The Hannah St Hotel has officially opened in Melbourne’s Southbank, positioned as a design-led cultural clubhouse aimed at blending professional functions with social connection.
Located within walking distance of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the property was designed by Flack Studio to serve as a neighbourhood hub for the city’s arts and corporate sectors.
The rooftop Terrace Lounge; photo by Anson Smart
The hotel features a variety of purpose-built environments, including the Bridge Rooms – two architecturally designed event spaces equipped with high-definition projectors, beam-steering microphones, and hybrid-event technology. These rooms offer flexible configurations ranging from intimate 28m2 workshops to larger presentation formats.
Beyond traditional meeting rooms, the property also offers a soundproof podcast studio; co-working zones; the Carriage Lounge, an intimate space for casual meetings or private events; and the rooftop Terrace Lounge capable of hosting up to 200 guests.
The F&B programme for the property’s four outlets is managed by The Mulberry Group, the team behind noted Melbourne venues such as Higher Ground and Hazel.
In addition to its 188 guestrooms, the hotel provides a dedicated wellness floor on Level 9, which includes a 20-metre indoor pool, spa, sauna, and fitness studio.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has activated measures to manage disrupted passenger traffic amid the US and Israel war on Iran, which has led to airspace closures in the Middle East since February 28.
According to OAG’s 2025 Megahubs report, Dubai International Airport ranks 15th among the world’s Top 50 Global Airport Megahubs, operating more than 46,000 connections to 280 destinations worldwide. It is also the busiest airport in both the UAE and the Middle East.
Dubai International Airport is the busiest airport in the UAE, according to OAG’s 2025 Megahubs report, operating more than 46,000 connections worldwide
The GCAA has accelerated rescheduling processes, stepped up ground resources across passenger terminals to resolve congestions, and moved to provide affected passengers with welfare support.
News reports state that the GCAA is committed to shouldering the cost of assisting and accommodating affected travellers.
UAE carriers Emirates, Etihad and FlyDubai continue to maintain a flight suspension at press time, which impacts their services beyond the Middle East.
“Ongoing Middle East airport and airspace closures – particularly at Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi Airports, the region’s busiest hubs – are causing significant disruption to international travel,” said Mayur Patel, regional commercial and industry affairs leader, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, OAG Aviation.
“As a critical east-west transit gateway linking Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, any suspension of operations at these hubs leads to widespread cancellations, longer rerouted flight paths, aircraft and crew displacement, and missed onward connections. The impact extends beyond passengers to cargo flows and airline economics, with higher operating costs and network instability likely to persist even after airspace reopens, as carriers work through the backlog and reposition assets across their global schedules.”
News reports as of March 1 morning stated that airports across the Middle East, including Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait International Airport, have suffered collateral damage from Iranian retaliatory attacks against US military bases in regional countries.
Editor’s note: This news brief has been updated with OAG Aviation’s observations.
Singapore Airlines has put a pause on flights to the Middle East
Travellers across the Asia-Pacific region are facing disruptions as major airlines scramble to cancel or reroute flights to the Middle East, as the US and Israel launch a wake of strikes against targets in Iran.
Singapore’s national carrier, Singapore Airlines (SIA), and its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, have cancelled six flights to date, as reported by The Business Times. Affected routes include SQ494 and SQ495 between Singapore and Dubai, as well as Scoot flights TR596 and TR597 serving Jeddah.
Singapore Airlines has temporarily suspended flights to the Middle East
SIA has urged passengers to update their contact details to receive real-time notifications, noting that they will continue to monitor the situation and adjust flight paths accordingly.
Malaysia Airlines took immediate action as the strikes began, with two Middle East-bound flights forced to divert following urgent mid-air advisories regarding heightened airspace risks. MH160, bound for Doha, returned to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, while MH156, bound for Jeddah, was diverted to Chennai, India.
Elsewhere in Asia-Pacific, Air India has suspended all flights to Middle Eastern destinations until further notice, and Japan Airlines cancelled its Tokyo-Doha service.
Meanwhile, European carriers like Lufthansa and Wizz Air have suspended services to major hubs including Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
Disney Cruise Line appoints Tracy Wilson as senior vice president and general manager, Disney Cruise Line operations, succeeding Sharon Siskie.
Wilson brings more than 30 years of experience with The Walt Disney Company and most recently served as senior vice president, finance, Disney Signature Experiences, where she led strategic planning and negotiations supporting the expansion of the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
Her career spans leadership roles across Disney’s theme parks, consumer products, and studio operations, including involvement in the integration of Lucasfilm and Marvel.
Business Events Wellington has announced two key leadership appointments.
Loryn Blaikie has been appointed manager, Business Events Wellington, succeeding Irette Ferreira. Blaikie was previously part of the Business Events Wellington team, and brings significant international experience gained through her recent role representing New Zealand’s largest convention centre, the New Zealand International Convention Centre.
From left: Loryn Blaikie; and Louise Woodburn
She commences her role on April 7.
In addition, Louise Woodburn has been promoted to manager, business development. In this newly-created role, Woodburn will lead a dedicated business development unit within Business Events Wellington, with responsibility for international business development and the organisation’s advocate network. As part of this structure, business development managers Angela Leung, and Belinda Yeo, will report to Louise.
Kuala Lumpur’s business events industry has entered 2026 with strong momentum, fuelled by the nationwide visibility of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Convention centre heads interviewed believe the year is shaping up to be the strongest post-lockdown, supported by government-backed marketing efforts, and continued investment in business events infrastructure.
The iconic Petronas Twin Towers dominate Kuala Lumpur’s skyline
World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur’s (WTCKL) group managing director, Irmohizam Ibrahim, shared that confirmed bookings for 1H2026 have surpassed bookings in 1H2025.
“We can see a global resurgence in business events, and the high visibility created by Visit Malaysia Year 2026, coupled with Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, will keep Kuala Lumpur at the forefront of regional and international attention,” he said.
Major events secured for WTCKL include Malaysia International Furniture Fair in March, Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair in late May/early June, and Malaysia – China Trade Expo in September. Altogether, these events are expected to draw close to two million delegates and visitors to WTCKL.
WTCKL is also leveraging the Visit Malaysia campaign as a catalyst to attract more international and regional business events.
Irmohizam shared: “We’re working closely with Tourism Malaysia, state tourism bureaus, and local inbound operators to create more value for organisers who choose Kuala Lumpur.”
“When an event is hosted at WTCKL, we don’t stop at providing a venue. We also help connect organisers with tourism partners in other states so they can build enriching pre- and post-event itineraries. This allows delegates to discover Malaysia’s islands, national parks, and cultural attractions beyond the capital, while ensuring that business events generate wider benefits for local communities nationwide,” he added.
Furthermore, WTCKL is undertaking major facility upgrades that are anticipated to be completed by 1H2026. Its conference halls and ballrooms are being upgraded into hybrid-ready spaces, complete with advanced audiovisual systems and LED displays. The venue will also feature high-speed 5G connectivity to support real-time streaming and virtual conferencing.
“These upgrades will ensure that WTCKL remains technologically advanced and capable of hosting hybrid and international events at the highest standards,” Irmohizam said.
Across the city, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) also reported a similarly upbeat outlook, with more than 100 confirmed events representing a balanced mix of international conventions, trade exhibitions, and corporate meetings.
KLCC’s general manager, John Burke shared: “The number of secured events reflects strong market confidence and the growing demand for the KLCC precinct as a leading destination for meetings and events.”
The Centre will continue its enhancement programme this year, focusing on upgrades to its conference halls, ballrooms, and Plenary Hall, including VIP suites. The improvements build on earlier refurbishments that introduced flexible meeting spaces and hybrid-ready AV systems.
“These upgrades have significantly improved the overall event experience, offering organisers greater sophistication and flexibility,” Burke said.
Meanwhile, the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) is another venue that has aligned its international positioning with Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
MITEC’s CEO, Mala Dorasamy, said: “We aim to showcase Malaysia as a leading global hub for business events by attracting a diverse portfolio of large-scale international conventions and exhibitions, while strengthening partnerships with global associations and destination stakeholders.”
Mala shared that 1Q2026 is projected to outperform 1Q2025, driven by a combination of new international bookings, larger delegate numbers, and a diversified portfolio of events.
Upcoming events at MITEC includes USANA Live 2026 Regional Convention from January 29 to 31; Defence Services Asia and National Security Asia 2026 from April 20 to 23; and International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition Malaysia 2026 from July 29 to August 1. These three events combined will attract more than 100,000 delegates and visitors.
Infrastructure enhancements at MITEC this year include the expansion of its Level 1 exhibition hall, creation of additional breakout spaces, digitalisation upgrades, new F&B outlets, and the installation of solar panels to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint.
Mala added that new developments around the KL Metropolis precinct – such as the newly-opened Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown – will “transform MITEC into more than just a venue, but a vibrant, self-contained destination where delegates can combine work, networking, and leisure.”
Varel Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio hotel, has named Andy Tan as general manager ahead of its April 2026 opening.
He brings more than three decades of hospitality and travel experience and most recently held a senior leadership role at Millennium Hotels & Resorts, supporting commercial performance and operational alignment across its global portfolio.
In his role, Tan will lead the hotel’s pre-opening strategy, team development and commercial positioning as the South-east Asia flagship of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand.
The NGL programme has been a stepping stone for dozens of rising leaders worldwide
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has opened applications for the 10th anniversary edition of its Next Generation Leadership (NGL) Programme.
Professionals working in the exhibition industry for less than 10 years have until March 25, 2026, to apply for one of five spots in the 2026 cohort.
The NGL programme has been a stepping stone for dozens of rising leaders worldwide
The mission for this year’s programme tasks participants with bridging the generational gap, specifically investigating how live events can evolve to meet the digital, sustainable, and purpose-driven expectations of Gen Z and younger millennials.
Supported by industry giants including Clarion, Informa Markets, and RX, the initiative serves as an intensive seven-month incubator for talent to drive global innovation while maintaining their current professional roles.
An international jury, chaired by UFI president Panittha Buri, will select the winners in late April. The chosen leaders will kick off their collaboration at the UFI European Conference in Izmir, Türkiye (June 3 to 5), before presenting their final strategic findings to industry executives at the 93rd UFI Global Congress in Bahrain (November 2 to 5).
Plaza Premium Group appoints Cyrus Wong as general manager, Oceania, overseeing the Group’s operations and performance across the region.
He most recently served as director, asset management at Plaza Premium Group, where he led portfolio performance and long-range commercial planning across global assets.
Wong joined the company in 2020, supporting international expansion through feasibility assessments and commercial negotiations with airlines, airports, and hospitality partners.
Losada brings more than 15 years of luxury hospitality experience and previously served as pre-opening and opening general manager of Regent Phu Quoc from 2019 to 2022, where he led the resort’s launch and market positioning.
He returns with international leadership experience across luxury properties in destinations including Dubai and Barcelona.
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
Her career spans leadership roles across Disney’s theme parks, consumer products, and studio operations, including involvement in the integration of Lucasfilm and Marvel.
In his role, Tan will lead the hotel’s pre-opening strategy, team development and commercial positioning as the South-east Asia flagship of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand.
Wong joined the company in 2020, supporting international expansion through feasibility assessments and commercial negotiations with airlines, airports, and hospitality partners.
He returns with international leadership experience across luxury properties in destinations including Dubai and Barcelona.
