The Asia Pacific region continues to be the leading engine of global travel growth and the fastest-growing air travel region – powered by strong intra-regional travel, infrastructure investments and travellers’ increasing desire for meaningful, transformative experiences.

As we enter an era of ‘Passion Pursuits’, where travellers are increasingly curating their journeys around unforgettable experiences, personal interests are now powerful demand drivers and influencers of travel flows. Sports and wellness travel have emerged as new travel categories and are shaping destination choices and spending, especially among younger travellers.

In an episode of TTG Conversations by TTG Asia, Rohan Bhalla, VP of Business Solutions, Asia Pacific at Collinson International, participated in a discussion with TTG Asia Group Editor Karen Yue, where he shared insights on how travel rewards and benefits can serve as powerful tools for brands to deepen engagement and strengthen loyalty.

Key insights covered include:

• Consumers in Asia Pacific are travelling more, and more often. The region continues to be the engine of global travel growth, with air passenger demand expected to grow over 7% in 2026 (vs global growth rate of 4.9%). Travellers are also planning trips around high-value and unique experiences that reflect their personal passions, rather than traditional itineraries.
• There are two types of travel benefits that most appeal to customers. The first is evergreen benefits that elevate the overall travel journey and make each trip more comfortable. This includes benefits such as airport lounge access, fast track immigration, airport transfers.
• The second focuses on curated experiences that cater to today’s travellers, who are increasingly designing their journeys around unique, memorable experiences. By enabling access to aspirational experiences in emerging travel categories like sports and wellness, brands can align with consumers’ priorities and strengthen brand relevance among existing and new customers.
• The biggest opportunities for travel and tourism brands lie in leveraging travel rewards as a powerful growth engine – one that drives revenue, customer acquisition and long-term customer value.

Watch the full interview here.