The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the Singapore-headquartered hospitality company wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment (CLI), has strengthened its presence in Vietnam by signing management agreements for nine new properties in the first half of 2026. The latest additions, comprising more than 3,200 units, represent Ascott's fastest expansion in the country to date and increase its Vietnam portfolio by over 30%.

With these signings, Ascott's portfolio in Vietnam now stands at approximately 12,000 units across 42 operational and pipeline properties in 14 cities, making Vietnam its third-largest pipeline market in Asia. The newly signed properties are expected to open progressively from 2028.

The expansion includes four projects with long-term partner Sun Group and five projects with new property owners, reflecting growing confidence in Ascott's asset-light hospitality management model.

Commenting on the expansion, Kevin Goh, Chief Executive Officer, Ascott, said, "Vietnam is one of the most exciting hospitality growth stories in Asia. Demand is rising in the cities, along the coast and across traveller segments, and our flex-hybrid model gives us the versatility to capture it through asset-light growth. Property owners value that our platform can serve both long and short stays, and operate formats as diverse as serviced residences, hotels, resorts and social living properties."

He added that the latest signings strengthen Ascott's leadership in the serviced residence and extended-stay segment while expanding into luxury and leisure destinations.

Expansion Across Key Cities and Emerging Destinations

The new projects strengthen Ascott's footprint in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong, while expanding into coastal leisure destinations including Da Nang, Phu Quoc and Quy Nhon.

A key milestone is the debut of The Crest Collection brand in Vietnam through two properties located in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The remaining projects span several of Ascott's brands, including Ascott, Citadines, Somerset, Oakwood, lyf and Harris.

Among the notable developments is Diamond Crown Westlake by The Crest Collection in Hanoi, located on the Quang An Peninsula overlooking West Lake. The luxury property will feature one- to four-bedroom residences, suites and duplex units. Another addition, Citadines Riverside Hai Phong, will cater to extended-stay travellers with studios and apartments situated within the Hoang Huy Green River urban development in northern Vietnam.

On the central coast, Somerset Non Nuoc Da Nang Resort will offer serviced apartments and villas along Non Nuoc Beach, while Citadines Quy Nhon Resort marks Ascott's entry into Quy Nhon, an emerging tourism destination gaining popularity due to infrastructure development and increasing visitor arrivals.

Strengthening Partnership with Sun Group

Ascott has further expanded its collaboration with Sun Group by signing four new projects. Three of these developments are located within a single integrated township in Phu Quoc, comprising an Ascott-branded serviced residence, a lyf social living property and a Harris family-friendly resort. Together, they will offer nearly 1,400 units and cater to different traveller segments ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting scheduled in Phu Quoc in 2027. The fourth project introduces The Crest Collection to Ho Chi Minh City's central luxury district, targeting business travellers, affluent leisure guests and long-stay residents.

New Partnerships Drive Growth

Ascott has also entered into partnerships with several new property owners across Vietnam. DOJI Group will develop Diamond Crown Westlake by The Crest Collection in Hanoi, while Intertruck Co., Ltd will bring Citadines Riverside Hai Phong to the city's growing administrative district.

Additional projects include Oakwood Thao Dien in Ho Chi Minh City, Somerset Non Nuoc Da Nang Resort and Citadines Quy Nhon Resort, further diversifying Ascott's presence across business, leisure and extended-stay segments.

Commenting on the company's growth strategy, Serena Lim, Chief Growth Officer, Ascott, said, "Vietnam's hotel development pipeline is moving quickly into construction, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and owners are selecting their operating partners now. Ascott's operating track record in extended stay is a clear differentiator, while our multi-brand strategy enables us to match the right brand with each opportunity."

She added that Ascott expects the strong signing momentum to continue during the second half of 2026.

Upcoming Openings Strengthen Vietnam Portfolio

Ascott currently operates 16 properties across seven cities in Vietnam and has a strong development pipeline. Upcoming openings include Harris Resort Cam Ranh, scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, followed by Citadines Selavia Phu Quoc in the third quarter of 2027. The company is also preparing for the phased opening of Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi, which will feature 1,165 guestrooms, multiple dining concepts and one of Hanoi's largest convention and wedding centres.

David Cumming, Regional General Manager, Indochina, Ascott, said the company has evolved from being an investor in Vietnam to becoming a leading asset-light hospitality operator.

"We share our local expertise with property owners, enabling us to identify opportunities early and respond quickly. As Vietnam continues its growth journey, Ascott is committed to delivering high-performing properties while expanding our operational capabilities across the country," he said.

The Vietnam expansion follows Ascott's record performance across Southeast Asia, where the company signed more than 7,300 units in 2025, reinforcing its position among the region's leading hospitality operators.

Indian travellers can now use UPI to make online bookings for At the Top, Burj Khalifa, following a partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), NEOPAY, and Emaar Entertainment.

The launch makes At the Top, Burj Khalifa the first attraction in the UAE to offer UPI as a payment option for e-commerce transactions. Visitors can now book their preferred experiences through the attraction's official website using UPI before travelling to Dubai.

The latest development builds on NIPL's partnership with NEOPAY, which introduced QR-based UPI merchant payments across the UAE in 2022. While Indian travellers have been using UPI for in-store purchases across NEOPAY's merchant network, the new integration extends this convenience to online bookings, allowing visitors to complete payments in advance using a familiar payment method.

One of Dubai's most popular attractions, At the Top, Burj Khalifa welcomes millions of visitors each year, including a significant number from India. With UPI now available on the official booking platform, Indian travellers can select their preferred experience and complete the payment before arriving in the UAE, making travel planning more convenient.

The initiative also reflects the growing demand for secure and seamless cross-border digital payment options while strengthening the digital payments ecosystem between India and the UAE.

Commenting on the launch, Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO of NPCI International, said, "Indian travellers are increasingly seeking payment experiences that are simple, familiar and seamless when they travel abroad. By enabling UPI acceptance for online bookings at At the Top, Burj Khalifa, we are making it easier for them to use a payment method they know and trust while planning their visit, even before they arrive in the UAE. Through our partnership with NEOPAY and Emaar Entertainment, we are expanding UPI acceptance in the UAE and bringing greater convenience to Indian travellers visiting one of the world's most iconic destinations."

Vibhor Mundhada, CEO of NEOPAY, said, "This is more than a payments integration, it is a landmark moment in the evolution of digital commerce between India and the UAE. By enabling UPI acceptance for online bookings at At the Top, Burj Khalifa, we are bringing one of India's most trusted payment platforms to one of the world's most iconic destinations. As the first company in the GCC to introduce UPI acceptance for e-commerce transactions, NEOPAY continues to lead payment innovation, helping merchants deliver seamless customer experiences while unlocking access to millions of digitally savvy Indian consumers."

An Official Spokesperson at Emaar Entertainment added, "At the Top, Burj Khalifa is a global icon that welcomes visitors from across the world, with India representing one of our most important international markets. By introducing UPI as a payment option for online bookings, we are making the customer journey simpler, more intuitive and more convenient for Indian guests from the moment they begin planning their visit. This collaboration reflects Emaar Entertainment's commitment to delivering world-class experiences powered by innovation and customer-centric digital solutions."

As digital payments continue to reshape the travel experience, initiatives like this make international travel more convenient for Indian visitors while helping destinations offer payment options that travellers already know and trust.

Radisson Hotel Group has partnered with Accenture to introduce an AI-powered hotel discovery app in ChatGPT, offering travellers a more conversational way to search, compare, and plan hotel stays before booking directly through Radisson Hotels.

Available as RadissonHotels in ChatGPT, the app allows users to discover more than 1,000 Radisson Hotels across 100+ countries using natural language. Travellers can ask for recommendations based on their preferences, such as a family-friendly weekend in Amsterdam or a hotel near the Eiffel Tower in Paris with a gym and spa.

The app provides relevant hotel recommendations with live room availability, real-time rates, amenities, hotel details, location insights, and interactive map-based results. Once travellers have selected their preferred hotel, they are directed to the Radisson Hotels website to complete their booking.

The launch marks another step in Radisson Hotel Group's agentic commerce strategy, where AI-powered conversations replace traditional search-based booking journeys. Instead of browsing multiple websites, travellers can now discover, compare, and shortlist hotels through a single conversation.

According to Accenture's Consumer Pulse Research, 87% of travellers are open to using an AI-powered travel assistant to help them choose the best travel options, while 71% believe AI will influence at least half of their hotel or airline spending over the next year. Radisson Hotel Group also noted that AI platforms such as ChatGPT are becoming increasingly important sources of travel discovery alongside traditional web channels.

Commenting on the launch, Gianni Di Fede, Chief Commercial Officer, Radisson Hotel Group, said, "AI is radically transforming how people search for and book hotel stays, and we are committed to being at the forefront of this shift. With Accenture, we are reimagining hotel discovery for the next generation of travelers, meeting guests in the planning moment with a branded experience that makes it easier to find, compare, and book Radisson Hotels properties."

The collaboration began with Radisson Hotel Group adopting an MCP accelerator, part of Accenture's AI Merchant Center, to optimise how hotel content, inventory, pricing, and booking information could be structured for AI-powered discovery. Accenture also helped design the overall user experience, ensuring seamless interactions across devices while connecting directly to Radisson Hotel Group's existing systems for real-time hotel information.

The companies plan to further enhance the experience by introducing personalised recommendations, loyalty programme recognition, in-chat booking, reservation management, trip modifications, and AI concierge services in the future.

Speaking about the changing travel landscape, Ndidi Oteh, CEO of Accenture Song, said, "Agentic commerce is fundamentally changing how people discover and choose brands. As journeys become more conversational and intent-driven, companies have to rethink how they show up, not just to be found, but to be chosen, and to deliver value in that moment. Radisson Hotel Group is taking a step in that direction, creating a more direct and meaningful way to connect with travelers when decisions are being made."

The ChatGPT app forms part of Radisson Hotel Group's wider digital transformation strategy. Accenture has supported the hospitality company in modernising its digital infrastructure, bringing its brands together on a unified global platform while enabling more personalised marketing across its network of over 1,000 hotels.

Emily Weiss, Senior Managing Director and Global Travel Lead at Accenture, added, "With travel, planning is becoming easier for consumers, but more competitive for brands. Travelers want to compare options quickly, narrow down choices and book with confidence, often in a single journey. That puts pressure on brands to show up with accurate, up-to-date, and easy-to-navigate information at every step. With Radisson Hotel Group, the focus was on making hotel content more accessible, so travelers can find what they need, explore options, and move to booking more seamlessly."

The initiative also builds on Accenture's broader collaboration with OpenAI, reinforcing the growing role of AI in transforming customer experiences, travel planning, and digital commerce across the hospitality sector.