PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Southeast Asia’s largest sustainability event for the travel and hospitality industries, is back with a powerful all-day forum headlined by one of the region’s most inspiring leaders: KP Ho, the founder of Banyan Tree Group and pioneer of Laguna Phuket.
He will be joined in a Double Bill by community advocate, artist and “maximalist” hotel designer, Bill Bensley, who will be interviewed by PHIST organizer Bill Barnett. KP Ho will be interviewed by David Johnson of Delivering Asia Communications.
Organized by the Phuket Hotels Association, C9 Hotelworks and Greenview, PHIST 6 will be held on the 4th of September 2023 at SAii Laguna Phuket, returning to full capacity with approximately 1,000 travel and hospitality professionals expected to gather for a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity from across the Asia Pacific.
KP Ho, journalist turned hotelier, understood the critical importance of sustainability long before it became a buzzword. With the establishment of Banyan Tree, he was instrumental in transforming Laguna Phuket from a barren moonscape of scarred land – abandoned by the tin mining industry and declared uninhabitable by the UN – into the leading integrated resort development in Southeast Asia.
This set the stage for the first luxurious and eco-sensitive Banyan Tree resort in 1994, featuring the world’s first pool villas. The company is currently expanding to over 100 hotels and resorts, either in operation or in the pipeline. The Banyan Tree Global Foundation was also established to support conservation and community development.
Bill Bensley has for 30 years designed many of the most unique hotels in Asia, winning a small armory of the world’s leading awards and honors for the deep respect given to their environments and purpose-driven nature. Like KP he will share his personal story and philosophy for only 100 guests in each session. Registration is on a first come, first served basis.
In addition, visitors can expect many learning opportunities, with a series of 16 immersive workshops that will see industry experts share best practices on key and emerging green topics, including waste, renewables, certification, women leaders in sustainability and glamping. A “Green Think Tank” roundtable discussion will be led by Jesper Palmqvist, STR Global’s Area Director for Asia Pacific, with representatives from islands including Bohol, Bali, Koh Samui, Phuket, Phu Quoc, Singapore and the Maldives, while the “Eco Travel Show” will showcase eco-friendly products from exhibitors specializing in outdoor activities such as glamping. A “Farm-to-Table” workshop will allow guests to learn about the origins of food with two Michelin-starred restaurants in Phuket, and a “Women in Leadership” session will highlight the issue of gender equality.
Jayne MacDougall, Executive Director of the Phuket Hotels Association, said: “We are delighted to announce the return of PHIST, the largest sustainability event in Southeast Asia, for its sixth annual edition. This year, we’re back with a bang as we prepare to welcome 1,000 visitors for a day-long itinerary that will shake up the industry, challenge traditional ideas and put learning at the center. We are also excited to welcome KP Ho back to Phuket. As someone who has done so much to boost the island’s tourism sector and advance the cause of sustainability, he is the perfect person to inspire our delegates. We look forward to seeing everyone at PHIST this September.
Sponsors for PHIST 6 include: New Capital Energy Asia, Central CPN, Blue Tree, XCO2, Banyan Tree Phuket and SAii Laguna Phuket, with beverages provided by Greenery Water, JCD Coffee and FullMoon Brewery.
Support is also provided by like-minded partners including the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Thailand Hotels Association (THA), Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), Thailand Organic Certificate Association (TOCA), American Chamber of Commerce Thailand, QUO, Laguna Phuket and Delivering Asia Communications.
For more information about PHIST 6, please visit phist.phukethotelsassociation.com
To register, please visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/phist-6-phuket-hotels-island-sustaining-tourism-tickets-644279787187
