Recently awarded Two Keys in the MICHELIN Guide’s 2025 appraisal of hotels in Thailand, the luxurious beachfront resort of Banyan Tree Samui has announced upgraded services to amplify its spa and wellbeing experience. Guests and visitors to award-winning Banyan Tree Spa Samui will henceforth be afforded an enhanced guest journey from the moment they walk through the door until they leave the spa fully refreshed and rejuvenated. Following consultation for treatment, the spa will blend a bespoke massage oil with ingredients that relate directly to the guest’s requests and condition, a protocol that’s rarely observed elsewhere. The guest’s personalized massage oil includes the likes of lavender, geranium, thyme, sandalwood, rose, cedar and bergamot. The healing properties within these delicate concoctions are based on the principles of Banyan Tree’s own holistic “Eight Pillars” wellbeing philosophy – focusing on Rest; Nourishment, Connection; Movement; Mindfulness; Growth; Groundedness; and Practice. A newly elevated “purifying ritual” greets all spa guests on arrival with local healthy drinks, snacks, essential oils and cedarwood-scented towels, creating an ambience of serenity. Feet are soaked in warm water including revitalising herbal ingredients and Himalayan salts. Guests are then gently ushered into a private massage room, where they are met by soothing music and personally selected incense. Warm thermal pads placed under the head and warm eye pillows accentuate the feeling of blissful repose. Banyan Tree Spa Samui offers a range of massage treatments, including the 150-minute Royal Banyan, a signature Banyan Tree offering, delivering a combination of Eastern and Western techniques to improve blood circulation and ease muscle pains. Another signature massage that emphasizes the richness of Thai traditional techniques is the Sukhothai Heritage, a 150-minute experience infused with fresh coconut, jasmine rice, turmeric and tamarind; while the Tropical Rainmist treatment is a unique Banyan Tree innovation, with guests dowsed in a trickling rainshower before encountering a vigorous body scrub to purify the skin. Massages are concluded gracefully with Koshi chimes and Tibetan bells, allowing the guest to gently re-emerge from their reverie. The spa’s masseuses, most of whom have received intensive training at the Banyan Spa Wellbeing Academy in Phuket, are on hand to offer post-treatment health advice and recommendations. Banyan Tree Spa Samui is also host to one of Thailand’s most unique facilities, The Rainforest, a hydrotherapeutic journey through a delightful bamboo-themed course of spas, saunas, ice baths, and jet pools. The Rainforest was described by the MICHELIN Guide 2024 as a place “where tropical serenity meets holistic wellness”. This year’s MICHELIN Guide listed Banyan Tree Samui resort as one of only 27 hotels in the country that had attained either a 2-Key or 3-Key rating, with distinction based on five criteria: excellence in architecture and design; quality of service; overall personality and character; value for money; and meaningful contributions to the local community. This is the second year in a row that Banyan Tree Samui has been granted Two Keys, following a similar award in the MICHELIN Guide’s inaugural edition in 2024. Opened in 2010, the 88-key Banyan Tree Samui is a luxury all-pool villa resort. The 38-acre property is rich in flora and plant life, and its private beach is flanked by coral reefs. The resort hosts three restaurants, a spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library. Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night. ABOUT BANYAN TREE Banyan Tree (www.banyantree.com) 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. An all-villa concept often with private pools, Banyan Tree provides genuine, authentic service and a distinctive, premium retreat experience.

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Banyan Tree Samui, an exotic 88-pool villa resort overlooking an enclosed bay and sapphire seas, has been recognised as among the best resorts in the world, according to the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. New York-based Condé Nast Traveler is arguably the leading luxury travel magazine in the world and the announcement of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards is an eagerly anticipated event in the calendar of the global hospitality community. Online voting for the world’s favourite hotels, resorts and spas ran from April through June this year, with more than 750,000 votes cast. In the World’s Resorts category, Banyan Tree Samui polled as the eighth highest ranked resort in Thailand, the third year in a row it has made the Top 10. The achievement marks an outstanding year in media recognition for this idyllic beachfront resort, having earlier won a Top 10 listing in Travel + Leisure’s “Thailand’s Best Beach + Island Resorts” awards. The hotel’s on-site Banyan Tree Spa Samui was also lauded recently, listed in the top five spas in the country in the Thailand Tourism Outstanding Awards, and recognized as one of 10 leading spas in the field of health and wellness in the Sustainability awards. The Thailand Tourism Awards, often referred to as the “Kinnaree Awards,” are organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and recognized as Thailand’s ‘Hallmark of Excellence’ in the spa industry. Acknowledging the Kinnaree award, Banyan Tree Samui’s Spa & Gallery Manager Naphasawan Badklang said, “Banyan Tree Spa Samui represents a benchmark of excellence in wellness tourism set amidst the serene, natural beauty of Koh Samui. Our core strengths include our holistic wellness philosophy, exceptional guest service, and a strong, long-standing commitment to sustainability.” Naphasawan also pointed to the Banyan Spa & Wellbeing Academy in Phuket, where many of the spa therapists undergo intensive training. Since its inception in 2001, the Academy has trained more than 2,000 spa therapists. Among the unique facilities at Banyan Tree Spa Samui is The Rainforest, an elite hydrotherapy experience, presented as a holistic journey through a sophisticated hydrothermal circuit comprising a Rain Walk, Steam, Sauna, Ice Fountain, Vitality Pool, Outdoor Cold Plunge Pool, Outdoor Hot Plunge Pool, Jet Pool, and Heated Bed. The spa also plays a significant role in the resort’s “Wellbeing Sanctuary” programme, which was initiated in 2021 and allows hotel guests an option to combine healthy living concepts with a leisure vacation — from meditation and yoga to spa treatments and Thai boxing classes — complemented with a nutritious diet and sleep therapy. The Wellbeing Sanctuary programme at Banyan Tree Samui is overseen by Ayurvedic specialist and wellbeing practitioner Bikram Keshari Patra who has been with the resort since it opened 15 years ago. 2025 has been a significant year for Koh Samui. Thailand’s tourism authorities attribute a surge in demand to the hit US TV series The White Lotus, which was filmed on the tropical island and helped reveal its breathtaking beauty to a wider international audience. For its part, Banyan Tree Samui revealed a series of White Lotus-inspired initiatives, including a spa package, a specially crafted cocktail, and the opportunity for guests to visit many of the sites where The White Lotus was filmed via tours on the resort’s own speedboat, Sense of the Sea. The new 12-metre speedboat seats up to 15 comfortably, and has been adapted for luxury tours, picnics, snorkelling and celebrations, and is available for private day trips to the limestone islets of Mu Koh Ang Thong Marine Park, which is featured prominently in the White Lotus series, as well as several islands and other attractions among the diverse marine ecosystem and crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand. A Sanctuary for the Senses The resort’s 88 spacious pool villas, each with its own private infinity pool, provide a serene and secluded oasis where guests can unwind and reconnect with nature. Designed to seamlessly blend with the surrounding landscape, the villas feature contemporary Thai architecture and are adorned with locally sourced materials and artwork, creating a truly authentic and immersive experience. The resort hosts three restaurants including Saffron which was recently listed in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide. Other onsite facilities include a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library. For reservations and more information, contact samui@banyantree.com or tel: +66 077 915 333. Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night.

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Banyan Tree Samui, one of Thailand’s leading luxury resorts and a trailblazer in sustainability and eco-friendliness, marks its 15th anniversary in July. Located at the southeasternmost point of the island of Koh Samui and tiered into a verdant hillside, the 38-acre property is rich in flora and plant life, commands its own private palm-fringed beach, and is flanked by coral reefs. The site for this 5-star hotel was discovered and then developed by Asset World Corporation (AWC), which currently maintains the largest hospitality portfolio in Thailand. The group owns a diverse portfolio of best-in-class and award-winning hotel properties across the country, each reflecting authentic culture blended with luxury and refinement. All hotels in the AWC portfolio embrace socially-responsible ideals and sustainable practices. In its 15 years as a landmark on the tropical island — recently in the spotlight as the film location for the US hit series The White Lotus — Banyan Tree Samui has won a string of awards and accolades for sustainability and environmental policies, and renown as a readers’ choice favourite in international travel magazines such as Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. “As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, we are truly grateful for the support and loyalty of all our associates [staff] and our guests, who together have raised the reputation of Banyan Tree Samui into the much-loved resort that it is today,” said Remko Kroesen, the General Manager of Banyan Tree Samui. “We are committed to continuing our legacy for many more years to come. “At the same time, we remain dedicated to the Koh Samui environment and to assisting the local community whenever we can, whether in funding work at schools or temples, or via our ‘Seedlings’ programme, which provides scholarships to young Samui students. “Thanks to the incredible successes at this resort in terms of outstanding guest reviews and awards for sustainable practices and environmental innovations, AWC was able to turn its attention to the Andaman coast, where a sister resort, Banyan Tree Krabi, was built on the same principals and launched in 2020,” he said. Both resorts have established a code of conduct that prioritizes the sourcing of products from local suppliers who have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability. Seafood, cage-free eggs, fruit and vegetables are all sourced from nearby producers, while coffee and tea is purchased from northern Thai farmers. The resorts also provide an outlet for local artisans and vendors to sell homemade wares to guests. The resort’s milestones: 2010:              Banyan Tree Samui officially opens on 1 July. 2011:              The “Seedlings” programme is launched with scholarship grants for three students. Over 15 years, Banyan Tree Samui sponsors 12 students. Banyan Tree Samui is selected in the TTG Travel Awards as “Best New Beach Resort Hotel”. 2012:              At the Thailand Spa & Wellbeing Awards, Banyan Tree Spa Samui wins the People’s Choice Award for Amazing Resort Spa, while the Rainforest Indulgence scoops the prize for Innovative Spa Treatment. 2013:              Banyan Tree Samui receives the first of six consecutive awards for Health & Wellness Tourism from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). 2014:              Recognising the resort’s commitment to sustainable hotel practices, Banyan Tree Samui is awarded Green Hotel Award Gold Certification by Thailand’s Department of Environmental Quality Promotion. 2015:              The resort launches marine excursions on its private speedboat, Sense of the Sea, giving guests the opportunity to visit some of Thailand’s most idyllic islands and lagoons. 2016:              The resort’s signature restaurant, Saffron, is listed among Thailand’s Best Restaurants by Tatler Magazine. 2017:              Banyan Tree Samui is welcomed into Virtuoso, the leading global network of travel agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel, and becomes accredited with American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts. 2018:              Two of the students from the Seedlings programme graduate high school. Banyan Tree Samui continues supporting them until they each graduate university five years later. 2019:              Banyan Tree Samui becomes 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. Five years later, the resort would be granted “Platinum Certification” — once again the first hotel in Thailand to achieve this distinction. 2020:              A giant sea turtle lays eggs on the resort’s secluded beach. Six weeks later, some 300 baby turtles are born under the watchful gaze of the hotel’s resident marine biologist and sustainability manager, Thepsuda Loyjiw, and her team. 2021:              Banyan Tree Samui opens its Wellbeing Sanctuary, offering guests a tailor-made vacation dedicated to holistic and wellbeing pursuits. 2022:              Following severe storm damage to a local school on Koh Samui, the hotel donates funds for reconstruction. General Manager Remko Kroesen and several volunteers from the hotel roll up their sleeves and help out with landscaping and other labour-intensive tasks. 2023:              Leading US travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler reveals its “Best Hotels in Thailand” readers’ choice awards. Banyan Tree Samui comes in at Number 3 hotel in Thailand. 2024:              The MICHELIN Guide recognises Banyan Tree Samui as a “Two-Key” hotel in its inaugural Thailand edition, while at the TTG Asia Awards, the resort wins the prize for Best Luxury Hotel in Koh Samui. The MICHELIN Guide also lists Saffron among its prestigious restaurant recommendations in Thailand. A Sanctuary for the Senses The resort’s 88 spacious pool villas, each with its own private infinity pool, provide a serene and secluded oasis where guests can unwind and reconnect with nature. Designed to seamlessly blend with the surrounding landscape, the villas feature contemporary Thai architecture and are adorned with locally sourced materials and artwork, creating a truly authentic and immersive experience. The resort hosts three restaurants including Saffron which was recently listed in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide. Other onsite facilities include an award-winning spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library. For reservations and more information, contact samui@banyantree.com or tel: +66 077 915 333. Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night.

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Banyan Tree Samui, a MICHELIN-listed resort overlooking sapphire seas from its vantage point on a lush hillside at the southeastern peninsula of Koh Samui, has announced a series of in-house innovations to celebrate the growing popularity of the island under what has quickly become known as “The White Lotus Effect”. The sudden surge in demand, according to Thai tourism authorities, is attributed to the hit U.S. TV series The White Lotus, a dark-humour drama with an all-star cast. The third series of the widely acclaimed show was filmed primarily on Koh Samui and premiered on TV screens around the world in February, with its production lauded for tasteful and tantalizing shots of the tropical island and its idyllic landscape and scenery. Although The White Lotus was not filmed at Banyan Tree Samui, fans of the show will doubtless recognize similar panoramic vistas and the verdant rainforest setting. “I think we can expect a surge in prestige,” said Banyan Tree Samui General Manager Remko Kroesen. “Viewers are falling in love with the idea of Koh Samui and dream about travelling here. This will add to the luxury factor on the island – 5-star resorts, spas and wellness retreats should all see increased interest, and hopefully this wave of visitors will have a newfound appreciation for the island.” The locations of the first two series of The White Lotus — Maui and Sicily — apparently saw a 300% increase in enquiries and hotel reservations year-on-year, and nobody doubts that the popularity of the series and its focus on local culture have been at the heart of this new “set-jetting” trend. For its part, Banyan Tree Samui has introduced a range of new initiatives linked to The White Lotus, which Kroesen hopes will sate the thirst of fans as well as pique the interest of guests as yet unfamiliar with the American series. From the locally-infused welcome amenities guests receive upon arrival at the 5-star resort to the on-site Wellbeing Sanctuary programs with yoga, meditation, fitness and healthy cuisine; reminiscences of The White Lotus abound. Banyan Tree Spa Samui has this month introduced a “Sense of Lotus” spa package — a 120-minute rejuvenating treatment that begins with a White Lotus Polisher, where fine bead powder from lotus seeds gently exfoliates and renews the skin. The experience continues with a relaxing Sense of Lotus body massage designed to calm the mind and body. Meanwhile, guests can luxuriate with the latest sundowner, a specially-crafted cocktail aptly named White Lotus – a lip-smacking concoction of vodka, white rum, lychee juice, lime juice, coconut milk and fresh lychee, garnished with dried Damask rose petals. The resort has its own private speedboat, Sense of the Sea, which guests can hire to recreate their own White Lotus-inspired day trip with an exclusive excursion to the limestone islets of Mu Koh Ang Thong Marine Park, which is featured prominently in the third series, as well as several islands and other attractions among the diverse marine ecosystem and azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Each of the 88 villas at Banyan Tree Samui has an infinity pool and the resort is tiered into the hillside offering spectacular vistas. The 38-acre property is rich in flora and plant life, and its private beach is flanked by coral reefs. The resort hosts three restaurants including Saffron which was recently listed in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide. The resort also boasts an award-winning spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library. For reservations and more information, contact samui@banyantree.com or tel: +66 077 915 333. Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night.

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There was a celebratory mood recently at Banyan Tree Samui, a luxury beachfront resort in southern Thailand, after the hotel was recognised with three independent international awards in the space of one week. The French-based MICHELIN Guide, famed for its accreditation of “stars” to the most exquisite restaurants, has for the first time introduced a ranking system of “keys” to acclaim the most outstanding hotels in the world. The 2024 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection in Thailand included a total of eight Three-Key hotels (its highest decoration), 19 Two-Key hotels, and 31 One Key hotels. Each hotel had been anonymously visited and assessed by MICHELIN inspectors. Banyan Tree Samui, and its sister resort Banyan Tree Krabi on Thailand’s western Andaman Sea coast, were both recognised by the new MICHELIN Guide with two “keys”. “These [all MICHELIN’s recommended hotels and resorts] are places that significantly add to your experience as a traveller” read the MICHELIN Guide announcement on September 24, “each vetted and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for the price; and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting.” No sooner had the champagne settled when, on October 1, the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 were announced. New York-based Condé Nast Traveler is arguably the leading luxury travel magazine in the world and the announcement of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards is an eagerly anticipated event in the calendar of the global hospitality community. Online voting for the world’s favourite hotels, resorts and spas ran from April through June this year, with more than 575,000 votes cast. In the category of Top Resorts in Thailand, Banyan Tree Samui polled third with a 95.16 score. The placement marked a jump up the rankings for Banyan Tree Samui, which finished 5th in 2023, while Banyan Tree Krabi had come in 4th in the Top Resorts in Thailand awards. In between those announcements, Area General Area General Manager Remko Kroesen was on hand in Bangkok to receive an accolade on 26 September 2024 when he was presented with the “Best Luxury Hotel – Koh Samui” prize at the 33rd Annual TTG Travel Awards 2024 Ceremony & Gala Dinner The prestigious TTG Travel Awards honours the best in the Southeast Asian hospitality industry, with readers’ votes including many of the region’s travel agents and tour operators. Opened in 2010, the 88-key Banyan Tree Samui is a luxury all-pool villa resort. The 38-acre property is rich in flora and plant life, and its private beach is flanked by coral reefs. The resort hosts three restaurants, a spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library. Last year, Banyan Tree Samui was awarded the highest level of certification by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking organisation for sustainable tourism, making it the first hotel in Thailand to achieve this status. Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night.

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Renowned for its magnificent pool villas, and tiered into a lush hillside affording spectacular sea views, Banyan Tree Samui was this week crowned “Best Luxury Hotel – Koh Samui” by the readers of TTG Asia magazine. The prestigious TTG Travel Awards, presented annually since 1989, honours the best in the Southeast Asian hospitality industry, with readers of its affiliate sites —including TTG China, TTG India, TTG MICE and TTG Luxury Asia — voting in categories including hotels, restaurants, and travel services. Regarded as the Asia-Pacific’s leading travel trade business resource, it is widely read by travel agents and wholesalers, tour operators, and travel professionals across the region. The 33rd Annual TTG Travel Awards 2024 Ceremony & Gala Dinner was hosted at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre on 26 September 2024, and the award for Best Luxury Hotel – Koh Samui was received by Banyan Tree’s Area General Manager Remko Kroesen. “At Banyan Tree Samui, our pursuit of excellence is driven by a commitment to delivering unparalleled guest experiences,” said Kroesen. “We believe that luxury is not just about opulence, but about creating personalised, meaningful moments that resonate with each guest long after their stay. Our dedication to continuous improvement and attention to detail reflects our belief that true excellence is not a destination but an ongoing journey.” Last year, Banyan Tree Samui was awarded the highest level of certification by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking organisation for sustainable tourism, making it the first hotel in Thailand to achieve this status. Among the numerous sustainability programmes and policies initiated by the resort, a few highlights include: an annual blood drive campaign; the rebuilding of a local school that had been destroyed by a tropical storm; a sustainable foods programme including cage-free eggs and recycling coffee granules; and an ongoing “Seedlings Mentorship” project aimed at nurturing young Koh Samui students between the ages of 12 and 18, providing them with vocational and life skills and education, as well as offering scholarships and financial support to enable select students to continue into higher education. Opened in 2010, the 88-key Banyan Tree Samui is a luxury all-pool villa resort. The 38-acre property is rich in flora and plant life, and its private beach is flanked by coral reefs. The resort hosts three restaurants, a spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library. Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night.

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Banyan Tree Samui has announced the appointment of a new sous chef, Mr Kitja Muakin, at its signature Thai restaurant, Saffron, a move complemented by the news that the fine-dining venue has been recognised in the 2024 MICHELIN Guide for Thailand. Kitja, known affectionately as Chef Bobby, joins the team at Saffron, after working his way through the ranks at Banyan Tree, where he began his career in Phuket in 2012 after graduating in Kitchen and Restaurant Management at Dusit Thani College in Bangkok. He worked as commis and demi-chef at Banyan Tree Bangkok and Banyan Tree Macau, respectively, before transferring his skills to Banyan Tree Krabi for the opening of its own Saffron restaurant in 2020. “Khun Bobby is an exceptional chef who strives to deliver intricate innovations and unique tastes to our guests,” said Director of Food & Beverage and Cuisine Rainer Roersch “He has excelled at various Banyan Tree hotels in Asia, and brings a wealth of culinary flair to the kitchen.” Saffron, which specialises in authentic Thai cuisine, is an elegant dining establishment, perched on a hillside above the lush Banyan Tree Samui resort, commanding spectacular sunset views across the sea. Renowned for combinations of flavours through a delicate blending of Thai herbs and spices, this award-winning restaurant serves signature specialties such as Khong Wang Ruam, an appetiser for two featuring freshly prepared crisp rice noodle-wrapped prawn, grilled tender chicken breast satay, fried floppy seabass rice noodle rolls, and pomelo salad with tamarind sauce; as well as Pu Nim Thod Yum Lychee Nham Sawaros, a palate-tingling dish of crispy soft-shell crab, lychee salad, mint, lemongrass, and spicy passion fruit dressing. Apart from recognition in the prestigious MICHELIN Guide, Saffron has received a Best Restaurant Award four times by Tatler Magazine, and was presented a Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor on numerous occasions. Opened in 2010, the 88-key Banyan Tree Samui is a luxury all-pool villa resort, with a pristine beach, blissful spa escapes, exquisite dining offerings, a personal Villa Host concierge, and unparalleled views of the Gulf of Thailand. The 38-acre property is rich in flora and plant life, and its private beach is flanked by coral reefs. The resort hosts three restaurants, a spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library. Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night.

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Banyan Tree Samui has become the first and only hotel in Thailand to be accorded Platinum Certification by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking organisation for sustainable tourism. The award of EarthCheck’s Platinum Certification marks 10 years of continuous excellence by the resort in 10 key performance areas: Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Energy Efficiency; Management of Freshwater Resources; Ecosystem Conservation & Management; Social & Cultural Management; Land Use Planning & Management; Air Quality Protection; Wastewater Management; Solid Waste Management; and Environmentally Harmful Substances. Although other hotel chains have received similar accolades from EarthCheck at a group level, Banyan Tree Samui stands alone as the sole resort or hotel to be recognised with Platinum Certification at a single-property level. “Banyan Tree Samui‘s achievement in receiving the EarthCheck Platinum Certification is a landmark moment in sustainable tourism in Thailand,” said EarthCheck CEO Stewart Moore. “This certification reflects not just a decade of commitment to environmental stewardship, but also a dedication to social responsibility and economic sustainability.” Sustainability Efforts Banyan Tree Samui said it strives to reduce consumption rates through improved efficiency and adopting new technology or practices. Energy, carbon emissions, water use, and waste production are closely monitored, measuring progress against context-specific industry baselines and best practices, established in collaboration with EarthCheck. Led by a marine biologist, the resort’s Sustainability team offers guests “green” activities such as a nature trail with bird-spotting, guided snorkelling tours to the resort’s very own coral reef, and the opportunity to join an on-site tree-planting activity. Guests may also opt to join a plethora of cultural activities including Thai cookery classes, Thai boxing, Thai language lessons or a visit to an elephant sanctuary. “Caring for the environment is in our DNA,” said Ms.Thepsuda Loyjiw, the resort’s Sustainability Manager. “Banyan Tree was founded with the core value of driving sustainable development. We see sustainability in terms of not only the environment, but also the local communities in which we operate.” Banyan Tree Samui recently funded the rebuilding of a local school that had been destroyed by a tropical storm, and Thepsuda, joined by several volunteers from the hotel, rolled up their sleeves to help by working on landscaping and other labour-intensive tasks. Reconstruction at the Wat Santi Wanaram Child Development Centre was completed in January 2023, providing 103 children and their teachers a safe environment for lunch, activities and play. Other initiatives implemented successfully by Banyan Tree Samui in recent years include a blood drive campaign, and the ongoing “Seedlings Mentorship” project aimed at nurturing young Samui students between 12 and 18, providing them with vocational and life skills and education, as well as offering scholarships and financial support to enable select students to continue into higher education. In October 2023, Banyan Tree Samui organised a recycling scheme with its coffee provider Nespresso. “We return all the capsules with the coffee grains still inside,” said Thepsuda. “Nespresso then separates the aluminium for recycling and the ground coffee to be used as compost or fertiliser.” Award-Winning Resorts Following in the footsteps of its elder sister resort, Banyan Tree Krabi, which opened in 2020 on the Andaman coast, is also looking at achieving recognition by EarthCheck as an eco-torchbearer in Thailand, following its latest onsite audit in September 2023. Both Banyan Tree resorts were recognised in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards this year, with Banyan Tree Krabi voted No 4 in the Top Resorts in Thailand category, and Banyan Tree Samui claiming the No 5 title. Opened in 2010, the 88-key Banyan Tree Samui is a luxury all-pool villa resort, with a pristine beach, blissful spa escapes, exquisite dining offerings, locally-infused experiences, a personal Villa Host concierge, and unparalleled views. The 38-acre property is rich in flora and plant life, and its private beach is flanked by coral reefs. The resort hosts three restaurants, a spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library. Beachfront activities available to guests include paddle boarding, snorkelling, kayaking, table tennis, a pool table, and yoga classes. To learn more about Banyan Tree Samui’s sustainability efforts, please go to: https://www.banyantree.com/thailand/samui/sustainability Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night.

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Koh Samui, Thailand – The tipping point for Banyan Tree Samui might have been the 213,314 plastic bottles the resort passed out to guests in 2017. Or the 42,150 plastic bags they used to haul away trash that year. Or the 176,880 meters of cling film that they used to package food products. “One of our staff calculated that we could have wrapped this island all the way around three times with all that cling film,” said Remko Kroesen, the general manager at the resort. “We knew we had to make changes.” Starting in 2018, the resort implemented changes that now, cumulatively, constitute a sea change in how the resort handles disposables. The decision came at a time when news headlines had highlighted the gruesome deaths of whales, turtles and other marine life from ingesting plastics in Thai waters. Last year, Banyan Tree Samui successfully phased out the use of plastic bottles, straws, cutlery and garbage bags. They also quit ordering the 20,158 plastic toothbrushes, shower caps and other bathroom accessories they doled out to guests every year. In place of the plastic came glass bottles, paper straws, bamboo and wooden cutlery, and corn-based toothbrushes. They ordered biodegradable bags and containers, and large second-hand rice and sugar sacks for the kitchens and for garden waste. Unable to find an environmentally friendly alternative to cling film, they set a strict budget on its purchase. And finally, the hotel entered into a contract with suppliers so that any remaining plastic bags or containers would be returned for reuse. The plastic-free initiatives were the icing on the cake of an environmental program that has existed at the resort since soon after its opening in 2010, and is part of a wider campaign by the Banyan Tree corporate group at its properties throughout the world. Banyan Tree Samui is nestled against a lush 38-acre hillside, overlooking a secluded cove of beach, coral reefs and sapphire waters. The resort’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) manager is Thepsuda Loyjiw, a certified marine biologist. “Apart from the plastic-free initiative, my team’s other CSR programs include tree-planting, wastewater recycling, and a coral regeneration project,” she said. In 2018, Banyan Tree Samui was awarded a “Gold Certification” by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific watchdog for the hospitality industry, making it the first hotel in Thailand to be recognized for its environmental policies at such a level. 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.” “Attaining EarthCheck Certification is not an easy task,” said Stewart Moore, CEO and founder of EarthCheck. “It requires commitment from the entire team to achieve better results in terms of sustainability each year. The challenge is to continually prove the integrity of an organization’s operational practices and then be willing to have everything checked and measured by an independent third party. Recognition of Banyan Tree’s green initiatives couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time: In July 2019, a new law aimed at curbing environmental damage went into effect on the Thai islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. The new measures, enacted by Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. included a strict ban on the feeding of marine life, wastewater dumping, fishing or anchoring on coral reefs, seabed-walking, and any new coastal construction. The government initiative followed a no-smoking and no-littering law that was enacted on the islands a few months earlier. The moves to revive marine life and restore the coral reefs on the three islands have been widely applauded and follow closely on the heels of beach and island closures in the Andaman Sea to allow fish stocks, coral and the environment to recover. One of Thailand’s most popular attractions, Maya Beach, famous for its scenes in the Hollywood movie “The Beach” starring Leonardo Di Caprio, is among those destinations currently off-limits to visitors. Previously known as “Coconut Island” and home to only a handful of fishermen and farmers until the late 1970s, Koh Samui now receives more than a million visitors a year. The islands of Samui, Phangan and Tao have combined coral reefs spanning over 10,000 acres. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, supporting more species per unit area than any other marine environment. Among the rare marine life found in the Gulf of Thailand’s sapphire-blue waters are turtles, dugongs, moray eels, reef sharks, seahorses, Irrawaddy dolphins and seven species of whale. “But it’s no good if only one or two resorts on the island maintain strict environmental practices,” said CSR manager Thepsuda. “We all have to work together to keep this paradise intact.” Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with infinity pool, start from US$550 per night.

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Lots of luxury hotels give back to their local communities these days, and none more so than Banyan Tree Samui. The Thai resort has been awarded a “Gold Certification” by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific watchdog for the hospitality industry, making it the first and only hotel in Thailand to be recognized for its environmental policies at such a level. Among the Koh Samui resort’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) programs are tree-planting, a plastics-free initiative, wastewater recycling, and a coral regeneration project, whereby broken corals are revived and re-attached to the reefs that curl around the resort. Upon its opening in 2010, Banyan Tree Samui introduced a “Seedlings Mentorship” project available to some of the less privileged children on the island, which was traditionally a coconut farming and fishing community. The program aimed to nurture young people at risk of societal exclusion by providing vocational and life skills and education, thereby helping to prepare them for the future. Recently, two of those students graduated high school and, with the aid of Banyan Tree scholarships, have this year moved on to university. Phuthiporn Kunlabut, nicknamed Bass, is one of those lucky students. She said, “My family was so proud of me during my internship at Banyan Tree Samui. I learned a lot in the pastry kitchen – baking, dessert making, food preparation and decoration. After that, I did a stint with the housekeeping department, where I learned to handle guests’ queries. I also got to join the florist team.” Bass is now studying Food and Nutrition at Rajamangala University on the mainland in Songkhla, while her fellow “seedling” Thayaporn Songkong, nicknamed On, has begun her first year at the Faculty of Law at Suratthani Rajabhat University. The resort’s Seedlings Mentorship program is part of a wider initiative by the Banyan Tree Global Foundation. Launched in 2007, this two-phased programme supports mentorship for students between the ages of 12 and 18, as well as scholarships to provide financial support for those able to continue their education. Banyan Tree Samui said it is looking to support three more students or “seedlings” this year.

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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 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 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

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