Senior cruise leaders set to discuss industry's future in Malaysia at Seatrade Cruise Asia 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Seatrade Cruise Asia's debut in Malaysia will explore new and emerging trends across Asia's cruise industry - the event is set to attract over 28 major cruise lines and representatives from approximately 30 countries. Guided by the theme A New Era of Opportunity, the first two days of networking and a conference programme will provide ample discussion space spanning across 10 hours of valuable conversations.

Located for the first time in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the preeminent cruise industry event will cover topics including Homeporting, Deployment & Year-Round Cruise Growth, Asia's Cruise Guests & Evolving Traveller Expectations, Designing Distinctive Cruise Experiences for Asia, Seamless Cruise Journeys, Terminals & CIQ, Destination Immersion & Small-Ship Readiness and more.

Opening the event on 16 November at 1:30 PM, keynote speaker Charles 'Bud' Darr, President and CEO, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) will position the central theme within the context of the growth in new opportunities for the region, and how to harness its potential into an enduring growth and evolution: "Seatrade Cruise Asia brings the talent and experience of the Asia-Pacific cruise industry together with leaders from around the world. Here, we can think boldly about the decades ahead, learn from one another, and find the partners to put ambitious ideas into practice. Those relationships can inspire investments and extraordinary experiences that serve generations of travellers", he explained.

Following the keynote, the programme's most senior cruise line leaders will gather in conversation sharing strategic priorities, company outlooks and perspectives on where the industry goes next. The session State of Asia's Cruise Industry: A New Era of Opportunity will run from 1:45 PM, moderated by Mary Bond, industry expert and Group Portfolio Director, Seatrade Cruise.

Cruising across Asia is entering a new phase, with opportunities emerging across source markets, deployment, destinations and the guest experience. Yet growth remains uneven, and realising the region's potential will depend on where cruise lines choose to invest, how products and itineraries evolve, and whether the wider ecosystem can support greater scale.

Ben Bouldin, President, Greater China & Managing Director, Asia, Royal Caribbean International, Michael Goh, President, StarDream Cruises, and Oliviero Morelli, President, South-East Asia, Japan, South Korea, Cruise Division, MSC Group, will explore what will define Asia's next era of cruise growth, and where industry leaders see the greatest opportunities ahead.

Packages

Pricing for the Seatrade Cruise Asia Conference (17-18 November) begins at $1000 for international delegates. Malaysian residents enjoy a special discounted rate of $450 upon presentation of valid identification, while Cruise Line Executives are welcome to attend complimentary with a promotional code.

For those seeking the complete experience, the Penang Excursion can be added to any pass type for an additional $450.

See the event schedule: https://www.seatradecruiseevents.com/asia/whats-on/event-schedule/ 

See packages and register:  https://www.seatradecruiseevents.com/asia/attend/ticket-packages/  

For any enquiries about the event or packages, email events@seatradecruise.com.  

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• Media enquiries: marketing@seatradecruise.com 
• Register for a free media pass here.

About Seatrade Cruise

Serving the international cruise community since 1970, Seatrade Cruise is the industry's leading platform for collaborating, innovating and connecting. Comprised of the largest cruise events and trades shows, news channels, virtual programming resources and coveted awards programs, the Seatrade Cruise portfolio reaches more than 20,000 professionals, 4,000+ suppliers, 120+ cruise line brands and 140+ countries.

For more information on Seatrade Cruise Events visit www.seatradecruiseevents.com. For access to the latest news and industry updates visit seatrade-cruise.com.

Seatrade Cruise Events are organised by Informa Markets, a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organiser in the world. To learn more and for the latest news and information, visit informamarkets.com.

About Seatrade Cruise Asia:

Seatrade Cruise Asia is the leading cruise event in the Asia region, bringing together key industry stakeholders and professionals to explore the latest trends and opportunities in the dynamic Asia cruise market.

With a focus on fostering collaboration and innovation, Seatrade Cruise Asia provides a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and partnership building and includes a comprehensive conference, expo showcasing regional suppliers, ports, destinations and service providers, and social programme for all participants.

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Senior cruise leaders set to discuss industry's future in Malaysia at Seatrade Cruise Asia 2026

HLB's strategic partnership unlocks new possibilities in cross-border banking, connecting customers to established global payment networks and building a foundation to serve them across more markets

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hong Leong Bank ("HLB" or the "Bank") today marked its strategic partnership with UnionPay International ("UPI"), strengthening global cross-border payment connectivity for customers travelling, conducting business and pursuing opportunities beyond Malaysia. In line with the proposition of "Connecting Borders, Commerce, Ties, and Horizons", the partnership highlights how HLB and payment networks can enable seamless and secure overseas payments and support closer connections between people and businesses across markets.

By leveraging UPI's integrated network with Weixin Pay, the collaboration enables HLB customers to transact effortlessly at over 120 million merchants across Mainland China, as well as participating merchants in Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Thailand. Whether shopping at department stores or dining at everyday local stalls, customers can pay directly via HLB QR Pay on HLB Connect. The feature natively complements HLB's existing multi-currency features on the HLB Pay&Save Account, allowing customers to lock-in favorable exchange rates and avoid the hassle of using third-party apps and wallet top-ups.

According to Kevin Lam, HLB's Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, "Our customers take us beyond Malaysia through the businesses they build, the family ties they maintain, and the opportunities they pursue. We want them to have the same confidence paying overseas as they do at home."

"At its core, a cross-border payment only works when trust exists on both sides of the transaction where customers know with certainty that their payment will go through, and merchants trust that they will receive it. Backed by over a century of heritage and innovation in cross-border payments in the community, our priority is ensuring that trust holds wherever our customers go. Partnering with UPI and tapping into their vast international network, including Weixin Pay, allows us to deliver that scale and certainty globally."

Carlson Li, Vice President of UPI, commented, "Our partnership with HLB demonstrates how interoperability can connect different payment ecosystems to deliver practical benefits for customers, where HLB customers can now access a wider merchant network directly from their banking app, making cross-border payments more convenient and supporting commerce between markets. We look forward to building on this partnership to extend payment accessibility, connect more customers and merchants, and create further opportunities for collaboration across the region."

Driven by rapid digital innovation, cross-border payments have expanded well beyond conventional cards and currency exchange, giving consumers more versatile, frictionless ways to transact internationally.

Underscoring the Bank's focus on customer-centric digital solutions, Andrew Jong, HLB's Managing Director of Personal Financial Services, said, "Digital innovation has fundamentally changed how people move and spend money abroad, unlocking greater convenience and flexibility than ever before. We recognise that customers have different payment preferences and needs when travelling across markets. Our focus is on ensuring our solutions remain relevant to those dynamic needs, giving customers true choice, security, and continuity wherever they go. This partnership with UPI is a key milestone in how we leverage innovations and ecosystem partners to expand our suite of cross-border payment capabilities."

HLB's broader cross-border payment offering gives customers multiple ways to pay overseas, including scanning participating merchant QR codes, displaying an in-app QR code for merchants to scan, linking eligible HLB cards to superapps in China like Weixin Pay, making direct credit and debit card payments, and using supported mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay.

The Bank will continue to build on its international collaborations to expand payment connectivity and support customers as their needs and ambitions grow across markets.

For more information, please visit: www.hlb.com.my/UnionPayQR   

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Hong Leong Bank Strengthens Cross-Border Payment Connectivity through Partnership with UnionPay International