Businesses often strive to be environmentally responsible, and rightfully so, especially in a world where short-term ecological imprints make a lasting impression on the ecosystems around us. For the ONYX Hospitality Group, this commitment to being sustainable is an important part of their business practice. In partnering with UNESCO for cultural sustainability, ONYX Hospitality Group is determined to work toward carbon neutrality goals while also safeguarding cultural heritage and community-based tourism across Asia-Pacific.
For Christopher Stafford, co-founder of the Visama Hospitality Group and The Occident & Orient Company, this determination to help maintain the cultural richness of Asia-Pacific has helped make him a visionary in hospitality.
His goal of creating luxury experiences that blend the elegance and cultural richness of Asia-Pacific is displayed in the Visama Mae Chen, which is a tented camp nestled in the beautiful, verdant landscapes of northern Thailand. The camp focuses on sustainable practices. These include growing food in organic vegetable plots and providing non-pesticide rice paddies on their diverse menus. Guests often gravitate toward these activities if they are offered during their stay. The camp’s environmentally friendly practices also make use of local sourcing, making Visama Mae Chan a responsible travel experience for anyone looking to adventure with them.
Beyond its sustainability practices, the ONYX Hospitality Group is dedicated to helping support local communities. Visama Mae Chen works with the Friends of Thai Daughters Foundation to help provide employment and training opportunities for local women. This helps to not only empower these women but also contributes to the preservation of local cultures and traditions.
Visama Mae Chen is setting new environmental standards in the hospitality industry. Through the use of banana leaf materials, recyclable amenities, and other ecologically friendly services, Visama Mae Chen is working to minimize the ecological footprint that is often so damaging. This serves as an example to others in the industry and gives them a practical map toward a better environmental footprint. Their practices are about reducing human waste and creating a more sustainable future for everyone.
ONYX Hospitality Group’s commitment to this type of sustainability extends beyond Visama Mae Chen, however. The group is working to support WWF Thailand through sustainable projects and has achieved Carbon Footprint for Organization certification for 11 of their properties. Their plans to expand their portfolio to 50 properties by 2025 and 70 properties by 2028 pose ONYX Hospitality Group to lead the way in responsible tourism. This practice benefits not just the environment, but the people who use their services as well.
With human impact on the environment becoming undeniable as time progresses, it is encouraging to see that companies such as ONYX Hospitality Group are taking action to help reduce their ecological footprints. Their partnership with UNESCO, and their focus on cultural sustainability, along with their commitment to carbon neutrality, is helping set a precedent within their industry and beyond. The group hopes that, as more time goes on, more companies will follow in their footsteps. This will help create not only a more sustainable environment but also a more culturally rich and diverse world for everyone within it.
