhi NCR, from 12–14 December 2025, marking the fourth showcase in its multi-city India Mall Activation Tour. The activation follows earlier editions in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, and focuses on destination awareness, customer engagement and holiday planning. Delhi NCR remains one of the airline’s most important outbound markets, with the showcase drawing participation from families, working professionals, young travellers, aviation enthusiasts and holiday planners. Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer – Airline Business, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), says: “The positive response across every city of our India Mall Activation Tour reflects the growing interest among Indian travellers for international getaways supported by seamless connectivity and exceptional hospitality. Delhi NCR remains one of our most important markets, and through this activation, we connected with travellers and showcased what makes Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines a preferred choice. We look forward to welcoming more guests on board and delivering memorable travel experiences.” Travel trade participation Leading travel partners, including Akbar Holidays, Riya Tours & Travels, SOTC, Thomas Cook, MakeMyTrip and N. Chirag, participate in the Delhi NCR activation. Visitors explore curated Malaysia holiday packages and receive customised travel recommendations through on-ground consultations. Tourism Malaysia joins Delhi activation The Delhi NCR showcase also features participation from Tourism Malaysia, supporting the promotion of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. Through destination showcases and cultural highlights, Tourism Malaysia spotlights the country’s tourism offerings and readiness to welcome Indian travellers ahead of the milestone …

South African Tourism continues its multi-city trade engagement in India with the 11ᵗʰ edition of its Learn South Africa workshop held in Pune, focusing on strengthening destination knowledge and partner readiness in a growing tier-2 source market. South African Tourism hosts the 11ᵗʰ edition of its Learn South Africa workshop in Pune on 12 December 2025, engaging more than 85 travel trade partners. The workshop forms part of a multi-city series aimed at equipping agents with deeper insights into South Africa’s tourism offerings, including regions beyond Cape Town and Johannesburg. The series resumes in Kolkata on 16 January 2026 and concludes in Lucknow on 27 February 2026. Gcobani Mancotywa, Regional General Manager – Asia, Australasia and the Middle East, South African Tourism, says: “Pune is emerging as a high-potential source market for South African Tourism, supported by a strong base of young professionals, well-travelled families, and a growing corporate and MICE segment driven by the city’s IT, manufacturing, and education hubs. Travellers from Pune are increasingly drawn to immersive experiences such as wildlife safaris, scenic road trips, adventure activities, wine routes, and culturally rich city stays, all of which South Africa offers in abundance. To capitalise on this evolving demand, we remain focused on strengthening partnerships with travel agents in key emerging markets like Pune, equipping them with deeper destination knowledge and planning capabilities.” Focus on lesser-explored regions The Pune workshop highlights South Africa’s diverse tourism experiences, including cultural routes, adventure offerings and emerging regions. The sessions are designed to support travel partners in creating customised and immersive itineraries aligned with evolving traveller preferences. Tier-2 cities remain central to outreach India remains a key source market for South Africa, with …

As Asia emerges as a key growth market for cruise tourism, fleet deployment and homeport strategy are coming into sharp focus. Disney Cruise Line’s latest milestone for Disney Adventure underlines Singapore’s rising importance as a cruise hub ahead of the ship’s maiden voyage in 2026. Disney Cruise Line and shipbuilder Meyer Werft complete the handover of Disney Adventure on 13 December 2025 during a ceremony held in Bremerhaven, Germany. The milestone marks the formal transition of the ship from construction to final preparations ahead of entry into service. The ceremony is attended by the Walt Disney Imagineering team and crew members of Disney Adventure, reflecting the close collaboration behind the vessel’s development. Industry partners underline collaboration During the event, Philip Gennotte, Portfolio Senior Executive Project Management, Newbuild and Development, Walt Disney Imagineering, addresses attendees and presents a commemorative gift to Meyer Werft, acknowledging the partnership involved in bringing the newest Disney Cruise Line ship to life. Senior representatives from both organisations participate in the milestone moment, reinforcing the strategic importance of the project for Disney Cruise Line’s future deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. Countdown begins for Singapore arrival With the handover complete, preparations now accelerate for Disney Adventure to arrive at its new homeport of Singapore. The vessel is scheduled to set sail on its maiden voyage in March 2026, welcoming families onboard as Disney Cruise Line expands its presence in the region. Singapore’s role as homeport positions the city-state as a key gateway for Disney Cruise Line’s Asian operations, supporting cruise tourism growth and reinforcing regional connectivity. Tracking the journey to service The milestone forms part of “Adventure Updates”, a series documenting the journey of Disney Adventure as it …

As outbound travel from India continues to broaden beyond traditional European gateways, visa accessibility and coordinated destination engagement are becoming critical enablers. Czechia’s decision to reopen its consulate in Mumbai marks a strategic step to strengthen ties with Indian leisure, business and MICE travellers ahead of a renewed market push in 2026. CzechTourism, the Consulate General of the Czech Republic and Prague Airport mark the reopening of the Czech Consulate office in Mumbai, restoring consular operations in the city after nearly fifteen years. The move benefits travellers from western and southern India applying for Czech (Schengen) visas and supports growth across leisure, business and MICE segments. Barbara Andelova, International Marketing Manager – New Markets, CzechTourism, says: “Mumbai has always meant a lot to us, and having the Czech consulate return after fifteen years is very exciting. It brings us closer to travellers and partners in a region that has been promoting Czechia beyond Prague. We’re seeing Indians explore the wine regions and spa towns of Czechia alongside heritage cities like Prague and Brno. Another office for the India mission of the Consulate and combined efforts with Prague Airport and Czech Trade will bring Indians closer to Czechia’s offerings.” Government officials highlight bilateral importance A press conference and networking evening held on 9 December 2025 in Mumbai presents a unified approach by the Consulate, CzechTourism, Prague Airport and Czech Trade, positioning Czechia across tourism, education, business, film, celebrations and MICE segments. The conference panel includes Katerina Vovkova, Consul General of the Czech Republic, along with Veronika Senjukova, Consul, Deputy Head of Mission, and Maros Martin Guoth, Vice Consul for Economic Affairs. Vovkova says: “Reinstating the Mumbai office is a meaningful step …

SKIL Events supports the inaugural GBTA India Summit as gold sponsor and official event-production partner, reinforcing the growing scale and sophistication of India’s business travel ecosystem.   As India’s business travel market gains prominence on the global stage, professionally delivered industry platforms are becoming critical to shaping dialogue and collaboration. The GBTA India Summit 2025, held on 21 November at The Leela Ambience, Gurugram, reflects this shift, bringing together more than 250 business travel leaders, experts and innovators for a focused, one-day engagement on the future of corporate travel. The summit — a first of its kind in India — features discussions spanning business travel management, enterprise mobility, payments, expense optimisation and travel technology, underscoring the increasing complexity and opportunity within the sector. SKIL Events, as gold sponsor and official event-production partner, supports the summit’s end-to-end execution, covering conceptual design, technical planning and on-ground delivery. The collaboration ensures a seamless experience for attendees, sponsors and organisers, aligning production quality with the summit’s strategic intent. Ramanpreet Singh, VP – Growth & Strategy, SKIL Events, says the summit demonstrates the value of well-curated industry platforms. He notes that the event brings together “people, ideas and aspirations that ultimately shape the future of business travel,” adding that behind each session and networking moment is a team focused on precision and quality execution. Leaders from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) — which serves more than 9,000 members across six continents — contribute global, regional and India-focused perspectives, reinforcing India’s growing importance in international business travel conversations. Jyothi Varma, Country Manager, India, GBTA, says the summit creates a dedicated forum for travel managers, suppliers and stakeholders to collaborate, exchange insights and address sector-wide challenges. She …