AWC, led by Nawallapa Traisorat (second from left), CEO and Managing Director, and Chayanon Hoptharaphorn (far left), Head of Accounting and Finance, signed a long-term Green Loan agreement worth 7.904 billion baht with Krung Thai Bank, represented by Surathun Kongthan (third from left), President of Wholesale Banking, and Saranaya Assaratanamongkol (far right), Assistant Managing Director, to develop the ultra-luxury flagship project “Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu New York” in accordance with green building standards, supporting Thailand's position as a leader in creating sustainable global destinations.

  • This significant collaboration between Krung Thai Bank and AWC is part of a sustainability vision to support Thailand as a leader in creating sustainable global destinations through the Green Loan worth 7.904 billion baht, connecting the unique potential of Thailand's sustainable tourism to the global stage.
  • Continuing the development of the ultra-luxury flagship project “Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu New York” in line with green building standards in partnership with Nobu Hospitality, a global partner with expertise in project development in New York, bringing the legendary Plaza Athénée brand to the heart of Manhattan, blending cultural heritage with contemporary design, while connecting experiences between New York and Bangkok.
  • The investment plan under the AWC Growth Fund model allows AWC to expand its portfolio for sustainable growth while maintaining the strongest financial structure in the industry.

Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), a Thai real estate developer focused on comprehensive lifestyle solutions, has signed a long-term Green Loan agreement worth 7.904 billion baht (approximately 208 million USD) with Krung Thai Bank based on a shared vision of sustainability to support Thailand as a leader in creating sustainable global destinations. This important Green Loan collaboration will be used to develop the ultra-luxury flagship global brand ‘Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu New York’ in New York City, a stable and high-potential market, to strengthen the investment portfolio alongside ‘The Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu Bangkok’, offering ultra-luxury travel experiences of the Plaza Athénée brand that connects the unique potential of Thailand's sustainable tourism to the global stage.

The “Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu New York” project is being developed in a historic building over a century old, located in the Upper East Side, one of the highest potential areas of New York City, which is a center of culture, luxury, and global lifestyle. This investment project on a special Freehold property will be developed to create long-term sustainable value with international green building standards, aiming to integrate architectural heritage conservation with environmental innovation. Furthermore, this investment and project development is under the AWC Growth Fund model, which is AWC's investment strategy that allows project development without full upfront investment and avoids debt burdens from ongoing development, providing flexibility in holding full ownership at the right time. Full ownership upon project completion will enable immediate revenue recognition, create positive cash flow, and enhance financial flexibility while maintaining strong financial discipline, reflected in the strongest financial structure in the industry.

Surathun Kongthan, President of Wholesale Banking at Krung Thai Bank, stated that Krung Thai Bank prioritizes driving business responsibly towards the environment, society, and governance (ESG), incorporating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal 13 on climate change into both business capacity enhancement and creating positive impacts on society and the environment. Recently, the bank supported a Green Loan for AWC to invest in the renovation of ‘Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu New York’, recognized as one of the best hotels in New York City, setting sustainability metrics as a framework for developing the project into a green hotel (Green Building) according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards or other international green building standards. The bank believes that Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu New York will serve as a model for real estate development that harmoniously integrates luxury with ESG principles. This collaboration reflects both organizations' commitment to driving sustainability goals seriously and continuously, as well as Krung Thai Bank's role as a Sustainable Financial Partner ready to promote and support clients in transitioning their businesses towards balanced growth in economic, social, and environmental aspects, in line with the vision “Krung Thai, Side by Side with Thailand Towards Sustainability.”

Nawallapa Traisorat, CEO and Managing Director of Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), expressed gratitude to Krung Thai Bank for their trust and support in developing the ultra-luxury flagship global brand ‘Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu New York’, marking a significant collaboration that connects the potential of Thai tourism to the global stage and supports Thailand in becoming a leader in creating sustainable global destinations. Additionally, this Green Loan promotes AWC's strategy under the AWC Growth Fund investment model, which is a key mechanism for creating sustainable growth while maintaining a strong financial structure.

“The ‘Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu New York’ project is a collaboration between AWC and Nobu Hospitality that combines the strengths of the legendary Plaza Athénée hotel brand with Nobu's luxury service expertise to develop a unique Lifestyle Destination with world-class standards, located in a historic building over 100 years old, a Freehold property in Manhattan's Upper East Side, near Central Park and high-end shopping areas. Plans are underway to apply for LEED certification or other international green building standards to affirm environmental quality concretely, aligning with AWC's sustainability goals in ‘Better Planet’ with modern and sustainable design concepts, and will develop alongside ‘The Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu Bangkok’, seamlessly connecting ultra-luxury experiences from New York to Bangkok, set to open next year.”

Developing projects with international sustainability standards is at the core of AWC's quality project creation. Recently, the ‘InterContinental Chiang Mai Mae Ping Hotel’ received LEED Gold certification version 4 BD+C: Hospitality for hotels, the first of its kind in Thailand, reflecting a truly environmentally conscious design and operation approach. Meanwhile, the INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit hotel has also received EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification from the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group, reflecting a design that considers efficient resource use. Currently, several other AWC properties are in the process of seeking LEED certification and other international green building standards, reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainable development across its entire portfolio.

AWC remains committed to developing projects sustainably in every dimension, with executives and teams proudly noting that AWC has achieved the highest sustainability score globally in the hotel, resort, and cruise industry according to S&P Global rankings, and has been selected as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) Emerging Markets and FTSE4Good Index Series. Additionally, it has been ranked in the SET ESG Ratings as a sustainable stock at AA level in 2024 by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, reaffirming AWC's commitment to creating long-term holistic value for all stakeholders.

“This collaboration with Krung Thai Bank, based on a shared vision of both organizations, aims to create long-term value through world-class quality projects that integrate sustainability standards in every dimension, representing a collaborative force to promote Thailand as a leader in creating sustainable global destinations and together ‘Building Better Future For All’ for sustainable holistic value,” Nawallapa concluded.