Hyperlocal and Heritage-Driven: How These Bali Restaurants Redefine Sustainability
In the dynamic hospitality landscape of Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, a few trailblazing establishments are redefining sustainability, community engagement, and innovation. Locavore NXT, Begawan Biji, and John Hardy The Long Table in Bali serve as exemplary case studies, demonstrating how fine dining and luxury experiences can harmoniously align with environmental stewardship and cultural preservation. These businesses provide valuable insights for restaurants striving to place sustainability at the heart of their business.
Partnering with Sustainable Event Specialists: A Guide for Hospitality and Travel Professionals
Sustainability in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) goes beyond reducing plastic waste or ticking compliance boxes. True sustainability integrates actions that benefit the environment, empower local communities, and invigorate economies. Finding partners who share these values is a key part of the process.
This guide provides useful strategies, actionable advice, and insights from industry leaders to help MICE professionals build impactful partnerships.
Bali’s Winning Formula: Sustainability Meets Sophistication
Bali is long celebrated for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. As one of Asia’s earliest international travel destinations, the island has a hospitality ecosystem that is as resilient as it is creative, constantly setting benchmarks for the region.
While busy and crowded as it appears in certain parts of the island, many brands in Bali have demonstrated an ability to combine sustainability with profitability, crafting ventures that captivate global travelers while offering invaluable lessons for industry professionals.
Previously, we explored the innovative practices of trailblazers like Desa Potato Head and Fivelement, Bambu Indah and Alila Uluwatu — brands that have not only minimized environmental impact but also created unique product offerings by integrating sustainability into their core strategies.
From reducing plastic waste to preserving biodiversity and cultural heritage, they show what it means to be a responsible business in the tourism sector.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Future-proofing the Hospitality Industry with Sustainability as a Revenue Strategy
The recent Asia Sustainable Travel (AST) Forum in Subic Bay, Philippines, served as a platform for discussing sustainability and its profound impact on both the environment and business profitability. Co-hosted by the Hospitality Alliance of Subic Bay Freeport Zone, the forum brought together industry leaders to explore how sustainability can drive profitability and long-term success.
Solution to Plastic Pollution: Make Plastics Obsolete
Is it 1,000 tons of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or 2,000 tons? Does it matter anymore at this point? Plastics and microplastics permeate every aspect of all life on earth.
Some may ask: what’s the harm of plastics anyway? Are we living with them already?
This issue is not just about unsightly litter; it's a major contributor to the broader climate and health crises that we all face.
For an industry that depends on the beauty and health of our planet, the travel sector has a special responsibility and opportunity to take the lead in tackling this problem.
Travel and hospitality companies play a vital role as guardians of our planet's landscapes and ecosystems. Taking decisive action to reduce plastic dependency is essential for preserving the beauty and health of our planet.
Indigenous Design Leading The Way in Sustainable Innovation
One innovator leading the way in sustainable innovation at 3500m above sea level is Norboo Wangchuk, Managing Director and owner of Ladakh Eco Resort in the Himalayan region of India.
Nestled in the heart of a 100-year-old village, Spurka, Ladakh Eco Resort is a sustainable luxury resort surrounded by one of the world's highest motorable roads, Khardung-La Pass on one side and the mighty Stok Kangri on the other. Spread across 2 acres and surrounded by the vibrant colors of hollyhocks, wild lilies, and liliums, the resort has only 14 cabins, each looking raw and spectacular under the clear blue sky.
But what gives these cabins such rugged beauty?