As the festive spirit starts to sparkle across Asia, hotels from Thailand to Japan and Vietnam are rolling out warm, colourful and indulgent Christmas experiences that feel straight out of a holiday postcard. Whether you’re dreaming of a tropical Christmas by the sea, a winter escape in Tokyo, or a cosy celebration with gourmet dining, this year’s festive offerings across Asia bring together food, music, lights and heartfelt traditions.

In Koh Samui, Banyan Tree Samui is turning the island into a tropical Christmas paradise. Across its three restaurants, the resort is hosting gala dinners, live music nights and chef-led festive menus from Dec 24–26. Guests can enjoy everything from seafood stations and carving counters to a MICHELIN-recognised Thai fine-dining experience at Saffron. For those who love celebrating right by the beach, their candlelit beachfront lunches and dinners featuring turkey, snowfish and prawns are perfect for a sunny Christmas in Thailand.

Tokyo is shining brighter than ever with Palace Hotel Tokyo’s luxurious ‘A Tokyo Christmas’ package. Guests staying between Dec 20–25 can enjoy suite stays, a private car tour of Tokyo’s famous winter illuminations, an in-room Christmas tree, bubbly, festive treats and a special Christmas dinner. It’s a dreamy option for travellers looking to pair Japanese hospitality with the magic of holiday lights.

Vietnam is embracing the season with a mix of cosy teas, gourmet spreads and family moments. At TIA Wellness Resort, guests can indulge in a Christmas-inspired afternoon tea, followed by a festive six-course Christmas Eve dinner with both plant-based and classic menus. Banyan Tree Krabi in Thailand is also going big this year with its Christmas Eve Gala Dinner featuring everything from truffle risotto and seafood ice stations to a fire show under the stars.

Over in Cam Ranh, Alma Resort is creating a joyful wonderland with a gingerbread village, tree-lighting ceremonies, mulled wine counters and even daily advent activities for kids. Santa will also make appearances from Dec 23–25 for family photos. Nearby, Meliá Chiang Mai in Thailand is offering Spanish-inspired afternoon teas, festive buffets, rooftop parties and live music throughout the month.

In Hong Kong, The Hari Hong Kong is celebrating the season with festive dining, a tree lighting ceremony and a charity Christmas market supporting the Hong Chi Association. Their holiday stay package includes luxurious rooms, special dining credits, breakfast, festive treats and celebratory menus across their popular restaurants.

Bangkok is full of Spanish flair this Christmas as INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit serves weekly rotating festive Spanish menus at its stunning rooftop tapas bar. Guests can also enjoy a grand Christmas Eve buffet with seafood, sashimi, roasts, desserts and more at The Kites Eatery.

Vietnam continues the celebrations with The Anam Cam Ranh and The Anam Mui Ne, both offering festive teas, Champagne evenings, Christmas tree lightings, BBQ buffets, nine-course fine-dining feasts, and kids’ activities on Christmas Day. Azerai Resorts, meanwhile, brings heartwarming traditions to Ke Ga Bay and Hue, including special breakfasts, Santa visits, limousine transfers to Christmas Mass, tea buffets and creative workshops for children.

Hanoi’s iconic Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has transformed into a “Luminescent Dreamscape,” with a full Christmas fair, gourmet bites, mulled wine, eggnog and a dazzling lighting ceremony that unveils its 15-metre Christmas tree. And across Vietnam and Thailand, Fusion Hotels is offering beach BBQs, festive buffets, spa treatments, onsen experiences and holiday-themed live music nights.

From gourmet feasts to glowing trees, festive teas and beachfront celebrations, Asia’s finest hotels are creating magical holiday moments that blend local flavours, global inspirations and the warm cheer of Christmas — perfect for travellers planning a cosy yet memorable festive getaway.

Qatar Airways has officially returned to Canberra with the resumption of its daily service via Melbourne, reconnecting the city with more than 170 global destinations. With this addition, the airline now serves six major cities in Australia: Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra, giving travellers across the ACT and nearby regions wider choices for international travel.

The daily Boeing 777 service offers smooth access to the airline’s worldwide network through Hamad International Airport in Doha, one of the world’s top aviation hubs. Passengers flying in Qsuite Business Class* can experience the brand’s signature comfort, complete with fully lie-flat beds, privacy doors, and on-demand a la carte dining curated by award-winning Australian chef Ross Lusted. All travellers can enjoy complimentary high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi, making Qatar Airways the only airline offering this feature to and from Canberra.

The airline’s partnership with Virgin Australia further expands connectivity, enabling easy domestic transfers to cities such as Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Melbourne. This provides greater flexibility for passengers planning both international and within-Australia journeys.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “We are delighted to return to Canberra and once again, serve Australia’s capital city. This milestone represents our continued commitment to the Australian market and to connecting communities across the world. Whether travelling for business, government service, study, or leisure, we look forward to welcoming passengers from Canberra back on board and providing them with the world-class services Qatar Airways is renowned for.”

Canberra Airport CEO, Mr. Stephen Byron, added: “The return of Qatar Airways is a gamechanger for international travel. It restores a vital link for over a million people across the ACT and southern NSW, while opening the door to global opportunities for business and tourism.”

Qatar Airways continues to stand out on the global stage, being named the World’s Best Airline by the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2025 for a record ninth time. The airline also earned titles for World’s Best Business Class, Best Airline in the Middle East, and Best Business Class Lounge for its Al Mourjan Lounge, The Garden at Hamad International Airport.

Services from Canberra will operate with the Qsuite configuration by default, with changes only made if operationally required.

Ensana Hotels, Europe’s leading health spa operator, is expanding to the Republic of Georgia, where it will take over the operation of the Sairme Resort complex next year. The New Sairme, Sairme Resort and Sairme Public Spa are located at over 900 metres above sea level in the unspoilt Caucasus Mountains and are considered among the region’s leading spa and wellness destinations. All three facilities are currently undergoing renovations and extensions and will reopen in the second quarter of 2026 under Ensana’s management.

The Sairme area is well known for its thermal waters, which are valued for their therapeutic benefits, especially for musculoskeletal treatments. The region’s carbonated mineral water, also sourced from Sairme, is used for drinking therapies that help support liver, urinary tract, kidney and gastrointestinal functions. Treatments using these waters will continue at The New Sairme and Sairme Resort, with both properties being redesigned to meet Ensana’s high brand standards. The brand places strong importance on a holistic and integrative medical approach, combining natural remedies with naturopathy and modern medical insights. Guests can enjoy these treatments along with experiences across the hotels and the surrounding mountainous landscapes.

Sairme is about a 3.5-hour drive west of Tbilisi and close to Kutaisi, the country’s third-largest city with an international airport, making travel easy for international visitors. “We are thrilled to bring Ensana to Georgia, an amazing country with incredibly warm and hospitable people,” emphasises Frank Halmos, CEO of Ensana. “Georgia has an immense potential, particularly in the area of health spa tourism, coupled with its rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty which makes the country a perfect addition to our portfolio.”

“Ensana is an important and strategic partner for our properties in Sairme,” adds Temur Kokhodze, the owner of the Sairme resorts. “As a sign of our strong trust and belief in this cooperation, we are making a significant investment in the properties to target clients at different price points. At a later stage, we are planning to develop the destination even further. This cooperation will empower local communities to grow and foster new capabilities and create meaningful opportunities for people in the region.”

With its entry into Georgia, Ensana continues its strong expansion journey. The company recently announced its takeover of the Fürstenhof in Bad Griesbach, scheduled to reopen in mid-2026 after renovations. From the end of 2026, a new luxurious Ensana health resort will open in Montegrotto Terme, Italy, and a wellness resort is also under development in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Ensana’s existing locations include Marienbad in the Czech Republic, Piestany in Slovakia, Budapest in Hungary, Sovata in Romania, and the spa town of Sts. Constantine and Elena in Bulgaria.