• For every 1-night stay at AWC-affiliated hotels, guests will participate in nurturing 1 tree, contributing to the reforestation of the community forest, helping restore biodiversity and fostering income opportunities for local communities, while enhancing their overall well-being through collaboration with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation.
• “AWC Stay to Sustain” aims to reforest approximately 500,000 trees annually, covering over 5,000 Rai, absorbing the equivalent of 2,500 tons of carbon dioxide. Restoring the biodiversity in the ecosystem aligns with AWC’s commitment towards carbon neutrality by 2030, while generating income for local communities dedicated to forest preservation to foster equitable economic growth.
• In collaboration with Mae Fah Luang Foundation, AWC sources local products from over 230 communities to be used in AWC affiliated hotels and sold in The GALLERY, showcasing Thai handicrafts to tourists, while generating income for local artisans.

(From left to right) Mrs. Wallapa Traisorat, Chief Executive Officer and President, Asset World Corp Public Company Limited, Ms.Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand and M.L. Dispanadda Diskul, CEO of Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage

10^th October 2023 - Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real estate group, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Mae Fah Luang Foundation under the Royal Patronage, invites hotel guests to participate in the "AWC Stay to Sustain" project to conserve and restore trees in community forests to strengthen biodiversity in the ecosystem and oxygen production to benefit the planet's atmosphere. This initiative will also generate income within local communities which provide important long-term support for the national economy. The project underscores AWC’s commitment to conducting business in alignment with its sustainable framework (3BETTERs), encompassing BETTER PLANET, BETTER PEOPLE, and BETTER PROSPERITY in line with TAT's ultimate goal to promote low-carbon tourism and propel Thailand to become a world leader in building sustainable.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said that "TAT is delighted that AWC, with its affiliated hotels in Bangkok and other major cities across the country, has initiated the “AWC Stay to Sustain” project as a model for the Thai tourism industry to offer unique experiences to travelers, allowing them to contribute to the sustainability of the environment and society in Thailand. TAT supports entrepreneurs in transitioning towards carbon-neutral tourism in alignment with the BCG model. We also encourage them to establish clear and standardized operational outcome measures at international standards. This aligns with TAT's strategic plan to elevate Thailand as a world-class sustainable tourism destination, enhancing the competitiveness of the Thai tourism sector and aiming to attract the growing number of travelers who prioritize sustainable tourism practices.

Mrs. Wallapa Traisorat, Chief Executive Officer, Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), said that " AWC and our 22 affiliated hotels nationwide have a shared vision to drive sustainable tourism to conserve the environment, mitigate global warming, and contribute to sustainable tourism in Thailand in line with TAT’s strategy. We aim to offer sustainable tourism experiences for our guests, responding to the demands of travelers who seek eco-friendly travel options and wish to support local communities in the areas they visit. Thus, AWC is proud to launch the “AWC Stay to Sustain” project, starting on 10^th October 2023, coinciding with the 4^th anniversary of AWC's listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Through this project, we offer hotel guests the chance to engage in the reforestation of Thailand's community forests. Each 1-night stay at AWC-affiliated hotels contributes to the care of one tree to conserve and restore the community forest. This initiative supports the projects led by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, ensuring the long-term preservation of forests, and fostering income opportunities for the communities dedicated to forest preservation. These efforts also align with the Tourism Authority of Thailand's commitment for promoting sustainable tourism, encompassing environmental, community, and society dimensions.”

M.L. Dispanadda Diskul, CEO of Mae Fah Luang Foundation under the Royal Patronage, said that "The Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage has continuously carried on our development work according to royal initiatives with 'Reforestation and Cultivation of People' for almost four decades. We are pleased to collaborate with AWC in harmonizing our dedication to restore the ecological balance and conserve natural resources through the mechanism of economic, social, environmental development, and community empowerment. This partnership brings together expertise and experience to enhance the quality of life in communities around the forests, preserving the environment in Thailand and around the world simultaneously. Reforestation and conservation are pivotal factors in our pursuit of carbon neutrality, as well as in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, both at the organizational and national levels. This encompasses efforts to mitigate global warming and decrease forest fires. The foundation will allocate the proceeds from the 'AWC Stay to Sustain' project to develop a carbon credit assessment system and establish two community funds: a Forest Care Fund and the Sustainable Community Development Fund. These funds aim to generate income for the community while protecting the country's biodiversity.”

The "AWC Stay to Sustain" project is one of the initiatives under AWC’s sustainability framework (3BETTERs) through collaboration with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, focusing on long-term reforestation. AWC aims to support the reforestation of approximately 500,000 trees each year, totaling more than 5,000 rai, capable of absorbing the equivalent of approximately 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide. By staying for just one night, guests can contribute to the conservation of one tree, effectively absorbing the equivalent of approximately 9-15 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year. This aligns with AWC's target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

Furthermore, AWC will collaborate with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation to bolster community income generation efforts. This involves sourcing handicraft products from communities nationwide to adorn the leading global partner hotel brands under AWC and bring high-quality agricultural products from local communities to guests in the hotel. This initiative not only allows Thai artists to showcase their quality craftsmanship to travelers from around the world, but also contributes to sustainability, fostering a stable and prosperous society with equitable economic growth.

"AWC has also collaborated with various global hotel brand partners to create activities under the ‘AWC Be Better’ to offer sustainable tourism experiences to tourists from around the world so they can be a part of our sustainability efforts, such as

1) BETTER PLANET: Banyan Tree Samui and Banyan Tree Krabi have initiated a project that invites tourists to participate in beach clean-up activities and has successfully collected over 7 tons of litter from the beaches. In addition, 9 hotels under AWC have joined the project to deliver 186,880 meals from good quality surplus food to the community, helping to reduce the amount of waste from operations going to landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of more than 112 tons of carbon dioxide for safeguarding natural systems.

2) BETTER PEOPLE: Meliá Chiang Mai implemented the 360° Cuisine program that offers tourists the chance to select ingredients from the hotel's organic farm for cooking. Additionally, tourists can explore the farm to gain insights into sustainable farming practices while also supporting local farmers. Leftover food from meals is returned to the farm for composting, effectively reducing waste within the hotel and minimizing the environmental footprint. Furthermore, the social enterprise project 'The GALLERY,' serves as a distribution hub for products sourced from local communities within AWC-affiliated hotels.

3) BETTER PROSPERITY: Collaborating with global hotel partners to create activities that enable sustainability metrics aimed at generating community income, reducing social disparities, and promoting sustainable consumption and production. This effort also involves developing a sustainable and resilience supply chain where all stakeholders can mutually benefit and share value in a sustainable manner.

AWC believes that the collaborative efforts among the government, private sector, civil society, and communities will strengthen Thailand's tourism industry in becoming a global sustainable destination. Together, we strive to 'Build a Better Future' for all stakeholders", Mrs. Wallapa concluded.

In addition, AWC has targeted all affiliated hotel and retails to achieve certifications from the "Star of Sustainability" by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, in line with TAT's Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs). This reflects AWC's commitment to applying sustainable development covering the economy, society, environment, and good corporate governance, across every aspect of our business to create long-term value for all stakeholders in the value chain, while propelling Thailand towards becoming a global destination for sustainable tourism.