Phuket Hotels Association

Phuket Hotels Association conducted our final meeting of the year with guest speakers Jesper Palmqvist from STR, Lerdchai Wangtrakoondee from Phuket office Tourism Authority of Thailand and our panel of speakers Cynthia Ng from Amadeus, Maria Yazenok from Exotic Voyage, and Pattaraporn Munmiang from Booking.com in a Market Update session moderated by Ranjeet Viswanathan.
Thanks to speakers, members and guests for joining us!!

Phuket Hotels Association thanks everyone who supported Phuket Green Day yesterday (4th December)for Thai Environment Day and Fathers Day. Here are a few photos of some of the amazing cleaning actions:- more to follow!

Phuket Hotels Association’s Education committee conducted interviews for a Scholarship for the General Managers Program at Cornell University’s. This scholarship was generously donated by The Pavilions Phuket.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1H4-0LlcEl8nCTPXtP8S3hJaRLe53OM8&usp=sharing
Phuket Green Day Map

Phuket Green Day 4 December 2023 ember 2023 - Google My Maps “PHUKET GREEN DAY” Join the Phuket Hotels Association as they lead an island-wide beach clean-up, taking place on Monday 4 December 2023. We have identified a number of beaches across the Island that you can volunteer and help on these days. This map will provide you with locations, meeting poin...

Phuket Hotels Association's Phuket Green Day is scheduled for 4th December -next week. We encourage all members and friends in all communities to plan your Green Day activity. At the last Phuket Green Day more than 600 people joined in and conducted cleans at beaches and areas island wide.
Please register your clean (we will share the location details for others wanting to join) and collect data for us to share.
We encourage you to make your clean as simple as possible and use reused collection bags and baskets wherever you can.
Thank you.

Phuket Hotels Association‘s Advisors met today to discuss trends and changes in the hospitality industry and look forward to 2024 and the opportunities that abound!
Pictured are Advisors and Directors Sam Sethi, Sears Jivavisitnont, Jayne MacDougall, Brett Wilson, Bjorn Courage, Boon Yongsakul, Bill Barnett and Daniel Meury.

On the 27th November, Phuket Governor Khun Sophon, invited Phuket Hotels Association’s President, Mr Bjorn Courage, to join the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony for a Crime-free Phuket with a host of Phuket organisations. The intent of the MOU is to work toward Phuket as an area that is crime-free and drug free.
http://phuketimmigration.go.th/activity/31.php

Phuket Hotels Association conducted a Public speaking workshop “Speak so your audience will listen” to showcase the importance of speaking and presenting skills in the hospitality industry. The instructor, Josh O’Neill, presented simple guidelines ( in 3’s) to help us become more effective communicators.

Our first step exploring opportunities to collaborate with Faculty of International Studies, PSU Phuket to benefit the hospitality industry.
Thank you for this opportunity to connect.

Jayne MacDougall (Executive Director) at Phuket Hotels Association met with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prathana Kannaovakun (Acting Dean) and her team at the Faculty of International Studies, PSU Phuket to discuss potential future collaboration.

Phuket Hotels Association conducted a Workplace Mental health workshop at Absolute Twin Sand Resort & Spa with a very enthusiastic hospitality audience. Dr. Sansanee Ruangson from Bangkok Hospital Phuket presented detailed information on mental health and how to manage in a work setting, followed by Michael Massey, who presented strategies for managing workplace stress.

Phuket Hotels Association presented 12 scholarships to students from มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏภูเก็ต (Phuket Rajabhat University) at a ceremony yesterday.
These 12 new scholarship students bring to a total 24 students currently sponsored by Phuket Hotels Association at มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏภูเก็ต (Phuket Rajabhat University). Other Scholarship students are attending Phuket Vocational College (วิทยาลัยอาชีวศึกษาภูเก็ต) and Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism, PSU(Phuket). Congratulations to these hardworking students!

Phuket Hotels Association was pleased to present Scholarships to 12 students from มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏภูเก็ต (Phuket Rajabhat University). The scholarships will sponsor the duration of each students degree course and were made possible from funds raised at the annual PHAB fundraising event. The presentation was attended by Mr Wolfgang Meusberger (Education Committee Chairperson) , Jayne MacDougall and Julalak Phimarn from Phuket Hotels Association and from มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏภูเก็ต (Phuket Rajabhat University) Asst. Prof. Dr. Hiran Prasankarn (The President), Asst. Prof. Dr. Chidchanok Anantamongkolkul (Head of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Business Management) and Dr. Sanya Chimphimon (lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality Business Management). Scholarship students and their family are pictured.

Phuket Hotels Association’s Environment committee are hard at work finding ways to make a sustainable difference in member hotels as well as in the community.

Excellent training session!

Phuket Hotels Association’s members take Babysitter training seriously. Thank you to our medical trainers- Bangkok Hospital Siriroj and our host hotel Avista Grand Karon Phuket

Phuket Hotels Association attended the มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏภูเก็ต (Phuket Rajabhat University) PKRU จัดงานขอบคุณผู้สนับสนุนทุนการศึกษา Thanks for give a good chance #2 event at The Pago Design Hotel Phuket.
We are so proud to be able to sponsor students and help them realise their dreams!


PRPKRU (3 พฤศจิกายน 2566)

Phuket Hotels Association Education committee - Khun Wolfgang and Khun Orasa, are joined by Dr.Manop Chachiyo Vice -President: Student Affairs(Student development and technology digital)and Assist.Prof.Dr.Chitchanok Anatamongkonkul, Head of Tourism Business Management Department. This is all organised with the support of Dr.Sanya Chimphimon
Lecturer of Tourism Business Management (Student affair),Faculty of Management Science.
Below are scholarship candidates from มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏภูเก็ต (Phuket Rajabhat University)

Bjorn Courage, President of Phuket Hotels Association, joined Eddy Brosse ,Bas Van Straten, Urairat Van Straten and many others,at this weeks Skål International Phuket, Club #449 event at Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort Thailand.

Phuket Hotels Association was pleased to be a part of this amazing event! Our topic was "Your Sustainability Story, Prove It."

275 Travel Industry Thought Leaders Gather for the Fourth Annual TravMedia Summit Asia The fourth annual TravMedia Summit Asia, sponsored by Expedia, brought together 275 of Asia's best travel editors, writers, influencers and international travel and tourism brands from hotel groups, destinations, airlines, cruise lines, travel operators and attractions to network and discuss the cha...

PHIST 6 (Phuket Hotels Island Sustaining Tourism) showcased some major speakers, some great insights and colorful characters as we navigated sustainability in youth, design, wellness, alternative energy, green finance, certification and a range of topics central to hospitality and the way forward.
Phuket Hotels Association C9 Hotelworks Greenview

Phuket Hotels Association is pleased to be at the TravMedia Summit, joining in the conversation about sustainability in Tourism;
"Your Sustainability Story? Prove it"

Moderator: Paul Hicks, Founding Partner & CEO, GHC Asia;
Panellists: Jayne MacDougall, Executive Director, Phuket Hotels Association;
Khang Nguyen Trieu, Group Chief Technology Architect, Accor Tech;
Nicole Robinson, Chief Marketing Officer, andBeyond;
Rhea Vitto Tabora, Founding Editor-in-Chief, Travel Asia Now & Asia Sustainable Travel Briefing;
Valerie Loy, VP Marketing – East, South Asia and Pacific, Club Med
https://www.linkedin.com/company/travmedia/

Phuket Hotels Association President, Mr Bjorn Courage, joined the Executive Roundtable Meeting organised by Booking.com at Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town. Twenty Executives from Phuket hotels were invited to share their feedback and recommendations.

Phuket Hotels Association Environment Committee meet on a monthly basis to manage their projects. This Committee really is a force of nature!
Thankyou for your commitment!

Today Phuket Hotels Association celebrated World Food Day with member hotels donating food to the local community assisted by our partner Scholars of Sustenance Thailand - SOS Thailand, (Phuket Branch)who collected and distributed food at 18 locations around the Island. We were so grateful for the opportunity to support members of the community and the smiles were wonderful to see!

PHIST 6 (Phuket Hotels Island Sustaining Tourism)
"Partnerships between hotels and local farmers - a sustainable business initiative" (Workshop 16)
At this workshop, Thailand Organic Consumer Association (TOCA) demonstrated their work in Phuket and other provinces, linking hotels and restaurants on a long-term business partnership. Hotels benefit from farm-to-table organic menus while empowering farmers to convert to organic practices. Hotel food waste can be turned into compost for farmers, reducing their production cost and saving the environment.
Moderator: Arrut Navaraj, President, Thai Organic Consumer Association (TOCA)
● Pat Satkhum, Senior Manager, Sustainable Development Section MICE Capability Department, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB Thailand Conventions)
● Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk, Vice President - Operations Southern Thailand Dusit International & General Manager - Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket
● Kanokwan Keawuthai, Assistant of President, Phuket Rajabhat University &
Lecturer of Program in Sustainable Agriculture Innovation, Faculty Agricultural and
Technology Phuket Rajabhat University
● Sonthaya Kongthip, Member of Phuket Farmers' Council, Director of Phuket Farmers' Reconstruction and Development Fund, Chairman of Bangtao Sustainable Tourism Community Enterprise
Phuket Hotels Association C9 Hotelworks Greenview

Phuket Hotels Association in collaboration with the British Embassy in Thailand conducted a Workshop on "Tourism Safety and Security" on 03 October at SAii Laguna Phuket that featured speakers:-

-Sitthichai Tanthasith – Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports
-Police Captain Wichai Thongtaluang – Phuket Tourist Police ตำรวจท่องเที่ยวภูเก็ต
-Kantapong Ngamklang – Phuket Security Council
Other speakers included Joanne Finnamore-Crorkin, HM Consul and Ted Whyte from the British Embassy
The presentation were compelling and timely as both safety and security are a high priority in Phuket hotels.
Phuket Hotels Association

PHIST 6 (Phuket Hotels Island Sustaining Tourism)
"Sustainable Materials for Hospitality Designs" – (Workshop 15)
In the world of hospitality design, sustainability has become a key consideration for architects and designers. With a growing focus on environmental consciousness, the use of sustainable materials in building and construction has gained significant importance. This workshop explored the role of green design in hospitality, highlighting the benefits and possibilities that arise from incorporating sustainable materials into hotel and resort projects- in the hope to inspire architects and designers to create sustainable spaces that not only enhance guest experiences but also contribute to a greener future.

● Patrick Keane, Founder, Enter Projects
● Clint Nagata, Founder, BLINK Design
● Drew Anderson, Director, TOPO Design Studio
● Ploenchan Vinyaratn, Founder, Beyond Living
● Jerawan (Blue) Srepetchdanond, Director, Intrinsics Co., Ltd.
Phuket Hotels Association C9 Hotelworks Greenview

Many of our Phuket Hotels Association hotels are providing food for the activity on 9th October for World Food Day. Thank you for supporting Scholars of Sustenance in their efforts to feed the community in need!

SOS: Feed the people The Phuket branch of the Scholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS) Thailand is moving ahead with its goal of handing out 20,000 meals to people in need across the island on Oct 9, as part of its efforts

One of the issues addressed at PHIST 6 (Phuket Hotels Island Sustaining Tourism) focused on resource management, and a need for hotels at a destination to work together.
Here is an article about Phuket hotels and the need to gather data, use benchmarking and work together for a sustainable destination.

Greenview urges Phuket hotels to unite in benchmarking climate impact | TTG Asia Last month at Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism (PHIST) 2023, Greenview CEO and founder Eric Ricaurte urged Phuket hotels to unite in benchmarking themselves against existing data to measure where they stand in terms of climate impact.

Phuket Hotels Association's Marketing Committee meet with Mr Lerdchai Wangtrakoondee, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Phuket to discuss an exciting upcoming gastronomy event in Phuket.


RanjeetViswanathan, Nampetch Tipaxsorn, Polly Kanyapoj

PHIST 6 (Phuket Hotels Island Sustaining Tourism)
"Net Zero Roadmap for Hotels "(Workshop 13)
This workshop provided a comprehensive overview of net-zero as a concept and how hotels could achive this, in practical terms, based on the hotel net-zero methodology and practical use among several companies to-date.

● Sahil Aggarwal, Manager, Greenview
● Kah Heng Leong, Senior Analyst, Greenview
Phuket Hotels Association C9 Hotelworks Greenview

PHIST 6 (Phuket Hotels Island Sustaining Tourism)
"Unleashing the Power of the Sun: A Deep Dive into Solar Energy"

As we strive towards a cleaner and greener future, workshops like the one focused on renewable energy are invaluable. This workshop gave a comprehensive understanding of various renewable energy options, with a particular emphasis on solar energy.
Attendees gained an in-depth understanding of solar power generation, its applications, and its pivotal role in the renewable energy landscape.
● Jonny Grier, Managing Director, Sunsear
Phuket Hotels Association C9 Hotelworks Greenview

The first ever "Andaman Sustainable Tourism Forum" was held at the Ramada Plaza Chao Fah Phuket. This great event featured speakers from across Thailand and included a panel session on "Turning Thailand to Sustainable MICE Destination". Mr Bjorn Courage, President of Phuket Hotels Association was one of the panelists, which included Thai Hotels Association, TCEB Thailand Conventions, and Thailand Incentive and Convention Association - TICA representatives.

Mr Bjorn Courage, President of Phuket Hotels Association attended the 1st Food (Before) Waste Chefs Table on 27th September.

PHIST 6 (Phuket Hotels Island Sustaining Tourism)
""Hotel Green Teams – Searching for Inspiration (Workshop 12) This workshop featured four organisations giving practical guidance to hotels -sharing best practices that green champions and teams could easily introduce to support sustainability initiatives in their organisation and simple strategies to support decision making. This included topics of plastic prevention, hotel sustainability, energy saving, minimising food waste and recycling.
● Speakers
○ Jayne MacDougall Executive Director, Phuket Hotels Association
○ Paul Pruangkarn, Chief of Staff, PATA
○ Michelle Mouille, Founder, Sustainable Mai Khao Foundation
○ Tanaporn Oi-isaranukul, Senior Operations Manager, Scholars of Sustenance Thailand (SOS)
Phuket Hotels Association C9 Hotelworks Greenview

Today Phuket Hotels Association conducted a Workshop on the Personal Data Protection Act B.E.2562 presented by Mr Sukris Koyakradej and Mr Pongsak Tham from DBC Group, Ms Nantida Atiset from Katathani Phuket Beach Resort and Mr Kittikorn Buraphachayanont from Onetrust. Thankyou to Amari Phuket who hosted this workshop.