The Dusit Thani Group is taking significant steps to elevate tourism standards by announcing its membership in the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). This marks an important milestone in promoting responsible business practices and enhancing sustainable tourism standards across all dimensions, while expanding sustainability practices to its hotel operations worldwide.

Mr. Chanin Thonvannit, CEO of Dusit Thani Public Company Limited, stated: Today, sustainability plays an increasingly vital role in the tourism industry. The Dusit Thani Group prioritizes learning, development, and collaboration with internationally recognized organizations. Joining the GSTC is a significant step for Dusit Thani in its journey to expand its business internationally under the Tree of Life initiative, which aims to create long-term sustainable value for destinations and communities where we operate.

The GSTC is a global non-profit organization that fosters collaboration between public and private sectors to promote and develop sustainable tourism practices. This membership allows the Dusit Thani Group to be part of a global network that emphasizes knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the promotion of responsible tourism within the industry.

Founded in 1949, the Dusit Thani Group has grown into a comprehensive hospitality service company, encompassing hotel and resort operations, culinary education, food business, real estate, and related services. Currently, it operates over 290 hotels, resorts, and luxury villas in 18 countries, totaling more than 11,800 rooms under 9 brands.

At the heart of Dusit Thani's sustainability strategy is the Tree of Life initiative, which serves as an organizational framework to support responsible growth and create positive impacts on the environment and society, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), such as addressing climate change, responsible consumption, and community engagement.

In terms of environmental management, Dusit Thani has implemented energy management systems at its hotels to enhance efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, alongside investments in renewable energy, such as solar power systems installed at various locations, including Dusit Thani Maldives, Dusit Beach Resort Guam, Dusit Thani Kyoto, and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort.

For water management, Dusit Thani employs water-saving measures and wastewater treatment systems, reusing treated water for irrigation and landscaping. Additionally, it has introduced measures to reduce single-use plastics, such as refillable amenities, reusable water bottles, and more environmentally friendly packaging.

Regarding food waste management, Dusit employs a three-pronged approach: reducing waste in food preparation, donating surplus food to local communities when possible, and composting organic waste for use in gardens and community projects.

The Dusit Thani Group also emphasizes responsible tourism in social dimensions by participating in The Code, a set of principles to protect children from sexual exploitation in the tourism industry since 2018, integrating preventive measures into corporate policies, and training hotel staff across Thailand. Furthermore, it has signed the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) declaration against illegal wildlife trade, reinforcing its commitment to ethical business practices and a policy of not accepting products from illegal wildlife.

Community engagement is another key mission for the Dusit Thani Group through various initiatives, such as Dusit Smiles, a collaboration with Operation Smile Thailand since 2010, which has raised over 13 million baht to support surgeries and care for over 750 Thai children.

“We have consistently pursued sustainability to promote responsible tourism in every aspect, and we are confident that our membership in the GSTC will serve as a global driving force that Dusit Thani is ready to leverage to elevate tourism standards and expand sustainable practices across our hotels worldwide,”Mr. Chanin stated.

On the other hand, Mr. Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), said: GSTC warmly welcomes the Dusit Thani Group as a member and commends its commitment to supporting sustainable tourism initiatives, hoping to collaboratively drive this important goal in the future.