Ascott Boosts Oakwood's Global Expansion With 16 New Signings in 2024

Ascott Boosts Oakwood's Global Expansion With 16 New Signings in 2024

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 24, 2025

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a wholly owned business unit of CapitaLand Investment (CLI), has achieved significant growth for its Oakwood brand, signing 16 new properties in 2024. This marks a 30% year-on-year increase and reflects the brand’s strong appeal to bleisure travelers seeking seamless blends of business and leisure experiences.

The new signings include four Oakwood Premier properties in Adelaide, Bali, Shenzhen, and Singapore. This growth is driven by Oakwood’s flex-hybrid model, which merges the comfort of serviced apartments with the luxury of hotels. With nearly 100 properties worldwide, Oakwood's portfolio spans 14 countries and 50 cities, offering diverse options for travelers in both key urban centers like Tokyo and resort destinations like Batam, Chongli, and Ha Long.

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Key openings in 2024 include:

Oakwood Suites Chongli, a ski resort in Zhangjiakou City, China.

Oakwood Ha Long, an all-villa property near Vietnam's Ha Long Bay.

Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Grand Batam, located on Batam Island, Indonesia.

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The brand also introduced the "All You Knead is Comfort" culinary campaign, celebrating comfort food as a universal language. This initiative includes a digital cookbook, Comfort, Curated, featuring recipes from Oakwood chefs worldwide. Guests can explore local cuisines through cooking classes, celebrity chef collaborations, and seasonal menus at Oakwood properties.

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Ms. Serena Lim
, Chief Growth Officer at Ascott, shared, “Oakwood’s strong growth reflects its ability to capitalize on the rising demand for bleisure travel. By delivering comfort and connection, we continue to expand into new markets and enhance our offerings for business and leisure travelers.”

As culinary experiences play a key role in travel, Oakwood properties emphasize interactive dining options. The campaign features special recipes such as Hainanese Chicken Rice Nigiri by Chef Nixon Low from Oakwood Studios Singapore and Haleem by Executive Chef Reagan Fernandes from Oakwood Residence Kapil Hyderabad.

For more information about Oakwood’s culinary activities and upcoming events, visit Oakwood’s campaign page.


adidas and Saudia Launch ‘Made to Fly’ Travel Pack

adidas and Saudia Launch ‘Made to Fly’ Travel Pack

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 6, 2026

adidas and Saudia have come together to introduce the ‘Made to Fly’ travel pack, marking a first-of-its-kind collaboration that brings sportswear and aviation into one space. The collection officially launched in retail on April 20 across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Morocco.

Saudia, as the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has played an important role in shaping the region’s travel experience over the years. By partnering with adidas, the collaboration aims to connect travel with modern sportswear, while appealing to a younger generation that sees travel as part of their lifestyle.

The collection is built on adidas’ SOFT LUX line, which focuses on clean design, premium materials and a refined look. With this collaboration, the classic tracksuit is reimagined as a modern travel essential, designed to suit both comfort and style.

Subtle design elements inspired by aviation and Saudi culture are woven into the collection, giving it a distinct identity while keeping the overall look minimal and contemporary. The idea is to create pieces that feel easy to wear, yet polished enough for different travel moments.

The garments are crafted using peached spacer fabric with modal and enhanced with a liquid cotton treatment, giving them a smooth texture and a soft feel. This makes the collection suitable for long journeys, airport transitions and everyday wear.

Speaking about the collaboration, Bilal Fares, SVP and GM, adidas EMC, said, “This collaboration allowed us to reinterpret one of adidas’ most refined sportswear lines through the lens of travel, alongside a brand that has shaped the Kingdom’s travel culture for generations. By bringing together Saudia’s connection to movement and adidas’ sportswear heritage, we created a collection that feels elevated, effortless and relevant to today’s consumer.”

The ‘Made to Fly’ pack blends elements of fashion, travel and movement, positioning the tracksuit as a modern-day travel uniform. It reflects how today’s travellers see their journeys not just as a way to move, but also as an expression of identity and personal style.

Khaled Tash, Saudia Group Chief Marketing Officer, added, “For 80 years, Saudia has connected the Kingdom to the world. Today, travel is no longer defined only by destinations, but by identity, culture, and self-expression. Building on our 2023 rebrand, which marked a new chapter in our global journey, we are expanding our brand presence beyond aviation into culture and lifestyle. Our collaboration with adidas brings these elements together, transforming movement into a statement of modern Saudi ambition and capturing the confidence and creativity shaping the Kingdom today.”

The adidas x Saudia ‘Made to Fly’ travel pack is available at select adidas stores across the region and online, offering a fresh take on travel-ready fashion.


Raffles Hotel Le Royal Introduces ‘Mindy’s’ Pop-Up Speakeasy in Phnom Penh

Raffles Hotel Le Royal Introduces ‘Mindy’s’ Pop-Up Speakeasy in Phnom Penh

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 5, 2026

Raffles Hotel Le Royal has introduced ‘Mindy’s’, a pop-up speakeasy that brings the charm of 1920s-1940s New York to Phnom Penh. Known for its long-standing legacy, the 97-year-old luxury hotel is adding a fresh layer to its offerings with this immersive nightlife experience.

Set to run from May 7 to 31, Mindy’s will be open from Thursday to Sunday between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. The concept draws inspiration from the golden era of speakeasies, blending vintage style with a modern touch.

Hidden behind an unmarked door, the space recreates the quiet and exclusive feel of classic speakeasies. Guests are welcomed into an intimate setting with dim lighting, vintage décor, and subtle gaming elements. The experience is brought to life by engaging bartenders, while the sound of jazz and swing music adds to the overall mood. A dedicated cigar lounge further enhances the setting, offering a refined evening for visitors.

Sharing his thoughts on the launch, General Manager Dagmar Lyons said, “We are thrilled to bring the vibrant energy and timeless glamour of old New York to Raffles Hotel Le Royal with Mindy’s. This immersive pop-up perfectly embodies Raffles’ spirit of storytelling and exceptional experiences, offering our guests and Phnom Penh’s discerning crowd a truly unique evening they won’t forget.”

The pop-up also features a specially curated cocktail menu that reflects the theme. Signature creations include Sky Masterson’s Lucky Flight made with bourbon, honey syrup, lemon and bitters, finished with a flaming orange peel, Miss Adelaide’s Lament with London Dry Gin, raspberry liqueur, lemon and cocktail foamer, and Nathan Detroit’s Hustle combining rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters and cherry candy. For non-alcoholic options, The Reformer offers a refreshing mix of ginger beer, lime and mint.

Open to both hotel guests and visitors, Mindy’s aims to offer a memorable evening that blends heritage, music and crafted drinks. With its limited run and unique concept, reservations are recommended for those looking to experience this exclusive pop-up.


Meliá Pattaya Hotel Introduces ‘Dim Sum Unlimited Brunch’ at Yitong

Meliá Pattaya Hotel Introduces ‘Dim Sum Unlimited Brunch’ at Yitong

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 5, 2026

Meliá Pattaya Hotel has introduced a new ‘Dim Sum Unlimited Brunch’ at its Yitong Chinese Restaurant & Sky, bringing a fresh dining experience for guests looking to enjoy a relaxed weekend meal.

Set on the 12th floor in the heart of Pattaya, the rooftop restaurant and bar hosts this brunch every Saturday and Sunday from noon until 3pm. The offering includes an all-you-can-enjoy spread of steamed and deep-fried dim sum, along with soups, rice and noodle dishes, and desserts.

The menu features a wide mix of classic dim sum favourites. Guests can enjoy steamed options like Ha Gaw, shrimp balls, rice rolls with shrimp, pork shumai, Xiao Long Bao, pork wontons with Mala spicy sauce, and a variety of buns including Cantonese pork, BBQ pork and Chinese mushroom. The deep-fried selection includes taro and roasted pork dumplings, shrimps wrapped in tofu sheet, pan-fried turnip cake, vegetable spring rolls and green chives dumplings.

Alongside dim sum, the brunch also offers comforting dishes such as double-boiled pork ribs soup, ‘Yitong’ fried rice with crab meat, and Tang Yuan glutinous rice balls served in caramelised ginger broth, adding a balanced mix to the overall experience.

Sharing the idea behind the concept, Peter Laird, Director of Food and Beverage at Meliá Pattaya Hotel, said,

“Translating to ‘touch of the heart’, dim sum represents a Cantonese tradition of sharing small, delicate dishes and tea, sometimes described as a ‘team sport’ where everyone shares. At Yitong, we’ve made it a team sport of serving a joyous, communal dining experience with an incredible selection of dishes accompanied by a front-row view of Pattaya’s shoreline.”

The dining experience is further enhanced by the restaurant’s design. Guests are welcomed by a striking ribbon-like ceiling installation inspired by calligraphy. The space blends gold and black accents with hints of crimson, symbolising prosperity, while large windows offer sweeping views of Pattaya’s beach and skyline.

The main dining area features soft lighting, earthy tones and natural textures inspired by the landscapes of Chonburi and Northern Thailand, creating a calm and refined setting. The rooftop sky bar adds to the charm with greenery and panoramic views, making it an ideal spot for a weekend outing.

The ‘Dim Sum Unlimited Brunch’ also comes with a special ‘Dine as five and pay for four’ offer, making it a great option for groups looking to enjoy a shared dining experience.

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