If there is one thing that is constant in the service-focused hospitality industry, it’s change. In a sector where success depends on the guest experience and satisfaction, how are businesses keeping pace with shifting customer expectations and demands, advancements in technology, intense competition and global uncertainty? Building on strong momentum in 2024, Ascott Limited (Ascott), a lodging business unit wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment (CLI), plans to double its portfolio in India to 12,000 units by 2028, up from about 5,500 units at the end of 2024. 

Lee Ngor Houai, Chief Operating Officer, Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA), South Asia and China, Ascott shares with The Afternoon Update's Lynlee Foo about Ascott's ambitious plan, how travel, work, and leisure are intertwining, creating the trend of 'bleisure' and the digital innovations transforming guest experiences.

Whether you're a hospitality enthusiast or an industry insider, listen for valuable insights and opportunities to explore. Don't miss out on the conversation that’s shaping the future of travel and lodging!

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The Chinese consumer market is a huge one. Extending to the global Chinese diaspora living, working, and studying outside China, the market represents over 50 million people. To that end, businesses across the globe that integrate Chinese payment methods like Weixin Pay, (also known as WeChat Pay) are likely to see their revenues from Chinese consumers increase.

Recently global payment service provider Stripe has expanded its collaboration with Tencent by introducing Weixin Pay to Stripe Terminal, enabling in-person transactions in 20 countries including Singapore, Australia, Canada to France, Germany, Italy, the UK, the US, and beyond. What will this payment integration mean for cross-border trade and businesses in Asia? 

Stripe's Chief Revenue Officer, Asia Pacific, Paul Harapin shares more about the payment service provider's partnership with Tencent, and provides insights into macro trends shaping the global payment space.

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With GE2025 set to take place in early May, many property buyers and investors are wondering how the market will respond. While property values are a reflection of the asset itself and to some extent the quality of the surrounding neighbourhood, election periods often bring a degree of uncertainty.

As it is, the global storm brought on by the onslaught of US tariffs has raised upheaval in stock markets and recession fears. How have past elections traditionally affected property markets and economic confidence, and will this year’s event drive real estate prices and sales activity?

Joining Lynlee Foo on The Afternoon Update is Professor Sing Tien Foo, Provost's Chair Professor from the Department of Real Estate at the NUS Business School, to share more insights.

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For many, reaching out for mental health support can feel daunting—whether due to stigma, fear of judgment, or simply not knowing where to start.

Xinn.ai, a WhatsApp AI Chat bot, bridges this gap by offering a 24/7, judgment-free space where users can express their thoughts freely. By making support more accessible and less intimidating, Xinn.ai ensures that no one has to struggle in silence.

On The Afternoon Update's Good Tech segment, Michelle Qiu, Founder, Xinn.ai shares more with Lynlee Foo.

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Nomination Day 2025 has set the stage for one of the most closely watched General Elections in recent memory. Who has thrown their hat in the ring? Where are the multi-cornered fights? And what are the last-minute surprise moves?

On The Afternoon Update, Nicholas Fang, Managing Director of strategic communications firm Black Dot and former NMP joins Lynlee Foo to unpack the biggest headlines from Nomination Day 2025.

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The AI data centre market is booming in Southeast Asia. Recent significant investments by tech giants such as Microsoft, Nvidia and Google underline the region's strategic importance in AI infrastructure growth. One name that’s making waves in the world of AI infrastructure is Nebius (Nasdaq: NBIS). The Nvidia-backed European startup has swiftly established itself as a leading name in the AI infrastructure space with a multi-billion-dollar market cap in less than a year of its launch. Now, it is eyeing Singapore as its hub to advance AI infrastructure across Southeast Asia.

Nebius made its Asian debut at the inaugural GITEX Asia 2025 conference, the largest tech, startup, and digital investments event, and showcased its cutting-edge AI infrastructure to the region’s tech ecosystem. Ranvish Vir, its Growth Lead for the Middle East and APAC shares insights into the AI infrastructure boom, Singapore’s strategic role, and what’s ahead for the region.

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What if the future of fund investing was real-time, borderless, and as simple as sending a text?

Global funds network Calastone recently released groundbreaking research, revealing that tokenisation – the process of transforming asset ownership into digital tokens on a blockchain – holds the potential to unlock over $135 billion in cost savings for the asset management industry. Where are the biggest opportunities for cost savings in the fund distribution chain? How are asset managers integrating tokenisation in reshaping their portfolio strategies? Justin Christopher, Managing Director Asia, Calastone shares insights including trends in Asia’s appetite for digital fund infrastructure and tokenised products.

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For YouTube, which has about 332 million users in Southeast Asia, its video shopping features are proving to be a hit with consumers. Following its success in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, it has recently expanded its Shopping Affiliate Program with Shopee to Singapore, giving local content creators an additional alternative revenue stream. 

According to YouTube, two in five shoppers in this region use online video during the buying process, and 62% of Singaporean consumers made a purchase after discovering a brand, product or retailer on the platform.

Video commerce is reshaping the way we shop online. With shopping closer than ever to where discovery actually happens, what does this mean for creators, consumers, and the retail landscape?

Geraldine Ho, Head of Marketing at Shopee Singapore shares more insights into the trends in the video shopping space.

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Many brave unpredictable seas daily to support their communities but a lack of infrastructure and communication tools increases the vulnerability and risks of fishermen.

Utari Octavianty, Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna, joins us to discuss how the Indonesia-based marine and fishery startup is transforming the fishing industry with technology and smarter systems, empowering coastal communities through sustainable and safer practices.

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Autonomous vehicles (AV) are no longer the stuff of science fiction. From self-driving taxis in China to AV ride-hailing in U.S. cities, the landscape is shifting fast. In Singapore, the Land Transport Authority is on track for a three-year trial for autonomous buses starting mid-2026. When will we see AVs become commercially available at scale? What does this mean for mobility, businesses and careers?

Daniel Chow, Principal at global consultancy Arthur D. Little, joins us to unpack the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the autonomous vehicle industry.

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