The sixth annual Asian sustainability-focused learning event PHIST 2023 (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism) took place in a dynamic in-person setting on Monday, 4th September 2023, at the SAii Laguna Phuket, Thailand, with speakers from across Asia.

PHIST6 is an ongoing event collaboration between the Phuket Hotels Association, Greenview and C9 Hotelworks, with support from the American Chamber of Commerce Thailand (AMCHAM), QUO, Creative Concept AV and Delivering Asia Communications.

This year, PHIST mission was to foster sustainable growth on tourism islands, uniting hospitality leaders from Bali, the Maldives, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Their aim was to exchange best practices, discuss challenges, and share insights gleaned from hotels and hotel associations. Emphasizing a regional perspective, the event drew a wide range of participants, including hoteliers, individual owners, developers, operators, educators, and product exhibitors, all converging to enrich the knowledge base of Phuket’s hotel industry and its broader community.

Traveloka PHIST 2023Traveloka sponsored the GSTC Sustainable Hotel Course in Thai, on the 4th and 5th of September, for Phuket Hotels Association (PHA) Members. The training was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable tourism practices in Thailand. The trainer was Pornpol Noithammaraj, Sustainable Tourism Consultant. 


Koko Tang, Co-founder and CEO of Vinetree Tourism and Member of the GSTC Board of Director and GSTC CEO, Randy Durband
greeted the participants at the beginning of the training.

GSTC at PHIST 2023GSTC CEO, Randy Durband led a Workshop at the PHIST 2023 event, on Monday 4th, on “Implementing the GSTC Criteria Development” a masterclass on understanding the GSTC process of certification and its Criteria, sharing best practices and examples of implementing specific Criteria to get one step closer to being GSTC aligned. Participants came from accredited certification bodies, GSTC hotel company practitioners and other key hospitality and tourism organizations and individuals.