Banyan Tree Krabi has added two new honors to its growing list of sustainability achievements, earning first place in the Barista Mixology category and second place in the Local Taste Competition at Hotel Expo Krabi Go Green 2026.
Held in Krabi from July 23 to 25, the event brought together hospitality professionals to showcase environmentally responsible practices, local ingredients and creative approaches to food and beverage service.
A Zero-Waste Drink Inspired by Krabi
Banyan Tree Krabi secured first place in the Barista Mixology competition with “Soil to Soul,” a nonalcoholic drink created by Dawadee Songprasert, known as Khun Dao, from the resort’s beachfront Kredkaew Bar.
The drink combines locally grown coffee with seasonal fruit and other ingredients sourced from the region, including roselle, mangosteen, natural honey and coconut oil.
Central to the recipe is a zero-waste approach that gives commonly discarded ingredients a new purpose. Coffee grounds and mango peels are reused to make a cordial, reducing kitchen waste while contributing additional flavor to the finished drink.
Khun Dao said the creation was inspired by Krabi’s natural resources and the resort’s commitment to environmentally conscious hospitality.
“We reuse coffee grounds and mango peels to make a cordial, giving these ingredients a second life,” she explained.
The resulting drink highlights how sustainable food and beverage programs can extend beyond sourcing. By reconsidering how ingredients are used, bartenders and culinary teams can reduce waste while creating something distinctive to the destination.
Southern Thai Flavors Earn Culinary Recognition
The resort’s culinary team also placed second in the Local Taste Competition with a dish of chargrilled prawns served with tom yum emulsion.
Drawing on the flavors of southern Thailand, the dish paired locally sourced seafood with a contemporary interpretation of tom yum, one of the country’s best-known flavor combinations.
Together, the two awards recognize different aspects of sustainable hospitality. “Soil to Soul” focuses on minimizing waste and using regional produce, while the prawn dish celebrates local ingredients and southern Thai culinary traditions.
This connection between food and place has become increasingly important in resort dining. Rather than relying exclusively on international menus, hotels can give travelers a stronger sense of the destination by highlighting local produce, recipes and culinary techniques.
Supporting Krabi’s Green Tourism Ambitions
Krabi is known for its towering limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, white-sand beaches and islands scattered across the Andaman Sea. Protecting these landscapes is essential to the province’s long-term appeal as a travel destination.
Ahead of Hotel Expo Krabi Go Green 2026, provincial representatives emphasized the importance of developing high-quality tourism while conserving Krabi’s natural resources.
For hotels and resorts, that goal can involve reducing energy and water consumption, limiting single-use plastics, improving waste management and supporting local producers. Food and beverage programs offer another opportunity to contribute through responsible sourcing, reduced food waste and menus that reflect regional traditions.
Banyan Tree Krabi has already received Thailand’s Green Hotel Award – Gold Certification for its environmental practices. The resort has also introduced initiatives involving beach cleanups, resource conservation and the transformation of locally collected marine waste into useful guest amenities.
Readers can discover more about these efforts in DRIFT Travel’s earlier feature, From Trash to Tote: Banyan Tree Krabi’s Approach to Upcycling.
Inside Banyan Tree Krabi
Located between a forested hillside and the Andaman Sea, Banyan Tree Krabi is an all-pool resort with 72 suites and villas. Every accommodation includes a private pool, while the hillside layout provides views toward the sea and Krabi’s distinctive limestone formations.
The accommodations range from pool suites to multi-bedroom villas, including two-bedroom and three-bedroom options and a seven-bedroom beachfront Presidential Villa.
Resort facilities include two restaurants, the Kredkaew beachfront bar, a kids’ club, a fitness center and meeting spaces. Banyan Tree Spa Krabi features a Rainforest hydrotherapy facility as part of its wellness program.
The spa received a Thailand Tourism Sustainability Award in the Health and Wellness Tourism category at the 2025 Thailand Tourism Awards. The property has also held Two MICHELIN Keys in the MICHELIN Guide’s Thailand hotel selection in both 2024 and 2025.
The MICHELIN Key distinction recognizes hotels rather than restaurants, assessing elements such as design, service, character and the overall guest experience.
Sustainability Beyond the Awards
The results at Hotel Expo Krabi Go Green 2026 demonstrate how broad sustainability in hospitality has become. Environmental responsibility is no longer limited to energy-efficient buildings or reduced housekeeping programs. It can also influence menu planning, ingredient selection, food preparation and the stories shared with guests.
At Banyan Tree Krabi, the winning “Soil to Soul” drink turns those ideas into something tangible. Locally produced ingredients reflect the region, while repurposed coffee grounds and fruit peels demonstrate how waste can become part of a creative culinary process.
For travelers, initiatives like these add another layer to the resort experience. A drink or dish can offer a taste of southern Thailand while also revealing how a property approaches its environmental responsibilities.
Banyan Tree Krabi’s latest honors reinforce its position within Krabi’s developing green tourism movement, where luxury hospitality, regional cuisine and environmental awareness increasingly share the same table.
