Koh Samui, Thailand — Banyan Tree Samui has become the first and only hotel in Thailand to be awarded “Gold Certification” at a single-property level by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism. The resort is first in country to receive EarthCheck ‘Gold’ accolade
Although other hotel chains have received similar accolades from EarthCheck at a group level, Banyan Tree Samui stands alone as the sole property in Thailand to be recognized at a resort level. The award was announced July 1.
According to Zoe Ma, EarthCheck’s corporate relations manager, the award “recognizes five years of continuous commitment and effort to achieve sustainability by the resort.”
“CSR (corporate social responsibility) has long been one of Banyan Tree’s core values,” said Remko Kroesen, general manager of the 88-villa resort. “Milestones such as this EarthCheck Gold status are achieved through a passion for the environment by all our associates [staff]. To care is in the DNA of our team, and receiving this recognition only fuels the desire to continue our great range of CSR initiatives for years to come when our planet needs it most.”
Banyan Tree Samui’s CSR team re-attach corals to blocks which are then replaced in the resort’s private coral reef
Banyan Tree Samui is nestled against a lush 38-acre hillside, overlooking a secluded cove of beach, coral reefs and sapphire Koh Samui waters. The resort’s CSR manager is Thepsuda Loyjiw, a certified marine biologist. Thepsuda and her team offer guests “green” activities such as a nature trail with bird-spotting, guided snorkeling tours, and a coral regeneration project, whereby broken corals are revived and re-attached to the coral reef that curls around the half-moon cove in front of the resort.
“We are very proud to receive this EarthCheck award,” said Thepsuda. “Every day, our staff set out to protect the natural terrain and to show respect to the area in which we operate.”
To achieve EarthCheck certification, a hotel or resort must excel in 10 key performance areas:
1. Greenhouse gas emissions
2. Energy efficiency, conservation and management
3. Management of freshwater resources
4. Ecosystem conservation and management
5. Management of social and cultural issues
6. Land use planning and management
7. Air quality protection and noise control
8. Wastewater management
9. Solid waste management
10. Storage of environmentally harmful substances
Villas at Banyan Tree Samui – https://www.banyantree.com/en/thailand/samui – each with private infinity pool, start from US$500 per night.
About Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts
Banyan Tree Samui is nestled among rich flora and foliage on a sprawling 38-acre property overlooking the Gulf of Thailand
The Banyan Tree Group is a leading international operator and developer of premium resorts, hotels, residences and spas, with a collection of award-winning brands. Banyan Tree offers a sanctuary to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul in awe-inspiring locations around the globe. Rediscover the romance of travel as you journey to iconic destinations where authentic, memorable experiences await. Angsana brings the adventure back into travel whatever your age or reason to visit. Intertwining local chic and a vibrant fun-filled atmosphere, Angsana offers amazing destination playgrounds across the world. Cassia is a bold new proposition in the extended stay sector, offering stylish, cutting-edge hotel residences for holidays and business travel. It offers an incredible choice for families, friends and couples. Dhawa is a casual and contemporary full-service hotel that fuses imaginative design, absolute comfort and seamless technology into a single-stay experience. It curates a plethora of choices to achieve a truly customized stay.
To date, the Banyan Tree Group manages and/or has ownership interests in over 43 hotels and resorts, 62 spas, 75 retail galleries; as well as three golf courses in 25 countries.
www.banyantree.com www.angsana.com www.cassia.com www.dhawa.com
