Regionally, the carriers of Asia Pacific reported a 6.3% y-o-y rise in traffic. However, the support for growth at this rate is weakening, says IATA. China's economy reached a plateau, affecting its second quarter figures as it continued to decelerate. This had consequences for trade partners throughout the continent and is expected to affect flight traffic. There are also serious worries for India, amidst the current crisis it is undergoing. IATA has scaled back performance for the year to 4.1% - meaning a significantly more sobering second half of the year.

Hilton has opened its ninth property in Thailand with the launch of the Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok. The 280-room hotel has two restaurants, MICE facilities, a rooftop infinity pool and a 24-hour gym. The opening of Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok reinforces the continued expansion of Hilton Worldwide and further development success of the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in Thailand.

Jetstar Asia has continued the growth of its fleet by adding 18 weekly services/17,200 seats, on flights from Singapore to airports in Indonesia, Cambodia and China. The new services are being possible with the addition of two sharklet-equipped A320s from 27 October. The new aircraft will deliver lower costs and an improved onboard experience for the customers headed to popular destinations in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Steiner Spa Consulting develops tool to analyse viability of spas before it has been built. The Steiner Spa Index, is a predictive and free tool that analyses the main factors of hotels that affect spa take-up and compares this to 'industry metrics' through its algorithm. The consultants developed the template using over 200 spa projects. Through the combination and weighting of all these factors, Steiner Spa Index score will ultimately determine whether to go forward with a project.

Fast growing budget hotel operator Tune Hotels has opened its latest property in Solo, a region of Central Java. The 159-room hotel is the brand's fifth property in Indonesia after openings in Legian, Bali, Pasar Baru and Pekanbaru. Tune Hotel Solo represents the first hotel in Central Java, a city steeped in history with a fast growing tourism industry as well as a booming middle class offering a huge potential for rapid growth. With four hotels currently operating in Indonesia, further expansion of six more Tune Hotels are scheduled to open over the next 18 months across Indonesia.