Nick Walton’s Welcome To Asia, May 2017

Located in the northwest of Bali, Indonesia’s favorite playground, Menjangan Dynasty Resort, Beach Camp and Dive Centre has opened on a 16-hectare private estate wreathed by landscaped tropical garden and a blissful white-sand beach lapped by the gentle waters of Banyuwedang Bay. Catering to outdoor adventure enthusiasts with an appetite for indulgence, the resort’s safari-style tented rooms and villas, combined with a series of magnificent communal spaces crafted in bamboo and “alang-alang” thatch, present a refreshing alternative to the crowded beach resorts of the south coast. Backdropped by dramatic Mt. Raung in East Java, the captivating new eco-hideaway

Designed by Richard Manser of Penjor Bali Mandira and inspired by the various architectural styles of the Indonesian archipelago, the resort’s eye-catching lobby, beach club, spa pods, and dive centre are crafted in sustainable bamboo, showcasing flowing organic lines capped with soaring grass roofs and completed with gorgeous rustic furnishings and quirky features that meld with the beautifully landscaped gardens and spectacular surroundings.?

Be sure to leave time for a dip in the cliff-edge infinity swimming pool, which at 3.3m deep also serves as a dive training pool; and a spot of sun worshipping at the signature Pasir Putih Beach Club, which incorporates a restaurant and bar, an open kitchen, and a beachside swimming pool, flanked by bamboo cabanas and beanbags on the white-sand beach. 

Launching at the heart of the South Pacific, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay has opened as the group’s first Fijian property. Nestled on the secluded beaches of Momi Bay on the western coast of Viti Levu, a 45-minute drive from the international airport at Nadi, the new Marriott resort is the only property on Fiji’s mainland to offer overwater villas. Surrounded by 20 hectares of crystal-clear, man-made lagoons, and a private white-sand beach, the resort features 114 Bure Villas, including 22 over-water Bure Villas with decks from which guests can dive directly into the turquoise waters, while a total of 136 Deluxe Rooms can be interconnected, making them ideal for families and groups. 

The new retreat boasts three restaurants offering distinctive local and international cuisine; Goji Kitchen & Bar offers inventive Fijian, Asian and international dishes made to order at the open-kitchen cooking stations, as well as a bounty of fresh seafood at the Fish Bar; while the Lagoon House & Bar offers simple yet delicious Mediterranean fare made of the highest quality produce; and the Fiji Baking Company, the resort’s bakery and delicatessen, offers freshly made pastries, sandwiches and salads as well as barista-style coffee in a relaxed café setting.

An ideal destination for adrenalin junkies, the resort offers easy access to Cloud Break Surf to experience some of the world’s most impressive waves, zip-line adventures, and the hot springs and mineral-rich mud pools of Sebeto.

One of city’s most anticipated openings in years, Kerry Hotel Hong Kong has opened on the city’s Victoria Harbourfront. The first hotel to open on the Kowloon waterfront since 1995 and the fourth Hong Kong property of the luxury hotel group Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Kerry Hotel features 546 rooms with spectacular views and is designed as the city’s first urban resort.

Designed by acclaimed architect and interior guru Andre Fu, the new urban hideaway features extensive outdoor landscaped gardens, a mezmerising lobby that showcases the harbourfront position, guest rooms and suites featuring cutting edge technology and luxurious amenities, and a curated collection of over 1,000 art pieces.

Each of the hotel’s five restaurants as well as its signature bar feature outdoor landscapes terraces overlooking the harbor; Hung Tong honours Hong Kong’s past while creating a modern Chinese dining experience inspired by the 19th century shipyards that once dominated Hung Hom Bay. All-day dining restaurant Big Bay Café takes guests on a global culinary experience with seven individual pavilions dedicated to specific cooking methods and local and international cuisines. The Lobby Lounge’s menu features Asian-inspired cocktails, homemade soft drinks and reinterpretations of some of Hong Kong’s favourite and nostalgic dishes amidst décor in the soft hues of mauve, bronze and mineral grey accented by beige and boticino classico marble; while the 270-degree wraparound terrace at Red Sugar, the hotel’s bar, offers sweeping views of Asia’s most iconic skyline. 

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has opened its first serviced apartment property in Asia with the unveiling of the Mövenpick Residences Ekkamai Bangkok. The group’s second property in the Thai capital, the new Residences features 158 studio, one and two-bedroom serviced apartments ideal for long-stay guests looking to stay in Bangkok’s vibrant Ekkamai neighbourhood, an area known for its hip cafes, fine restaurants and boutique shopping options.

Units range in size from 32sqm to 75sqm with bright, contemporary décor and a choice of sweeping city views through floor-to-ceiling windows. All the residences come with fully-equipped kitchens, flat screen TVs and complimentary wifi. Beyond the apartments, guests also have access to a 25-metre outdoor saltwater swimming pool, an indoor rooftop fitness centre and dedicated meetings and functions spaces.