In the last four weeks Zeavola Resort on Phi Phi Island, Thailand, has scooped Best Hotel in the 2019 Responsible Thailand Awards organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Wanderlust magazine. It was also voted Best Eco Friendly Resort in Thailand and Best Honeymoon Hideaway Resort in Thailand in the Haute Grandeur Global Awards.
Mr Wattana Watjanakomkul, UK representative for Zeavola Resort, collected the Best Hotel Award on stage from Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sport, Mr Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, on 4 November at the World Travel Market in London.
The TAT said that the awards recognise organisations in the travel and tourism industry that have made an outstanding contribution to sustainable tourism developments, helping protect the country whilst engaging and educating tourists on local environmental issues.
For the TAT award, readers of Wanderlust magazine nominated 339 organisations. A panel of five travel industry experts whittled the list down to six winners in marine, nature and heritage, animal welfare, community based tourism, eco-lodge, green steps, and best hotel categories.
A TAT/Wanderlust statement said that the judges were impressed by Zeavola Resort’s 42-pageLittle Green Book, an eco-manual and motivational booklet for tropical resort managers. It was published by Zeavola’s General Manager, Florian Hallermann in June. The manual gives practical tips on reducing water consumption and single-use plastic and how to aerate water and efficiently turn wet waste into compost, among other initiatives.
“The TAT/Wanderlust award is really an honour,” said Hallermann, “especially since the judges are among the most informed advocates of responsible tourism around the world. The other winners are a ‘Who’s Who’ of sustainability in the Thai hotel scene. So receiving ‘Best Hotel’ is a true honour.”
On receiving two different eco-awards in a few weeks, Zeavola’s General Manager said thatZeavola’s Little Green Book had caught the travel industry’s imagination as it was an easy-to-use summary about turning environmental theory into practice. “The book shows what responsible hoteliers can do to make a positive difference through reducing, reusing, recycling, respecting nature, and listening to local communities,” he said.
At the Haute Grandeur Global Awards in Kuala Lumpur on 19 October, apart from winning the Best Eco Friendly Hotel in Thailand Award, Zeavola Resort also won the Best Honeymoon Hideaway Resort in Thailand Award.
On receiving the awards, Hallermann said that the 53-villa Zeavola Resort was known around the world as a sanctuary for honeymooners, due to its “back-to-simplicity approach matched with barefoot luxury and personalised service”.
In 2019 there has been an upsurge in honeymooners visiting Zeavola from markets such as Mexico, Brazil, Europe and especially USA.
Hallermann said the three awards should be dedicated to Zeavola’s staff.
“It’s their local knowledge and commitment to welcoming guests and being smart about environmental matters that make Zeavola Resort a truly remarkable experience for guests.”
.jpg){kind=tracking}
