Three hotels in Chonburi, Thailand, have won awards for green tourism, showing how hotels can cut energy and water use, reduce waste and work with local communities while still giving guests a good stay. The awards were announced on 1 November 2026 at the Ultimate Thailand Green Tourism Showcase 2026, organised by Thailand’s Department of Tourism as part of the Chonburi Smart Green Tourism initiative.
The winning hotels all belong to ONYX Hospitality Group. Amari Pattaya and OZO North Pattaya were recognised in the Creativity & Innovation category, while Amari Bangsaen received the Unique WOW Experience award. The awards recognise responsible operations, local engagement and measurable sustainability results, according to the announcement.
What the hotels were recognised for
The awards reflect a broad approach to sustainability management rather than a single initiative. The areas covered include energy and water efficiency, waste management, carbon reduction, community and stakeholder engagement, recognised environmental standards and measurable results.
ONYX describes its approach through its “Sustainably Crafted Hospitality” philosophy. Under it, sustainability is treated as part of everyday operations, decision-making and resource management, rather than as a separate programme. That includes responsible resource management and procurement, support for local communities and producers, talent development, and guest experiences that connect travellers more closely with the places they visit.
ONYX for Planet and measurable results
The awards sit under ONYX for Planet, the group’s sustainability framework, which brings environmental, social and governance principles into its business operations and hotel management. Sukamal Mondal, vice president for operations and sustainability and community engagement at ONYX Hospitality Group, said sustainability creates real value when principles are translated into meaningful, locally relevant action.
“Every hotel operates within its own community and environment, so our approach must respond to that context,” Mondal said. He added that the group is moving beyond individual initiatives to demonstrate impact: what has changed, what value has been created and, wherever possible, how progress can be measured.
That emphasis on measurement matters for travellers. Green claims in tourism are often hard to check, so awards tied to standards and reported results give guests a clearer signal than a label alone. The group says its focus is now on transparency and accountability as it grows across the Asia-Pacific region.
Certification and cleaner energy
Beyond the three hotels, ONYX Hospitality (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has achieved GSTC Hotel Multi-site Certification, showing alignment with internationally recognised standards for sustainable tourism. The certification was issued by Control Union Singapore Pte. Ltd., a certification body accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
The group has also partnered with CarbonWize to develop its environmental, social and governance data management system and greenhouse gas emissions monitoring framework. Through a partnership with SP Group, it is exploring energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions at suitable properties in Thailand.
At Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok Hotel, SP Group’s Cooling-as-a-Service solution has been in operation since April 2026. According to the company, it is expected to reduce energy consumption by more than 40 percent, save approximately 900,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and reduce carbon emissions by around 449 tonnes each year. Those are company projections for the system, not independently audited results, and they illustrate how hotel cooling — a major energy cost in a tropical climate — can become a climate action in its own right.
Why this matters for green travel
Hotels are a large part of a trip’s footprint: they use energy for cooling, lighting and hot water, consume large amounts of water, and produce waste from rooms, restaurants and laundry. When a hotel cuts those impacts and involves local producers and communities, the benefit reaches beyond its own buildings.
For travellers, the Chonburi awards point to practical things to look for: recognised certification, published energy and waste figures, local hiring and sourcing, and experiences that support the destination rather than strain it. A related industry survey, the Trip.com Group 2026 Sustainable Travel Consumer Report, found that 75.4 percent of respondents said sustainability matters when they travel, while price and difficulty identifying greener options remained the main barriers. Recognition schemes that publish their criteria help close that gap.
For more climate coverage from this desk, see our COP31 story on Himalayan climate action from Nepal and Bhutan.
Key facts
- Three ONYX hotels in Chonburi won awards at the Ultimate Thailand Green Tourism Showcase 2026, announced 1 November 2026.
- Amari Pattaya and OZO North Pattaya won in the Creativity & Innovation category; Amari Bangsaen won the Unique WOW Experience award.
- The showcase was organised by Thailand’s Department of Tourism under the Chonburi Smart Green Tourism initiative.
- ONYX Hospitality (Thailand) holds GSTC Hotel Multi-site Certification, issued by Control Union Singapore.
- Cooling-as-a-Service at Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok Hotel is expected by the company to save about 900,000 kWh and around 449 tonnes of carbon emissions a year.
