PHIST 2022 delves into most important trends impacting South East Asian hospitality and tourism industry

September 29, 2022

The recently held PHIST 5 (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Southeast Asia’s renowned tourism and hospitality forum, returned on 26th September to deliver a live, in-person gathering with the event tackling key topics impacting the region and supporting the green recovery of hotels and tourism operators following the global pandemic.

Hosted at ACES, Angsana Laguna Phuket, the theme of this year’s PHIST was Muay Thai, the high-energy, culturally-rich sport of Thai boxing, which has gained fame and popularity around the world and represents the battle to preserve authentic art, heritage and tradition. Muay Thai fighters from Australia, Brazil, Thailand and the USA faced off in the main hall of ACES on Monday in a series of ‘super fights’.

Keynote speakers provided insights on the critical issues facing the industry, including community tourism, green operations, ocean health, destination management, post-COVID trends and more. This included the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ – seven verbal bouts between two speakers, culminating in a battle of the heavyweights.

A series of expert-led workshops focused on practical subjects such as ‘Green Finance for Hotels’, ‘Zero Waste’ and ‘Materials for Sustainable Tourism’ and a Green Expo presented a comprehensive selection of innovative, eco-friendly products from approximately 30 exhibitors.

Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks and the co-founder & co-organiser of PHIST shared “we are so pleased that PHIST returned this week as a live, face-to-face event. The global pandemic disrupted every aspect of our lives, but perhaps if it had one positive outcome it is that it forced the world to live, work and think more sustainably. At PHIST 5, we dug deep into the most important trends effecting the industry and delivered practical, workable solutions that hoteliers and business owners can use to boost their operations at this challenging time – and future-proof them for years to come.”

Bjorn Courage, President of the Phuket Hotels Association advised “last year, even when many businesses were struggling to stay above water, we saw the travel trade come together at our virtual forum to advance the cause of sustainability. This week, as 500 delegates from across Southeast Asia met face-to-face at PHIST 5, we were able to share more ideas and put our pledges into action. Collaboration is the key – when people come together, great things can happen. What we decided at PHIST can drive positive benefits for your business and the entire region. It was great to see everyone jumping in the ring and getting involved!”

Hope Uy, Managing Director of South Palms Resort in Panglao added “Islands such as Panglao and Phuket feel environmental and social issues even more acutely than other destinations. Fresh water, waste disposal, coral bleaching; these are not only concepts – they impact our lives and operations on a day-to-day basis. The only sustainable solution is to work hand-in-hand with communities and to create a circular economy. I was delighted to come together with like-minded people at PHIST 5 to share our experiences and offer workable solutions.”

Kevin Deisser, Chief Executive and Founder of Invest Islands also shared “in a diverse archipelago such as Indonesia, preserving the integrity of island life is at the heart of everything with do. Every development we undertake must have a positive impact on local people, and, if undertaken in the right way, this will drive long-term benefits to all parties. In Indonesia and across Southeast Asia, indigenous people have already established highly sustainable ways of life. As outsiders, tourism providers and developers need to work with the islanders and learn from them.”

Eric Ricaurte, founder and Chief Executive of Greenview, concluded “prior to the pandemic, traveller mindsets were already changing. Now, with travel and tourism at a crossroads, people are wanting more authentic experiences that connect them with their chosen destination. Our PHIST workshops were designed to create best practices for hotels that will not only strengthen their sustainability objectives, but also bring them closer to the local community. Tourism plays a pivotal role in the development of islands, so it is critical that we act responsibly.”

An exciting new feature at this year’s PHIST was the inaugural award for ‘Sustainable Design Innovation’, which was presented to Patrick Keane, founder of Enter Projects. Founded in 2005, Enter Projects has created myriad award-winning projects and continues to gain global acclaim for its eco-master planning, architecture and interior services.

For more information, please visit phist.phukethotelsassociation.com.

Image top: (from left) Kevin Deisser, CEO & Founder of Invest Islands; Bjorn Courage, President of the Phuket Hotels Association; Hope Uy, Managing Director of South Palms Resort in Panglao; and Eric Ricaurte, founder & CEO of Greenview; image centre: 500 delegates from across Southeast Asia met face-to-face at PHIST 5 and took part in a series of practical, expert-led workshops; image above: the Green Expo presented a comprehensive selection of innovative, eco-friendly products from 30 exhibitors

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