Globally famous for launching Asia’s most sustainable hotel, akyra TAS Sukhumvit, the AKARYN Hotel Group pledges to go completely single-use plastic free by June 2019 across the entire hotel group. Leading the charge in eco-luxury, AHG is the ideal option for travellers with a conscience.
Recent winners of the ‘Green Steps’ award at the 2018 Responsible Thailand Awards, Founding MD, Anchalika Kijkanakorn comments: ‘it’s an honour to be recognised for our contribution to eco- friendly travel. It is our goal to become fully sustainable throughout AHG as soon as possible.’
Eco-led efforts across the group will include sourcing glass bottles and removing all single-use plastic from the bars. As well as this, stylish stainless steel akyra water bottles are handed to guests on arrival, which can be refilled anytime during their stay at the self-service water stations conveniently located on every floor. Additionally, toiletry products are presented in locally manufactured celadon containers filled with essential oils-based products and bio-degradable bin bags are used in rooms. For those wanting to indulge in some retail therapy outside of the resorts, special shopping totes can be found in the wardrobes to encourage guests to refuse plastic bags when shopping, promoting change even whilst outside of the hotel.
This isn’t the only ammo in AHG’s battle against climate change. Their very own charity, the Pure Blue Foundation has been helping raise funds to aid multi-faceted marine conservation efforts for the last decade. Amongst others, initiatives include coral reef restoration in Koh Samui to marine turtle conservation at Phang Nga, near Phuket, via the turtle sanctuary in Thai Muang, where hundreds of endangered leatherback turtles have been raised and released into the Andaman Sea.
What’s more, aiming to inspire and educate a generation of eco-conscious travellers, AHG are also holding ‘Train & Sustain’ bootcamps at akyra Beach Club Phuket, their contemporary waterfront resort overlooking the Andaman Sea. The three-day health and sustainability boot camp combines group activities to support the local environment such as cleaning local beaches of rubbish and educating children on the consequences of using plastic, with yoga, fitness classes and spa treatments – reinforcing the hotel group’s key commitments to responsible tourism and wellbeing.