Asset World Corp Targets THB 218bn by 2025 | Leading Sustainable Growth in Thailand

AWC Launches Sustainability Strategy Across Three Pillars

Building upon its financial targets, Asset World Corp has implemented a comprehensive sustainability framework structured around three interconnected pillars that guide its operations and long-term vision. This strategic approach, known as the 3BETTERs, reinforces AWC’s philosophy of “Building a Better Future For All” by integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles throughout its business activities.

Better Planet: Green buildings and energy efficiency

The first pillar of AWC’s sustainability strategy focuses on environmental stewardship through climate-conscious property development. AWC has consistently elevated building standards in energy efficiency to minimize environmental impact through initiatives like Energy Saving Initiatives (ESI) and the Energy Efficiency Plan (EEP). This commitment is evident in the company’s achievement of prestigious certifications—the InterContinental Chiang Mai Maeping Hotel became the first property in Thailand to receive LEED Gold Certification Version 4 BD+C: Hospitality.

Beyond new developments, AWC extends its environmental commitment to existing properties. Empire Tower in Bangkok’s Sathorn business district, offering over 300,000 square meters of usable space, recently received LEED Gold Certification. The corporation utilizes green loans for retrofitting and refurbishment of energy efficiency technologies in its properties, including upgrading air-conditioning systems and installing high-quality water cooler systems and heat pumps.

Better People: Community engagement and local sourcing

The second pillar emphasizes creating value for communities where AWC operates. Through The Gallery project, which embodies the concept of “Giving Art, Art of Giving,” AWC showcases products from community artisans across its hotel network. This initiative extends to 17 branches nationwide, serving as outlets for locally-made products that appeal to both domestic and international tourists.

In partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage, AWC has launched the “AWC Stay to Sustain” project—a program where each night’s stay at an AWC hotel contributes to conserving one tree, thus helping restore community forests, protect biodiversity, and boost local incomes.

AWC conducts stakeholder engagement sessions following the AA 1000 Stakeholder Engagement Standard, guided by principles of inclusivity, materiality, and responsiveness. The company classifies stakeholders into nine main groups and categorizes them as Key Drivers, Key Influencers, or Key Supporters based on their roles and impacts.

Better Prosperity: Economic value and governance

The third pillar focuses on economic value creation and robust corporate governance. AWC has secured 100% Green and Sustainability-Linked Loans to fund its expansion plans in accordance with sustainability standards. This financing approach supports AWC’s commitment to ethical business practices and transparency.

The company has established a Supplier Code of Conduct to ensure ethical practices throughout its supply chain. AWC works with suppliers to innovate environmentally-friendly working methods that conserve natural resources. Consequently, even luxury establishments like The Athenee Hotel Bangkok have achieved recognition, becoming the first globally to receive 100% All-Star Certification from The Pledge for food waste management.

Through these three pillars, AWC integrates sustainability into every aspect of its operations—from property development and community engagement to financial management and governance. This holistic approach ensures that as the company expands its asset portfolio, it simultaneously advances environmental protection, social responsibility, and ethical business practices across Thailand’s hospitality sector.

AWC Partners with Local and Global Stakeholders

To implement its ambitious sustainability framework, Asset World Corp has formed strategic partnerships with various organizations at both local and global levels. These collaborations help AWC execute its vision while creating positive impacts across Thailand’s tourism sector and local communities.

Collaboration with TAT and Mae Fah Luang Foundation

In a landmark partnership, Asset World Corp joined forces with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Mae Fah Luang Foundation to launch the “AWC Stay to Sustain” project, setting a new benchmark for sustainable tourism in Thailand. Under this initiative, for every one-night stay at an AWC-affiliated hotel, guests participate in nurturing one tree, contributing to community forest restoration.

The project aims to reforest approximately 500,000 trees annually, covering over 5,000 rai of land and absorbing the equivalent of about 2,500 tons of carbon dioxide. This ecological initiative aligns with AWC’s pledge toward carbon neutrality by 2030. Additionally, through this collaboration, AWC sources local products from over 230 communities for use in its affiliated hotels, thereby generating sustainable income for local communities dedicated to forest preservation.

Support for artisans through The Gallery initiative

Operating as a social enterprise, The Gallery serves as AWC’s flagship project for community engagement, currently with 19 branches nationwide. Established under the concept “Giving Art, Art of Giving,” this marketplace showcases products created by talented Thai designers, artists, and local communities.

The Gallery functions as an intermediary, helping those seeking unique and creative artwork by prominently displaying and selling art pieces created by local artisans. All profits from these sales go toward creating scholarships for art and design students, supporting the next generation of creative talent. Beyond retail operations, The Gallery has dedicated specific spaces for community centers, including the “The Gallery Art of Giving, Giving Art Community Project Hatch Dome” at Asiatique The Riverfront Destination, providing communities with expanded market opportunities and knowledge exchange platforms.

Strategic alliances with global hospitality brands

Concurrently, Asset World Corp has established strategic partnerships with international hospitality brands to enhance Thailand’s position as a global tourism destination. These collaborations enable AWC to combine its expertise as Thailand’s leading integrated real estate group with the strong global customer base of international hotel operators.

One notable framework agreement involves developing multiple properties with over 1,000 room keys across Thailand. Such partnerships allow AWC to develop quality assets in prime locations while appealing to a broader customer base. These collaborations have proven essential in elevating Thailand’s hospitality standards and creating unique sustainable destinations that attract global travelers.

Through these diverse partnerships, Asset World Corp effectively balances business growth with social responsibility and environmental stewardship, creating a model for sustainable development in Thailand’s hospitality and tourism sectors.

AWC Secures Green Financing to Fund Expansion

In a significant financial achievement, Asset World Corp has transformed its entire loan portfolio into environmentally responsible funding instruments. The company’s financing strategy now explicitly supports its dual objectives of rapid business growth and environmental sustainability, creating a financing model that aligns with its broader corporate vision.

100% green and sustainability-linked loans

Asset World Corp has successfully secured 100% Green and Sustainability-Linked Loans from leading financial institutions to fund its expansion projects. This comprehensive transition represents a substantial commitment to financing growth through environmentally responsible mechanisms. Recently, AWC signed a THB 7,904 million (USD 208 million) Green Loan agreement with Krungthai Bank specifically for developing the ultra-luxury flagship “Hotel Plaza Athénée Nobu New York” project according to international green building standards.

Earlier partnerships include a THB 3,000 million sustainability-linked loan with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), another THB 3,000 million agreement with CIMB Thai Bank—marking the bank’s first-ever sustainability-linked loan—and a substantial THB 20,000 million sustainability-linked and green loan package with Siam Commercial Bank.

LEED certifications for hotels and office towers

Beyond financing, Asset World Corp has prioritized obtaining prestigious environmental certifications for its properties. The InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping has become the first hotel in Thailand to receive LEED Gold Certification v4 BD+C: Hospitality, setting a new benchmark for sustainable hospitality in the country. This certification evaluated seven key categories including location, water efficiency, energy usage, and materials.

Evidently committed to expanding these standards, AWC’s Empire Tower in Bangkok’s Sathorn business district, offering over 300,000 square meters of usable space, has likewise secured LEED Gold Certification. Looking ahead, the company plans to certify six additional properties by 2025, including four commercial office buildings—The Empire, Athenee Tower, 208 Building Wireless Road, and Interlink Tower Bangna—plus two hotels in Pattaya.

Food waste management certifications in luxury hotels

In addition to green building standards, Asset World Corp’s luxury properties have secured specialized certifications for food waste management. The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok has made history by becoming the first hotel globally to receive 100% All-Star Certification from The Pledge for food waste management. This third-party audited certification evaluates seven key pillars including process documentation, employee commitment, monitoring systems, and customer engagement.

The hotel’s initiatives include innovative waste repurposing—transforming oyster shells into chicken feed, eggshells into organic fertilizer, and pineapple skins into vinegar. Similarly, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park initiated the Seafood Shells Project, donating one ton of shells every two months to local organic farms for various eco-friendly uses. Through partnerships with the Scholar of Sustenance Foundation Thailand, these hotels redistributed 3,541 kg of clean leftover food in 2020, providing 14,874 meals to Bangkok’s underprivileged communities.

AWC Develops Tourism-Focused Destinations Nationwide

Asset World Corp is presently expanding its footprint with distinctive tourism-focused developments nationwide, crafting unique experiences that strengthen Thailand’s position as a global tourism hub.

Jurassic World: The Experience at Asiatique

AWC has launched Jurassic World: The Experience at Asiatique The Riverfront Destination, marking a major addition to Bangkok’s entertainment landscape. This 6,000-square-meter attraction immerses visitors in environments inspired by the globally popular film franchise. Alongside the attraction stands the Fossil & Flame Restaurant, offering themed dining across 2,061 square meters with 256 seats in both indoor and outdoor spaces. The initiative reflects AWC’s strategy to develop year-round lifestyle destinations that transcend seasonal tourism.

Electric tram project in Chiang Mai

Meanwhile, AWC has partnered with Arun Plus to create “Chiang Mai Tram By Lannatique,” Thailand’s first electric sightseeing tram. Scheduled to launch by late 2025, this eco-friendly transport option connects major cultural and historical sites around Chiang Mai’s moat. The tram, powered by 100% clean energy, can travel up to 180 kilometers per charge and will enhance tourism mobility while reducing urban traffic congestion.

Mixed-use developments in Yaowarat and Pattaya

Subsequently, AWC is investing THB 16 billion in Woeng Nakornkasem Yaowarat, Chinatown’s largest mixed-use development. Opening in 2029, this landmark project features:

• Two luxury hotels with over 500 rooms, including InterContinental with 300 rooms

• Premium retail spaces spanning 68,000 square meters

• Underground shopping areas and preserved historic buildings

The corporation is currently developing additional projects in Pattaya, including Aquatique.