Banyan Tree Extends Branch of Hope to Koh Samui Students
Koh Samui, Thailand, January 17, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Philanthropy lies close to the roots at Banyan Tree. Over the years, the luxury hotel group has sponsored hundreds of causes and projects worldwide through its Banyan Tree Global Foundation.
So when the the general manager of Banyan Tree Samui, Remko Kroesen, heard that a tropical storm had devastated a local community centre on the island, he immediately got in touch with the local administrators and offered assistance.
In addition to funding the cost of reconstruction, the Australian general manager and several volunteers from the hotel rolled up their sleeves and helped out with landscaping and other labour-intensive tasks.
Over a year later, construction work on the canteen at the Wat Santi Wanaram Child Development Centre has been completed, and the 103 children and their teachers can now look forward to a fresh and safe environment for lunch, activities and play.
“We are so grateful to Banyan Tree Samui for recognizing the importance of children’s education here in Koh Samui,” wrote Ms Suthima Chanrak, the acting head of the centre. “We rejoice that we will have a new canteen, not only for the children’s meals, but also a building that will act as a focal point for community activities and town hall meetings.”
Other initiatives implemented successfully by Banyan Tree Samui in recent years include a blood drive campaign, and the ongoing “Seedlings Mentorship” project aimed at nurturing young Samui students between the ages of 12 and 18, providing them with vocational and life skills and education, as well as offering scholarships and financial support to enable select students to continue into higher education.
“As a 5-star resort with beautiful villas and sea views, a spa, and exquisite dining, it would be easy to forget that many of the families on Koh Samui work nearby in coconut plantations or on fishing boats, and are often unable to meet the rising costs of medical care and housing,” said Kroesen. “That’s why we maintain an annual fund to assist those in need, and never forget how lucky we are to share their wonderful island with them.”
For more information about the rebuilding of Wat Santi Wanaram Child Development Centre, please go to: www.banyantree.com/thailand/samui/wat-santi-wanaram
ABOUT BANYAN TREE
Banyan Tree Group (“Banyan Tree Holdings Limited” or the “Group”) is one of the world’s leading independent, multi-brand hospitality groups centred on stewardship and wellbeing while offering exceptional, design-led experiences for the global travellers of today and tomorrow. The Group’s diversified portfolio of hotels, resorts, spas, galleries, golf and residences is centred around an ecosystem of 10 global brands, including the award-winning Banyan Tree, Angsana, Cassia, Dhawa and Laguna, as well as the highly anticipated new brands of Homm, Garrya, Folio and two new Banyan Tree brand extensions, Banyan Tree Escape and Banyan Tree Veya.
Founded in 1994 on the core concept of sustainability, Banyan Tree Group seeks to create long-term value for all stakeholders and destinations across its network of properties, products and brands, through a purpose-driven mission. With 8,000 associates across 23 countries, Banyan Tree Management Academy (BTMA) was established in 2008 to support the Group’s goals through advancing people development, management excellence, and learning with integrity and meaning.
Banyan Tree Group has received 2,921 industry awards and accolades since inception over 25 years ago, most recently being named among the Top 25 Hotel Brands in the World by Travel + Leisure. It has also received recognition for its commitment to environmental protection and community development through its Banyan Tree Global Foundation (BTGF), which aligns the Group’s efforts to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Executing on its regionalised growth strategy, the Group’s global footprint continues to grow with 47 new hotels and resorts under design and construction in the pipeline, in addition to 58 operating hotels in 17 countries as of December 2021. As a global industry hospitality leader, Banyan Tree Group firmly embeds its mission to be a business that benefits all stakeholders, for the greater good.
Banyan Tree Group entered a strategic long-term partnership with Accor in 2016 to develop and manage Banyan Tree branded hotels around the world along with the access to Accor’s global reservations and sales network, as well as the loyalty programme ALL – Accor Live Limitless. It also formed a joint venture with China Vanke Co. Ltd. in 2017 – focusing on active ageing and wellness hospitality projects.
