Akyra TAS Sukhumvit Bangkok, set to open its doors in May 2018, will be the first new hotel in Asia to launch without any single-use plastic featured in its rooms or food and beverage outlets.
The hotel will included a total of 50 rooms, offering guests stylish and comfortable urban accommodation in the heart of Thailand’s capital city. Ideally located on Sukhumvit Soi 20, an area of Bangkok known for its great atmosphere, the hotel is conveniently placed for high-end retail, green recreation spaces and fine dining. Thanks to the group’s sustainable initiatives, guests can also stay with a minimal carbon footprint and a clear conscience.
Akaryn Hotel Group encompasses two brands within its organisation – namely the Aleenta and Akyra hotels – both of which embody the environmentally conscious ethos of the company. Anchalika Kijkanakorn, who is the founder and Managing Director of Akaryn Hotel Group, wants to extend this sustainable philosophy to the guest experience.
“Our eco-friendly approach in Bangkok began by sourcing glass bottles and containers, with a commitment to no single-use plastic used in the restaurants or bars,†explained Anchalika. “The hotel will extend the initiative for guests on the go with stylish akyra stainless steel water bottles presented on arrival that can be refilled anytime during their stay,†she continued.
The water bottles can be re-filled on each floor of the hotel, then taken by guests onto excursions; thereby also reducing the amount of waste impacting on the surrounding area. In addition to its water bottle initiative, the hotel’s rooms will also feature biodegradable bin bags, locally manufactured ceramics for bathroom amenities and reusable shopping bags for guests’ retail excursions into the city.
It is estimated that more than 8 million tonnes of plastic are thrown away each year, the majority of which ends up in the world’s oceans. Recently, a ‘7th continent’ composed entirely of floating waste was discovered in the Pacific Ocean, covering an area of more than 3.4 million square metres. As the world begins waking up to the dangers of plastic, the role of hoteliers and the service industry becomes ever-more pivotal in the quest for solutions to climate change.
“Consumers are now more and more frequently seeking out responsible businesses that take care of our planet and we are proud to have been such a company since we first began operating some 15 years ago,†added Ms. Kijkanakorn.
Akaryn Hotel Group aims to eliminate single-use plastics from all of its hotels by 2020.
