These ventures are setting a new standard for how tourism can heal ecosystems, uplift local communities, and scale sustainably through innovation.
Khiri Travel and YAANA Ventures were honoured at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 - Thailand for being exemplary drivers of responsible tourism in Asia.
Regenerative, tech-driven tourism
Khiri Travel, named Destination Management Company (DMC) of the Year, is a leading destination management company (DMC) operating in nine Asian countries, blending local knowledge, digital innovation, and sustainability into every journey it creates. It works with the purpose of making tourism a force for good through travel experiences that benefit both people and the planet.
The company stands out with its deep-rooted connection to the places it operates. Its teams on the ground work closely with local communities for each trip to reflect the authentic character of the destination.
Khiri Travel’s on-the-ground approach is also supported by the company’s non-profit arm, Khiri Reach, which champions community and environmental projects in Asia.
Now, Khiri is taking its mission a step further by working toward GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) certification by the end of 2025.
With this, the company has developed a suite of user-friendly digital tools, including the Khiri Hub, a one-stop B2B platform that offers instant access to ready-made and customisable tours in Asia; Khiri GO, a mobile-friendly trip companion for travellers with offline access to all trip details; and KISS (Khiri Instant Sales System), which is an AI-powered backend system that matches client preferences and streamlines lead handling.
In 2024 alone, Khiri Travel welcomed over 20,000 travellers, with AI-driven trip planning increasing booking efficiency and conversion rates. On the ground, Khiri has cut plastic use and introduced nature-focused tours. It also involves local people in everything from guiding to storytelling to create lasting economic and social value in rural and urban areas.
With a smart mix of heart and technology, Khiri Travel is showing the world that travel can be meaningful and manageable at scale.
Regenerating tourism
Meanwhile, Anurak Community Lodge by YAANA Ventures won ESG Initiative of the Year for embracing regenerative tourism to protect the environment and local culture, whilst also actively helping restore them.
Anurak Lodge, which was launched in 2016 and has been in its regenerative phase since 2023, is working to become southern Thailand’s first fully regenerative lodge. It is guided by the 4C framework, which stands for conservation, community, culture, and commerce.
Anurak, which means “conservation” in Thai, is living up to its name with its latest transformation that focuses on healing the land and strengthening community ties.
It recently partnered with Chiang Mai University's FORRU team to restore a former palm oil plantation through the Rainforest Rising project. The company also planted over 17 native tree species to restore biodiversity and improve soil health and refurbished the Hornbill Restaurant to offer fresh local cuisine in a new bamboo dining sala. Additionally, it has implemented closed-loop systems for composting, water, and food production; and has been supporting a nearby school and sourcing locally to create jobs for the surrounding community.
Furthermore, guests at Anurak Lodge are invited to connect deeply with nature and local life through guided hiking, cycling, bamboo rafting, birdwatching and storytelling that explains sustainability in action. There are local gifts and crafts made with ingredients grown on-site and respectful cultural experiences that promote understanding.
In 2024, after its first post-pandemic profitable year, the lodge reinvested directly into sustainability improvements. It upgraded guest rooms, improved food waste systems, expanded nature-based activities, and installed a new clean water supply.
Anurak’s goal is to become a replicable model for how tourism can help restore ecosystems and protect culture not just in Khao Sok, but across Southeast Asia.
With strong digital engagement and active partnerships with Khiri Travel and other trade networks, Anurak Lodge is leading by example and sharing its best practices to inspire real change.
The TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards - Thailand highlights the exemplary hotels, airlines, airports, cruise lines, tour operators and travel agencies, booking platforms, and travel technology, projects, and initiatives that elevate the standards in the travel industry.
The TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 - Thailand is presented by Travel Daily Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. For more details, please contact Marni Marco at +65 3158 1386 or marni@traveldailymedia.com.
