SAii Laguna Phuket and SAii Lagoon Maldives – resorts under the S Hotels and Resorts portfolio – have become the first and only venues in Thailand and the Maldives to receive the Gold Sustainable Event Standards certification from the Event Industry Council (EIC).

This recognition follows substantial investments in upgrading the event facilities at both resorts.

SAii Laguna Phuket’s 1,900m² ocean-facing complex offers sustainable meeting solutions aligned with the Thailand MICE Venue Standards set by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau. The venue features the Similan Ballroom, nine breakout rooms, a VIP room equipped with the latest audiovisual technology, and three outdoor event spaces. All events here are free from single-use plastics, thanks to initiatives like reusable decorations and a ban on plastic straws.

The resort has also implemented recycling programmes, offers green transportation options, and utilises advanced technology to help event organisers measure and minimise their environmental impact by calculating the carbon footprint of their events.

SAii Laguna Phuket also collaborates with Seeds of Change, a local community organisation focused on sustainability and environmental awareness in Phuket, to create eco-friendly beach bags. These unique bags, handmade by community members, are crafted from upcycled materials from previous renovations. Guests will find these bags in their rooms for their island explorations.

Beyond events, delegates can also participate in community-supporting group activities such as cooking classes featuring local produce and beach clean-ups. In a further green initiative, the resort has introduced the Sustainable Sleep concept, featuring eco-friendly King Koil mattresses made from allergen-proof and moisture-repellent fabric in all renovated guestrooms.

Dining at SAii Laguna Phuket emphasises sustainability, with diverse restaurants offering healthy dishes prepared with locally-sourced ingredients and fresh produce from the on-site organic garden. Guests can also enjoy non-motorised water sports like kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding.

SAii properties in Thailand have also been awarded Green Globe certifications for three consecutive years, while the Maldives property has received the accolade for two consecutive years.

Over in the Maldives, SAii Lagoon Maldives actively minimises polystyrene use, eliminates paperwork through electronic documents, and utilises renewable energy from solar panels. The resort also restricts power use during rehearsals, employs energy-efficient LED displays, and has eliminated single-use and disposable plastic products.

The resort’s 326m² Event Hall can accommodate over 400 delegates, event planners can organise environmentally and socially conscious activities, from beachfront boardrooms to ecological experiences, all aligned with Hilton Worldwide’s “Meet with Purpose” concept.

This concept focuses on reducing waste and incorporates interactive cooking and dining experiences that are healthy, sustainable, and engaging, utilising locally sourced produce and ingredients from the organic garden and the surrounding Maldivian seas.

As part of the Crossroads Maldives multi-island leisure destination, the resort also integrates corporate retreat activities, such as coral propagation, at the Maldives Discovery Centre.

“At SAii, we have integrated sustainable practices into every facet of our operations and customer experience,” stated Michael Marshall, CEO of S Hotels and Resorts. “The recognition from the EIC and the Green Globe team, combined with our guests’ positive feedback, serves as a powerful motivator for us to continue our sustainability development agenda into the future, along with providing our guests with top-quality hospitality services.”