Phuket, Thailand, July 22, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Approximately 1,000 participants are expected at the dynamic full-day forum in Phuket on September 4, 2023. The program includes 16 workshops and exclusive fireside chats with two legendary industry innovators. PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Southeast Asia's largest sustainability event for the travel and hospitality industry, returns with a bang this September. The inspiring full-day forum will be led by KP Ho, founder of the Banyan Tree Group and pioneer of Laguna Phuket, one of the region's most influential figures.

As part of a double event, he will be accompanied by civil rights activist, artist, and hotel designer Bill Bensley, who will be interviewed by PHIST organizer Bill Barnett. KP Ho will be interviewed by David Johnson of Delivering Asia Communications.

Organized by the Phuket Hotels Association, C9 Hotelworks, and Greenview, PHIST 6 will take place on September 4, 2023, at SAii Laguna Phuket, returning to full capacity with approximately 1,000 travel and hospitality professionals expected from across the Asia-Pacific region. This unique learning opportunity will enable them to...

KP Ho, a journalist and later hotelier, recognized the crucial importance of sustainability long before it became a buzzword. As the founder of Banyan Tree, he played a key role in transforming Laguna Phuket from a barren, lunar landscape – abandoned by tin mining and declared uninhabitable by the UN – into Southeast Asia's leading integrated resort.

This paved the way for the first luxurious and environmentally sustainable Banyan Tree resort in 1994, featuring the world's first pool villas. The company now operates over 100 hotels and resorts, either already open or in development. The Banyan Tree Global Foundation was established to promote conservation and the development of local communities.

Bill Bensley has designed some of Asia's most outstanding hotels for 30 years and has received numerous international awards and accolades for his respectful approach to the environment and his purposeful design. Like KP, he will share his personal story and philosophy with guests in only 100 sessions. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition, guests can look forward to numerous learning opportunities: In 16 interactive workshops, industry experts will share best practices on important and forward-looking environmental topics such as waste, renewable energy, certification, female leadership in sustainability, and glamping. Jesper Palmqvist, Area Director of STR Global for the Asia-Pacific region, will lead a panel discussion as part of the "Green Think Tank." Participants include representatives from islands such as Bohol, Bali, Koh Samui, Phuket, Phu Quoc, Singapore, and the Maldives. The "Eco Travel Show" will present environmentally friendly products from exhibitors specializing in outdoor activities like glamping. In the "Farm to Fork" workshop, guests will learn more about the origins of food at two Michelin-starred restaurants in Phuket. The "Women in Leadership" session will explore the issue of gender equality.

Jayne MacDougall, CEO of the Phuket Hotel Association, said: “We are thrilled to announce the return of PHIST, Southeast Asia’s largest sustainability event, for its sixth edition. This year, we are kicking things off with a bang, expecting 1,000 guests for a full-day program that will shake up the industry, challenge traditional notions, and put learning at the forefront. We are also delighted to welcome KP Ho back to Phuket. As the man who has contributed so much to advancing the island’s tourism sector and strengthening sustainability, he is the ideal figure to inspire our attendees. We look forward to seeing everyone at PHIST in September.”

PHIST 6 sponsors include: New Capital Energy Asia, Central CPN, Blue Tree, XCO2, Banyan Tree Phuket and SAii Laguna Phuket, with beverages provided by Greenery Water, JCD Coffee and FullMoon Brewery.

Support also comes from like-minded partners such as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Thailand Hotels Association (THA), the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), the Thailand Organic Certificate Association (TOCA), the American Chamber of Commerce Thailand, QUO, Laguna Phuket and Delivering Asia Communications.

Further information about PHIST 6 can be found at phist.phukethotelsassociation.com

To register, please visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/phist-6-phuket-hotels-island-sustaining-tourism-tickets-644279787187

Members of the Phuket Hotels Association are: Absolute Twin Sands Resort & Spa, AMANPURI, Amari Phuket, Amora Beach Resort, Anantara Layan Phuket Resort, Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao Phuket, Andara Resort, Angsana Phuket, Angsana Phuket, Avista Grand Phuket Karon – Mgallery, Avista Hotels & Resorts, Baan Laimai, Baan Yin Dee Boutique Resort, Banyan Tree Phuket, Best Western Patong, Burasari Phuket, Cape Sienna Phuket Gourmet Hotel & Villas, Cassia Phuket, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, COMO Point Yamu, Courtyard Marriott Phuket Town, Dewa Phuket Resort, DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Fisherman Way Beach Villa, Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort, Hilton Garden Inn Phuket Bangtao, Holiday Inn Resort Phuket, HOMA Phuket, Homm Bliss Southbeach Patong, Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, InterContinental Phuket Resort, Island Escape by Burasari, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Kata Rocks Resort & Residences, Keemala, Koyao Island Resort, Kudo Hotel and Beach Club, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, Maikhao Dream Villa Resort & Spa, Centara Boutique Collection, Mangosteen Ayurveda & Wellness Resort, Marina Gallery Resort-KACHA-Kalim Bay, Melia Phuket, Karon Residences, Melia Phuket Mai Khao, Metadee Concept Hotel, Mövenpick Myth Hotel Patong Phuket, Mövenpick Resort Bangtao Beach Phuket, My Beach Resort Phuket, Narai Mai Khao Resort, NH Boat Lagoon Phuket Resort, Nonnee Kata Beach Phuket, Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach, Outrigger Surin Beach Resort, Paresa, Phuket Graceland, Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, Pullman Panwa Phuket, Pullman Phuket Arcadia Karon Beach Resort, Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach, Radisson Resort and Suites Phuket, Radisson Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach, Rayaburi Hotel Patong, Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, Rosewood Phuket, SAii Laguna Phuket, Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resorts & Spa, Selina Serenity Rawai Phuket, Six Senses Yao Noi, Stay Wellbeing & Lifestyle Resort, Thanyapura Sports & Health Resort, Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa Phuket, The AIM Patong, The Bell Pool Villa, The Boathouse Phuket, The Nai Harn Phuket, The Naka Island, a luxury collection Resort & Spa, Phuket, The Pavilions Phuket, The Shore at Katathani, The Slate, Phuket, The Surin, The Village Coconut Island, The Westin Siray Bay, Tree House Villas Koh Yao, Trisara, Twinpalms Montazure, Twinpalms Phuket, V Villas Phuket, Villa Phukhao, Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay, Wyndham Grand Phuket Naiharn.