【Dusit Thani Kyoto】Obtains Forbes Travel Guide Sustainable Certification "VERIFIED™ Responsible Hospitality"

Dusit Thani Kyoto (located in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, General Manager: Makoto Yamashita), a luxury hotel operated by Dusit International, a major Thai hotel and real estate development company, has obtained the 2026 "VERIFIED™ Responsible Hospitality" certification awarded by Forbes Travel Guide, a global luxury hospitality evaluation organization.

This certification is granted to accommodations that continuously practice "sustainable hospitality" while meeting over 100 rigorous standards related to environmental conservation and the well-being of employees, guests, and local communities. The hotel views this certification as recognition of its brand vision of contributing to local culture and community through quality service, coexistence with the local community, and environmental conservation efforts.

Additionally, the hotel has earned a 4-star rating in both the hotel and spa categories of the Forbes Travel Guide 2026.

<Initiatives for Coexistence with the Local Community and Environmental Consideration>

Dusit Thani Kyoto adopts environmentally friendly amenities and has introduced Audi Japan's 100% electric vehicle (EV) "Audi Q8 55 e-tron quattro S line" as a hotel vehicle. The building incorporates improvements to reduce environmental impact, such as enhanced insulation and energy-saving equipment. As a result, it has obtained the "ZEB Oriented" certification, which is awarded to buildings that achieve significant energy consumption reductions. Through these efforts, the hotel aims to balance luxury hospitality with a sustainable future.

The hotel also operates its own farm, "Dusit Farm," in Ohara, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City. At this farm, cooking waste generated by the hotel is dried and powdered for reuse as fertilizer, promoting food waste reduction and circular agriculture.

Furthermore, at the "Dusit Tea Garden" in Wazuka-cho, Kyoto Prefecture, the hotel practices organic tea leaf cultivation and circular agriculture, offering guests opportunities to experience Kyoto's nature and agricultural culture through tea-picking experiences. The harvested tea leaves are used in sweets and drinks at the hotel's restaurants and lounges to promote local production for local consumption. This year, the hotel also launched "Chako (Tea Fragrance)," a new sensory experience of "drinkable tea" using organic tea leaves, and is committed to wellness programs that allow modern experiences of Kyoto's tea culture.

In terms of community collaboration, the hotel holds blood donation events jointly with the Ueyanagi Neighborhood Association (Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City) and participates in disaster prevention and environmental beautification activities to harmonize tourism with residents' lives. With the brand identity of "Transmitting Thailand's DNA from Kyoto," the hotel offers cultural experiences unique to a Thai-origin brand, such as events celebrating Songkran, a Thai intangible cultural heritage, and afternoon teas combining Thai spices with Kyoto ingredients, to local residents and guests.

Going forward, Dusit Thani Kyoto will continue to value its connection with Kyoto's culture and local community, working towards sustainable tourism and creating enriching stay experiences.

About Forbes Travel Guide "VERIFIED™ Responsible Hospitality"

VERIFIED™ Responsible Hospitality is a certification system that sets clear best practices for luxury hotels and their restaurants and spas to promote environmental conservation and the well-being of employees, guests, and local communities. It aims to evaluate and certify the practice of responsible hospitality without compromising high-quality guest experiences. For details, please visit the Forbes Travel Guide website (https://www.forbestravelguide.com/collections/responsible-hospitality).

About Dusit Thani Kyoto

Opened on September 1, 2023, in the temple town area of the World Heritage site "Nishi Hongan-ji," Dusit Thani Kyoto offers the finest hospitality blending Japan's delicate traditional culture with the elegant hospitality of Dusit's home country, Thailand. Besides beautiful and comfortable guest rooms, the hotel features three vibrant restaurants and a tea salon offering Thai traditional cuisine and colorful Japanese cuisine, a hideaway bar, "Devarana Wellness" for mind and body fulfillment, and experience programs to touch the essence of Kyoto. With unique service providing "Everything You Deserve," the hotel aims not only to showcase Kyoto's charm as a travel destination but also to offer a full experience of mind and senses, creating a quiet oasis for guests. Since 2024, it has been the only Thai-origin hotel brand to receive the "Michelin Key" for two consecutive years as an accommodation offering "particularly outstanding experiences." Additionally, in February 2026, it earned 4 stars in both hotel and spa categories of the Forbes Travel Guide 2026.

For more information, please visit the official website (https://www.dusit.com/thanikyotojp), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/dusitthanikyoto/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dusitthanikyoto/), X (formerly Twitter) (https://twitter.com/dusitthanikyoto), and LINE Official Account (https://lin.ee/k4n3Dx7G). The official online store "Dusit Online Japan" sells original products at https://dusit.online/.

About Dusit International

Founded in 1948, Dusit International, or Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DUSIT), is a major hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations consist of five distinct and complementary business units: hotels and resorts, hospitality education, food, real estate development, and hospitality-related services. The group's portfolio of hotels, resorts, and luxury villas includes over 290 properties operating under nine brands (Dusit Thani, Dusit Devarana, Dusit Suites, Dusit Collection, Dusit Hotels, Dusit D2, Dusit Princess, ASAI Hotels, and Elite Havens) across 18 countries. The group also operates cooking schools and hospitality colleges in Thailand, as well as international schools in Thailand, Cambodia, and Kenya.