The global tourism landscape is shifting, with modern travellers increasingly prioritising environmental responsibility alongside comfort and service. To meet this demand and align with Thailand’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2030, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is spearheading the CF-Hotels (Carbon Footprint Hotels) platform. This initiative serves as a crucial bridge, helping hotel operators transition to a “green path” by providing the infrastructure to measure, manage, and reduce their environmental footprint.
Solar installations are becoming a standard feature in modern sustainable hotels.
Consumer demand meets operators’ action
The shift toward sustainability is not just a trend: it is a clear demand from travellers. According to Booking.com’s Travel & Sustainability Report 2026, 95 per cent of Thai travellers consider travelling more sustainably to be important or very important. This sentiment is mirrored globally, with over 100 million room nights booked at sustainability-certified properties via the platform in 2025.
As TAT representatives have noted, travellers are increasingly seeking accommodation that prioritises sustainability. The CF-Hotels platform provides the necessary tools for operators to rise to this challenge. By offering a free, comprehensive database for tracking greenhouse gas emissions in line with national standards, TAT empowers hotels to move from vague promises to transparent, data-driven sustainability.
Launched in 2022, the CF-Hotels platform removes the financial barrier to entry for many operators, including small-sized hotel operators. By adhering to the standards set by the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation (TGO), the platform ensures that data gathered are scientifically credible. Designed with user-friendliness in mind and aligned with ISO 14064-1 standards, it enables hotels of all sizes to effectively document their environmental impacts.
“We received feedback from the hotel operators who aim to achieve the global standard (ISO 14064-1) and funds from loans, and therefore developed this platform to assist them. So far, as of 2026, we have given 216 hotels around the country CF-Hotels certificates,” said Natthaphan Tridecha, director of the Tourism Promotion Division of TAT.
On-site water filtration systems at Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok significantly reduce single-use plastic waste.
A model for the future
The effectiveness of this platform is already visible on the ground. As detailed in a recent press release titled “CF-Hotels Media Visit”, diverse properties—ranging from mid-sized city hotels to luxury hotels—are utilising the platform to refine their operations.
“We have picked a sample of three hotels in different segments—Modena by Fraser Bangkok, Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, and Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok—to demonstrate that the sustainability approaches are applicable for all operators,” said Natthaphan.
Whether it is reducing energy consumption via smart sensors, implementing sophisticated food waste management systems, integrating renewable energy, or growing their own chemical-free vegetables, these hotels use the data provided by platforms like CF-Hotels to benchmark their progress.
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok repurposes water bottle packaging into durable roofing materials.
“Sustainability is no longer just a project; we think it has become part of our lifestyle in daily life. It could start from small actions like growing your own vegetable garden or changing to LED light bulbs,” said Piyalak Penkunaporn, General Manager of Modena by Fraser Bangkok.
What sets the CF-Hotels platform apart is its role in a larger ecosystem of sustainable tourism. Participating businesses can secure international accreditations by using the system’s clear guidelines for connecting internal reporting to internationally recognised sustainability standards. Furthermore, hotels can boost their brand reputation by leveraging their participation to apply for the prestigious “STAR” sustainability certification. Finally, the platform helps strengthen award applications, as the reports generated are invaluable for those entering national and international sustainable tourism industry awards.
By digitising the path to sustainability, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is providing the technical roadmap to make environmental change both measurable and competitive.
