IWTA interviews Gili Back,
Director of Sustainable events, MICE and Corporate Team Building, Team Spirit Thailand
In a recent Inspirational Women in Travel Asia (IWTA) interview, Michaela Connor sat down with Gili Back, founder of Team Spirit Thailand, to explore how purpose-driven leadership and localized experiences are reshaping Asia’s MICE and travel sectors. With 24 years of experience in Thailand spanning marine conservation, F&B, and hospitality, Back advocates for moving away from generic corporate event formats like traditional team-building exercises.
Team Spirit Thailand specializes in tailor-made corporate programs that integrate sustainability, community immersion, and diversity into every event. From eco-focused initiatives like constructing camera traps in Kanchanaburi to upcycled fashion challenges facilitated by local LGBTQ+ and drag performers, Back demonstrates that meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) directly drives delegate engagement while benefiting local supply chains.
Addressing key industry misconceptions, Back emphasized that sustainable event practices do not inherently increase costs. Smart strategies—such as sourcing farm-to-table menus within 100 kilometers, utilizing cardboard exhibition booths, or partnering on renewable energy—reduce long-term operational expenditures while reducing environmental footprints. She highlighted that true corporate sustainability requires tangible action over superficial greenwashing.
Back also champions diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), engaging underrepresented groups—including licensed transgender tour guides, visually or physically impaired facilitators, and indigenous artisans—to design truly accessible, culturally rich itineraries. Grounded in King Rama IX’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, Back urges travel and hospitality stakeholders to move past siloed thinking and adopt cross-collaborative, long-term models. Her vision for the industry’s legacy centers on self-sufficiency—empowering corporate travelers and local communities to act as responsible stewards of their destinations.
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