Belarus Joins Russia As ONYX Hospitality Group Unlocks New CIS Travel Growth Opportunities For Thailand Tourism

Belarus alongside Russia, is the latest market of focus for the ONYX Hospitality Group as it beefs up its presence across the former Soviet markets. The Group completed a successful sales mission across Russia and Belarus in September 2026. As the potential in the Thai leisure market grows, and Thai travellers seek new pastures, ONYX Hospitality Group is well placed with its array of hospitality, leisure, entertainment and lifestyle offerings across the Asia Pacific region.

The multi-city initiative covered Moscow, St. Petersburg and, for the first time, Minsk, as ONYX Hospitality Group looked to deepen relationships with travel partners and explore new growth opportunities driven by rising demand for Thailand holidays and improved air connectivity from the region.

Thailand continues to remain a strong destination choice among Russian travellers, while new scheduled flights from Belarus are expected to create additional opportunities for leisure tourism to Bangkok and Phuket.

ONYX Hospitality Group Builds Stronger Travel Partnerships Across Russia And Belarus

During the September 2026 sales mission, ONYX Hospitality Group engaged with leading travel trade partners through networking events, business meetings and targeted sales visits across Moscow, St. Petersburg and Minsk.

The discussions focused on the growing demand for Thailand travel, the group’s expanding portfolio of hotels and resorts, and opportunities to strengthen cooperation with tour operators, travel agencies and regional partners.

The inclusion of Minsk represented an important milestone for ONYX Hospitality Group, marking the company’s first dedicated sales mission to Belarus. The move reflects the group’s wider strategy of identifying emerging tourism markets while continuing to expand its established presence in Russia.

By creating stronger connections with travel professionals in both countries, ONYX Hospitality Group aims to improve awareness of its Thailand properties and support future growth from the Russia and CIS region.

Belarus Emerges As New Tourism Market With Direct Thailand Air Links

The timing of ONYX Hospitality Group’s Belarus expansion comes as air connectivity between Belarus and Thailand enters a new phase.

Belavia – Belarusian Airlines is preparing to introduce regular non-stop services connecting Minsk with Bangkok and Phuket, replacing its successful charter operations with scheduled flights from late October 2026.

The new routes are expected to make Thailand more accessible for Belarusian travellers by providing direct links to two of the country’s most popular tourism destinations.

Tourism Authority of Thailand data shows that the Belarusian market has been gaining momentum, with annual arrivals to Thailand already exceeding 20,000 visitors. The market is expected to continue expanding, with forecasts suggesting arrivals could rise beyond 36,000 visitors as connectivity improves.

The growth potential has encouraged ONYX Hospitality Group to increase engagement with Belarusian travel partners and introduce its Thailand portfolio to a wider audience.

Russia Remains A Key Source Market For ONYX Hospitality Group

Russia continues to play a significant role in ONYX Hospitality Group’s international business strategy, ranking among the company’s top five overseas markets.

Demand from Russian travellers has shown continued growth, with business from the market increasing by around 13% year-on-year. The performance highlights sustained interest in Thailand as a preferred leisure destination and creates new opportunities for hotels and resorts within ONYX’s portfolio.

The sales mission provided an opportunity for ONYX Hospitality Group to share its latest offerings with Russian travel professionals and discuss ways to further increase bookings through stronger trade partnerships.

With Thailand remaining a popular choice for Russian holidaymakers seeking tropical escapes, cultural experiences and long-stay travel options, ONYX Hospitality Group is positioning its properties to meet the evolving needs of this important market.

Thailand Hospitality Portfolio Showcased To Regional Travel Partners

Five ONYX Hospitality Group properties participated in the September sales mission, presenting a diverse selection of Thailand experiences designed for different traveller segments.

The participating properties included Amari Phuket, OZO Chaweng Samui, Oriental Residence Bangkok, Amari Pattaya and OZO North Pattaya.

Together, the hotels highlighted accommodation options across Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui and Pattaya, showcasing the variety of experiences available to international visitors.

From luxury city stays and beachfront holidays to family-friendly resorts and lifestyle-focused accommodations, the portfolio demonstrated ONYX Hospitality Group’s ability to cater to different travel preferences.

The presentations also helped travel partners better understand each property’s unique features, allowing them to create more targeted holiday packages for customers from Russia, Belarus and neighbouring markets.

Familiarisation Trips Planned To Strengthen Thailand Product Knowledge

The sales mission also created interest among Belarusian travel partners in future familiarisation trips to Thailand.

These programmes would allow travel professionals to experience ONYX Hospitality Group properties first-hand, explore destinations and develop deeper knowledge of accommodation options available for their customers.

As direct air links improve between Belarus and Thailand, stronger product familiarity among travel agents will play an important role in encouraging more bookings and expanding Thailand’s appeal among Belarusian travellers.

ONYX Hospitality Group plans to continue working closely with regional travel partners to support destination awareness and create new opportunities for collaboration.

ONYX Targets Long-Term Growth Through Global Source Market Expansion

The Russia and CIS sales mission forms part of ONYX Hospitality Group’s broader international growth strategy, which focuses on strengthening established markets while identifying new opportunities in emerging destinations.

The group is continuing to invest in partnerships that support long-term tourism growth and increase the international reach of its Thailand hospitality portfolio.

With Russia maintaining strong travel demand and Belarus gaining momentum as an emerging source market, ONYX Hospitality Group sees significant potential in expanding its engagement across the region.

The company will continue building relationships with travel trade partners, improving product visibility and exploring new commercial opportunities as connectivity between the CIS region and Thailand develops.

Through targeted market development and stronger regional partnerships, ONYX Hospitality Group aims to support sustainable growth while bringing more travellers from Russia, Belarus and surrounding markets to its hotels, resorts and hospitality experiences across Thailand.