Media OutReach
Hong Kong Trust Industry Well Positioned for Growth as Regulations Boost Credibility and Investor Confidence, KPMG and HKTA Report Shows
- Recent regulatory changes enhance credibility for corporate trustees but add to complexity and costs
- New eMPF Platform to reshape Hong Kong’s pension system and bring wave of change for pension trustees
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2025 – Access to Chinese Mainland clients, Asia’s growing private wealth sector and improving industry credibility are underpinning a positive outlook for Hong Kong’s trust industry, provided practitioners can overcome the headwinds of increasing compliance costs and access to talent, according to a survey from the Hong Kong Trustees’ Association (HKTA) and KPMG.
The HKTA and KPMG conducted interviews with government officials and regulators, and almost 30 trust industry executives, alongside a digital survey of HKTA member institutions, in order to gauge the health of the sector, which performs a vital role in safeguarding assets held in pension schemes, as well as in corporate, charitable, private and public trusts.
Hong Kong’s trust market grew by 10% from 2021 to 2023, with HK$5,188 billion (US$667 billion)[1] of assets held under trusts at the end of 2023, compared with HK$4,719 billion (US$606 billion) when the previous HKTA-KPMG report was issued in 2021.
When considering the most significant growth engines over the next few years, 24% of respondents identified Chinese Mainland and Greater Bay Area (GBA) connectivity initiatives, such as Wealth Management Connect. A further 18% selected the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) under which the Hong Kong SAR government has been attracting capital and family offices, and 18% selected similar initiatives focused on family offices and philanthropy.
The report found that recent regulatory developments are increasing confidence and enhancing protection for investors. These include the introduction of RA13 for depositaries of SFC-authorized Collective Investment Schemes (CISs) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Supervisory Policy Manual Module (TB-1). Sixty four percent (64%) of survey respondents said the regulatory regime is conducive to business, compared with 51% in 2021.
However, while new regulations are improving the business environment, they are also proving challenging to implement. Almost two-thirds of survey respondents (64%) reported that their compliance costs had increased by at least 5% to 15% over the past 12 months, partly because of increasing regulatory complexity.
Attracting talent was also seen as a significant industry headwind, with Legal & Compliance roles and Trust Administration the two most critical functions.
Hong Kong’s trust and fiduciary industry plays a critical role in the city’s success as a major international financial centre, employing a diverse range of professionals across banks, independent trust companies, insurers, private banks and legal, tax and accounting providers. The sector is critical in protecting the financial wellbeing of the vast majority of Hongkongers, including 87% of the working population who have assets held under the MPF[2] and ORSO[3] schemes.
Launching the report, HKTA Chairman Ms. Ka Shi Lau said: “Trustees continue to play a crucial role in Hong Kong’s financial system, and their importance is particularly evident in the MPF system, which is pivotal in safeguarding the retirement assets of Hong Kong people. With 2025 marking the 25th anniversary of MPF, it is fitting that the 4th Trust Industry Report is released in celebration of this milestone and provides an endorsement of the system’s good health. Moreover, the recent transition to the new eMPF Platform is a significant step forward for fund visibility and member-centricity. However, it will also bring both challenges and opportunities for trustees.”
Arion Yiu, Partner, Asset Management, Hong Kong, for KPMG China adds: “Pension funds remain the largest asset category held under trusts, underscoring the significance of the trustee role in safeguarding Hong Kong’s retirement savings. The transition to eMPF, while presenting challenges, will also compel the trust industry to explore new avenues for differentiation and place a greater emphasis on governance to better serve MPF members.”
Vivian Chui, Head of Securities and Asset Management, Hong Kong, for KPMG China said: “Recent regulatory developments have increased Hong Kong’s attractiveness and credibility as both a funds and a trust centre. However, this positive momentum must be met with a proactive approach to talent acquisition. Showcasing the diverse and rewarding career paths available within the industry will be crucial to attracting the next generation of professionals.”
Ms. Ka Shi Lau further commented: “While compliance, reporting and regulatory requirements are becoming increasingly stringent, these new standards are also bringing with them increased credibility. Hong Kong is rolling out the red carpet for global wealth. The trust industry needs to step up now, work together, and be proactive in serving these clients or risk missing out on the opportunity to solidify Hong Kong’s position as a leading global trust centre.”
For a full copy of the report, please visit the HKTA Website or the KPMG Website.
Hashtag: #KPMG
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Hong Kong Trustees’ Association
The Hong Kong Trustees’ Association Limited (HKTA) was established in 1991 by members of the trust and fiduciary services sectors to represent the trust industry in Hong Kong, particularly in the areas of legislation and education. It is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and incorporated in Hong Kong. The HKTA currently has more than 220 corporate and individual members, and represents thousands of people working in the trust, pensions, private banking, asset servicing, legal, accounting and other professional services fields.
Mission:
- Represent the trust industry in promoting high standards of professionalism, corporate governance and regulatory compliance;
- Contribute towards advancing the status of Hong Kong trust professionals and that of the industry internationally;
- Represent the industry to the government, the media, local and international professional bodies and the public in promoting Hong Kong as an international trust and fiduciary services centre;
- Promote quality standards for the industry by the issuance of Best Practice Guides applicable to corporate trusts, pension schemes, private trusts and charitable trusts;
- Contribute towards enhancing the education and knowledge of practitioners in the trust industry through relevant trust accreditation and training programmes.
- Contribute towards enhancing public education on trust fraud.
KPMG
KPMG in China has offices located in 31 cities with over 14, 000 partners and staff, in Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Dongguan, Foshan, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jinan, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Wuhan, Wuxi, Xiamen, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. It started operations in Hong Kong in 1945. In 1992, KPMG became the first international accounting network to be granted a joint venture licence in the Chinese Mainland. In 2012, KPMG became the first among the “Big Four” in the Chinese Mainland to convert from a joint venture to a special general partnership.
KPMG is a global organisation of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services. “KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organisation or to one or more member firms collectively.
KPMG firms operate in 142 countries and territories with more than 275, 000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.
Celebrating 80 years in Hong Kong
In 2025, KPMG marks “80 Years of Trust” in Hong Kong. Established in 1945, we were the first international accounting firm to set up operations in the city. Over the past eight decades, we’ve woven ourselves into the fabric of Hong Kong, working closely with the government, regulators, and the business community to help establish Hong Kong as one of the world’s leading business and financial centres. This close collaboration has enabled us to build lasting trust with our clients and the local community – a core value celebrated in our anniversary theme: “80 Years of Trust”.
Experts say a self-contained, service-led residential format built for multigenerational ownership is emerging at the very top of the market — and that demand for it is rising worldwide.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 August 2026 – Experts in premium residential real estate note that a distinct new category is forming at the top of the market, and that demand for it is rising around the world. Property market specialists describe the emerging tier as the presidence: a self-contained community of private residences bound together by shared infrastructure and anchored by a five-star hotel under an international brand — a format designed to be lived in and passed down across generations, rather than simply owned.
The trend reflects a structural shift in global wealth. According to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2026, the number of individuals worth more than US$30 million climbed from 551,435 to 713,626 between 2021 and 2026 — a gain of more than 160,000, equivalent to 89 people crossing that threshold every day. Forbes, meanwhile, records 3,428 billionaires worth a combined US$20.1 trillion.
This wealth is also increasingly mobile. Henley & Partners projects that 165,000 high-net-worth individuals will relocate internationally in 2026 — a 16 per cent rise on the record 142,000 of 2025 — as affluent families build cross-border portfolios of homes and residence rights rather than tying themselves to a single jurisdiction. The appetite for professionally serviced, brand-anchored homes is visible in the development pipeline: Savills reports that the number of branded residential schemes worldwide grew 19 per cent in 2025, to around 910, and is on course to reach 1,747 by 2032, with the Middle East and North Africa the fastest-growing region over the past five years, at 187 per cent.
As the apex of the wealth pyramid rises, specialists say, demand at the very top is moving away from headline price-per-square-foot toward space, privacy, wellbeing, autonomy and a home that can be held and handed down across generations. The case for treating this as a distinct category was set out in a recent column by real estate adviser Ku Swee Yong, CEO of International Property Advisor Pte Ltd and an adjunct faculty member at Singapore Management University, where he teaches Real Estate Investments & Finance.”Luxury residence has a new crown, and it has a name: presidence,” he writes.
According to the expert, a property of this kind should meet several defining criteria: it should occupy an exceptional location among peer residences, be built to the highest standards of quality, provide space, a healthy natural environment, security and self-sufficiency, and create a place where owners and their families can live out every stage of life — building careers, raising children, enjoying leisure, prioritising health and wellbeing, welcoming family and friends, and ultimately passing the home down through generations. Privacy in this case does not mean isolation: rather than retreating behind their own gates, members of the presidence become part of a carefully formed community of peers, surrounded by people with comparable values, interests and ways of life.
These principles are, in practice, being formalised into a fuller set of criteria that distinguish a presidence from a conventional luxury development. At its most complete, the format is defined by:
- A five-star hotel operated by an international brand present in at least three countries, located within the development;
- A single estate of 200 hectares (around 500 acres) or more;
- Full-spectrum infrastructure within one perimeter — indoor and outdoor sport, a central clubhouse, wellness, dining, parks and natural areas, a medical centre, recreation and security, plus a lifestyle anchor such as a golf, equestrian or yacht club;
- A clear separation of public and private zones, with residences kept behind their own multi-layered security perimeter and isolated from guest-facing spaces such as the hotel, restaurants and spa;
- A 24/7 premium service model featuring a dedicated resident care team, concierge services, standardised service-level agreements (SLAs), and a digital platform for managing every household and lifestyle need;
- A unified architectural code governing the style and coherence of every building on the estate;
- An equal-neighbour principle, under which a community of like-minded owners who can enjoy privacy while remaining part of an engaging social environment is formed.
Fully integrated examples remain rare worldwide, and demand, specialists say, is running ahead of supply as the number of ultra-wealthy households continues to grow.
Hashtag: #property #realestate #residentialproperty #hnwi
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Prosvet Communication Studio
Prosvet Communication Studio is a full-cycle communication studio working across PR and communications strategy, media relations and influence, personal branding, digital PR, events and production.
Food & Drink is now the fastest-growing category among Airbnb Experiences in Indonesia by search demand, with Bali emerging as the top spot for culinary bookings.
BALI, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 August 2026 – For many travelers, exploring local culinary traditions is the trip itself. New Airbnb data highlights the popularity of culinary Experiences across Indonesia, with both domestic and international travelers seeking out food-led activities for a more authentic taste of the culture.
Since its launch, Food & Drink has become Airbnb Experiences’ third-most-popular category in Indonesia, behind only Nature & Outdoors and History & Culture[1]. Bali sits at the heart of this culinary interest, with over 90% of all culinary Experience bookings in Indonesia taking place on the island1.
Guest feedback backs this up. Indonesia’s culinary Experiences carry a 4.94 average rating, with reviewers most often reaching for words like “authentic,” “traditional,” “hands-on,” “local,” and “family”[2].
The appetite extends beyond Experiences, too: searches for Airbnb homes with kitchen amenities in Indonesia are up over 20% year-on-year[3], suggesting that more guests are choosing stays where they can cook together and recreate the local flavours they discover during their trip.
Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s Country Head for Southeast Asia & India, said, “Today’s travelers are increasingly looking for experiences that help them connect more deeply with the places they visit, and food has become one of the most meaningful ways to do that. Whether it’s shopping at a neighbourhood market, learning a family recipe, or cooking together in an Airbnb, these moments create lasting memories while supporting local communities. Through Airbnb Experiences, we’re proud to help travelers discover Indonesia in a way that feels more personal, immersive, and connected to local culture.“
To spotlight this growing appetite for culinary travel, Airbnb recently hosted a one-off Culture & Culinary Trail luncheon in Bali with renowned chefs Arnold and Reynold Poernomo — a chef-curated dining moment celebrating Bali’s culinary heritage through local ingredients and stories. The luncheon offered a preview of what travelers can already find on Airbnb Experiences: intimate sessions on local food culture, interactive dining sessions, and meals hosted by local chefs in Bali and beyond.
Arnold Poernomo said, “As chefs, we’ve always believed that some of the most memorable travel memories happen around the dining table. Food has a unique way of bringing people together and telling the story of a place through its ingredients, traditions, and the people behind them. By hosting this luncheon with Airbnb, we wanted to celebrate Bali’s rich culinary heritage and inspire travelers to look beyond the plate, to discover the culture, communities, and local stories.“
For Reynold Poernomo, the most memorable travel experiences often begin with discovering the people behind the food.
“For the more adventurous, go to the markets, and you’ll discover some unique produce that you’ll most likely not find in any other part of the world. That’s part of why we love what Airbnb Experiences does – it connects you directly with local hosts who can take you to those markets and show you ingredients you’d never find wandering on your own.”
The Poernomo brothers recommend three Airbnb Experiences worth booking on a Bali trip:
- A guided 15-course tasting menu at Room4Dessert – Join Chef Will Goldfarb, winner of the 2021 World’s Best Pastry Chef award, on a five-stop journey from his kitchen and garden to a fireside dessert finale.
- Organic Balinese farm cooking in Ubud – Explore organic farming practices, pick fresh ingredients and prepare Balinese dishes.
- Track fireflies in Bali with a conservationist – Harvest herbs, cook a Balinese feast, and watch Indonesia’s only firefly breeding lab light up the night with conservationist Wayan Wardika.
As travelers continue seeking slower, more meaningful ways to explore destinations, Airbnb Experiences inspire visitors to discover a different side of Bali — through the people, ingredients, and stories shared around the table.
Disclaimer: All Experiences referenced are intended purely to inspire and illustrate. Airbnb does not recommend or endorse specific listings on the Airbnb platform.
Hashtag: #Airbnb #AirbnbExperiences #Travel #TravelTrends
https://www.airbnb.com/
https://www.instagram.com/airbnb/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Airbnb
About Airbnb
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5.5 million hosts who have welcomed 2.5 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way. https://news.airbnb.com
For more information, please contact:
Nicolette Koh, Airbnb – nicolette.koh
@ext.airbnb.com
Maverick Indonesia – [email protected]
With a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 95.4/100 and an AAA+ rating, Vinpearl has surpassed a host of renowned hospitality names to rank No. 1 globally in hotel brand strength.
The Brand Strength Index (BSI) score reflects a brand’s overall strength, encompassing investment performance, customer and partner consideration, and its ability to generate business value.
The AAA+ rating is the highest level in Brand Finance’s brand strength rating system.
Alongside its No. 1 ranking, Vinpearl’s brand value also recorded a record increase of 86% to US$381 million year on year, enabling the company to enter the Top 50 Most Valuable Hotel Brands in the World for the first time.
Vinpearl’s position in brand strength has been driven by accelerated growth across all areas of its operations.
Specifically, in terms of financial strength, in 2026, VPL shares were included in the VN30 Index. Vinpearl also successfully raised US$255 million from SeaTown Holdings, Oman Investment Authority and Vietnam Oman Investment.
In terms of market development, Vinpearl has continued to expand its global connectivity in 2026, signing strategic cooperation agreements with leading international and regional partners, including Agoda, AirAsia MOVE, BeMyGuest, GlobalTix, Klook, CAITO, Thomas Cook India, SOTC Travel, MakeMyTrip, IHG Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International, among others. These partnerships aim to increase international visitor flows and enhance service quality across Vinpearl’s system.
In terms of products and services, Vinpearl has continued to expand its multi-segment tourism, hospitality and entertainment ecosystem in 2026. Key initiatives include the launch of Vinpearl Legendlux, a six-star ultra-luxury hotel brand; the introduction of VinFun, a new-generation hotel brand designed to cater to a broader range of guests; the development of Vin New Horizon, a wellness and senior living offering; the premiere of the spectacular stage production “The Grand Epic of Vietnam”; and the launch of The Vietnam Grand WeddX 2026, a new-generation platform for exhibitions and industry connections in Vietnam’s wedding sector.
The collective efforts of the entire ecosystem in 2026 have driven Vinpearl’s remarkable rise in rankings, from being the leading hotel brand in Southeast Asia to becoming the strongest hotel brand globally .
Beyond Brand Finance, the strength of the Vinpearl ecosystem has also been continuously recognized by leading global tourism organizations and platforms. In 2026, VinWonders Nha Trang became the only representative from Vietnam to be included in the Top 100 Global Best Family-Friendly Attractions; Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An received the ASEAN Green Hotel Award 2026; while Vinpearl’s hotels and resorts and VinWonders properties have continued to receive recognition from Booking.com, Agoda and Trip.com, among others, through rankings and awards.
Recognition from the world’s leading tourism rating organizations serves as an important source of motivation for Vinpearl to further elevate its ecosystem, bringing destinations and experiences imbued with Vietnamese identity closer to domestic and international travelers. The company is moving toward its goal of becoming a leading global tourism and hospitality brand, while contributing to elevating Vietnam’s position on the world tourism map.
Hashtag: #Vinpearl
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Brand Finance
Brand Finance Plc is the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy, founded in 1996 in London, United Kingdom. It is the only company with a brand valuation methodology that complies with the ISO 10668 international standard for brand valuation, with a presence in more than 20 countries worldwide. Brand Finance reports are used by numerous countries, governments and leading global corporations.
Every year, Brand Finance conducts valuations of more than 70,000 brands worldwide. This marks the 10th year that Vietnam has been included among the countries whose brands are valued by Brand Finance, with Brand Finance Asia-Pacific, headquartered in Singapore, responsible for publishing the rankings.
About Vinpearl
Established in 2003, Vinpearl is Vietnam’s leading brand in tourism, hospitality, entertainment and experiential travel. After more than two decades of development, Vinpearl currently operates 62 properties across 20 provinces and cities.
Its ecosystem comprises 35 five-star hotels and resorts with more than 17,500 rooms; 15 VinWonders theme parks featuring a diverse range of attractions suitable for guests of all ages; six world-class golf courses; and four international-standard VinPalace convention centers and theaters.
The ecosystem also includes two semi-wildlife animal conservation and care parks and one equestrian academy, among other offerings. Particularly notable are Vinpearl’s impressive and distinctive “million-dollar” live shows, staged at destinations including Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, which attract millions of visitors each year.
