Grand Hyatt Manila's The Grand Kitchen has partnered with Mastercard and Singapore Airlines to launch "Culinary Connections," a dining promotion running through October 5 that highlights the airline's expanded route network. The collaboration reflects a growing trend among premium carriers of using lifestyle and culinary experiences to deepen brand engagement with travelers beyond the flight itself.

Speaking at the launch event on August 6 at The Grand Kitchen, Liwei Tai, General Manager Philippines at Singapore Airlines, noted that the carrier now flies to Madrid and Hangzhou and operates out of a new airport in Sydney. The airline is also adding more flights to London via Gatwick Airport. The Madrid and Gatwick additions mark notable steps in Singapore Airlines' European expansion, broadening access to Spain and complementing its established London Heathrow service.

"Lots of new places on the network," Ms. Tai said.

Three featured dishes anchor the promotion, each inspired by regional or nearby destinations: Southeast Asian Otak-Otak (fish blended with spices and coconut milk, wrapped in a banana leaf), Mee Pok (Chinese egg noodles in a tangy-spicy sauce, topped with mushrooms, bean sprouts, ground beef, and squid balls), and Octopus Adobo (octopus served with garlicky soy-vinegar sauce and Indonesian spicy sambal). Additional buffet stations offered paella and Hainanese Chicken Rice, a Singapore favorite.

Ms. Tai emphasized that the airline's customer experience extends beyond in-flight service. "It's not just about what happens in the aircraft," she said. "What Singapore Airlines wants to do is to be able to delight our customers when they are on the ground."

"Where you have food that's from a different country, from a different cuisine, then we hope to be able to inspire you to want to travel to other spaces, to see what it's like," she added.

The promotion includes an interactive element — a large map where guests write down the dishes they would travel for. For her part, Ms. Tai said all she wants is a bowl of pho from Vietnam.

Singapore Airlines celebrated its 60th anniversary earlier this year, Ms. Tai noted. The airline plans to hold an online travel fair next month covering flights as well as vouchers and discounts for accommodations abroad. The campaign comes as Philippine outbound travel continues to strengthen, with Singapore consistently ranking among the top destinations for Filipino travelers.

Customers can experience the Culinary Connections offerings at The Grand Kitchen in three ways and enter for a chance to win prizes, including a round trip to Singapore for two.

Singapore Airlines customers who present an eligible e-ticket purchased with Mastercard during the promotion period can take advantage of the "Dine for 2, Pay for 1" offer at P2,288 for lunch or P2,988 for dinner or Sunday lunch. The promotion also reflects Mastercard's broader strategy of partnering with travel brands to deliver exclusive lifestyle benefits to cardholders.

KrisFlyer members can redeem the dining experience using miles, with the option to upgrade refreshments to cocktails or mocktails via Mastercard. Members may visit KrisFlyerExperiences.com and redeem the Culinary Connections promotion for 4,500 KrisFlyer miles for lunch and 5,500 KrisFlyer miles for dinner or Sunday lunch. To access the experience, KrisFlyer members present their membership at The Grand Kitchen and pay with Mastercard.

Culinary Connections customers are also eligible for an exclusive raffle. Five winners will each receive a one-night King Bed stay at Grand Hyatt Manila. One grand prize winner will receive two Singapore Airlines round-trip Business Class tickets between Manila or Cebu and Singapore, along with a two-night stay at Grand Hyatt Singapore. Winners will be selected via electronic raffle on October 9 at Grand Hyatt Manila.

For inquiries and reservations, contact 8838-1234 or email manila.grand@hyatt.com. — JLG