What GSTC2024 Singapore Taught Us About Hosting Sustainable Events
Sustainability has become an important factor in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry, and the recent GSTC2024 in Singapore provided a platform to explore this pressing issue. The Sustainable Events session brought together a panel of experts who shared actionable tips for hosting eco-conscious events, focusing on how to actually put them into practice.
The discussions ranged from practical ways to reduce food waste to making the most of local resources, giving event planners an easy guide to staying sustainable and community-focused.
A Thailand Blueprint for Responsible Travel Service Providers
In 2023, Thailand welcomed over 28 million international arrivals, solidifying its status as a favorite destination for international travelers. Thailand’s travel service provider landscape is as diverse as its visitors, ranging from internationally renowned companies like Intrepid to small, independent operators catering to everyday travelers to niche traveler segments.
While nearly all operators share a unified vision of showcasing Thailand’s beauty to the world, only a select few approach this mission through a sustainability-focused lens. Even fewer achieve commercial success while adhering to the triple bottom line—balancing people, planet, and profit as their guiding principle.
The 2025 Travel Trends Are Out. Now What?
The 2025 travel landscape is evolving, and it’s time to rethink the way we engage with travelers. This article dives into emerging trends like noctourism, detour destinations, wellness retreats, JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) travel, unique hotel dining experiences, and multigenerational travel, revealing their impact on the industry and the new opportunities they bring.
Designed for hospitality business executives and marketing professionals, the article offers actionable strategies to adapt, innovate, and stay ahead in a rapidly transforming market. Don’t miss these essential insights to future-proof your brand.
Osaka Shines Bright: IGLTA’s Most Globally Diverse Convention Amplifies LGBTQ+ Travel Opportunity in Asia-Pacific
With attendees representing over 50 countries and territories, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) 2024 Global Convention in Osaka, Japan, was the organization's most globally diverse convention ever and highlighted the Asia-Pacific region as a dynamic and rapidly emerging market for LGBTQ+ travel.
Inside Tourism Cares’ Meaningful Travel Map: Success Secrets from Thailand’s Hospitality Leaders
The Tourism Authority of Thailand, in partnership with the U.S.-based NGO Tourism Cares, has taken steps to make purpose-driven tourism in Thailand more searchable and accessible to travelers and travel advisors alike.
They introduced 15 Thai Impact Partners to the Meaningful Travel map — a curated collection of businesses that meet stringent sustainability and social responsibility standards.
The Asia Sustainable Travel team visited Krabi to meet with the founders of two Meaningful Travel properties, Varana and Anana. The two visionary hoteliers shared insights into their motivations, their approach to blending purpose with profitability, and their vision for a more sustainable future in Asia’s travel industry.
Tuu Eco Stay Awards: Elevating Hospitality with Data-Backed Sustainability Practices
With 30 awards spanning four categories—Environmental Impact, Sustainability Planning, Local Community, and Cultural Heritage—the Tuu Eco Stay Awards aims to celebrate and honor the broad spectrum of sustainable achievements by hotels.
Brand-Led Movement Seeks to Preserve Thailand’s Crown Jewel for Future Generations
Considered the crown jewel of Southern Thailand, Maya Bay became emblematic of overtourism’s destructive impact. Many quickly point to the 2000 movie The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the beginning of Maya Bay’s rise to the top of the must-visit list of travelers coming to Thailand.
Be One With Nature at Panchabhuta Retreat
Panchabhuta Retreat is an eco-friendly retreat located at the doorstep of the Aghanashini estuary and the cul-de-sac (dead-end street) of Nirvana Beach in Western Ghats, India. The entire place is designed to embrace the natural environment where it lies. But the true magic of the Retreat unfolds only when you visit it.
GSTC Aims to Cement its Sustainable Tourism Leadership at #GSTC2024Singapore
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), established by the United Nations to manage global standards for sustainable tourism, is returning to Asia to host its highly anticipated Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in Sentosa, Singapore, from 13-16 November 2024. This event takes place at a critical juncture, as the very standards of sustainability in tourism appear to be at a crossroads.
Thailand’s Tourism at a Crossroads: Can Sustainability Shape its Future?
Amid growing concerns about the effects of climate change, biodiversity loss, and cultural disruption, can Thailand harness its tourism success while also setting a new standard for sustainable, responsible travel? Will this model pay off? If so, in what ways?
In our special series, Thailand’s Best-Kept Sustainable Travel Stories, we uncover hidden gems, businesses, and communities leading the charge toward a more conscious tourism model. From Phuket’s idyllic beaches to the bustling streets of Bangkok, we’ll explore how sustainability can redefine travel in Thailand.
Designing the Future: Innovations and Sustainability at the Hotel Design Summit HPC2024
The 7th Hospitality Philippines Conference (HPC2024) at Marriott Manila gathered over 500 professionals and nearly 100 speakers to explore strategies in the hospitality and tourism industry. Highlights included Hotel Investment Summit, Hotel Design Summit, and Hotel Revenue Summit. The event emphasized the importance of integrating cultural and environmental elements into hotel design and using technology and data analytics to boost profits. This article focuses on the key takeaways from the Hotel Design Summit.
PHIST 2024: Bold Ideas for Sustainable Tourism in a Changing Southeast Asia
Discover the insightful discussions and innovative solutions emerging from PHIST 2024, Southeast Asia's leading sustainability event, as it addresses the urgent need for sustainable tourism development amidst Phuket's overtourism challenges and environmental vulnerabilities.
Solutions to Plastic and Water Crises in Hospitality and Tourism
The recent Asia Sustainable Travel (AST) Forum in Phuket was a powerful showcase of passion and commitment, bringing together industry leaders eager to drive change.
The forum shed light on actions that hospitality and travel professionals can take in two key areas: plastic crisis and water shortage.
This wasn’t just a platform for talk. It was a launchpad for collective action, reminding us why we’re here: to make a difference, one sustainable step at a time.
This article features the key takeaways for travel and hospitality professionals to integrate sustainability into their businesses and daily lives.
Generative AI in Marketing: How Can Hotels Leverage It Without Losing the Human Touch
Artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, has advanced significantly in recent years. Gone are the days when AI was only associated with robots and science fiction. Nowadays, businesses across various industries are using AI to improve their processes and enhance customer experience.
One area where AI is making a significant impact is marketing. Businesses are persistently seeking innovative methods to differentiate themselves and engage with their customers in more meaningful ways. And generative AI is helping them achieve just that, enabling a level of personalization that was once unimaginable.
The key challenge, however, lies in blending these advanced capabilities with the genuine human touch, which is what truly defines hospitality.
From Confusion to Clarity: Avoid Greenwashing and Turn Sustainable Travel Intentions into Action
Reports after reports show that travelers increasingly want sustainable travel options. Yet they are confused by the information they see on social media, causing them not to take the actions they should.
Kantar's 2022 Sustainability Sector Index reveals a striking contradiction in the Asia Pacific region. Despite 98% of consumers expressing readiness for a more sustainable lifestyle, only 17% actively change their behavior to align with it.
Additionally, a significant 58% struggle to differentiate between environmentally friendly products and those that are not.
The report highlights this intention-action gap arises from lack of information, transparency, and concerns about higher costs.
In our view, travel marketers and hoteliers have a powerful opportunity: not only align their business goals with responsible operation but also promote their business authentically.
Should Hotels Collaborate with OTAs or Move Away from Them?
With the rise of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), hotels are enjoying increased bookings and exposure. However, high commission fees and limited control over pricing present significant challenges.
OTAs offer benefits such as increased visibility and advanced marketing tools. However, the costs can be steep, impacting profit margins. Additionally, the increase in mass tourism can dilute brand uniqueness and strain local environments.
But here's the million-dollar question—should hotels continue to partner with OTAs, or should they focus on direct bookings and sustainable practices?
This article dives deep into strategies that align with sustainability while maximizing revenue potential.