13 things we learned about the state of luxury in Asia Pacific

ILTM Asia Pacific took place from June 29 to July 2, looking at the state of luxury travel in the Asia Pacific region, Helen Hayes and Sue Wallace were there.

Singapore was HOT and we are not just talking about the weather. The luxury travel industry converged on Singapore for ILTM Asia Pacific 2025 and it was fast, furious and fabulous.

ILTM Asia Pacific 2025 confirmed that 40,000 dedicated, mutually matched meetings had taken place during last week’s event – an increase of 12 per cent. The conference centre at Marina Bay Sands was bustling with luxury travel suppliers, luxury travel advisors and curators, as well as 70 media from across the Asia Pacific region – including us.

As media, we attended several press conferences and had many round table meetings over two days, as well as other events around Singapore. There were many learnings from the event to take away. Here are some of them.

The number of High Net Worth Individuals in Asia Pacific is on the rise

The AP region will account for nearly half of all new High Net Worth Individuals between 2025 and 2028. This is according to Dr Simon Baptist, Principal Asia-Pacific Economist at Visa who presented at the Opening Forum at Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.

Simon also revealed the differing preferences by market and demographic and the continuing focus on wellbeing. The research showed that five priorities are driving the spend behaviour of  High Net Worth Individuals in AP: Focus on physical health and well-being; Pursuit of long-term financial security; Focus on family and social relationships; Expressing wealth through cultural proficiency; Seeking curated luxury goods and curated experiences.

Everyone agrees. Wellness is becoming more of a driver for luxury travel

Alison Gilmore Director of the ILTM Portfolio, in ILTM’s‘Buzz v Reality’ research produced in association with Altiant, revealed details of how the global concept of ‘wellness’ is continuing to shift confirming that travelling with purpose and meaning is the cornerstone for many wealthy travellers’ plans. It shows longevity, family friendly wellness holidays and planned wellness trips are growing…with 72 per cent of those surveyed saying that the sweet spot for wellness holidays is 4-8 nights.

Fairmont Makes Special Happen

ILTM media were invited to a grand event at Antidote Bar at the Fairmont Singapore for the unveiling of their new campaign – Make Special Happen. It’s about turning every moment into a special moment. And there’s no doubt that every moment IS special at a Fairmont property. Having stayed at a few – Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Pacific Rim, and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – Fairmont is extraordinary. You can check out the video HERE. By the way, the cocktails at Antidote were indeed, something special!

A day starting in wonder

We enjoyed a spectacular breakfast courtesy of The Luxury Group by Marriott International at the Wonder Room, The EDITION Singapore. Their research shows that those they surveyed were making a shift towards familiarity over novelty, wanting a deeper experience in cherished destinations. We heard about the rise in ‘Guardian Trailsetters’ – where solo parents are choosing itineraries that allow their kids to experience things out of their comfort zones. This rose from 15 per cent in 2024 to 24 per cent in 2025. Gen Z travellers are craving wildlife, nature and sporting experiences. Not surprisingly, wellness featured heavily in this presentation, with 90 per cent of travellers citing wellness as a key factor in their booking decisions. One place that does wellness extremely well is Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and we were treated to a relaxing sound therapy session by some of Mandapa’s healers.

“Life moves fast but you don’t have to”

That is the message that hit home at a Belmond media event. Daniel Pasquali, Vice President of Sales and Kate Dicks, Divisional Director of Sales, Trains, shared exciting updates across Belmond’s impressive global portfolio. I know I want to be a ‘Train Setter’, a term Daniel used, because anything to do with trains I am all for, and Belmond has some of the most beautiful trains and train journeys on the planet. The event covers the imminent launch of the Britannic Explorer – the first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales, to new journeys aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the reopening of Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, Venice, the splendid reopening of Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, and the launch of Villa Beatrice in Portofino.

A feast of Hilton

One of the tastiest events was an exclusive evening with Candice D’Cruz, Vice President of Hilton Luxury Brands, APAC, at the much-vaunted restaurant – Burnt Ends. The Hilton Luxury Brands portfolio – Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR, Signia and NoMad – continues to evolve. Over a divine multi-course dinner created by Burnt End’s revered chef Dave Pynt, it was announced that Waldorf Astoria was expanding into Bali, following recent landmark signings in Turks and Caicos and openings in Costa Rica, and the Seychelles. The Waldorf Astoria Bali will feature 71 villas and 68 guest suites, and is set to open in late 2027 in Nusa Dua. Pynt will steer the resort’s specialty restaurant, The Ledge by Dave Pynt, a modern barbecue concept already loved at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.  Hilton is a behemoth in the hotel world, recently surpassing 1,000 luxury and lifestyle hotels around the globe with another 5oo in the development pipeline.

A Pristine event

For yet another outstanding event, we went to the Grand Hyatt Singapore, newly reopened after a major renovation. We heard about what was happening in the world of Hyatt, and there is certainly a lot, with plans to expand Hyatt’s luxury and lifestyle brand portfolios across Asia Pacific.  Close to 90 properties are expected to open over the next five years. Some of the highlights include the first Andaz to open in Australia. Andaz Gold Coast will open in the second quarter of 2026. The Standard will open in Pattaya Na Jomtien later in 2025, while the Park Hyatt brand will debut in Malaysia with Park Hyatt
Kuala Lumpur, occupying the top floors of Merdeka 118, the tallest skyscraper in Asia Pacific. Park Hyatt Phu Quoc (will open early in 2026, while the first Thompson Hotel in Asia Pacific, Thompson Shanghai Expo, will open later this year.  We were served a stunning array of cocktails and canapes, before heading upstairs to the otherworldly Le Pristine. This is the world of Michelin-star chef Sergio Herman, and it was next level to watch Sergio and his chefs prepare melt-in-the-mouth seafood dishes. It really is an immersive gastronomic experience in a vibrant space.

Press conference learnings

Steve Odell, Senior Vice President, International and Consumer Sales of Regent Seven Seas Cruises revealed that the newest ship, Seven Seas Prestige, will be 40 per cent larger but with only 10 per cent more guests than previous ships. She will offer all-balcony suites spanning 12 categories, including four new designs such as the 817m² Skyview Regent Suite – the largest all-inclusive, ultra luxury, cruise ship suite in history. Guests will enjoy cuisine across 11 dining experiences, including the new Mediterranean specialty restaurant, Azure. Seven Seas Prestige is set to be delivered in November 2026 with her first full season set for 2027-28.

Tom Roundtree of IHG had big news … that Regent will be returning to Australia for the first time in 28 years, with the opening of Regent Melbourne. The property will open in 2030 after a major transformation, morphing the InterContinental Melbourne in Rialto into the Regent Melbourne. The property will combine heritage with cutting-edge design within the historic Rialto building, while the precinct will be redeveloped to create a landmark destination in Melbourne’s CBD.

Mark Wong of SLH confirmed that 82 properties were added to the portfolio in 2024, with 47 new ones so far in 2025 – 13 of them in Asia Pacific. He also announced that the SLH Club has been relaunched. There are so many divine properties in the SLH portfolio, with Namia River Retreat in Hoi An wowing guests.

1 Hotels are the one

Toni Stoeckl from Starwood impressed with his Starwood news, covering the recent opening of 1 Hotel Melbourne. This brand is really walking the green walk, with nature shaping every design, as part of their mission to connect guests to nature and do good for people and planet. 1 Hotels cultivates the best of sustainable design and architecture, together with extraordinary comfort and an unrivaled level of service. 1 Hotel Melbourne is located in the historic Seafarers wharf, which has been in continuous use since 1855. Its centrepiece is the heritage-listed Goods Shed No. 5, once a vital part of Melbourne’s maritime economy. More than 2,000 original elements have been salvaged, catalogued, and reincorporated, including bluestone pavers, steel trusses, timber doors, and window frames. The adjacent Malcolm Moore crane, a 1942 industrial relic and the last of its kind in Victoria, has been restored and repositioned as a sculptural tribute to the area’s shipping past. This is just an example of the passion behind the brand for sustainability. We love that 1 Hotels is inspired by a simple idea: those who travel the world should also care about it. We also love their ‘One Less Thing’ program, encouraging guests to leave something behind for someone less fortunate, with the property donating the item to a local charity.

Rwanda is on the move

This country, now the safest country in Africa, attracts visitors wanting to tick off the bucket-list experience of seeing mountain gorillas in the wild. Irene Murerwa, Chief Tourism Officer of Rwanda, charmed us all with her enthusiasm for her country, from its coffee (very good by the way), its wildlife, nature and its progression. Rwanda will be hosting a major cycling event this year. The UCI Road World Championships will take place in September in the capital of Rwanda, Kigali. Already known for its annual Tour du Rwanda, the Junior, Under 23 and Elite athletes going to Rwanda will face a challenge, as Rwanda is nicknamed ‘the land of a thousand hills’. We were touched to learn about Kwita Izina, a celebration that combines a centuries-old tradition in which Rwandans name their children in the presence of family and friends, with raising money to expand Volcanoes National Park to provide more room for the expanding mountain gorilla families. It is a testament to Rwanda’s conversation efforts that the mountain gorilla has changed from being ‘critically endangered’ to ‘endangered’, but their efforts are ongoing. Money is raised through naming the baby gorillas born each year. When asked to participate, King Charles chose the name “Ubwuzuzanye”, which means harmony. Other celebrities to take part include Idris Elba, Kevin Hart, and Didier Drogba. The 20th Kwita Izina will be held on Friday, 5 September 2025.

The Langham

The Langham also has a lot going on. At a breakfast, we heard about what will be a shining star in Bangkok – the Langham Custom House. Located in Bangkok’s Bang Rak District, the 78-key hotel will sit on the Chao Phraya River and incorporate the city’s historic Custom House building, an architectural treasure that is being meticulously restored as part of the project. It will open in late 2026.

Where I stayed

Pan Pacific Singapore

The absolute standout of Pan Pacific Singapore was the staff. Every single one of them was so friendly and helpful. It is a large property with a soaring atrium that provides views up to the top and also down from the interior glass elevators. The hotel has 790 rooms and suites. I loved my room – an Executive Marina Bay room – which had a small balcony from where I could see Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer and the harbour. It was exceedingly well fitted out, and I loved the water filter in the bathroom, where you could fill your water bottle, and the mango Thai lime amenities by Jo Loves. The workspace was roomy, the array of plugs was more than sufficient, and they were in the right places. We were given access to the Pacific Club Lounge on the 38th floor, which had breathtaking views, a calm ambience, elegant seating and beautiful food, whether you were there for breakfast, afternoon tea or drinks.

ILTM events introduce an unrivalled selection of luxury travel brands to an extensive network of hand-picked luxury travel advisors, through bespoke appointment programmes and networking sessions. Alongside the global flagship events in Cannes and Asia Pacific, ILTM has two core local events: ILTM Latin America and ILTM North America, as well as one specialist event: ILTM Africa.

Read about last year’s ILTM HERE.