{"id":464,"date":"2021-02-12T08:53:58","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T08:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cghearth.com\/earthcalling\/?p=464"},"modified":"2021-11-11T07:28:04","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T07:28:04","slug":"lessons-from-nature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cghearth.com\/earthcalling\/lessons-from-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons from Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jose Dominic, Co-Founder, CGH Earth speaks about preserving nature and the culture sensitive concept that will sustain tourism.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, I share experiences and lessons from a journey that we, as an enterprise, have undertaken.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1988, when we were offered the contract to reconstruct and run the resort on Bangaram Island in the Lakshadweep Islands, we were a single hotel enterprise based in Kochi with limited resources. The contract also stipulated regulations to conserve the fragile ecology of the coral atolls and protect the interests of the island\u2019s inhabitants. Then there was the issue of remote access (that continues to this day). Making matters trickier was the fact that both the destination and offering were new and unknown in the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our only solution was to attract travellers who would see the immense value in the wholeness of the offering, knowing nothing was added that could take away from the inherent beauty of the island. In fact, we only enhanced it. The advertised facilities of the hotel came to be the absence of \u2018facilities\u2019, such as telephone, television, and air-conditioning. Instead, we showcased local culture, architecture, and cuisine and provided a chance to engage with nature in its spectacular and pristine form, while treading gently. Every guest invariably came back, and wanted nothing changed.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The success experienced initially at Lakshadweep and later in Kerala clearly indicated the growing strength of the AIT (Alert Independent Traveller) demographic. The approach we took was to \u2018do just enough\u2019, with the belief that true luxury was more than the conventional meaning of `opulence of built space\u2019. The lessons in preservation we learnt were not only the foundation of our growth but also instrumental in the decision to change our company\u2019s name from Casino Group of Hotels to CGH Earth, to better represent the non-negotiable core values \u2013 respect for the environment, community, and the local ethos.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMore than an escape. It is about fulfillment\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Today, after 18 years and several hotels and resorts across South India, the Bangaram experience continues to inspire us. Apart from the discovery that less is more, this journey revealed that sensitive tourism does not mean restrictions; in fact, our experience showed that ecological and cultural sensitivity can be a part of the experience, making it all the more enjoyable. So it\u2019s more than an escape. It is about fulfilment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n