Chris Kaiser, former manager of the award-winning eco-resort and elephant sanctuary Elephant Hills, has developed a new way for travelers to protect the environment – ​​simply by booking a room: B'n'Tree. The concept of B'n'Tree (bed and tree) is as simple as it is effective: For every booking made through a partner link on the B'n'Tree website, a tree is planted free of charge.

B'n'Tree currently invests 100% of its profits in tree planting in countries such as Thailand, Ecuador, and Madagascar. In southern Thailand alone, B'n'Tree has already enabled the planting of 6,000 trees. The planted species primarily include banana palms and fishtail palms, as these are very popular with elephants. The trees help keep wild animals away from human settlements. Tree planting not only helps offset CO₂ emissions caused by tourism but also creates jobs for the local population and contributes to the restoration of habitats for endangered species – including the elephants of southern Thailand.

Company founder Chris Kaiser shares his inspiration and the goals of B'n'Tree with us here.

Where did the inspiration for B'n'Tree come from?

The main inspiration for B'n'Tree came from my work with elephants in southern Thailand since 2012. Witnessing firsthand the dramatic effects of deforestation and learning how many wild elephants suffered as a result awakened in me the desire to find a solution.

Having worked in the tourism industry for over 10 years, witnessed the growth in this sector, and heard from many travelers about the high demand for responsible travel these days, I developed the idea of ​​"Trees for Travellers", which led to the creation of B'n'Tree.

The idea was to empower travelers to contribute to the environmental sustainability of their destination. The challenge was to make this as simple and affordable as possible, so that everyone could participate without hesitation. Thanks to our partnerships with global providers like booking.com, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, planting trees during your trip is now completely free – just a single click away. Protecting our planet Earth has never been easier.

How many trees would you like to plant this year?

Good question. In July, I gave a presentation and ambitiously promised to plant 12,000 trees by the end of the year. By the end of August, we had planted 11,583 trees, most of them in Thailand.

This September we're planting another 7,500 trees – so we've sensationally exceeded our goal. I'm thrilled with how well the idea has been received and how many people not only want to participate but also support the project. Many travelers have discussed the idea with their employers to make B'n'Tree their central hub for all their private and business travel needs – simply fantastic!

With all this incredible support, I am confident that we can plant a total of 30,000 trees this year and aim for a six-figure number in 2019.

Where will the trees be planted?

So far, the majority of the trees have been planted in southern Thailand. As the project gained more recognition, we contacted people in other countries who also asked for our support with their reforestation efforts. More trees have been planted in Madagascar and Ecuador. In September, additional trees will contribute to the reforestation of Kenya.

We have now also received inquiries from Nepal, India and Indonesia, three other countries that are suffering enormously from deforestation.

This month we'd like to ask our community which country they'd like to support next. You can vote HERE until October 15th. As an added incentive: For every vote cast, we'll plant a tree free of charge.

In addition to new projects, we will of course continue to collaborate with our existing partners in Thailand and Madagascar. Our goal is to create a sustainable and regular income for the local communities. This will allow workers to rely on their wages and send their children to school.

Will this help travelers offset their carbon footprint on their trip to Thailand?

Yes, of course. But it's so much more than that. As mentioned before, planting trees creates valuable jobs for the local population. Trees combat climate change, prevent soil erosion, absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere, provide shade and thus cool the earth's surface. And last but not least, they offer much-needed habitat for endangered animal species, such as my beloved elephants.

Trees play a vital role in tackling many global problems. That's why we've chosen this path to save our planet Earth. And we are incredibly grateful to everyone who supports us in our mission.

Do you have a final message for the readers of Amazing Thailand?

Please help us save our planet Earth! It's never been easier, and participation is completely free for all users.