PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for September 16, 2026 – Full Text

WRISE Prestige records over300% revenue growth in HK since end-2024, expands to more than 400 IWCs and advances a new professional standard combining human expertise, independence and AI

• Assets under management increased by 927%, revenue grew by 301% and the number of clients increased by 382% compared with the end of 2024.
• WRISE Prestige’s network has expanded to more than 400 Independent Wealth Consultants (IWCs) in Hong Kong.
• The broader WRISE ecosystem has added capabilities spanning family office and wealth planning, corporate advisory, trust and legacy planning, structured products, international insurance and AI labs, while the IWC proposition evolves from Independent Wealth Consultant to Intelligent Wealth Consultant.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 September 2026 – WRISE Prestige, a core business of WRISE Group serving affluent and high-net-worth clients through a network of wealth consultants, is set to celebrate its second anniversary in Hong Kong on 16 September, marking two years of rapid growth and the next chapter in its approach to wealth advisory.

Since the end of 2024, WRISE Prestige in Hong Kong has recorded 927% growth in assets under management (AUM), 301% growth in revenue and a 382% increase in the number of clients. Its Hong Kong network has also grown to more than 400 IWCs, reflecting rising demand for independent, people-led advice and broader access to integrated wealth solutions.

Two Years of Growth and an Expanding Wealth Ecosystem

Over the past two years, WRISE Prestige has broadened its role within the WRISE ecosystem, connecting clients with capabilities across different aspects of wealth and advisory. These include WRISE Capital for corporate finance and advisory services, WRISE Private for family office solutions and sophisticated wealth planning, and WRISE Master Trust for wealth structuring and legacy planning.

WRISE Prestige has broadened its solution capabilities in parallel, expanding its insurance spectrum from local offerings to Bermuda solutions and connecting clients with investment, banking, protection, trust and corporate advisory resources.

Client demand has become increasingly diverse, spanning liquidity, income, diversification, downside management, succession and cross-jurisdictional wealth planning. Structured products may be considered as part of client solutions where suitable, depending on risk tolerance and circumstances, illustrating the need for tailored risk-return outcomes rather than one-size-fits-all distribution.

The Group’s expanding regional footprint, including presences in Taipei, Shenzhen, Changsha, Chengdu, Wuxi and Vancouver, further strengthens WRISE Prestige’s ability to connect clients and wealth consultants with capabilities across markets.

From Independent Wealth Consultant to Intelligent Wealth Consultant

The evolution comes as Hong Kong’s wealth management industry reaches a new scale. According to the Securities and Futures Commission, AUM in Hong Kong’s private banking and private wealth management business rose 24% year-on-year to HK$12.9 trillion at the end of 2025.^[1]

As wealth grows, the needs behind it are becoming increasingly complex. Clients require holistic advice connecting investments and protection with family governance, business interests, succession and intergenerational planning. They increasingly value sound judgement, independence, expertise, trust and connectivity to a wider wealth ecosystem.

WRISE Prestige believes this is expanding the role of the wealth consultant. Building on the foundations of independent wealth advisory, the IWC approach puts the individual at the centre, considering their family, business, aspirations, risks and legacy, while drawing on a broader ecosystem to address wealth more holistically. Within this approach, independence refers to an open-architecture model that gives wealth consultants the flexibility to consider solutions from a broad range of financial institutions and providers, rather than being tied to a single institution or product. This approach does not imply the absence of conflicts of interest; any applicable conflicts are managed and disclosed in accordance with relevant policies and regulatory requirements.

IWC is now entering its next chapter, evolving from Independent Wealth Consultant to Intelligent Wealth Consultant. The new proposition builds on the open-architecture approach, trusted human relationships and professional expertise that have defined IWC, while bringing together the research, analytical and efficiency capabilities of AI.

Technology can enhance how wealth consultants analyse information, generate insights and serve clients, while human judgement, accountability and relationships remain at the heart of wealth advice. The goal is not to replace wealth consultants with AI, but to empower them with greater capabilities to support better-informed, more holistic wealth decisions.

As part of this evolution, WRISE Prestige is also strengthening the professional development pathway for its IWC network through QLC, a structured professional assessment covering four specialist areas relevant to the evolving needs of high-net-worth clients: Family Office, Trust, Offshore Insurance and Advanced Investment. IWCs who complete the QLC examination will earn the designation of IWC-Certified, establishing a common foundation of professional knowledge and standards across the network. Following certification, IWCs can continue to develop through pathways recognising both professional expertise and business performance.

Henry Shin, CEO of WRISE Prestige Hong Kong, said: “The wealth management industry has continuously evolved, from traditional institution-led models, to the emergence of independent financial advice, and now towards a new generation of wealth advisory. We believe the next stage of this evolution is intelligence.

Intelligent Wealth Consultant brings together the independence and trust that have always been fundamental to wealth advice with professional expertise, human judgement, and the insights and analytical capabilities of artificial intelligence. This is not about replacing the human element with technology, but about empowering our consultants with technology to deliver deeper insights and help clients make more informed and holistic wealth decisions.

At WRISE Prestige, we aspire to take this evolution one step further, not simply to witness the transformation of our industry, but to work alongside the industry in helping shape best practices for the next generation of wealth advisory.”

Building the Next Chapter of Wealth Advisory

Looking ahead, WRISE Prestige expects wealth management to become more connected, technology-enabled and accessible. Its focus will remain on combining technology with human judgement and relationships, using technology to improve connectivity, insight and scalability while maintaining appropriate professional and regulatory standards.

Over the next two to three years, WRISE Prestige plans to expand its business-to-business capabilities and advance an Open-EAM architecture that connects IWCs, external asset manager partners and clients through the broader WRISE ecosystem. The architecture is intended to make it easier for wealth consultants and partners to access specialist capabilities across wealth management, banking, investments, protection, trust and corporate advisory services, supported by technology and the WRISE platform.

Through this approach, WRISE Prestige aims to create greater connectivity and scale for wealth consultants, more integrated choices for clients, and a stronger professional ecosystem for Hong Kong and the region. Its ambition for the next chapter is not only to grow its own platform, but also to contribute to the continued development of wealth advisory across the industry.

Hashtag: #WRISEGroup

About WRISE

Source: BusinessNZ

New Zealand businesses want the next Government to keep the economy growing, hold a steady course on tax and finally deliver on long-promised infrastructure, according to the results of the Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Survey, released today by BusinessNZ at the Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Conference 2026.

The survey, now regarded as one of the country’s leading measures of business opinion, sets the views of BusinessNZ members alongside the policies of the parties contesting the election, across the issues that matter most to the economy: tax, regulation, infrastructure, energy, skills and the world of work.

Business NZ Chief executive Katherine Rich said the survey sent a clear message to the next Government about business priorities.

“This year’s survey tells us that, above all, business wants confidence that the economy will keep growing, certainty that tax settings won’t be pulled out from under them, and follow-through on the infrastructure plans that have been talked about for years.”

Key findings include a majority agreeing that New Zealand’s retirement settings need reviewing, with most support for raising the retirement age to 67, while there was overwhelming support for parties to agree on a long-term, bipartisan plan for infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the cost of energy loomed as a major concern.

Deloitte New Zealand Chief Executive Mike Horne said the results suggested businesses were looking beyond short-term challenges and focusing on the foundations of long-term growth.

“What stands out to me is that businesses are increasingly focused on what comes next. They want an environment that supports investment, productivity and growth, together with the certainty needed to plan for the future.

“The survey also highlights the importance of energy, infrastructure and international competitiveness. These are not separate conversations. New Zealand’s prosperity depends on our ability to produce more, connect more and compete more, and businesses are looking for the certainty and investment settings that help unlock those opportunities.

Economic environment and regulation

Asked to name the single most important issue for achieving sustained economic growth, 57.7% of respondents pointed to the economic environment itself, well ahead of infrastructure (16.5%) and skills and human capital (11.7%).

Views on the Government’s record were mixed: 58.1% believe the Government has a coordinated plan of action to raise economic performance, while 47.1% said regulatory changes over the past three years have increased the cost of doing business, against 41.7% who disagreed. Just over a third (39.1%) believe regulatory reforms have improved productivity and ease of doing business to some extent, while a similar proportion (32.8%) saw no material difference.

On tax, the clearest message from members is a preference for stability rather than change. A majority want no change to personal (61.8%) or corporate (57.6%) tax rates, and 65.3% oppose a wealth tax. Views on a capital gains tax are almost evenly split (46.0% yes, 45.7% no). An overwhelming 93.5% of respondents rate an internationally competitive tax system as important or very important.

On retirement settings, two-thirds (66.5%) support raising the age of superannuation entitlement – most commonly to 67 – and 89.1% support making KiwiSaver contributions compulsory for employers, employees and the self-employed, with the largest group (39.9%) favouring a combined contribution rate of 10%.

Sustainable investment and energy

Energy costs remain a significant concern for business, with 80.4% saying future energy prices are an issue they are worried about, and 61.3% believing the Government is not doing enough to reduce regulatory barriers to electricity supply.

A clear majority (63.3%) believe New Zealand needs to increase its investment in adapting to climate change and natural hazards, and of those, 64.5% think this should be funded by central government rather than local government or affected property owners.

Infrastructure

Business support for long-term, cross-party infrastructure planning is emphatic: 94.7% back a bipartisan 20-30 year approach to infrastructure planning and funding, and 82.8% support recycling central and local government assets, with proceeds directed to new infrastructure. Support for public-private partnerships in delivering major projects sits at 64.5%, with a further 31.7% saying it depends on the sector.

Skills, immigration and the future of work

Members want compulsory education to lift its game: 72.4% identified literacy and numeracy attainment as needing review, followed by raising the standard of secondary education (68.1%) and school attendance (58.4%).

On the future of work, 58.5% expect artificial intelligence and robotics to have a significant impact on the size and composition of their workforce over the next five to ten years, while just over half (53.5%) have confidence in getting the skills they need under current immigration settings.

Employment environment

A majority of respondents (57.4%) said they had experienced difficulty terminating an unsatisfactory employee’s employment, and 59.6% favour bargaining for collective employment agreements at the enterprise level over sectoral or national bargaining. Notably, 56.7% said they would be prepared to pay the living wage as a minimum in their business in the near future.

Mrs Rich said the conference had become an important fixture on the election year calendar.

“We are proud to release these results at the Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Conference, where the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and spokespeople from across Parliament are putting their cases directly to the business community. The questions our members have raised deserve considered answers, and this is the forum in which to test them.”

“Our thanks go to our partners, Deloitte and Chapman Tripp, to the political parties for engaging so fully, and above all to the members who took the time to respond,” Mrs Rich said.

Important context for these results

The survey results needed to be read alongside some important caveats about this year’s sample.

• Lower response than previous years: the survey drew 423 responses, of which 279 were fully completed. BusinessNZ attributes the lower turnout to ongoing survey fatigue and the absence of some member groups this year. However, the depth and breadth of questions mean it remains one of the most useful barometers of business sentiment available.
• Skewed toward larger firms: the 2026 sample is more heavily weighted towards large businesses than in previous years, with over a quarter of respondents employing 500 or more staff.
• Small business and the self-employed under-represented: on some questions, this matters. For example, close to nine in ten respondents supported making KiwiSaver contributions compulsory, including for the self-employed – a group barely represented in this sample, and one that may well take a different view, given many regard their business as their long-term retirement savings.
• Not every respondent answered every question: results are reported as the ‘valid percent’ – the proportion of those who answered each individual question – rather than as a share of the full sample.

“While we don’t consider this has materially changed the overall findings, we think it’s important for voters, parties and media to see these results in that context, rather than treat them as a precise mirror of the whole business community,” Mrs Rich said.

Notes

• The Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Survey, conducted by BusinessNZ, comprises two related questionnaires: a member survey of BusinessNZ members, and a political party survey inviting the main parties contesting the election to set out their policies across five areas – the economic environment, sustainable investment, infrastructure, skills and human capital, and the employment environment.
• All percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number and, as a result, may not sum to 100%.
• Compare the survey results with BusinessNZ’s election priorities here. (https://businessnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BusinessNZ-Election-priorities-2026-report.pdf)
• The full survey report, including all party responses, is available from BusinessNZ. (https://businessnz.org.nz/)

VIIF 2027 will expand its exhibition space and add a programme of strategic conferences and technical seminars, networking opportunities for senior executives and business matching, with the aim of connecting the full manufacturing value chain.

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 September 2026 – At the opening ceremony of Vietnam Industry and Technology Week 2026 (VITW 2026), the Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC) and dmg events announced a partnership to organise the Vietnam International Industrial Fair 2027 (VIIF 2027).

The partnership opens a new chapter for one of Vietnam’s longest-established industrial exhibitions. It builds on VIIF’s 33-year legacy while extending the event’s international reach, broadening the range of participating industries and strengthening its role in supporting Vietnam’s manufacturing ambitions. The official theme of VIIF 2027 is “A 33-Year Legacy. A New Chapter for Industry”.

VIIF 2027 will take place from 8 to 10 September 2027 at the Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC) in Đông Anh, Hanoi, bringing together manufacturers, technology providers, investors, policymakers, buyers and industry leaders from Vietnam and around the world.

In recent years, Vietnam has established itself as one of Asia’s most dynamic manufacturing and export economies. In 2025, the Vietnamese economy is estimated to have grown by 8.02%, while value added in the manufacturing sector rose by 9.97% – the highest annual growth since 2019. Exports of manufactured products reached approximately US$421.47 billion, or 88.7% of the country’s total goods export value, underlining Vietnam’s growing importance in regional and global production networks.

As Vietnam moves towards high-value, technology-led manufacturing, VIIF 2027 will provide an international platform connecting investment and policy with technology, production, procurement and industrial supply chains. The event will support businesses seeking to enter the Vietnamese market or expand their operations in Vietnam, while helping domestic manufacturers access specialist expertise and technology, connect with buyers and develop international trade partnerships.

The partnership brings together VEC’s leading position in Vietnam’s exhibition and trade events sector, its extensive industry network and world-class exhibition infrastructure with dmg events’ international network, sector expertise and track record in organising large-scale exhibitions and conferences in high-growth markets.

The two partners have agreed on a shared approach to developing VIIF, expressed in the message: “Global expertise. Local leadership. One shared vision.”

Ms Phạm Thái Hà, Managing Director of VEC, said:

“VIIF has a strong legacy and a long-standing reputation within Vietnam’s manufacturing and industrial community. This partnership allows us to build on that foundation with the international expertise and global network of dmg events.

“Together we will create new opportunities for exhibitors, manufacturers, buyers and investors, while extending VIIF’s regional and international reach. Our shared ambition is to support Vietnam’s continuing industrial development and to build a platform that reflects the country’s growing role in global manufacturing.”

Mr Christopher Hudson, President of dmg events, said:

“Vietnam’s manufacturing growth and export performance demonstrate both the strength of its industrial base and the scale of the opportunity ahead. The country is moving into higher-value manufacturing, strengthening its industrial capabilities and playing an increasingly important role in regional and global value chains.

“Together, we have a rare opportunity to build on VIIF’s 33-year legacy and take the event into its next chapter. Our ambition is to broaden international participation, connect the full manufacturing value chain and create real opportunities for investment, innovation, technology exchange and long-term business growth.”

Alongside the partnership announcement, VEC and dmg events unveiled a new brand identity for VIIF 2027, marking a new stage in the fair’s development following 33 years of supporting Vietnam’s industrial sector. The new logo retains the three symbols – the globe, the gear and the star – familiar to thousands of manufacturers in Vietnam and abroad. Simplified lines give the mark a modern, confident look while preserving the hallmarks of the VIIF identity. Deep blue remains the primary colour, signalling trust and a commitment to sustainable development. The bold, clear VIIF wordmark gives the brand a consistent, instantly recognisable presence, in line with the event’s ambition to expand internationally and meet international standards.

For further details and stand bookings for VIIF 2027, visit: www.viifglobal.com

Hashtag: #Vingroup

About the Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC): https://vec.global/

The Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC) in Cổ Loa, Đông Anh, Hanoi, opened on 19 August 2025 and is a large-scale exhibition and convention complex in Vietnam. Guided by its mission, “Bringing Vietnam to the world and the world to Vietnam”, VEC partners with international organisers to develop a portfolio of annual trade exhibitions in industry, energy, healthcare and education.

About dmg events

The fintech is evolving from a consumer loans provider in the Philippines into an international multi-product financial ecosystem

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 September 2026 – Skyro, a fast-growing digital finance platform, today began rolling out its refreshed visual identity, launching first with a redesigned app in the Philippines ahead of a wider rollout across all markets, advertising and partner touchpoints in the coming weeks. The rebrand marks Skyro’s shift from a consumer loans provider into an international multi-product financial ecosystem.

Launched in the Philippines in 2022, Skyro has grown to more than 7 million users, built a current credit portfolio of more than $200 million, and reached operating break-even in the first half of 2026. The company now aims to scale this success by entering new markets and expanding into new financial products. In August, Skyro announced plans to expand into Saudi Arabia. The Philippines, Skyro’s most mature market, will be the first to introduce the new brand identity. The Skyro Philippines app will launch in its new design on September 15, followed by a wider rollout across markets and partners. The rebrand reflects the company’s aspiration to be a part of customers’ lives, following their natural rhythms and helping them grow consistently.

Arsen Liametov, Skyro Сo-founder and Co-CEO said:

“The rebrand reflects the strategy and ambition behind Skyro’s next chapter. We want to move beyond one-off lending and become an everyday financial partner, offering a broader set of products that support people and small businesses through different moments in their lives. Our ambition is for Skyro to fit more naturally into those moments, building lasting relationships with customers as their needs evolve. The new identity reflects that direction and gives us a platform to build on what we have proven in the Philippines as we enter new markets.”

As a financial ecosystem, Skyro aspires to be a part of customers’ lives, following their natural rhythms and helping them grow consistently. The new design system, along with new brand tagline, “Naturally, yours,” embody the idea that finance should be built around people’s lives: seasons, local holidays and other recurring cycles structure how people live and spend. The central mark of visual identity draws on the analemma, the figure-eight path traced by celestial bodies across the sky over the course of a year. Echoing the “Sky” in Skyro’s name, the shape represents continuity and flexibility, reflecting the company’s ambition to become part of customers’ everyday financial lives rather than serve individual transactions.

Nasim Aliev, Skyro Сo-founder and Co-CEO said:

“Skyro started with a simple idea: use AI and alternative data to make credit faster and more accessible for people who are often underserved by traditional lending. That model has proven itself, and the business has now grown beyond its original focus. With SkyroCredit already launched, and more B2C and B2B products in development, the business has started to outgrow the old branding.

This rebrand gives that evolution a clear identity and a platform for what we are building next. Whether that’s making a purchase, upgrading something at home, getting something you’ve been wanting, or simply making your next move possible, Skyro becomes the enabler that helps people take action”.

Skyro’s proprietary AI-driven credit decisioning model uses alternative data and advanced analytics to assess applications, helping the company make fast, responsible credit decisions and serve customers who may be underserved by conventional lenders. Skyro now works with more than 10,000 partner stores and over 3,000 merchants, with SMEs driving over 60% of volume. SkyroCredit, a reusable credit line that works via QR Ph, allows customers to use and repay their available credit repeatedly without reapplying each time. Its launch marked a shift from financing one-off purchases toward building an ongoing financial relationship with customers, giving them more ways to turn to Skyro as their financial needs and priorities evolve over time.

Skyro is seeking to apply the experience developed in the Philippines to new markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Hashtag: #Skyro

About Skyro

Game Developers Can Now Build A Fully Functional Shop On The First AI-Assisted Attempt, With Validation Built In

LOS ANGELES, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 September 2026 – On August 4, 2026, Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, launched Xsolla AI Toolkit, a collection of agent skills that encode correct Xsolla API integration paths directly into the AI coding tools developers already use, enabling accurate integrations on the first AI-assisted attempt. With Xsolla AI Toolkit, developers can now go from zero to a headless web shop in a single afternoon.

The AI Toolkit changes how developers integrate game commerce. Headless web shops let publishers build and host their shop’s frontend, giving them full control over the customization surface while relying on Xsolla’s payment, catalog, and login technology. As AI coding assistants become central to game development, a common failure point has emerged: these tools generate syntactically correct code without understanding platform-specific integration constraints, often lacking the context needed to produce reliable, production-ready implementations.

For commerce systems, the gap routinely results in broken implementations, production failures, and lengthy debugging cycles consuming sprint capacity. Xsolla AI Toolkit removes the translation layer between raw API documentation and correct AI-generated code, embedding validated, production-ready integration logic directly into the tools developers work in every day. Available now as SKILL.md files in a public GitHub repository (xsolla/xsolla-ai-kit) and as plugins in AI tool marketplaces, including Claude Code, Cursor (coming soon), GitHub Copilot, and Codex CLI, the Toolkit covers login, payments, catalog, and merchant setup.

The AI Toolkit launches with four skill areas that enable a fully featured web shop, each delivering a complete, validated integration path:

• Merchant setup: Creation of a new Xsolla Publisher Account, obtaining API credentials so that your LLM can interact with Xsolla tools
• Login: Full login flow setup via Xsolla’s Login API, covering the complete path, not just the happy path
• Catalog: Product catalog management and display, with correct API usage patterns enforced throughout
• Payments: Payment processing, full Merchant of Record capabilities, and web shop configuration, taking developers from setup to a working storefront

Each skill area ships with embedded validation logic verifying integration behavior end-to-end, not just with isolated API calls, confirming the systems work under real-world conditions before deployment. The result is a measurable shift in time-to-integration: work which previously took weeks of reading documentation and debugging AI-generated code becomes an hours-long, guided build, with fewer errors and less rework. And because the skills are maintained by the teams building the APIs, they can stay current as Xsolla evolves. Installation is lightweight and developer-driven: teams install the relevant plugin into a supported AI coding environment and begin using the skills alongside existing projects immediately, with no additional setup required.

“Developers using AI coding tools to integrate Xsolla have been hitting the same wall: the AI generates code that looks right but fails in production,” said Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla. “Xsolla AI Toolkit removes that wall. We’ve encoded Xsolla’s correct integration paths directly into the tools developers already use every day, so the first attempt is the right attempt, with validation built in.”

Xsolla AI Toolkit is built for studios of every size, from solo developers launching their first web shop to large teams managing multiple complex integrations. It serves developers who use AI coding tools as a core part of their workflow and have an Xsolla merchant setup, login, payments, catalog, and integration on their near-term roadmap.

The launch reflects Xsolla’s broader mission to reduce friction across the entire game commerce value chain. By meeting developers inside the AI tools they already use, Xsolla applies the same philosophy it brings to every partner: remove barriers, enable independence, and give every studio the tools to build and ship faster. Looking ahead, Xsolla AI Toolkit will pair with the Xsolla CLI to demonstrate a fully AI-assisted path from first prompt to live storefront in a single session, with the CLI handling merchant setup, including project configuration, API keys, and webhooks, while the AI Toolkit guides the integration itself.

For more information and to access Xsolla AI Toolkit, visit: xsolla.com/ai-toolkit
https://xsolla.com

Hashtag: #Xsolla

About Xsolla

The collaboration marks a significant milestone in ONYX Hospitality Group’s Sustainability Framework and will see both organisations explore the deployment of innovative energy solutions across suitable hotel developments in Thailand, helping reduce carbon emissions, improve operational efficiency and deliver long-term value for hotel owners.

Under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the partnership will focus on rolling out energy-efficient technologies, including Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) and renewable energy solutions. This marks SP’s inaugural partnership with a hospitality brand in Thailand. The initiative aims to optimise energy performance, lower operating costs and reduce environmental impact while maintaining the high standards of comfort and service guests expect.

The agreement builds on SP’s successful delivery of ONYX Hospitality Group’s first Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) project in Thailand at Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok, a 429-key hotel located just minutes from Don Mueang International Airport. Designed to serve both business and leisure travellers, the hotel offers extensive meetings and events facilities for up to 800 delegates.

The project involves replacing the existing chiller with high-efficiency equipment while integrating it with an advanced chiller plant management system. This system automates control and optimises energy usage, allowing for better resourcing and greater efficiency.

With a cooling capacity of 1,195 refrigeration tonnes (RT), the new system is expected to achieve more than 40 per cent reduction in energy when operational, as compared to previously. This is equivalent to a reduction of 900,000 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity annually, which translates to around THB 4 million in savings a year. Over the 15-year contract, the hotel will also enjoy savings of approximately THB 25.5 million in operating costs while reducing its carbon emissions by 449 tonnes annually – equivalent to removing over 400 cars from the road.

The CaaS project demonstrates how advanced sustainable technologies can significantly improve operational performance while maintaining guest comfort and reliability.

“At ONYX Hospitality Group, sustainability is an integral part of how we operate and grow our business. As cooling represents one of the largest sources of energy consumption in hotels, improving its efficiency is a meaningful step towards reducing our environmental footprint while maintaining the high standards of comfort our guests expect,” said Mr. Somchai Kittikraisak, Vice President, Technical Services, ONYX Hospitality Group.

“Our partnership with SP Group demonstrates how collaboration and innovation can accelerate the adoption of practical sustainability solutions across our portfolio. Beyond improving operational efficiency, this initiative supports our broader ambition to create more responsible hotel operations while delivering long-term value for our owners, guests and communities.”

Mr. Benjamin Tay, Chairman, Singapore Power Energy (Thailand) Limited, added: “We are pleased to partner with ONYX Hospitality Group to advance the adoption of energy-efficient, lower-carbon cooling solutions across its properties in Thailand. As businesses increasingly prioritise energy performance, operational efficiency and sustainability, we look forward to leveraging SP Group’s expertise and regional experience to support ONYX Hospitality Group in achieving its environmental and operational objectives.”

“SP Group’s expertise in green cooling solutions was an important consideration for us. As reliable cooling and heating are essential to hotel operations, improving energy efficiency is an important part of our sustainability efforts. This partnership allows us to enhance the efficiency of our operations while maintaining the comfort our guests expect.” said Mr. Marck Elmenzo, General Manager, Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok.

Following the successful implementation at Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok, both organisations will continue exploring opportunities to deploy sustainable energy solutions across suitable properties in Thailand.

The collaboration supports ONYX Hospitality Group’s Sustainability Framework by accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies that improve operational resilience, reduce environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future for Thailand’s hospitality sector.

https://www.onyx-hospitality.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/onyx-hospitality-group/
https://www.facebook.com/ONYXHospitalityGroup
https://www.instagram.com/onyxhospitalitygroup/

Hashtag: #ONYXHospitalityGroup #Sustainability #SPGroup

About ONYX Hospitality Group

About SP Group

The third site in Europe extends TDCX’s multilingual delivery footprint for EMEA, with a second Lisbon building planned for 2027 as client demand accelerates

Hashtag: #TDCX #CX #Outsourcing #EnableTheFuture

About TDCX

Source: Revolution InfoSec

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – 15th September, 2026 – Business leaders are increasingly accountable for cyber security, yet most of the software designed to manage it is built for technical specialists. New Zealand cyber security consultancy Revolution InfoSec believes this has created a “forgotten middle” of New Zealand businesses. These organisations have outgrown spreadsheets and ad hoc processes but don’t yet have the resources, expertise or need for enterprise-grade cyber governance platforms. This places them at risk of large incoming penalties.

To address this gap, Revolution InfoSec has launched SecurityCentral – a governance platform designed specifically for business leaders and owners who need confidence that their organisation’s cyber security risk is under control, without needing to become cyber security experts themselves.

While large organisations often employ dedicated cyber security teams and sophisticated governance tools, many medium sized organisations face the same cyber risks and increasing governance expectations, but without specialist internal resources. SecurityCentral offers an affordable platform that bridges this gap for businesses and organisations of all sizes.

Business leaders know cyber security is now a boardroom responsibility, but many simply don’t know where to start. Furthermore, this is about to get a lot more serious; the law is likely to change. Directors will face personal criminal liability of up to $500,000 for a critical breach.

“Businesses aren’t looking for another complex IT platform. They’re looking for confidence that the right things are being done. They need risks identified, and meaningful information that they can use to make decisions and provide assurance to their board, customers and stakeholders,” says Revolution InfoSec Founder Alistair Ross.

Unlike many governance, risk and compliance (GRC) platforms designed primarily for technical specialists, SecurityCentral has been developed alongside New Zealand businesses facing these real-world challenges. Drawing on Revolution InfoSec’s years of consulting experience, it has been built from the ground up to provide business leaders with a practical, easy-to-use way to understand and manage cyber risk.

SecurityCentral supports internationally recognised standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, alongside New Zealand-specific frameworks including the New Zealand Minimum Cyber Security Standards (NZMCSS) and Te Whatu Ora’s Health Information Security Framework (NZ HISF). For organisations operating in, or supplying to, the New Zealand public sector, these New Zealand frameworks provide a practical pathway to demonstrating that recognised cyber security controls are in place and meeting customer and procurement expectations.

SecurityCentral also combines its governance, risk and compliance tooling with integrated Vulnerability Management, giving organisations visibility of both governance activities and technical vulnerabilities through a single platform. While many GRC platforms rely on separate vulnerability management solutions, SecurityCentral brings both together, providing business leaders with a more complete picture of their organisation’s cyber security.

“We built SecurityCentral because we kept seeing the same problem. Growing New Zealand businesses were expected to manage cyber risk like large enterprises, but the tools available were either too basic or designed for organisations with dedicated cyber security teams. We wanted to build something that gave business leaders a complete picture of cyber risk in one place, while speaking the language of business rather than IT,” says Ross.

Revolution InfoSec believes the growing focus on governance, customer trust and assurance, cyber insurance and regulatory expectations means more New Zealand organisations are entering this “forgotten middle”, creating demand for practical cyber security solutions designed specifically for decision-makers rather than technical specialists.

Launch Offer: To celebrate the launch of SecurityCentral, Revolution InfoSec is inviting five eligible New Zealand organisations to become Founding Customers. Selected organisations will receive a complimentary 12-month SecurityCentral subscription and work alongside the Revolution InfoSec team during implementation.

Applications are open now and are limited to organisations that are a suitable fit for the programme. Full eligibility criteria and terms are available from Revolution InfoSec. For more information or to apply, visit https://securitycentral.online/12monthfreesub.php

About Revolution InfoSec

Revolution InfoSec was launched in 2023 in response to a cybersecurity industry that was either too focused on box-ticking exercises or too interested in selling products. We believe the most important value we can provide is helping humans first.

Demand for home renovations continues to rise in Malaysia. The home improvement and renovation market was valued at RM47.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to RM59.2 billion by 2029, as more homeowners invest in upgrading their living spaces to suit changing lifestyles and personal preferences. While home financing is widely available, renovation financing is often treated as a separate borrowing decision. This means many homeowners need to secure additional financing or rely on personal savings after purchasing a property before they can begin renovations.

The Makeover Flexi Loan, Powered by RHB Bank offers a different approach by enabling eligible customers to finance both their home purchase and renovation under a single facility. Instead of managing separate financing arrangements, homeowners can plan both from the outset, providing greater financial certainty and a more seamless homeownership journey.

The Makeover Flexi Loan, Powered by RHB Bank offers:

• Up to 120% financing under a single facility for home purchase and renovation
• Up to 90% financing for the property purchase, with an additional up to 30% for renovation works, Mortgage Reducing Term Assurance or Takaful (MRTA/MRTT), and legal and documentation fees
• Financing tenure of up to 35 years, or until the borrower reaches the age of 70, whichever comes first
• Full Flexi features, allowing customers to make additional repayments and redraw funds based on their financial needs
• Progressive disbursement of renovation financing according to contractor milestones throughout the renovation process and is suitable for both homeowners and property investors

“Every month, we meet homeowners who are excited to receive the keys to their new homes, only to realise that renovation requires another significant financial commitment. A typical renovation can cost anywhere between RM50,000 and RM150,000, depending on the property type, and many buyers simply are not prepared for that additional expense immediately after purchasing their home,” said Gavin Liew, Founder & CEO of The Makeover Guys

We have seen customers delay moving in, renovate room by room over several years or compromise on what they originally wanted because the renovation budget was not available upfront. The Makeover Flexi Loan changes that by allowing homeowners to plan both their property purchase and renovation together from day one. It gives them greater financial certainty and makes it easier to create a home that reflects the way they want to live,” Gavin added.

“As homeownership needs evolve, financing solutions must evolve as well. Traditionally, property financing and renovation financing have been treated as separate decisions, even though both are fundamental to creating a home. We saw an opportunity to bridge that gap by bringing these financing needs together under a single solution,” said Sien Vee Loc, Head of Consumer Finance, Group Community Banking, RHB Bank Berhad.

Partnering with The Makeover Guys allows us to combine RHB’s financing expertise with trusted renovation capabilities to address a growing market need. Together, we are making it easier for eligible customers to move from purchasing a property to creating a home that meets their lifestyle and investment goals,” Vee Loc added.

As Malaysia’s housing market continues to evolve and more buyers enter the market, expectations are shifting beyond financing the purchase of a property to supporting the homeownership journey as a whole. The residential segment remained the largest contributor to Malaysia’s property market in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 58.8% of all property transactions, with nearly 53,000 residential transactions worth more than RM22 billion.

The collaboration connects customers with The Makeover Guys’ end-to-end renovation expertise, providing a complete renovation experience spanning consultation, curated interior design, project management and construction, allowing customers to move from financing their property to completing their home through a single, connected journey.Rather than managing financing, renovation and project delivery separately, customers can now plan every stage together, providing greater certainty over costs, timelines and the overall renovation experience.

The partnership further strengthens its commitment to making quality renovations more accessible by combining trusted renovation expertise with financing solutions that support customers from the moment they purchase a property through to the completion of their home. Through this collaboration, The Makeover Guys and RHB Bank are bringing financing and renovation closer together, giving homeowners and property investors a more connected way to plan, finance and complete one of life’s most important investments.

For more information regarding the Makeover Flexi Loan, Powered by RHB Bank, kindly visit https://www.themakeover.my/contact to drop your enquiry.

Hashtag: #TheMakeoverGuys #renovationmalaysia #interiordesignmalaysia #homemakeover #Makeoverflexiloan

About The Makeover Guys

Established in 2015, The Makeover Guys is a modern home renovator that offers strategic makeover solutions for residential properties, catering to both investment and own-stay purposes. Well-loved for its track record of comprehensive and sophisticated approach to design, The Makeover Guys has helped over 7,000 homeowners transform their homes into designer, fully-furnished units through smart renovation — a formula that balances both the aesthetics and practicality of an interior space. The brand currently operates in four key areas in Malaysia: Klang Valley, Johor Bahru, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu.

The research found that 51% of APAC organisations prioritising digital sovereignty want to retain control over sensitive and strategic data, broadly in line with 53% globally. They are also placing greater emphasis on digital sovereignty than their global peers, with 38% viewing it as a top or high priority, compared with 33% globally. In addition, 43% of respondents from the region also rank it among the leading drivers of technology investment, compared with 30% globally. This highlights how governance, risk and compliance considerations are becoming increasingly important as organisations scale AI and cloud initiatives.

The findings suggest organisations are looking beyond traditional approaches to data governance as they seek to better manage risk, regulatory obligations and operational resilience. Among APAC organisations not using AI or only beginning implementation, 60% identify security, data privacy, compliance or digital sovereignty concerns as a significant barrier to AI adoption, while 54% of APAC technology leaders regard new security risks as a significant potential consequence of using AI.

Eric Wong, President, Asia Pacific at Expereo, says: “There is no single path to digital sovereignty across Asia Pacific. Businesses are navigating very different regulatory environments, cross-border data requirements and geopolitical risks, while accelerating their adoption of cloud and AI.

For multinational organisations, the challenge is maintaining visibility and control over how data and traffic move across markets without creating fragmented operations. As AI adoption accelerates, the network will become an increasingly important part of managing that complexity and enabling businesses to operate confidently across the region.

At Expereo, we help multinational businesses design and manage global connectivity around their regional, regulatory and operational needs, providing greater visibility into how traffic moves across complex digital environments. As AI adoption accelerates, this visibility will become an increasingly important part of helping organisations maintain control, manage risk and operate confidently across many jurisdictions.”

The report also highlights the growing commercial and regulatory pressures driving this shift and playing out differently across Asia Pacific. Among APAC organisations prioritising digital sovereignty, 16% say demands from customers or business partners to localise data are influencing their approach, compared with 22% globally.

For the full *IDC InfoBrief, commissioned by Expereo, “Enterprise Horizons 2026: Global Technology Leaders’ Priorities & Insights” (doc #XX, April 2026) please visit: [LINK]

Fact Sheet: APAC technology leaders prioritise sovereignty as AI, cyber risk and connectivity pressures converge

Hashtag: #Technology #AI #Network #Business #DigitalSovereignty