SINGAPORE When I headed to Singapore in October for IMM Asia, TravMedia's International Media Marketplace held at Suntec Singapore on October 19–20, I needed a base that was comfortable and in a prime location. The Westin Singapore turned out to be exactly that kind of base. It is a five-star hotel built for the business traveller, set in the heart of the financial district, with views over Marina Bay and the calm, wellness-focused feel the Westin brand is known for. All imag

RIAU ISLANDS Sometimes the best luxury is simply switching off. Just 50 kilometres south of Singapore, in Indonesia's Riau Islands, Telunas Private Island offers exactly that: a small, barefoot-luxe hideaway of just 20 villas, where days are measured by the tides rather than by notifications. Telunas Private Island is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. It sits across the water from its sister property, Telunas Beach Resort, which was established by three American f

Hotel28 Myeongdong is a cinema-themed hotel located in the heart of Seoul, South Korea. CSP Times checks into the boutique hotel, a member of Small Luxury Hotels, for a two-night stay.

The Hanok Heritage is a secluded hanok retreat in the mountains of Yeongwol, South Korea. It reimagines the traditional hanok architecture for the modern-day traveller. Find out more from our review.

SHENZHEN Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen's Christian Dolenc, General Manager and Area Vice President, Operations, on the hotel's World's 50 Best debut, MO Bar's rise and why Shenzhen deserves more than a day trip. It has been a standout year for Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen. The hotel debuted at No. 90 on The World's 50 Best Hotels, while MO Bar was named No. 60 on The World's 50 Best Bars 2026 and No. 5 on Asia's 50 Best Bars. CSP Times sat down with Christian Dolenc, the hotel's

HONG KONG Sun Hung Kai Properties' repositioned hotel, formerly Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East, held its grand opening on October 13. The Royal Garden Kowloon East has officially opened its doors in Tseung Kwan O, completing a hotel repositioning that Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) describes as one of the most significant the district has seen in recent years. The property, previously Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East, was renamed on January 1 and finished a full renov

KUALA LUMPUR Malaysia's first Waldorf Astoria replaces the former Hotel Istana with 268 suites, and opens on October 30 Waldorf Astoria is finally arriving in Malaysia. The all-suite Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur opens on October 30, bringing the Hilton luxury brand's debut to the country's capital, with restaurants from two internationally known chefs and a spa and wellness complex that the hotel bills as one of Southeast Asia's most comprehensive. A Familiar Address, Reimagi

GUANGZHOU After years away from China, a two-night stay at Grand Hyatt Guangzhou was the perfect reintroduction to the city's effortless blend of old and new. Image courtesy of Grand Hyatt Guangzhou We arrived at the hotel and were immediately struck by the pleasant entrance, with a water feature in the middle that set a calm, welcoming tone. Check-in was relatively smooth, though only one desk was open when we arrived — a minor hiccup that was quickly forgotten once we were

GUANGZHOU CSP Times checks into Park Hyatt Guangzhou for an artsy one-night staycation just an hour from Hong Kong. Location Park Hyatt Guangzhou sits above the 53rd floor of R&F Ying Kai Plaza, right in the heart of Guangzhou's Zhujiang New Town CBD, with the lobby proper up on level 65. It's a genuinely central base: the Guangzhou Opera House is a five-minute walk away, Zhujiang New Town metro station around ten minutes on foot, and Guangzhou East Railway Station roughly 15

Whether you're seeking a mental reset, a deeper spiritual connection, or simply a chance to slow down, these are the transformative wellness retreats on our radar this season. Chiva‑Som Hua Hin, Thailand Chiva-Som translates to "Haven of Life," and three decades on, the Hua Hin icon continues to set the pace for transformative wellness. This season, the resort adds a standout highlight: a three-day yoga residency with international instructor Adrienne Everett, running Novembe

MACAU Galaxy Macau is stacking its calendar for the back half of the year, with a headline-grabbing culinary festival timed to Macau Grand Prix weekend and a running art exhibition already transforming Galaxy Promenade into something closer to a gallery than a mall. Here's what's on the radar. Galaxy Stars of Gastronomy 2026: 24 Michelin Stars, One Weekend Mark the calendar for November 20 and 21, when Galaxy Stars of Gastronomy returns to Galaxy Macau to coincide with the Ma

LONDON There are spas where you go for a treatment, and then there are spas where the entire experience begins the moment you leave the street behind. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair falls firmly into the latter category. Tucked beneath Hanover Square, it feels remarkably removed from the pace of Mayfair above, creating the sort of urban sanctuary that makes you forget you have a phone, a diary and approximately 17 things you should probably be doing. I visited during th

DA NANG Da Nang's coastline is home to some of Vietnam's most exceptional luxury resorts, each offering a distinct take on the good life. From an award-winning wellness sanctuary to a family-friendly villa complex and a design icon with a legendary spa, this central stretch of Vietnam is a playground for discerning travellers. For those seeking a holiday defined by elegance, relaxation, and impeccable service, these five properties represent the pinnacle of Da Nang's luxury s

The Tokyo Station Hotel is a historic, luxury hotel located inside the red brick building of Tokyo Station. We find out what's it like to stay at this 110th-year-old hotel in the heart of Tokyo, Japan.

Kengo Kuma-designed Capella Kyoto opens its doors in the heart of Miyagawa-cho, one of the historic geisha districts in Kyoto. The machiya-inspired hotel marks Capella's first property in Japan.

HONG KONG High above Tsim Sha Tsui, on the 39th floor of Mondrian Hong Kong, Carna by Dario Cecchini has spent the past several months proving that a steakhouse can still surprise its regulars. The restaurant's Rare Tour dinner series — a rotating, four-hands celebration of beef craftsmanship — sold out three times in a row, and rather than let its most talked-about discovery fade into memory, Carna is now folding it into the everyday menu, alongside a fresh run of seasonal d

CHANGSHA Perched between the 86th and 93rd floors of Changsha IFS Tower One, Niccolo Changsha is one of the tallest hotels in Central China — and, for Hong Kong travellers looking for a short, high-speed getaway into the mainland, one of the easiest to reach. CSP Times checked in for a stay that took in the spa, the sky-high dining rooms, a Rolls-Royce-branded afternoon tea, and an evening exploring the city's coolest historic-district-turned-nightlife-strip. Location: A 3.5-

DA NANG Image courtesy of Jasmin Woolf | CSP Times The name TIA translates to "a ray of light" in Vietnamese, and from the moment I arrived, that sentiment held true. Located along the beachfront near Da Nang city, TIA Wellness Resort (TIA) feels like a peaceful haven away from the city's buzz. The 87 villas sit amid tropical gardens, and the view of the Son Tra Peninsula — with the giant Lady Buddha keeping watch — sets an almost meditative tone from day one. I arrived at

HONG KONG Grand Hyatt Hong Kong's Plateau Spa has just brought a new Korean skincare brand to the city, and it arrived with more than enough clinical credibility to make us curious. VENN, developed over more than 25 years of dermatological research in South Korea, is now available exclusively in Hong Kong through Plateau Spa's treatment menu and retail counter — and with pigmentation, dullness, fine lines, and general dehydration all on our own list of concerns, the brand-new

HONG KONG Tai Koo doesn't get talked about the way Central or Tsim Sha Tsui do when it comes to a big night out, but EAST Hong Kong makes a genuinely strong case for crossing the harbour for it. We spent an evening working our way from sunset drinks on the 32nd floor down to a full weekend tasting menu on the ground floor — here's how it went. About EAST Hong Kong EAST is the more business-oriented of Swire Hotels' sub-brands — a kind of younger, more design-forward cousin to