Issue 15 â—? October 2014 ISSN 2227-4065
Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism
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Awang Awang, Indonesia The Mudhouse, Sri Lanka
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Feature: Wilderness Safaris -Damaraland Camp , Namibia
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Point of View: Listen to your customers and raise your profits
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Green Showcase: Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia
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Contents
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Kumud Sengupta Managing Editor email:
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m.ed@sostinternational.com
SOST TEAM M. Ivanova
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B. Thomas J. Vaz
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SOST October 2014
ABOUT SOST
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Editorial
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Feedback:
SOST gets feedback from around the world
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News & Events:
SOST shares news and updates on its activities
23 Point of View: Listen to your customers and raise your profits
26 Market Intelligence:
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Green Showcase:
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Awang Awang, Indonesia The Mudhouse, Sri Lanka
Market Vision for internal circulation and to our clients and subscribers. It is available to our website visitors on:
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Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism: In the Spotlight:
(SOST) is an e-journal published by
New Study Reveals A Greener Way to Travel
Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia Damaraland Camp, Namibia
Spotlight on Sustainable Tourism
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Green Business Directory
Listing of Eco-businesses
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www.sostinternational.com
Market Vision:
- Travel & Tourism Research & Consulting - Sustainable Travel Development – Advisory Services
Market Vision Research & Consulting Services FZ-LLC P.O. Box 32394, Dubai, UAE Tel: +9714-3911241 Fax: +9714-3911245 www.market-vision.com
Editorial
SOST’s mission is to motivate stakeholders in the travel & tourism industry to adopt sustainable business practices with the message that sustainable tourism is ‘Good for the Planet and Good for Business’.
International tourist arrivals worldwide grew by 5% during the first eight months of 2014 according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. As international travel continues to grow, sustainable tourism is an area that governments and tourism businesses must place on a ‘high importance’ agenda, as it holds key potential for future economic growth and social development. SOST continues to highlight best practices in sustainable tourism to motivate tourism stakeholders to take notice and to act! Our main feature in the current issue is on Damaraland Camp in Namibia, selected as one of National Geographic Traveler’s “25 Best Ecolodges” for 2013. In our Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism feature, we showcase Awang Awang located in Bali, Indonesia, which was awarded Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence for four consecutive years, and The Mudhouse in Sri Lanka, an eco retreat started by two friends in 2005. In Green Showcase, we present Misool Eco Resort, an exclusive dive resort, supporting numerous conservation initiatives and providing sustainable employment opportunities to local people. In the column Point of View, contributing author Nandkumar Awatramani asserts that to increase your sales, boost your bottom line and outgrow your competition, you must be willing to listen to what your customers want to tell you. There’s more in the Market Intelligence and News and Events sections. The Business Directory has some new additions – do have a look. We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, we look forward to your comments and feedback. Let us know what else you would like to read about. Happy Reading!
Kumud Sengupta Managing Editor Certified Assessor & Consultant for Sustainable Tourism Founder-Director, Market Vision
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Feedback
Feedback
The publication provides industry readers with an informative overview of ongoing developments in the sustainable tourism industry and provides a useful resource for responsible travellers. Adrian Watt Matava Eco-Adventure Resort Fiji
Very well written journal that highlights sustainable tourism places. I am especially interested in the Eco villages. Lana Nahme Dubai, UAE
SOST is liked by Hiroki Kudo, Senior Research Fellow The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan Abraham Swarup Chief Operations Officer, Rubil N Susan Tours & Travels, India
SOST is liked by Tracey Bell, Tour Operator Overland Travel Adventures, Kenya Congrats for your great efforts in the making of SOST. Anek Sankhyan, President Palaeo Research Society Bilaspur, India
SOST continues to produce exemplary work showcasing deserving players in sustainable tourism. Well done! Maha Yusuf Ali Muscat, Oman I liked the article: Consumers Are Ready to Pay More for Social Responsibility. Businesses should also have a social conscience. Amita Kumar Dubai, UAE
SOST is read by a diverse audience consisting of professionals in the tourism industry, tourism business owners, destination marketers and academia. It has particularly found favour among those interested in sustainable and responsible tourism. SOST is promoted to (a) a growing database of subscribers and customers numbering over 10,000 travel and tourism industry professionals, and (b) online business networks with memberships exceeding 100,000. It is also read by visitors to its website: www.sostinternational.com, and Facebook page: www.facebook.com/sostjournal. Twitter account @SOST_intl has also been launched – do follow us. Launched in March 2012, four issues of SOST were published in the year. Since 2013, SOST is a bimonthly publication (six issues per year). For sponsorship and advertising details, please contact: advertise@sostinternational.com.
News & Events
Hotels in the Middle East following the Green Path Green Globe has certified more than 40 leading hotels across the Middle East, accounting for some of the world’s most well known hotel chains, over the past five years. At the recent Hotel Show in Dubai, a number of Green Globe certified hotels where rewarded for their commitment and presented with Sustainability Leader Awards. Award winners included Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, who were cited for their early adoption of sustainability in 2010 with all 26 hotels in the Middle East certified Green Globe. Their senior management was recognized for their consistent drive and commitment, as well as the creation of an online sustainability training program for all employees. The Jumeirah Group was awarded for its rapid uptake, having five of their signature hotels reaching certification within one year. Leading the adoption of sustainable certification was Jumeirah Emirates Tower, which carried out many technical
innovations including the installation of a cooling system to reduce energy usage. Sister property Jumeirah Zabeel Saray was also acknowledged for having reached a certification achievement rate of 90% in its first year. Time Hotels were awarded for offering guests the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions of their stay, while supporting communities in Ethiopia and Sudan engaged in carbon reduction programs. Sofitel The Palm Dubai was recognized for completing certification at 90% in a record period just 6 months post opening. While tourism in the Middle East region has recently suffered a number of set backs, the United Arab Emirate’s (UAE) tourism market has remained resilient. The World Travel and Tourism Council predicts tourism’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP will solidly grow by 3.1% per annum for the next decade. And this year, investment in the nation’s tourism sector
is expected to rise by a very healthy 9.7%. Hotel managers in the UAE are on the front line of implanting sustainable business strategies and are utilizing the Green Globe Standard as an operational tool for directing and improving their teams’ performance. Sustainable practices that protect the environment, the people and their communities will no doubt future-proof the travel and tourism industry in the UAE and in countries of the Middle East. Encouragingly, Green Globe members can now be found not only in the UAE but also in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt. Source: http://www.eturbonews.com/51241/greenglobe-farnek-future-proof-tourism-middle-east
Tenth Thailand Tourism Awards has a focus on sustainable tourism The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organized the 10th Thailand Tourism Awards with the objective to stimulate competition in tourism industry management and to promote sustainable tourism. TAT executive Phattharaphon Sitthiwanit presided over a press conference of the Tenth Thailand Tourism Awards for the year 2015. Tourism entrepreneurs from Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Lampang attended the event in great numbers. The TAT wanted all relevant sectors to
work together in creating eco-friendly tourism in a sustainable manner. The awards certified that the quality of Thai tourism products and services were on par with international standards. The biennial Thailand Tourism Awards was held for the first time in 1996. It will mark the 20th anniversary next year.
Source: http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/News Detail?NT01_NewsID=WNECO5710200010008
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News & Events
2014 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards: Winners Announced On the closing day of this year’s ITB Asia (Marina Bay Sands, Singapore), Wild Asia revealed the 2014 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award Winners as part of the annual Responsible Tourism Forum. In line with this year’s UNWTO theme, Wild Asia has highlighted people in destinations in the 2014 Awards with categories dedicated to ethical practices to support host communities and conserve vibrant cultures in destinations around the region. The Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards began in 2006 aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC), enabling local operators to gain international recognition and inspire the tourism industry through sharing their best practices. Award recipients go through a robust application and judging process, allowing Wild Asia to identify leaders in corporate social responsibility and sustainability who go above and beyond to use tourism as a tool for positive social benefits.
Best in Community Engagement & Development Winner: Borneo Eco Tours, Malaysia Finalists: Reality Tours & Travel, India & Village Ways, India Best in Cultural Preservation Winner: Ock Pop Tok, Laos Finalist: Andaman Discoveries, Thailand Most Inspiring Responsible Tourism Initiative Winner: ChildSafe Network, Cambodia Finalist: BEST Society, Malaysia
Whale Watch awarded tourism 'Oscar' Whale Watch Kaikoura is celebrating after winning the Australasian Responsible Tourism Award at the World Travel Awards on October 10, 2014 in New Delhi, India. Considered by many to be the travel industry's equivalent to the Oscars, the awards celebrate excellence in all sectors of the industry. Whale Watch Kaikour marketing manager Lisa Bond was in India to accept the award, and said she was honoured to represent the company and New Zealand. Whale Watch Kaikoura general manager Kauahi Ngapora said the award was a
strong endorsement for the Kaikourabased operation's focus on sustainable tourism and environmental protection. The win continues a winning streak of international industry recognition that Whale Watch Kaikoura has received in the almost 30 years since it was launched. The direct value of tourism to the Kaikoura economy was estimated at more than $135 million a year. The award comes at the same time Whale Watch Kaikoura has achieved its Qualmark Enviro-Gold status for exceptional
standards of responsible tourism. Established in 1987, it hosts more than 100,000 visitors a year on boat trips to see sperm whales, off the coast of Kaikoura. Whale Watch is located in the town of Kaikoura, 2.5 hours drive north of Christchurch.
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlboroughexpress/news/10640539/Whale-Watch-awardedtourism-Oscar
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Damaraland Camp
Feature
Wilderness Safaris Damaraland Camp, Namibia Brett Wallington, Group Sustainability Manager
Founded in Botswana in 1983, Wilderness Safaris is widely acclaimed as Africa’s foremost ecotourism operator. It offers private access to nearly three million hectares of Africa’s finest wildlife and wilderness areas through some 60 luxury camps and safaris across nine African countries. Its Damaraland Camp is situated in the Torra Conservancy, one of the most pristine wilderness areas in Namibia and is a joint venture between the Torra Conservancy and Wilderness Safaris. In this interview, Mr. Brett Wallington, the group’s sustainability manager, shares with us the sustainability philosophy, features and practices at the camp. How did Wilderness Safaris come about? What was the motivation to set up the company? Wilderness Safaris registered as a Botswana company in 1983, offering rustic mobile safaris to like-minded guests who were passionate about nature and exploring the country’s remote wildlife areas. It was also the first safari outfitter at the time to realise the need for its financial benefits to flow back to the country and its people, ultimately ensuring the sustainable protection of Botswana’s diverse wilderness. The initial Wilderness dream was to conserve Africa’s unique wilderness areas by enabling people to visit them and at the same time for local people and the business to earn a return from the process. This was not a grand or complex idea but it was an important one. Wilderness started off by offering “journeys and experiences to discerning
globally caring travellers”; however, today Wilderness is in the business of “building sustainable conservation economies”, achieved through the employment of a responsible tourism model. In the 1990s, with renewed global focus on southern Africa as a luxury travel destination, the company began to broaden its positive ecotourism footprint to Africa’s neighbouring countries – first Namibia, then South Africa, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, followed later by Zambia, Seychelles, Congo and Kenya. Today, Wilderness Safaris owns and operates more than 60 camps and various guided explorations in nine African countries, all committed to its 4Cs philosophy (Commerce, Conservation, Community and Culture). Its reputation and operating experience has enabled the company to successfully tender for prime leases in key wildlife areas, offering guests an unrivalled suite of camps and
concessions in Africa, and, in turn, contributing materially to their ongoing conservation.
What is Damaraland Camp’s core sustainability philosophy and what are the key features of it? Damaraland Camp’s core sustainability philosophy is based on the 4Cs Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. The increase in the community’s awareness of nature conservation has been immense; where wildlife was once viewed as a threat, it is now regarded as an important asset to the earning potential of the community. Former poachers have become community game guards with great
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success. The camp's emphasis on conservation-positive impact and sustainable ecotourism has been reflected in the considerable increase in general game numbers since 1996. In addition, the income generated through the camp has allowed the conservancy to establish a livestock compensation fund for farmers who lose their stock to predators. The level of success achieved is obvious to all guests visiting the area today. A large portion of the community levy is allocated towards community empowerment projects, such as the funding of the local school and community centre. Damaraland Camp has become an inspiration for communities and conservationists throughout Africa and beyond. The objectives achieved include creating a high-income, low-impact tourism camp for sustainable tourism; to train members of the local community in all aspects of tourism; to create immediate employment in a previously lowemployment area; to uplift the local area financially and socially and to allow local wildlife numbers to increase and stabilise.
Could you elaborate more on the ecopractices that you follow in the Damaraland Camp? The eco-practices at the camp are based on three core areas, namely waste, water and energy. Firstly, the camp is based on a hybrid power system, whereby a generator is used for electricity production, charging up a bank of batteries during operational hours. This allows us to reduce the operational hours of the generator from 24
hours to about eight hours per day. The guest rooms, however, operate independently of this system and each guest room has its own small solar system, providing solar electricity and not diesel generator power. Waste water is treated using an above ground system, allowing the waste water to be broken down sufficiently before being allowed to enter the environment and evaporate.
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Damaraland Camp
The camp also uses water efficiently with a low pressured gravity fed system. We also ask guests to capture all the cold water from the shower while waiting for the hot water in a bucket, which the cleaning staff then use to clean the room. The camp also uses reusable glass bottles to remove the need for bottled water. Local water is treated using reverse osmosis to produce water of still water quality. As a result we are using less than one 500ml bottle of water per guest.
What measures are taken to monitor performance and progress in meeting sustainability targets environmental, socio-cultural and economic? All forms of the sustainability targets are measured across our 4Cs sustainability blueprint. These are reported in the company’s annual Integrated Report. We do however measure performance monthly when considering sustainability aspects such as environmental performance, for example carbon emissions or bottled water consumption.
Do you provide Environmental Education & Training to staff? Do you have an Environmental and Respectful Code of Conduct for guests? Yes, Wilderness Safaris has a Groupwide Environmental Minimum Standards in place, which details the principles to
which we build and run our camps environmentally. Staff are trained on this aspect with regards to the 4Cs. Camps are also assessed biannually to ensure the staff are maintaining the camps with respect to these standards. Guests are also introduced to the various environmental commitments and expectations from them during the camp welcoming and health and safety briefing. The company’s annual Sustainability Review (an abbreviated version of the Integrated Report), as well as the Wilderness Wildlife Trust and Children in the Wilderness Review, is also placed in all the rooms as part of the reading collateral.
What measurable impact has Damaraland Camp made on the local environment in which it operates? Damaraland Camp has reduced any
potential negative impacts through the above mentioned environmental efforts. In terms of biodiversity conservation, benefits of the establishment of Damaraland became very clear seeing animals such as the endemic Hartmann’s mountain zebra grow from a population of 450 in the 1980s to 12 500 in the year 2000; and the now famous desert-adapted elephants from a mere 250 to 700 in 2000. This recovery in wildlife is, however, merely as a result of the benefits realised by the members of the conservancy. The impact the camp has had on the local community in terms of creating an alternative source of income to other activities, such as poaching etc, has been immense and is a true example of successful ecotourism.
Damaraland Camp
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Wilderness Safaris provides journeys and experiences for the discerning wildlife traveller and is renowned as Africa’s most responsible ecotourism operator of choice by many of our trade partners across the world. Please provide some insights into your customers’ profile. What motivates them to visit your camps? Wilderness Safaris provides journeys and experiences for the discerning wildlife traveller and is renowned as Africa’s most responsible ecotourism operator of choice by many of our trade partners across the world. We do not take any direct bookings, and therefore work closely with our trade partners to promote our offering, including Damaraland Camp. Guests come from all over the world but Namibia is especially popular with German and European luxury adventure travellers, as well as from the UK and self-drive guests from local and regional countries. We cater for all ages, genders, single travellers as well as families, so host a wide variety of guests.
Based on your experience and knowledge of the industry and
customers, what trends do you see for the travel and tourism industry in the future? Do you see a growing interest in sustainable tourism or eco-friendly travel? Yes, there is a growing interest but guests will not pay a premium for eco-friendly travel. It may, however, be the swinging vote that encourages a guest to travel with the likes of Wilderness Safaris to Damaraland rather than another operator. It is about getting value for your money, and if guests know that they are choosing a responsible operator with reduced impact on the environment, and that they are contributing to conservation through their booking, then this increases the value of their tourism dollar. Other trends include an increased interest for authentic cultural experiences, multigenerational travel and green-season travel.
What are the long term benefits that tourism destination managers can expect from being involved in sustainable business practices that include environmental, socio-cultural and economic aspects? Can this be a competitive advantage? Yes, this can be a competitive advantage if it encourages the guest to travel with us due to perceived improved value. In terms of the benefits to Damaraland having improved sustainable practices, the benefits have been very clear. Improved economic performance due to lower running costs as a result of improved environmental management; loyalty and support from our host community and joint-venture partners, the Torra Conservancy, due to socioeconomic benefits; improved wildlife viewing as a result of a positive relationship with the Torra Conservancy receiving tangible benefits from reduced
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Making positive contributions to environmental and social aspects increases the attractiveness of your business to guests, local stakeholders and partners. poaching and hunting in the area.
Awards & Recognition
What is your sustainability message to the travel trade?
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Ensure that the sustainability of your operations becomes part of the DNA of your business, especially where your business relies on the health of the ecosystems and species that attract guests to your products.
Damaraland Camp selected as one of National Geographic Traveler’s “25 Best Ecolodges” for 2013.
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Damaraland Camp received the Tourism for Tomorrow 2005 Conservation Award
Understand that any negative impacts on the environment or communities upon which your business is based, results in your offering becoming less attractive and less competitive, whilst conversely making positive contributions to environmental and social aspects increases the attractiveness of your business to guests, local stakeholders and partners. Without this commitment, your business is not sustainable in any way or form.
Wilderness Safaris: •
Wilderness Safaris listed World’s 4th Best Safari Operator in Travel + Leisure 2014 World’s Best Awards
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2014 Wilderness Holdings Integrated Report recognised as 6th Best in the World in the Corporate Register Reporting Awards (CRRA)
Awang Awang
Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism
Awang Awang, Indonesia
Built in 2005, Villa Awang Awang is located near Ubud in Bali and owned by a retired psychiatrist and his wife. Awang Awang means “floating in the space between heaven and earth� – the perfect description for the property, perched dramatically on the edge of a deep ravine with breath-taking views of the sacred Petanu River and the lush tropical forests that clad its banks.In this interview Ann Schioldann, co-owner shares with us their sustainability policy and ecologically friendly practices. What was the motivation behind setting up such a project in Bali?
monitor performance and progress in meeting sustainability targets?
We were concerned about a number of issues that Bali has been facing. These include the loss of agricultural land, overdevelopment, deforestation, diminishing water supply, inappropriate waste and sewerage disposal air and water pollution.
We endeavour to minimise the impact on our surroundings and be eco-friendly by the use of aerobic sewerage treatment (Indo-Bio), which enables waste to be recycled to the gardens. We also use a pelton wheel near the river to run a small turbine for elecricity.
This is the reason why we decided to build Awang Awang in 2005. It is an ecofriendly villa, in which the decor comprises unique pieces of antique furniture from Bali, Java and Lombok, local artwork, traditional weavings, carvings, statues and antique shadow puppets.
Does Awang Awang have an established sustainability policy? What are the key tenets of this policy and what measures are taken to
Windows and doors are constructed in a way that uses a simple pivot system to catch the river breeze and eliminate the need for air-conditioning . In order to minimise chemical use, the pools are sterilised by silver ionization. We do not use any poisonous sprays or mosquito fogging. We have a no-plastic policy and therefore toiletries are supplied in refillable ceramic containers. Drinking water is supplied in
large 20 liter containers, that are refillable. In order to save water and electricity, bed linen is only changed every 3rd day unless specifically requested by guests. We replace towels when guests leave them in an appointed place. All waste is sorted and either recycled or composted. We have a replacement program with LED light bulbs. In order to reduce traffic and fuel usage, we provide a fixed time shuttle service thrice a day
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Awang Awang
All our staff are Balinese and believe in the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which promotes the three harmonious relationships: Human to God, Human to Human, and Human to Nature. for the 10 minute trip into Ubud, our nearest town. Bicycles are also encouraged to be hired at a minimal cost .
What kind of activities do you provide to your guests? We provide a wide range of activities. These include Bird watching – with binoculars and Indonesian Bird book available for loan, monkey watching, cycling tours, rice field walks, spa treatments, river walks, yoga, cooking classes, jewelery making workshops, traditional herb walks and village walks – where guests can explore the traditional village of Melayang. Balinese cultural activities such as traditional dance and gamelan music, batik, silver smithing and weaving are also arranged on request. More strenuous activities include white water rafting, volcano climbing and hiking.
Do you provide Environmental Education & Training to staff? Do you have an Environmental and Respectful Code of Conduct for guests?
lights and fans when they leave the villa.
All our staff are Balinese and believe in the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which promotes the three harmonious relationships: Human to God, Human to Human, and Human to Nature. They therefore have a great respect for others, life, relationships, community and the environment.
There has been a lot of interest in our bamboo building construction and the eco-friendly initiatives.
Staff are trained in waste management and recycling, minimisation of harsh cleaning chemicals, bed linen and towel use management . Information is provided to the guests, respectfully asking them to minimise their water usage, to only request linen/ towel change when necessary and to turn off
What measurable impact has been made on the local environment in which Awang Awang operates?
We have had strong support from our local village and local businesses supplying organic food, plants and materials. We are also supporting a number of non-profit organisations in Bali.
Awang Awang supports Kupu Kupu Foundation, Yayasan Senyum (The Smile Foundation) and Carry for Kids. Could you tell us more about these initiatives? We have been involved in fund-raising for the Smile Foundation which brings
Awang Awang
Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism
There is definitely increasing interest in sustainable tourism. Many travelers today are eco-conscious. They are more keyed in to environment-friendly practices and prefer green options for stays. There is definitely a preference for hotels that make an effort to reduce their global carbon footprint.
health care to Indonesians with craniofacial disabilities, amongst other initiatives, arranging operations by world renowned surgeons at Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia. We donate to Kupu Kupu Foundation which helps to improve the lives of Balinese with disabilities by assisting with medical care, medicines, physiotherapy and surgical operations. We also help Carry for Kids, which is an organisation supporting orphanages in Bali. Carry for Kids promotes and educates airline staff, travel agents and travellers about how they can, as individuals, make a difference to the lives of underprivileged children.
Please provide some insights into your customers’ profile. Where do
they come from, what age and gender are they, and what motivates them to stay at Awang Awang? Guests come from a wide range of countries world-wide. The demographics are changing. Whereas 4 to 5 years ago there were more guests from the USA and Europe, now we are seeing more guests from other Asian countries. For example: Malaysia and Korea, as well as India, China and Russia. Guests range from honeymoon couples, family groups for reunions and birthdays to friends travelling together. We have also hosted group tours for
cultural experiences, yoga retreats and adventure tours. From your experience in leading
Awing Awang and knowledge of the industry and customers, what trends do you see for the travel and tourism industry in the future? Do you see a growing interest in sustainable tourism or eco-friendly travel? There is definitely increasing interest in sustainable tourism. Many travellers today are eco-conscious. They are more keyed in to environment-friendly practices and prefer green options for stays. There is definitely a preference for hotels that make an effort to reduce their global carbon footprint. According to research by PhocusWright, 66% of U.S. travellers think that their travel choices can make a difference to the environment.
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Awang Awang
Accommodation providers should make any effort , however small, to minimise their carbon footprint and minimise negative impacts on the environment and their community . What is your sustainability message to the travel trade? Please encourage clients to choose accommodations which are eco-friendly and which support their local community. Accommodation providers - please make any effort , however small, to minimise your carbon footprint and minimise negative impacts on your environment and community.
Awards & Recognition •
Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence - 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014
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Traveller’s Choice 2014
The Mudhouse
Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism
The Mudhouse, Sri Lanka Finalist
The Mudhouse is located on the outskirts of a small rural village close to the town of Anamaduwa in Puttalam District, Sri Lanka. The Mudhouse was started by two friends, Tom and Kumar, in 2005. The project was very small when it started – just half an acre – so it was easy for them to implement their ideas for running the place sustainably. As the property has grown – they now have almost fifty acres of land to protect and regenerate - they have been able to scale the various initiatives as they went along. In this interview, Tom and Kumar, Founders, The Mudhouse, share insights about the retreat’s approach to eco-living and their sustainability practices.
What are the key tenets of your sustainability policy at The Mudhouse? And how do you ensure it is implemented? The Mudhouse is a very informal place and we do not have official or formal policies as such. The key tenets of the project have always been to create a beautiful place that is fun for guests and beneficial to the environment and people of the area. How we do this has changed many times over the years but with the kind of environment we exist in it is often pretty obvious what not to do. The rest is often a question of learning what best to do to promote regeneration and balance in the ecosystem.
Can you give us some details about
The Mudhouse’s key sustainability features and the environmental best practices that you follow? All structures are built with local materials and by local labour. Plastic is discouraged from being brought into the property at all times. All natural waste is composted. Furthermore, as much organic produce as possible is grown on site. Water wastage is kept to a minimum and recycled wherever possible. We collect rain water for drinking and cooking by the staff. We also do not use chemicals neither in the farms nor in the gardens. We plant a variety of plant species to enrich the overall forest environment and to aid water retention in the lakes/ reservoirs.
Solar power is used for the vast majority of the property – all lights are powered by solar energy. Laundry is done by hand. Various environmentally friendly techniques have been implemented to reduce soil erosion, particularly on the pathways. No valuable or vaguely mature tree is
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ever cut down to facilitate construction – paths are redirected around such trees or structure locations moved. Strict waste management procedures are in place to prevent rodents which will in turn attract snakes. Food waste is fed to the dogs and then other animals and not thrown away. We use manual labour ahead of machines wherever possible.
Do you provide Environmental Education & Training to staff? Do you have an Environmental and Respectful Code of Conduct for guests? Please provide some details. Guests are normally given an extensive tour of the property and shown in some detail what measures we take to be environmentally friendly and what techniques we use to overcome certain challenges.
The Mudhouse
We find this is a far better way of promoting understanding than just requesting assistance in writing or by talking. When the guests see the water wells and the staff washing the linen, they can understand how valuable that resource is to us and how much human energy goes into creating and maintaining their accommodation in this beautiful place. Similarly, almost all of our activities focus on the attractions surrounding us – bird watching, kayaking in local lakes, local temples – all of which promote social and environmental understanding. The staff are almost all from the local area so have an inherent understanding of what we are trying to do. We then have regular meetings where we discuss the internal practices. There are obviously things that we do differently from much of the local community, like not using soaps or
detergents in local lakes, bringing polythene or bottles onto the site and other such details. What measurable impact has The Mudhouse made on the local environment and the community, in which it operates? How do you increase local engagement to create positive impact? Running a lodge which focusses on the community can be a real challenge. In one sense you involve the community in everything you do, whilst on the other you have to set clear boundaries on practices which differentiate what happens inside the gates of the lodge from outside. So we have found that we have to have our own strict rules in some senses, whilst inviting participation in creating best practice in others. The Mudhouse would essentially not be able to exist without the support of the local community. People from most local households have worked
for us at some point or another or still work here now. As the construction and peak booking periods are highly seasonal, we tend to use a lot of day labour, which enables us to spread employment around the community. Similarly, our activities are often run in conjunction with locals – this may include stopping at local houses for a cup of tea, or renting space for us to store picnic and activity materials.
They also live with and from the environment and we have so much to learn from them when we can break through the obvious economic imbalance that exists between our guests and the local people.
One thing we have always been very clear about is that we do not want to create a culture of begging or an expectation amongst guests or the local community that financial assistance should be provided. We have always believed that we should create employment for the locals as this empowers them and also means we can develop the local area more.
We offer a wide range of activities, including nature trails, bird watching, kayaking, picnic trips, temple trips – all of which are low impact and promote understanding of the area we are in.
Our aim has always been to share the wonders of life in this rural part of Sri Lanka. Whilst the villages are not economically strong, they have a selfsufficient lifestyle that has existed pretty much unchanged for hundreds of years.
What activities do you offer your guests and how do you make sure these activities do not cause an adverse effect to the environment?
We also provide cycling, dolphin watching, cooking lessons and trips to Anawilundawa Sanctuary and Wilpattu National Park. We use almost no
motorised transport in our activities (our tuk-tuk sometimes) and take upmost care not to leave any traces of our having been there. What positive impact has being a
responsible tourism company had on your business? What are the long term benefits from being involved in sustainable business practices? Can this be a competitive advantage? We don’t really have much competition in the area and, even if we did, I am not sure we would class it as such. The impact of operating responsibly is mostly that we can be proud of what we do and that, when we communicate this to guests, they want to be part of that. Our guests don’t come here expecting a typical hotel experience, so I suppose you could say that the sustainability and responsibility aspects of the project are precisely what attracts guests to stay with us. We have always been very careful not to promote ourselves much and have thus avoided attracting the wrong kind of clients who will not really enjoy the wild nature of the place or the ‘back to basics’ accommodation. In the long term, we will continue to try and raise our standards of best practice and service and hope this is reflected in
The Mudhouse
the guest experience and the word of mouth recommendations that hopefully follow.
some ways, the guests that stay will learn and tell other people and that is for us the best way to spread the information.
Do you follow any international guidelines in Best Practices in Sustainable Management? Does The Mudhouse have any external eco / green certification?
Perhaps we are somewhat behind the times in this respect and I guess this could change in the future. We have felt for some time that sustainability and responsibility have become empty buzz words in the industry and that all kinds of properties now try to be seen as such whilst making no real effort to be so.
We have no formal certification from any local or international agency and have never really sought this. We do what we do because we want to and because we believe it is right. We have never felt the need to be certified – we are doing it for the simple reason that we believe it is right and we get enjoyment and satisfaction from doing it and seeing, first-hand, the positive effects on the environment and the community. We learn continuously from people who stay and from other people in the field but do not really require any other body to recognise this in order to know we are on the right track. In
We could certainly do a lot more to communicate our environmental and community practices through social media, newsletters and our website and we hope to achieve that at some point in the near future. It’s always a question of balancing time and resources and digital work often gets pushed to the bottom of the pile in this respect.
Please provide some insights into your customers’ profile. Where do they come from, what age and gender are they, and what motivates them to visit The Mudhouse and use
Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism
your services? The Mudhouse attracts all kinds of people but I would say our main attraction is for couples and families. Kids tend to love it here and parents love the freedom and educational nature the place offers their children. Similarly, couples love the hideaway element and the unique romance provided by the ‘less is more’ approach to life. We are also finding increasingly that yoga groups are interested in renting the property in its entirety (we have a lovely yoga hut on an island in our private lake). Our customers are mostly from Europe but we would like to get information about the property to people from other regions. The Mudhouse is only two and half hours from the main international airport, so we do also attract long weekend bookings for guests from the Middle East and other parts of Asia like Hong Kong and Singapore.
And
finally,
what
is
your
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Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism
sustainability message to the travel trade? Not sure I feel qualified to issue a sustainability message to the travel trade at large. However, I can say that running a property on these principles has worked for us on many levels and seems to work for the guests too. It’s also very rewarding to see the positive impact you have on the environment and community with your own eyes, and how the impacts get bigger and better with time and practice. The intention is the most important part – if you have that, the rest will follow one way or another.
The Mudhouse
Point of View
Listen to your customers and raise your profits Are you losing potential profits you didn’t know about? Know how listening to your customers can double your profits
Our contributing writer for the Point of View column is Nandkumar Awatramani, Founder & Principal Consultant, Nara Hospitality, based in Mumbai, India. In this article, Nandkumar asserts that to increase your sales, boost your bottom line and outgrow your competition, you must be willing to listen to what your customers want to tell you.
Are you drowning in a sea of ever rising costs, increasing competition and shrinking market share. It is easy to get caught in the trap of constantly firefighting, always too busy reacting to situations to solve the underlying problems your business faces? If this describes your business then imagine being able to increase your sales, boost your bottom line, outgrow your competition, and still be working less hours than you are now! This really is possible if you listen to what your customers want to tell you. Hotel and Restaurant consultants constantly remind us that customer feedback is vital, but how many of us consistently collect and act on this data? If used correctly it will help you make the strategic decisions that will allow your business to grow and succeed.
Consistently analysing customer feedback allows one to identify the key actionable steps one must take to grow the business. Learn how to use that customer feedback to drive every decision that you take. Let your customers set your priorities, their feedback should
determine the actions you take in every area of your business. Can you imagine the effect it would have on your bottom line if you always gave your customers exactly what they wanted, on time, every time? People would flock to a business that actually listened to them and provided exactly the service they wanted.
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Point of View
The rise of repeat customers The fastest way to grow your business is through increasing the number of repeat customers. These are the most economical customers to attract. You don't need a huge marketing budget to tell them where you are and what you can do for them because they already know. What you need to do is ensure that you offer them a truly great experience every time they visit you, so that they keep coming back and love telling their friends about what you do. This is only going to happen if you give them exactly what they want, on time, every time. To achieve this you must turn your customer feedback into deliverable actions and priorities for every department in your business.
Growing your market share By understanding exactly why your customers come to your hotel or restaurant you will gain valuable knowledge which you can use to make them visit you more often. Start building a detailed picture of your customers. The better you understand your customer the more you can tailor your business offering to meet their desired needs.
If you have a constant stream of data feeding back to you from your customers, you will start to spot customer trends and opportunities you can capitalize on to satisfy your customers and maximize your profits. Slowly but surely you will start eating away at your competitors’ market share and growing yours as you retain the new customers you attract.
Identify the most profitable opportunities You may often make decisions based on guesswork or faulty assumptions about what your customers think. It's time to forget the guesswork and ask the customer directly.
Put in place a systematic feedback loop that consistently lets you know what your customers are thinking. Studying the feedback lets you spot trends and opportunities that can be developed to benefit the bottom line. You will be able to take decisions about which product to buy, which recipe to add to your menu, or how much to charge for your rooms. You can reduce wasted time or effort on things that are of less value, and concentrate effort where it matters most. Imagine how much of your employees time could be saved by eliminating this waste of effort.
Point of View
 The tailor-made approach Your customers can help you to generate larger profits with less effort. An effective feedback system that places the key decisions in the hands of your customers works because they are the ones best placed to tell you what they like. Your R&D department can now focus on those areas that are important to your customers and identify extra services to complement them. Through analysing feedback you can get a real understanding of who your customers are, and this allows you to tailor your marketing approaches directly to them. It's a win-win situation, your customers
gets exactly what they want, and you maximize your profits by providing every product or service that they require.
 Find your 10 to 20 times advantage It only takes one customer suggestion to make you stop, and look at your business and discover what marks you out from the competition. This difference is your competitive advantage. Focus on offering this 10 to 20 times advantage to your customers better than anyone else
does. Consistently monitor customer feedback to track effectiveness in delivering advantage, and you will leave competition far behind.
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your your this your
Everyone knows that customer feedback is important but not many of us are disciplined enough to review and analyse feedback in a consistently, disciplined manner. Using feedback properly can double your sales, eliminate your competition and capture the hearts of your customers.
Nandkumar founded Nara Hospitality Business Consultants and has been instrumental in its rapid growth since 2012. He is a third generation Hospitality Entrepreneur with a combined experience of 17 years in the hospitality industry. He holds a BSc. International Hospitality Management & Tourism (Summa Cum Laude) from Les Roches International School of Hotel Management (Switzerland).
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Market Intelligence
New Study Reveals A Greener Way to Travel A community-driven hospitality company released a new study quantifying the environmental benefits of home sharing for travelers. Conducted by Cleantech Group (CTG), this study finds that Airbnb promotes a more efficient use of existing resources and is an environmentally sustainable way to travel. Traveling on Airbnb results in significant reduction in energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste, and encourages more sustainable practices among both hosts and guests. Cleantech Group analysed over 8,000 survey responses from hosts and guests worldwide (from February 2014 to April 2014) and conducted research on residential and hotel sustainability levels and practices. For the values presented in this study, CTG compared residences to the most sustainable and energy-efficient hotels. Data reflecting the top 5th percentile hotels (in terms of energy use) from an Energy Star report was compared to residential energy data for the 40-50th percentile of homes in North America. A similar approach was used in Europe. This is a reflection of the wide range of residential units that participate in home sharing, as well as a recognition of the best practices that have already been implemented in hotels. North American highlights from the study include: • In one year alone, Airbnb guests in North America saved the equivalent of 270 Olympic-sized pools of water while avoiding the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 33,000 cars on North American roads.
• Nearly 83 percent of Airbnb hosts in North America report owning at least one energy efficient appliance at their property. • In North America, 95 percent of Airbnb hosts say they recycle at least one item type at their property; 94 percent of guests report that they recycle when possible. • When staying at an Airbnb, guests are 10-15 percent more likely to use public transportation, walk or bicycle as their primary mode of transportation than if they had stayed at a hotel. European highlights from the study include: • In one year alone, Airbnb guests in Europe saved the equivalent of 1,100 Olympic-sized pools of water while avoiding the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 200,000 cars on European roads. • Airbnb hosts also tend to engage in sustainable practices. Nearly 79 percent of Airbnb hosts in Europe report owning at least one energy efficient appliance at their property.
• In Europe, 89 percent of Airbnb hosts say they recycle at least one item type at their property; 94 percent of guests report that they recycle when possible. • When staying at an Airbnb, guests are 10-15 percent more likely to use public transportation, walk or bicycle as their primary mode of transportation than if they had stayed at a hotel. Many environmental experts and leaders have been encouraged by the results of the study and the impact the Airbnb community is having around the world. “Airbnb is demonstrating the potential of home sharing to help make destinations better places to live and visit,” said Brian T. Mullis, Founder and CEO of global non-profit Sustainable Travel International. “The research recently undertaken by the Cleantech Group demonstrates a reduced environmental footprint is possible for the travel industry with an increase in home sharing options.” Source: https://www.airbnb.com/press/news/newstudy-reveals-a-greener-way-to-travelairbnb-community-shows-environmentalbenefits-of-home-sharing
Green Showcase Misool Eco Resort, Indonesia
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Green Showcase
Misool Eco Resort is an exclusive dive resort and conservation centre located in remote southern Raja Ampat, Indonesia. The private resort island is nestled deep in an archipelago of uninhabited islands, in the very epicentre of marine biodiversity. One’s stay at Misool Eco Resort directly supports its numerous conservation initiatives and provides sustainable employment opportunities to local people, entirely decoupled from the extraction of marine resources. community, along with 1220 sq km of surrounding reefs. All the dive sites are inside this area, which means the reefs are just astounding... gorgeous corals, massive sea fans, patrolling reef sharks, pygmy seahorses, schooling tuna, giant manta rays etc. Misool Eco Resort is an intimate tropical hideaway, built on a private island in an archipelago of uninhabited islands. It is 165 km away from the nearest port and 20 km away from the nearest village by boat, blissfully secluded and largely untethered from the modern world. No light pollution, no noise pollution, no mobile phone signal... in fact there is very little to distract the guests from the surrounding natural beauty. The resort island is leased from the local
The resort opened in 2008 on the site of a former shark finning camp. Owners’ respect for the natural surroundings and their commitment to the local community defined the way the resort was built. No lumber was bought and instead their own sawmill
Inspiration and purpose The inspiration to open Misool Eco Resort was the spectacular natural beauty of Raja Ampat. The scenery, both above and below the water, is breathtaking. This is the heart of marine biodiversity, and there just are no richer reefs on earth. The underwater world here is still pristine, and visiting is like stepping through a portal into an different time, before the global pressures of overfishing, shark finning, and human overpopulation were rife.
was set up. When it opened, over 600m3 of reclaimed tropical hardwood had been milled. Local labour was used as much as possible, and
Green Showcase
apprenticeship programs were created to train the staff. Many of the waiters, dive guides, and housekeepers started at the resort years ago as unskilled labourers.
Accommodation Misool Eco Resort was built entirely of reclaimed tropical hardwoods, milled on site with its own portable sawmill. The accommodations have been meticulously designed for comfort, privacy, and sustainability. All accommodations feature Balinese-style open air bathrooms, air-conditioning, fresh hot and cold showers, mini-bars, in-room safes, and handcrafted furniture and fittings. The eight rustically luxurious Water Cottages are located in the North Lagoon. The Water Cottages are built on stilts over the water. The view from the veranda is framed by a traditional grass roof, offering a high degree of privacy as well as shade. There are a number of spacious villas and a residence available for the guests, as well.
Conservation
Ranger Patrol
Over 120 staff are employed, most of whom come from the nearby villages of Misool. Sustainable employment opportunities are offered, entirely decoupled from the extraction of marine resources.
The 828 sq km No-Take Zone is patrolled by Misool’s team of 10 local Rangers. Using 2 dedicated boats, the Rangers enforce the regulations of the area, which include a complete ban on fishing, netting, shark finning, harvesting of turtles or their eggs, bombing, use of cyanide or potassium borate, etc. Thanks to diligent and relentless patrolling, the incidence of infractions is now extremely low.
Misool Eco Resort's Conservation Centre is a registered Indonesian charity called Misool Baseftin. Their joint mission is to safeguard the future of the most biodiverse reefs on earth by empowering local communities to reclaim their traditional tenureship of reefs. At Misool, it is believed that sustainable tourism and community-based conservation are mutually beneficial. Misool Baseftin means 'Misool: We own it together' in the local tribal language. The foundation maintains a broad approach to conservation, combining environmental, social, and educational elements. One of Misool Baseftin's main projects is operating the Ranger Patrol and protecting Misool Eco Resort's NoTake Zone.
Kindergarten Project, Fafanlap In late 2010 Misool expanded it’s NoTake Zone to encompass the Daram Islands to the east. As part of the lease agreement with the local community and in partnership with Seacology and WildAid, it was agreed to build a kindergarten in Fafanlap village. Construction started in late 2011, and the kindergarten is now functional. Misool Manta Project In August 2011, Misool’s team began sifting and collating several years' worth of photos and videos from the nearby
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Green Showcase
manta cleaning station. Using the distinctive markings on the manta's belly, they have identified individuals and created a database. This contributes valuable data to their knowledge of manta migration patterns and behaviour. Raja Ampat Sanctuary
Shark
and
Manta
Several years on, the structure is covered in soft corals as well as hard corals. The Dive Centre also runs a 'Reef Restoration Experience' for the guests. Guests enjoy an in-depth presentation about reef building corals, which is followed by a dive on a nearby patch of damaged reef. Ranger Station Project
In October 2010, Raja Ampat government was presented with a petition signed by over 8,500 people, encouraging the government to protect sharks and manta rays. The head of Raja Ampat was persuaded to establish a sanctuary for the entire 17,000 sq mi/46 million hectares of Raja Ampat.
Ranger Stations in strategic areas of the No-Take Zone are currently being built. These outposts allow the Rangers to camp in areas particularly vulnerable to exploitation, such as turtle nesting beaches and shark nurseries. The base stations also greatly reduce the fuel expenditure.
Reef Restoration Project Dive Guide Training Program At Misool several different methods for restoring reefs which have been damaged were investigated. The first attempt was in 2007, when the staff created an armature using old bits of iron rebar. Three generations of underwater-enthusiasts from the local village were invited to help install the structure.
At Misool it is hoped that one day, all dive guides will be drawn from the local community. A training program, offering Open Water diving certificates to interested staff from all departments, has been created. Although it takes years to become a knowledgeable and skilled Misool Eco Resort dive guide, a couple
of the staff are on their right way. School Library Project Misool currently supports libraries in the local schools. A great idea was realised – to create a mobile library, bringing books from village to village. This program was so popular that ultimately permanent libraries in 2 different schools were established. Misool has donated furnishings like book shelves, colourful beanbag chairs, wall-sized maps, and of course books to the libraries. Guests are asked to consider bringing a few easyto-read English language books. School Teacher Sponsorship The local villages lack the resources to pay the wages of school teachers. Misool currently pays for the monthly wages of six teachers in three villages. Raja Ampat declared a Sanctuary In 2010, Misool Eco Resort and Shark Savers successfully petitioned the Raja Ampat government to declare the Raja Ampat a Shark and Manta Sanctuary.
Green Showcase
Local materials used to build the cottages
Ranger patrol monitoring illegal activities
Reclaiming wood
Source: http://www.misoolecoresort.com/
Organic banana and papaya plantation
Diving at the Misool Eco-resort
Mobile Library project
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Green Business Directory
Business Directory
Urbn Hotel 183 Jiaozhou Road (near Beijing West Road), Jing’an District Shanghai 200040, China Tel:+8621 5153 4600 E-mail: reservation@urbnhotels.com Web: http://www.urbnhotels.com/ URBN Hotel Shanghai is a boutique hotel, built by the Shanghai-based hotel chain URBN Hotels & Resorts whose mission is to develop and operate innovative, stylish hotels that combine locally sourced and recycled materials with modern architecture and design to create contemporary spaces inspired by China’s past, present and future.
El Nido Resorts 18/F BA Lepanto Building 8747 Paseo de Roxas Street, Salcedo Village 1226 Makati City, Philippines Tel: +63 2 902 5900 Email: holiday@elnidoresorts.com Web: http://www.elnidoresorts.com El Nido Resorts is a group of eco-resorts located in the El Nido-Taytay municipalities in northern Palawan, Philippines. The resorts offer genuine, local hospitality and unique and enriching experiences amidst the beautiful natural landscape.
The Frangipani Langkawi P.O. Box 138. Jalan Teluk Baru Pantai Tengah, Mukim Kedawang 07100 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. Tel: (604) 952 0000 Email: rsvn@frangipanilangkawi.com Web: http://www.frangipanilangkawi.com/ The Frangipani Langkawi is a four-star beachside resort that opened in 2006 along one of Langkawi’s best beaches, Pantai Tengah. It is the first resort in Langkawi to implement Green practices to preserve the environment.
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Business Directory
Dwarka Eco Beach Resort Ambelim Beach, Mattimol, Cola Beach Canacona 403524, India Tel: +91 9823377025 E-mail: dwarkagoa@gmail.com Web: http://dwarkagoa.com Ten beautiful, all natural, medieval thatched cottages, with contemporary interiors, are set around a fresh water lagoon with each overlooking the Arabian sea and the lagoon, and beneath the rustling of hundreds of palm trees, which are on different levels, on several acres of land.
Ace the Himalaya G.P.O Box 1280, A- One Business Complex, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977 1 4423719, 4423720 Email: info@acethehimalaya.com Web: http://www.acethehimalaya.com Ace the Himalaya specializes in hiking, trekking, mountaineering, rafting, wildlife safaris, mountain biking, cultural tours, and specialty itineraries (honeymoon, photography, festivals, voluntourism and student). Ace offers both, pre-planned itineraries and custom travel planning services.
Eco Koh Tao Crystal Dive Resort Padi Career Development Center Mae Haad, Koh Tao, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 77 456106 Email: info@crystaldive.com Web: http://www.ecokohtao.com Koh Tao, Thailand is at the forefront of scuba diving in South East Asia, with thousands of people visiting this island paradise every year to take advantage of its world famous dive sites. Eco Koh Tao specialises in preparing and instructing divers and dive professionals emphasising the eco-diving aspects of marine conservation.
Business Directory
Dar HI Quartier Ezzaouia Naftah 2240, Tunisia Tel:+216 76 432 779 E-mail: darhi@dar-hi.net Web: http://www.dar-hi.net Dar HI is a design eco-retreat or eco-lodge located in the historical centre of Naftah town, in the South of Tunisia. The Dar Hi resort is laid out like a village and features ochre-coloured structures on pilars, enclosed by an exterior wall.
Polwaththa Eco Lodges 69/1 Wepathana, Gomagoda 20184 Digana, Kandy District, Sri Lanka Tel: +94 721 751951 Email: info@polwaththa-ecolodges.com Web: http://www.polwaththa-ecolodges.com Polwaththa is a unique and authentic experience that offers the best of traditional Sri Lankan village culture. The eco-lodge is surrounded by coconut trees and a wide variety of other trees providing lush greenery round the year.
Our Native Village Hessarghatta P.O.Box 8802, Bangalore – 560 088, India Tel: +91 80 41140909 Email: info@ournativevillage.com Web: http://www.ournativevillage.com Our Native Village is an eco-retreat for holistic health near Bangalore city in India. It was planned as a 100% eco-retreat, with commitment to sustainability in every facet of its acitivity. Its Responsible Tourism Policy encompasses environmental, social, cultural and economic aspects, rooted in a strong ethical foundation.
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Business Directory
Loola Adventure Resort 50 Tanah Merah Ferry Road, Singapore 498833 Tel:+65 6764 6496 E-mail: info@loola.net Web: http://www.loola.net Loola Adventure Resort is a resort whose owners believe that a good business can and should benefit all other stakeholders too: the local community, the staff, and the clients. It is located in Loola, Bintan.
Great Ponsonby Art Hotel 30 Ponsonby Terrace, Ponsonby, 1011, New Zealand Tel: +64 9-376 5989 Email: info@greatpons.co.nz Web: http://www.greatpons.co.nz The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel is a small Bed & Breakfast hotel located in Ponsonby, a vibrant, safe, historic area of Auckland City. It has 12 rooms of varying sizes. The Great Ponsonby is the recipient of the Qualmark Enviro Gold Award accreditation – New Zeaaland tourism’s official mark of quality.
Alila Hotels & Resorts 15 Scotts Road #04-10 Thong Teck building Singapore 228218 Tel: +65 67358300 Email: ask@alilahotels.com Web: http://www.alilahotels.com Alila Hotels & Resorts is a privately owned hotel management group headquartered in Singapore, with a strong element of Indonesian genes and a footprint across the Asia-Pacific region. Alila currently manages nine unique city hotels and resorts in India and Indonesia, and has another eleven properties under development in the AsiaPacific region.
Business Directory
Khanfous Retreat Bni Meslem, BP330 Asilah Morocco Tel:+212 634-663483 E-mail: info@khanfousretreat.com Web: http://www.khanfousretreat.com Set in an idyllic rural village on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, just twenty minutes south of the historic port town of Asilah, Khanfous Retreat allows you to get back to nature. The cottage has been skilfully crafted in the traditional style by talented locals.
Footsteps Eco lodge South Kombo, W/ Africa Babilon Gunjur, Western, Gambia Tel: +44 23 9225 2575 Email: holidays@footstepsgambia.com Web: http://www.footstepsinthegambia.com Situated in Gunjur on Gambia's south bank, Footsteps Eco lodge is ' in the bush and by the beach'. Designed to mimic a traditional African Village compound, all huts and cabins are authentic in design with the added advantage of being en suite.
Sarinbuana Eco Lodge Jalan Arjuna Br. Biyahan, Desa Wanagiri, Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia 82162 Tel: +62 828-9700-6079 Email: info@baliecolodge.com Web: http://www.baliecolodge.com This Award winning Eco Lodge, offers it’s guests a chance to retreat into nature and be apart of the vibrant Balinese culture. A haven for nature lovers, located at 700m on the slopes of Mount Batukaru in central Bali, only 90 minutes from Kuta and Ubud. Sarinbuana Eco Lodge has pioneered & co created many new Eco projects in Bali, setting new standards for Sustainable Tourism in Bali.
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Business Directory
Dwarka Eco Beach Resort Ambelim Beach, Mattimol, Cola Beach Canacona 403524, India Tel: +91 9823377025 E-mail: dwarkagoa@gmail.com Web: http://dwarkagoa.com Ten beautiful, all natural, medieval thatched cottages, with contemporary interiors, are set around a fresh water lagoon with each overlooking the Arabian sea and the lagoon, and beneath the rustling of hundreds of palm trees, which are on different levels, on several acres of land.
Would you like to be listed in the Business Directory and reach out to thousands of potential travel partners?
Ace the Himalaya
G.P.O Box 1280, A- One Business Complex, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977 1 4423719, 4423720 Email: info@acethehimalaya.com Web: http://www.acethehimalaya.com Ace the Himalaya specializes in hiking, trekking, mountaineering, rafting, wildlife safaris, mountain biking, cultural tours, and specialty itineraries (honeymoon, photography, festivals, voluntourism and student). Ace offers both, pre-planned itineraries and custom travel planning services.
Visit the Resources section on the SOST website: www.sostinternational.com or write to us:
Eco Koh Tao
info@sostinternational.com
Crystal Dive Resort Padi Career Development Center Mae Haad, Koh Tao, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 77 456106 Email: info@crystaldive.com Web: http://www.ecokohtao.com
Koh Tao, Thailand is at the forefront of scuba diving in South East Asia, with thousands of people visiting this island paradise every year to take advantage of its world famous dive sites. Eco Koh Tao specialises in preparing and instructing divers and dive professionals emphasising the eco-diving aspects of marine conservation.
Market Vision
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