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Welcome to the weekly AST Briefing.

Amidst rising concerns over climate change and the surging influx of tourists, Thailand's idyllic islands, particularly Phuket, stood at the crossroads during the PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism) 2024 event.

As Southeast Asia's largest sustainability gathering for the travel and hospitality industry, PHIST made its return on September 2, 2024, igniting crucial discussions around sustainable development, a need made more urgent by recent environmental disasters across the region.

PHIST 2024: Bold Ideas for Sustainable Tourism in a Changing Southeast Asia

Phuket, once a serene beach haven, now grapples with overdevelopment and over-tourism.

With Thailand set to welcome 80 million visitors by 2027, the lack of a sustainable development strategy could severely jeopardize the country’s appeal.

PHIST spotlighted Phuket's transformation into an "emerging metropolitan area," as noted by the hospitality consulting firm C9 Hotelworks. The firm revealed a burgeoning pipeline of over 10,000 residential units in Bangtao, a number that starkly contrasts with its once quaint landscape.

Environmental expert Greenview warned of rising sea levels and worsening floods already impacting key Phuket’s tourist areas like Kata and Karon.

Amid these daunting challenges, PHIST 2024 served as a pivotal platform for over 1,300 delegates and 66 speakers to explore innovative solutions and sustainable practices.

Held at Angsana Laguna Phuket, the event featured over 20 workshops and inspiring talks designed to ignite action.

Sustainability Leadership from the Top

Peng Sum Choe, CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, highlighted the success of achieving Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification across his properties in Singapore, emphasizing the practical benefits of sustainability.

Energy-efficient construction, like using double-glazed glass, has cut energy costs, while partnerships with Schneider ensure transparent energy monitoring.

By replacing plastic bottles with water filters, one hotel alone has eliminated 360,000 bottles annually, generating significant savings.

Additionally, Pan Pacific remains committed to social responsibility by employing individuals with disabilities and honoring their contributions.

»»» Go deeper into how Pan Pacific’s PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay empowers its team members to be green champions.

Green Champion: Leading Your Organization to Sustainability

Anucharaporn Tongluan from Thavorn Hotels & Resorts highlighted the need for top-down support to integrate sustainability, focusing on employee training and aligning green goals with company objectives to overcome challenges.

Bjorn Courage of InterContinental Phuket Resort showcased projects like “Proud Kamala,” boosting brand reputation through beach clean-ups and community engagement. He emphasized open communication, celebrating wins, and fostering innovation.

Michelle Gao from Booking.com advocated using technology and partnerships to promote eco-friendly travel, supporting third-party certifications and collaboration for decarbonization.

Joining as a panelist, Asia Sustainable Travel’s Co-founder Rhea Vitto Tabora suggested small businesses start sustainability with internal audits, employee engagement, local partnerships, and transparent, incremental improvements to avoid greenwashing and 'greenhushing'.

Implementing Green Cleaning Practices

»»» Go deeper into the conversation between Maggie Lee, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Regional Head of Impact, and Jasline Ng, Manager of Greenview.

The Food Waste Opportunity: How to Drive Efficiency and Margins with AI

Ken Kuguru, Managing Director APAC at Winnow, spotlighted food waste as a major global issue, with one-third of all food produced going uneaten and accounting for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

This waste, especially in kitchens where 5-15% of food is discarded, presents both an environmental and economic crisis, underscoring the need for better waste management solutions.

»»» Read key highlights of Kuguru’s presentation.

»»» Read more about how the hospitality industry’s fight against food waste.

Youth Leadership in Environmental Change

»»» Go deeper into key takeaways of the workshop led by Dr. Chantinee Boonchai, an Assistant Professor and Lecturer at Prince of Songkhla University.

Thailand's "Kitchen of the World" Initiative and the Green Planet School Farm Project

Food security and quality, essential components of sustainability, were also spotlighted. The Thai government's initiative to establish the nation as the "Kitchen of the World" aligns with the Green Planet School Farm Project. Jayne MacDougall, Executive Director of the Phuket Hotels Association, introduced this initiative, which aims to nurture future organic producers in local schools.

Asia Sustainable Travel (AST) Forum

We are proud and honored to have our AST Forum featured at the PHIST 2024 event. During the AST Forum Phuket, we held two insightful panel discussions addressing solutions to the plastic and water crises in the hospitality and tourism industry.

• Collective Action: Key to Combating the Plastic Crisis

• How Circularity Strategies Can Help Hospitality Brands Save Water and Increase Bottom Line

»»»  Read the key takeaways.

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