Banyan Tree Samui deepens food sustainability commitment
A series of food-related initiatives, from sourcing and upcycling processes, has been rolled out at Banyan Tree Samui, adding to its ongoing commitment to responsible operations.
Starting this year, the five-star hotel has stepped up its procurement of cage-free eggs. While 2.8 per cent of all eggs purchased by the hotel were classified as cage-free in January, that proportion has expanded to more than two-thirds by May.
At the same time, the hotel has just introduced a policy to purchase only sustainable seafood that is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and Aquaculture Sustainability Council. Both standards are monitored by Bureau Veritas, the recognised world leader in testing, inspection and certification services. While almost all seafood and fish are purchased locally on the tropical island, Banyan Tree Samui imports items such as salmon and snow fish. All 100kg of salmon purchased on a monthly basis meet the requirements of the international agencies overseeing sustainable seafood practices.
In managing waste generated from coffee granules and capsules across the property, the hotel maintains a recycling and upcycling project that turns disposed aluminium capsules into everyday products such as bicycles, chairs, pens and window frames, as well as recycled coffee capsules. Coffee grains are recycled as compost fertiliser and renewable energy such as biofuel.
The hotel was awarded several years ago the highest level of certification by global watchdog EarthCheck – the first hotel in the country to achieve this award. Its award-winning restaurant, Saffron, is also a reputable sustainable dining establishment, which holds operations to the most rigorous sustainability guidelines.
TTG Conversations: Five Questions with Wong Ming Fai, Singapore Tourism Board
Customer support and marketing are the two most common business functions generative artificial intelligence (AI) is being used for in the travel and tourism landscape today, observes Wong Ming Fai, chief technology officer at the Singapore Tourism Board.
In this episode of TTG Conversations: Five Questions video news series, Wong discusses other functions of generative AI, motivations for travel and tourism business owners to hop on the the bandwagon, how they can get started with available information resources and assistance through the tourism bureau, and more digital transformation ideas.
Six Senses Samui welcomes new GM
Six Senses Samui has appointed Johannes Steyn as its new general manager.
With over 25 years of experience in the international hotel industry, he first joined the Six Senses family in June 2022 as general manager at Six Senses Con Dao in Vietnam.
During his career, he has worked for IHG, Anantara, Le Meridien, and Story Hospitality.
Ron Cusiter helms as Centara’s new EVP – commerical
Centara Hotels & Resorts has named Ron Cusiter as Centara’s new executive vice president – commercial.
He joins Centara following his most recent role as vice president – global sales & The Americas with Kempinski Hotels. His wealth of industry experience brings fresh impetus and innovation to Centara’s global commercial efforts.
He has also held senior roles with COMO, Hyatt and Rosewood hotel groups over the course of his career.
Taste of Thailand Tour elevates Thai F&B industry for tourism
The Thailand Department of Tourism (DoT), in collaboration with the Thailand Tourism Standard agency, recently concluded this year’s Taste of Thailand tour.
This series of one-day seminars, conducted across six provinces, aims to elevate Thai restaurants and hotels to international F&B standards.
The tour visited the provinces of Chonburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Songkhla, and Nakhon Ratchasima, educating over 300 select local high-potential F&B entrepreneurs on essential topics such as current restaurant trends, food service in hospitality, and F&B standards for tourism.
It also included discussions on integrating traditional Thai cooking wisdom, sustainable practices, and local sourcing.
Additionally, the tour featured a chef’s table showcasing alternative proteins, authentic Thai flavours, and locally sourced products. The seminars invited well-known speakers including prominent designers, F&B owners and consultants, celebrity chefs, and other famous personalities, with the sessions being moderated by a well-known DJ.
Worateera Suwannasorn, director of sector for the development of tourism services at the DoT, expressed her enthusiasm for the programme: “The Taste of Thailand tour generated much interest from local operators and was a resounding success. By equipping restaurants with the knowledge and tools to excel, we’re not only enhancing the dining experience for tourists but also empowering Thai businesses to compete on a global stage.”
The Taste of Thailand tour is an annual series of seminars hosted for select Thai F&B entrepreneurs with high potential to become Thailand Tourism Standard certified.
At the end of each seminar, participants are invited to go through the certification process. The DoT allocates funding each year to subsidise the audit fee (approximately US$1,000 per venue) for a set number of venues.
While the Thailand Tourism Standard includes a set of 56 ISO-like standards encompassing different areas of business, one theme that encompasses a few standards is selected to be highlighted in the seminars each year.
“The Department of Tourism, which serves on the supply side and focuses on enhancing capacity, is the government counterpart to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) working on the demand side,” stated Suwannasorn.
“We encourage venues to go through the audit and certify them; the TAT then helps to market them to tourists and consumers,” she concluded.
Malaysia pushes forward for sustainability with ESG certification for hotels, resorts
The Malaysian hospitality industry took a significant step towards sustainable tourism on June 14 with the launch of the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) certification for hotels and resorts.
This pioneering initiative was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), SGS Malaysia, and Saimatrix Intergrated.
Approved and endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture (MOTAC), this ESG certification for hotels and resorts aims to provide clear guidelines and a comprehensive, holistic, and measurable checklist for hotels and resorts in Malaysia – it will serve as the industry’s benchmark, following the nation’s 2030 vision for sustainable tourism.
By adopting these standards, hotels and resorts can ensure they are operating in an environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and well-governed manner.
MAH president Christina Toh said: “ESG practices are no longer a nice-to-have option or a passing trend but a pre-requisite for businesses and everyone who wishes for a better world and future for ourselves and our children.
“Recognising the importance of ESG practices, MAH took the initiative to collaborate with Saimatrix Intergrated and SGS Malaysia. We worked tirelessly together over a period of seven months to develop the ESG certification for hotels and resorts. This certification is designed to set a new standard in sustainable practices and become a benchmark within our industry, aligning perfectly with Malaysia’s National Tourism Policy of 2020-2030.”
She added: “Saimatrix Intergrated provided us with practical solutions and crucial consultations that align perfectly with our sustainability goals, while SGS Malaysia brought their extensive experience in certification and standards, ensuring our certification process is robust and in line with the industry’s best practices. Together, they have helped us lay a strong foundation for this initiative.”
Surya Kumar, undersecretary, tourism licensing and enforcement division, MOTAC, who was the guest of honour at the event, commented: “Tourism is a key economic sector for Malaysia, both financially and in terms of employment. It is imperative that we meet the needs of travellers while minimising our impact on natural resources and ensuring that tourism generates long-term employment for locals.
“The hospitality industry, which plays a significant role in the tourism ecosystem, must adopt ESG practices. The ESG certification for hotels and resorts is not just a mark of compliance for individual hotels, but a testament to our collective commitment to sustainable development for the entire industry.”
Agoda, Singapore Tourism Board to showcase destination offerings
Agoda and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have renewed their partnership and will jointly promote Singapore as a top destination in South-east Asia via the Reason to Travel campaign.
This latest agreement builds on the partnership between Agoda and STB that was first established in 2022, and entails a year-long commitment that aims to amplify the travel experience in Singapore by introducing travellers to the city’s diverse and vibrant experiences.
Agoda customers can choose from an array of activities on the platform when booking their next trip. In the first phase, some of Singapore’s most-loved local brands and attractions, such as Bee Cheng Hiang, Gardens by the Bay, Jewel Changi Airport, PAZZION, and Sentosa Development Corporation will offer exclusive perks and discounts on the Agoda platform.
STB and Agoda will also roll out co-branded marketing campaigns and targeted digital campaigns to pique visitors’ curiosity to discover more, thereby encouraging tourist spending and return visits.
“This renewed partnership with STB is a testament to our shared vision of showcasing Singapore to the world through innovative means,” shared Omri Morgenshtern, CEO at Agoda.
Melissa Ow, chief executive of STB, said: “STB is pleased to collaborate with Agoda again to profile Singapore’s unique attractions and experiences across key markets in South-east Asia. This partnership presents a valuable opportunity for us to share insights and deepen our understanding of travellers, with our common goal to enrich the travel experience in Singapore. We are excited to embark on this next phase of partnership to encourage travellers to stay longer, come more often and do more in Singapore.”
New firm LAMH to boost luxury hospitality revenue
Deepak Ohri, founder and former CEO of Lebua Hotels & Resorts, has launched Luxury Atelier Maison Happiness (LAMH), a consulting and management company focused on enhancing the financial performance of luxury hotels and other hospitality properties by optimising revenue per available room (RevPAR).
Ohri, known for transforming Lebua Hotels into iconic destinations – such as bringing the Hangover team to shoot at its Bangkok sky bar – emphasises creating unique, memorable experiences over fleeting opulence.
“I believe in creating timeless experiences,” he said, adding that “while wealth can be surpassed, cherished experiences are lasting”.
This philosophy led to his success with events like the Million Baht Dinner hosted at Bangkok’s Lebua hotel in 2007, a US$30,000 – equivalent to US$44,000 today – per person 10-course feast that quickly went viral for its exclusivity and luxury.
Based in the US and Thailand, LAMH aims to bring Ohri’s expertise to a broader market.
“During Covid, luxury brands raised prices by 91 per cent, which indicated to me a gap in the market for sustainable, well-priced luxury,” he explained.
LAMH’s approach involves leveraging untapped revenue potential to enhance profitability through strategic pricing, compelling guest experiences and enhancing food and beverage offerings.
One of the strategies includes leveraging every hotel space to generate revenue without compromising guest comfort, integrating the hotel’s narrative into every element.
He noted: “A restaurant should blend seamlessly with the hotel’s architecture and story. It should create a cohesive, comfortable environment for guests.”
The firm also assists luxury hotels to launch new culinary concepts and experiences with custom designs using a strategy built around customer feedback, data analysis, and strategic actions to address issues that inhibit business growth for hotels.
Other innovative ideas include using under-utilised spaces, such as displaying and selling art or watches in corridors. This creative thinking extends to collaborations with high-profile partners and strategic marketing alliances.
To evaluate areas of potential, LAMH has partnered with Shiji’s integrated hospitality solutions, including property management software, point of sale, and guest intelligence platforms, for data analysis.
RateHawk targets travel agents in Asia
RateHawk, an online system for booking hotels, air tickets, and transfers for travel professionals, has established its first Asian headquarters in Singapore, with the goal of targeting travel agents in the region.
RateHawk will provide local travel professionals with an advanced booking tool tailored to the local markets. It will offer a localised platform and business operations where local travel agents, operators, travel management companies, and other industry professionals will have access to a full range of travel services on RateHawk’s platform.
The platform will enable local travel agents to book more than 2.5 million accommodation worldwide, flights from over 400 airlines, and transfers in 150 countries. Languages featured include Thai, Chinese, and Korean, with dedicated language support lines in Thai and Korean available within business hours, as well as a 24/7 multi-language support line.
The launch of this hub and legal entity in Singapore follows the success RateHawk has experienced in Europe and the Middle East. It will also facilitate payment transactions, avoiding additional costs due to exchange rates – accepted currencies include Singapore dollar, Thai baht, and Malaysian ringgit.
Launched in 2016, RateHawk employs over 500 professionals in commercial roles globally and has offices in London, Berlin, Milan, Lisbon, Warsaw, Dubai, Limassol, and Wilmington. The number of RateHawk partners exceeds 70,000 travel professionals worldwide.
RateHawk is part of the UAE-based Emerging Travel Group, and offers a web platform and a mobile app for partners to handle business remotely.
Felix Shpilman, CEO of Emerging Travel Group, commented: “Our early operations in the region have demonstrated the product-market fit of RateHawk in Asia. Therefore, we are now ready to elevate our operations and establish a robust presence in the region. We will continue to further localise the product and ensure full coverage of the entire region.”
RateHawk plans to further strengthen the team and scale the business in Asia by increasing the reach locally, and will be present at several major regional travel fairs, including ITB Asia later this year.
MGM China Holdings has launched its first large-scale overseas promotional campaign in Bangkok, Thailand in a bid to attract more Thai visitors to Macau through showcases of its creative entertainment offerings in its properties and the destination’s unique culinary culture.
Activities from June 13 to 29 include the Magnificent Gala Master dinner event, the MGM Travel Trade Luncheon, and the Macanese Food Promotion. In addition, a series of themed travel vlogs will provide Thai travellers with a glimpse into Macau’s cultural appeal.
As part of its campaign, MGM joined the Macao Government Tourism Office’s Experience Macao roadshow in Bangkok event at Central World last week.
Commenting on MGM Macau’s initiatives in Thailand, Pansy Ho, chairperson and executive director of MGM China Holdings, said: “MGM has always upheld the onus to support the Macau government’s efforts in elevating the city’s cultural tourism economy on the global stage. Building on the foundations of deep mutual understanding and the upcoming 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, the future between Thailand and Macau will be bright.
“On MGM’s calendar, this translates into a series of immersive, multi-dimensional events that celebrate our passions, underpinned by our deep-rooted belief that arts and culture are the global languages of the world. MGM will continue to champion the unique charms of Macau, transforming it into a world-class international leisure tourism destination that captivates the hearts and minds of travelers near and far.”
Hubert Wang, president & chief operating officer of MGM China Holdings, underscored the importance of the Thai traveller market for the company.
“Thailand represents the largest South-east Asian market as well as the fastest growing overseas market for MGM,” Wang remarked, adding that good airlift and performances by popular Thai artists at MGM venues have boosted the number of Thai guests by nearly 30 per cent over last year.
Speaking at MGM’s trade engagement, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of Macao Government Tourism Office, said Thailand ranks fifth among Macau’s top international visitor markets, and arrivals from the kingdom are up 203 per cent over 2023.