Centara ESG progress highlights a 16-year journey of environmental, social and governance action, GSTC certification for all properties, and measurable cuts in emissions, water use, waste and resource consumption.
Centara ESG progress reflects a 16-year commitment to responsible tourism, with Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, announcing significant advances across its Environmental, Social and Governance pillars. From its headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, on 27 November 2025, the group reaffirmed its ambition to drive sustainable tourism and elevate Thailand’s hospitality sector through responsible and forward-thinking business practices.
Guided by a core philosophy of warm Thai hospitality enriched with innovation, family values, and environmental responsibility, Centara continues to strengthen its long-term sustainability framework. The goal is to deliver meaningful and measurable impacts for guests, local communities, and the planet while embedding ESG into core hotel operations and investment decisions.
C-E-N-T-A-R-A Sustainability Blueprint and 16-year journey
Centara ESG progress is anchored in a structured approach to environmental management that began in 2009 and now spans almost two decades of implementation. The group has introduced the C-E-N-T-A-R-A Sustainability Blueprint, a comprehensive strategic framework that guides sustainable development in seven priority areas, ensuring environmental stewardship remains central to business operations and future initiatives.
Key milestones along Centara’s 16-year sustainability journey include:
2009: Adoption of the EarthCheck environmental management system across hotels and resorts to ensure international-standard sustainable operations.
2014: Participation in Thailand’s Green Hotel certification programme under the Department of Climate Change and Environment.
2016: Launch of My Green Day, encouraging guest participation in reducing water usage and chemical consumption by opting out of linen and towel changes.
2018: Elimination of single-use plastics in guest service areas, including replacing plastic straws with plant-based options and switching to refillable in-room amenities.
2019: Introduction of the P.O.P. (Plastic Only, Please) initiative to encourage plastic recycling among guests and reduce plastic waste in natural environments.
2021: Achievement of Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) status for Centara EarthCare, reflecting internationally endorsed environmental standards.
2025: Achievement of full GSTC certification for all 42 Centara properties worldwide, a major global benchmark for sustainable hotel operations.
Environmental excellence: progressing towards net zero
Centara ESG progress is particularly evident in the environmental domain, where the group prioritises efficient resource management to reduce emissions and accelerate the transition toward a low-carbon future.
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
- Target to reduce GHG emissions per occupied room by 40% by 2029, compared to the 2019 baseline.
- Achieved a 35% reduction to date, outperforming Thailand’s hotel industry average by 51.9%, as benchmarked by the Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking Index (CHSB).
Centara is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, based on three strategic pathways:
- Reducing emissions intensity by 40% by 2029.
- Advancing sustainable supply chain practices through low-carbon and sustainable materials.
- Aligning financing and investment decisions with environmental objectives.
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
- Solar cells have been installed at 14 hotels, reducing carbon emissions by more than 2,970 tonnes of CO₂e, equivalent to planting over 300,000 trees.
- From January to October 2025, Centara generated 4,780 MWh of clean energy, accounting for 4% of total electricity use.
- Implementation of advanced energy-efficiency solutions, including smart sensors, Energy Management Systems (EMS), district cooling, and building management systems across properties.
Water management
- Achieved a 30.1% reduction in water consumption, surpassing the 20% reduction target based on the 2019 baseline.
- Recycled over 454,416 m³ of treated wastewater for landscape irrigation across hotel properties in 2025, reducing freshwater demand and supporting resilient operations.
Waste management
- Reduced waste to landfill by 24.5%, exceeding the 20% reduction target (2019 baseline).
- Achieved an average recycling rate of 28.9%.
- Produced upcycled items such as bags and hats from plastic (PET) bottles, totalling 3,872 kg across four hotels in Krabi, demonstrating circular economy practices in the guest experience.
Social commitment and community empowerment
Centara ESG progress also encompasses long-term social and community investment. The group continues to roll out programmes designed to enhance living standards, create economic opportunities, and support inclusive growth in destinations where it operates.
Key initiatives include:
- Since 2017, a partnership with Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Thailand to donate surplus food to communities in need, reducing food waste and helping to alleviate hunger.
- Through the “One Hotel, One Product” programme and community markets, Centara has provided over 6,300 m² of complimentary retail space for local entrepreneurs to sell their goods, while supporting more than 6,000 local products and strengthening local value chains.
- A commitment to inclusive employment, including hiring people with disabilities above the legal requirement and providing opportunities for senior workers, supporting diversity in the hospitality workforce.
- A strong focus on workplace culture through “The Place to Be – Best Workplace” philosophy, dedicated to cultivating a supportive, progressive, and engaging environment for employees.
Governance, ethics and sustainable finance
In the governance pillar, Centara ESG progress is underpinned by transparency, accountability, and robust ethical standards across the organisation.
- Achieved an “Excellent” (five-star) Corporate Governance rating for the sixth consecutive year from the Thai Institute of Directors Association.
- A member of the Thai Private Sector Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption (CAC) since 2016, with three consecutive membership renewals.
- Recipient of the CAC Change Agent Award for two consecutive years, recognising leadership in anti-corruption efforts.
- Secured more than THB 8.7 billion in sustainability-linked loans, sustainability-linked bonds, and green bonds to support long-term ESG investments and environmental conservation projects.
These achievements signal to investors, partners, and guests that sustainability is integrated into both operational decision-making and capital allocation, reinforcing Centara’s positioning as a responsible tourism leader.
Leadership commitment to responsible growth
Summarising the company’s vision, Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts, said:
“Business growth must go hand-in-hand with responsibility toward society, the environment, and the communities we serve,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts “Achieving GSTC certification across all properties and making strong progress in reducing waste and emissions demonstrates our long-term commitment to environmental stewardship. We remain dedicated to innovating and advancing our ESG initiatives to create a meaningful, lasting impact, while providing exceptional, sustainable travel experiences for generations to come.”
For travel and hospitality professionals, Centara ESG progress offers a clear, data-backed example of how a regional hotel group can embed ESG into operations, guest engagement, and financing, while aligning with global sustainability standards and rising stakeholder expectations in responsible tourism.
