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Millennium Al Masar Hotel Wins Sustainability Award 2026

May 7, 2026

Millennium Al Masar Hotel Wins Sustainability Award 2026

Millennium Al Masar Hotel in Jeddah has been awarded the International Sustainability Award 2026 by Luxury Lifestyle Awards, recognising the hotel’s forward-thinking approach to responsible hospitality. The award reflects initiatives spanning energy-efficient systems, water recycling, and renewable solutions: commitments that have made sustainable practice a core part of how the property operates, not an addition to it.

Sustainability Put Into Practice

The International Sustainability Award 2026 acknowledges properties that have embedded sustainability within their operations. At Millennium Al Masar Hotel, that commitment is visible in its energy-efficient systems, water recycling processes, and the integration of renewable solutions into the property’s day-to-day running. The hotel’s approach positions guest experience and environmental responsibility as compatible goals rather than competing ones, a balance the award specifically recognises.

Three World Travel Awards Nominations

The International Sustainability Award 2026 is not the only recognition the hotel has earned this cycle. Millennium Al Masar Hotel has also been nominated for three titles at the World Travel Awards 2026: Saudi Arabia’s Leading City Hotel, Saudi Arabia’s Leading Business Hotel, and Saudi Arabia’s Leading Hotel. Together, these nominations place the hotel among Saudi Arabia’s most recognised properties and reflect the depth of the team’s contribution across both guest-facing and operational dimensions.

The Standard Continues to Rise

One international award and three prestigious nominations in the same year reflect sustained effort, not a single outstanding moment. The work that earned these honours at Millennium Al Masar Hotel is ongoing, and the team has built the kind of foundation that will carry these standards further into the year ahead.

Small Steps, Big Impact: Copthorne Hotel Palmerston North

May 7, 2026

Small Steps, Big Impact: Copthorne Hotel Palmerston North

Copthorne Hotel Palmerston North has spent the past several months making its operations meaningfully greener, one practical initiative at a time. 

Between August 2025 and February 2026, the team introduced a series of everyday practices and programmes that demonstrate what sustainability looks like when it is embedded into daily operations, rather than bolted on as a campaign.

Battery Recycling

A dedicated battery collection point now sits at the Front Office, making it easy for team members to drop off used batteries for dispatch to a local recycling centre. The initiative ensures batteries are disposed of safely rather than reaching landfill: a small change in habit that adds up over time.

The battery recycling point at Copthorne Hotel Palmerston North's Front Office.
Recycling Across the Hotel

Recycling bins are now available in all rooms, making participation straightforward for both staff and guests. Between August 2025 and February 2026, the council collected approximately 1,320 kilograms of recyclable materials from the hotel, a result that comes from consistent, everyday choices rather than a single initiative.

Diverting Food Waste from Landfill

Food waste separation has become standard practice in the kitchen. Scraps are collected in dedicated bins and processed by the council into compost, and a food scraps container in the staff dining area extends the practice beyond the kitchen. Over the same six-month period, around 780 kilograms of food waste was diverted from landfill.

Copthorne Hotel Palmerston North's kitchen team diverted 780 kilograms of food waste from landfill.
Coffee Grounds and Clean Products

Coffee grounds from the hotel café are collected and made available for staff to take home as a natural garden fertiliser, avoiding waste while creating a small benefit for the team. Alongside this, the hotel has begun transitioning to plant-based cleaning products, reducing chemical dependency without compromising cleaning standards. Herbs are now also grown on-site for use in the kitchen.

These are not transformative gestures; they are practical ones. And they add up. Copthorne Hotel Palmerston North is building a greener workplace the same way any lasting change is built: through the accumulation of better choices, made consistently.

Grand Millennium Auckland Hosts Les Clefs d’Or Meeting

May 7, 2026

Grand Millennium Auckland Hosts Les Clefs d’Or Meeting

Grand Millennium Auckland hosted the latest bi-monthly meeting of Les Clefs d’Or New Zealand, welcoming Auckland representatives in person while colleagues from Christchurch and Queenstown joined by video call. 

The gathering reflected the association’s guiding philosophy: In Service Through Friendship, demonstrating how strong connections and professional camaraderie are maintained, regardless of distance.

Who Les Clefs d’Or Are

Les Clefs d’Or, meaning “The Golden Keys,” is an international association of professional hotel concierges, recognised for its commitment to service excellence, knowledge sharing and the belief that service and friendship are inseparable. Members wear the crossed golden keys on their lapels as a symbol of trust, professionalism and global collaboration.

Warm Hospitality from the Grand Millennium Auckland Team

Sincere thanks were extended to Rick Karsten, Chief Concierge at Grand Millennium Auckland, and the wider hotel team for their hospitality in hosting the meeting. The venue was more than a meeting room; it was a demonstration of the hotel’s own approach to thoughtful and genuine service.

Matt Morgan, General Manager of The Local Agent, delivered an engaging presentation on how the platform can further enhance guest experiences through stronger local connections, giving members a practical tool to carry back to their properties.

Looking Ahead

The meeting covered several forward-looking agenda items: preparations for the 70th UICH International Congress in Sydney; progress on exam preparation for two Les Clefs d’Or candidates; developments in the Professional Affiliate programme; updates on the new Les Clefs d’Or New Zealand website; and planning for the 2026 New Zealand Annual General Meeting, to be held in Wellington in late May.

Following the formal proceedings, members enjoyed a selection of dishes from Ember Restaurant’s new menu, a fitting conclusion to a gathering built on the belief that shared meals are where genuine connection happens.

General Manager of the Year: Edeline Tiong Leads M Hotel Singapore City Centre

May 7, 2026

General Manager of the Year: Edeline Tiong Leads M Hotel Singapore City Centre

M Hotel Singapore City Centre closed 2025 on a high note, receiving four accolades at the Millennium Hotels and Resorts Recognition Programme. 

At the heart of this achievement is General Manager Edeline Tiong, who was named General Manager of the Year for Southeast Asia, recognising the leadership, strong team culture and commercial performance she has driven at the property.

Four Recognitions in One Quarter
At the Quarter 4 Millennium Hotels and Resorts Recognition Programme, M Hotel Singapore City Centre secured three additional accolades alongside Edeline Tiong’s individual honour. These included Best Revenue Growth Hotel, Highest RGI Growth Hotel, and Best Revenue Growth Driver. The latter was awarded to Senior Sales Manager Amayana Bido Panganiban, whose outstanding performance played a key role in driving the hotel’s strong commercial momentum.
A Culture That Wins Together
What the awards reflect, as much as individual performance, is a team that operates with shared purpose. Edeline Tiong leads by example across every aspect of hotel life: from driving revenue growth to creating a culture where birthdays are celebrated, recognition is visible and team members feel genuinely seen. The results speak to what happens when leadership and culture reinforce each other. The standards at M Hotel Singapore City Centre are not resting. They are growing.

UAE Hotels Rescue 659 Meals Through NE’MA Community Fridges

May 6, 2026

UAE Hotels Rescue 659 Meals Through NE’MA Community Fridges

Eleven Millennium Hotels and Resorts properties across the UAE put the spirit of Ramadan into measurable action this year, joining the NE’MA National Food Loss and Waste Initiative through its Community Fridges programme. The effort channelled surplus meals from hotel kitchens to community members in need, producing concrete results: 659 meals rescued, approximately 307.1 kg of food diverted from landfill, and 780 kg of CO2e emissions prevented.

Millennium Place Mirdif Hotel, one of eleven UAE properties in the NE’MA food rescue programme.
Redistribution at Scale

The initiative centred on collecting excess meals from participating hotel kitchens and distributing them through the Community Fridges network to those who needed them most. In collaboration with NE’MA, each property coordinated the collection and transfer of surplus food, ensuring it reached recipients rather than landfill. The 659 meals rescued across the UAE portfolio represent a direct, operational response to food loss at the property level.

Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel, Dubai, Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, and Copthorne Downtown Abu Dhabi were among the 11 hotels in the Middle East to participate in the NE’MA Community Fridges initiative during Ramadan.
Numbers That Hold Weight

The environmental impact of the initiative extends well beyond the meals themselves. Diverting 307.1 kg of food from landfill helped prevent 780 kg of CO2e emissions, a figure that reflects both the scale of collective action and the compounding environmental cost of food waste when left unaddressed. The outcome aligns with the UAE’s national priorities on reducing food loss and waste.

Eleven Properties, One Direction

The participating properties span Dubai and Abu Dhabi: Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, Studio M Hotel Arabian Plaza, Copthorne Hotel Dubai, Millennium Atria Business Bay, Millennium Al Barsha, Millennium Place Barsha Heights Hotel, Millennium Place Mirdif Hotel, Millennium Lakeview Hotel, Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel, Copthorne Downtown Abu Dhabi, and Millennium Downtown Abu Dhabi. The breadth of participation reflects a shared commitment to sustainability and social responsibility across the UAE portfolio of Millennium Hotels and Resorts.

Studio M Hotel Arabian Plaza, among the eleven UAE properties participating in the NE’MA food rescue.
A Foundation to Build On

The results from this Ramadan establish a clear baseline for what is achievable when hotel properties act in concert. The NE’MA Community Fridges programme is one expression of a continuing effort to reduce food loss and waste across Millennium Hotels and Resorts properties in the Middle East, and the figures from this initiative demonstrate the scale of impact that collective action can produce.

Caring for the Environment Across Asia-Pacific

May 6, 2026

Caring for the Environment Across Asia-Pacific

Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore team at the Gardens by the Bay clean-up.

Three Millennium Hotels and Resorts properties in the Asia-Pacific region took their sustainability efforts outside the hotel in early 2026. Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore, M Hotel Singapore City Centre and M Social Hotel Suzhou each organised environmental activities for their teams, translating a shared commitment into hands-on action.

Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore: Gardens by the Bay

On 27 March 2026, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore organised a park clean-up at Gardens by the Bay, bringing associates together across departments for a morning of environmental action. The initiative marked the hotel’s first corporate social responsibility effort of the year and served as both a contribution to one of Singapore’s most iconic green spaces and a practical exercise in team cohesion.

M Hotel Singapore City Centre: Waterways Clean-Up 

On 17 March 2026, M Hotel Singapore City Centre participated in the Waterways Watch Society’s Waterways Clean-Up programme at Marina Reservoir, timed to Singapore World Water Day. The team worked together to remove 49 kilograms of litter from the reservoir, covering plastic debris and everyday refuse that would otherwise have threatened water quality and marine life.

Beyond the volume of waste collected, the activity deepened the team’s awareness of environmental stewardship and the shared responsibility to protect Singapore’s natural resources.

M Social Hotel Suzhou: Tree Planting Day

M Social Hotel Suzhou organised a flower and grass planting activity for all employees, themed “Grow Greenery, Paint Spring Delight.” Teams were organised by department, each assigned tasks from soil preparation and seedling placement to watering and compacting. The result was a courtyard and public area in bloom, and a team that worked together with visible purpose.

The activity embodied the hotel’s commitment to green operations: not as a stated value, but as something employees experience directly and carry forward.

Across all three properties, the initiatives reflect Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ belief that responsible hospitality starts with the people inside the hotel, as much as the services it delivers to guests.

New Look, Legendary Location: Millennium Premier Hotel New York Times Square

May 6, 2026

New Look, Legendary Location: Millennium Premier Hotel New York Times Square

Millennium Premier Hotel New York Times Square reopens in June 2026 following a full renovation of its guestrooms and public spaces. The redesign brings a sleek, modern aesthetic layered with warm finishes to one of Midtown Manhattan’s most sought-after addresses.

Guests will have exclusive access to the Premier Lounge and a new bar and restaurant concept inspired by the electric energy of Broadway. The spaces are designed to serve seamless business productivity and urban exploration in equal measure, with Times Square and New York City’s most iconic cultural landmarks just steps from the hotel entrance.

Be among the first to experience the redesigned property through the First Look Package. To celebrate this milestone, MyMillennium members can earn 50,000 bonus points when they stay three nights or more at the Millennium Premier. Guests will also enjoy complimentary daily breakfast, allowing you to start each morning energized before stepping out into the city that never sleeps. 

Book now to secure your place at this legendary Times Square address.

Culture, Connections and Wine at M Social Hotel Phuket

May 6, 2026

Culture, Connections and Wine at M Social Hotel Phuket

In early 2026, M Social In March 2026, M Social Hotel Phuket’s sales team curated two distinct events, each centred on a different way of bringing people closer together. The first took the team to Bangkok; the second welcomed guests into the hotel’s own garden, creating a more intimate, on-site experience.

Nama-Stay: A Cultural Evening in Bangkok

On 6 March 2026, the M Social Hotel Phuket sales team hosted the Nama-Stay Evening at Bawarchi Rooftop Restaurant in Bangkok, as part of an ongoing programme to strengthen relationships with key partners. The theme was classic Indian attire, and guests were invited to embrace it fully, arriving dressed for an evening of authentic cuisine, music and vibrant social energy.

The M Social Hotel Phuket sales team at the Nama-Stay Evening, hosted in Bangkok on 6 March 2026.

Set against a rooftop backdrop in the heart of Bangkok, the evening created a relaxed, culturally inspired setting where conversations flowed effortlessly between business and the personal. 

More than just a dinner, the Nama-Stay Evening reflects a broader approach to engagement, building meaningful relationships and fostering the kind of rapport that sustains partnerships over the long term. 

M Social Hotel Phuket sales team members with partners at the Nama-Stay Evening in Bangkok.
Borderless Wine: A Tasting in the Garden

On 27 March 2026, M Social Hotel Phuket hosted Borderless Wine, United by Taste, at Beast and Butterflies Garden, an evening dedicated to discovery, flavour, and connection. The event invited guests to explore wines from around the world, each thoughtfully paired with chef-crafted bites and accompanied by the story of its origin. The experience went beyond tasting, offering a deeper appreciation of the cultures and craftsmanship behind each pour. 

Guests at Borderless Wine, United by Taste, at Beast and Butterflies Garden, M Social Hotel Phuket.

Live DJ entertainment added an energetic current to the evening, while the garden setting gave the event the open, unhurried atmosphere that wine tasting deserves. Guests were served Prosecco by Belstar alongside the curated selection, with chef-prepared canapes timed to complement each pour.

The two events in March reflect M Social Hotel Phuket’s approach to engagement: creating experiences that feel personal and culturally grounded, whether the setting is a Bangkok rooftop or the hotel’s own garden.

Spring Flavours Arrive at Hotels in China

May 6, 2026

Spring Flavours Arrive at Hotels in China

This spring, two Millennium Hotels and Resorts properties in mainland China unveil new dining experiences, each rooted in the richness of Cantonese cuisine. Grand Millennium Shanghai HongQiao and Grand Millennium Beijing have both introduced menus that celebrate seasonal flavours—offering compelling reasons for guests to return to the table.
Grand Millennium Shanghai HongQiao: Cantonese Dim Sum Without Limit
Spectrum Chinese Restaurant at Grand Millennium Shanghai HongQiao has launched a “Cantonese Delicacies All-You-Can-Eat” set menu, available until 30 September 2026. The restaurant, situated on the second floor of the hotel and set within an 18,000-square-metre garden, offers the menu across two sittings: 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.
The all-you-can-eat dim sum set at Spectrum Chinese Restaurant, Grand Millennium Shanghai HongQiao.
The menu is built around a made-to-order, steamed-fresh service concept that covers classic dim sum, crispy pastries, Cantonese barbecue, congee and rice dishes, and traditional sweet endings. Favourites such as har gow, char siu puffs, honey-glazed char siu, peanut and anchovy congee, and almond tea with egg white are all available without limit, each prepared to order for maximum freshness.

For reservations at Spectrum Chinese Restaurant, contact +86 21 6208 5888 extension 71214.

Grand Millennium Beijing: A Bite of Spring

At Yao Chi Chinese Restaurant within Grand Millennium Beijing, the kitchen has launched a seasonal tasting menu titled “A Bite of Spring.” The menu captures the first fresh produce of the season, presented with the lightness and clarity that spring calls for.

Yao Chi Chinese Restaurant at Grand Millennium Beijing, where the spring tasting menu is served.
We cherish every gift of this beautiful season. We are bringing the first fresh greens of spring directly to your table.
– Mr Lin, Restaurant Manager, Yao Chi Chinese Restaurant

Three dishes anchor the menu. Scallion Oil Mixed with Fresh Fava Beans pairs the plumpest beans of the season with sizzling scallion oil for a soft, sweet result. Fried Small Freshwater Shrimp with Spring Chives combines live freshwater shrimp with first-harvest spring chives, stir-fried over intense heat for crisp shells and succulent meat. Pan Fried Egg with Chinese Toon wraps the golden omelette around finely chopped Chinese toon, delivering a dish that captures the essence of the season in a single bite.

The spring menu is available for a limited time. For reservations at Yao Chi Chinese Restaurant, contact +86 10 8587 6888 extension 3013.

A Season of Flavour at Orchard Hotel Singapore

May 6, 2026

A Season of Flavour at Orchard Hotel Singapore

Orchard Hotel Singapore has a full table for May and June 2026, with five dining experiences spread across its restaurants and bars. From Dragon Boat Festival traditions at Hua Ting Restaurant to a returning Filipino-Spanish culinary celebration at The Orchard Cafe, the season offers a reason to dine at every turn.

Hua Ting Rice Dumplings

Hua Ting Restaurant marks the Dragon Boat Festival with its annual rice dumpling offering, available from 18 May to 18 June 2026. Each dumpling is crafted with premium ingredients and refined technique, presented for both gifting and indulgent gathering. Reservations are required at least three days in advance and are subject to availability.

Purchase now

Hua Ting Restaurant's Dragon Boat Festival rice dumplings, available from 18 May to 18 June 2026.
Manila Meets Madrid Returns to The Orchard Cafe
After a successful debut in 2025, Manila Meets Madrid returns to The Orchard Cafe from 1 May to 30 June 2026, bigger and more expansive than before. This Filipino-Spanish buffet brings together culinary talent from across the Millennium Hotels and Resorts group. Demi Chef Deuna Arnel, and Sous Chef Ian Kristopher, both from The Heritage Hotel Manila, join Chef de Cuisine Joseph Edward at Orchard Hotel Singapore, to craft a menu that seamlessly bridges both cultures.
Orchard Hotel Singapore's May–June dining season spans five experiences across three venues.

Celebrate the tapestry of two cultures through the live grill and action stations featuring highlights such as Lechon Baboy, Sizzling Sisig, Pinoy Style Fish Paksiw and Spanish Seafood Paella, while the dessert selection includes Tarta de Santiago, Maja Blanca, Halo-Halo and Turon. 

Book now

Hua Ting Chef’s Tasting Menu

Available for both lunch and dinner from 1 May to 30 June 2026, Hua Ting Restaurant’s Chef Tasting Menu is curated by Master Chef Lap Fai. 

The menu presents a structured journey through authentic Cantonese cuisine, featuring a Dim Sum Platter, Stewed Bird’s Nest and Kurobuta Pork Ho Fun for lunch, alongside highlights such as Pan-Seared Lobster Fillet and Braised Noodles with Irish Duck for dinner. 

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Hua Ting Restaurant at Orchard Hotel Singapore, where Master Chef Lap Fai's tasting menu is served.
Filispano High Tea at Bar Intermezzo

Returning from 1 May to 30 June 2026, the Filispano Afternoon Tea at Bar Intermezzo offers a refined take on the culinary dialogue between the Philippines and Spain. Priced from SGD 39 per person, the 14-piece set presents a thoughtfully curated selection of sweet and savoury delights.

Savoury highlights include King Crab Lumpiang Sariwa, Spanish Mackerel Kesong Puti Pandesal, Crispy Oyster with Dalandan Mayo, and Wagyu Beef Dinakdakan Tart.

The experience concludes on a sweet note with Tarta de Santiago and Chocolate Dulce de Leche, bringing together rich flavours and heritage in every bite.

Learn More

The Filispano High Tea at Bar Intermezzo, Orchard Hotel Singapore, priced from SGD39 per person.
Hua Ting Treasures of the Sea

From May to June 2026, Hua Ting Restaurant presents Treasures of the Sea—a curated menu spotlighting two premium ingredients, with dishes priced from SGD 32 each.

South African 22-head dried abalone is braised to tender perfection in a rich, velvety abalone sauce, showcasing depth and refinement in every bite.

Boston lobster takes centre stage across a range of preparations—steamed with silken egg white, infused with aromatic rice wine, enriched with aged tangerine peel and black bean, elevated with black truffle, or paired with garlic and glutinous rice.

Each dish is a celebration of technique and flavour, offering a refined take on the finest seafood.

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