“We should make our own jam.”
I was sipping coffee, listening to the titter of birds over a leisurely
breakfast, when Akhilesh said this. “If we did that, we could reuse the
jars.”
He stated it so casually, as if he had commented on the warm weather. But, then
again, in his role as operations head of Bagh Villas,
Akhilesh (Umesh) Nair is
constantly thinking about the next step, the next project — anything that makes
the property more unique and sustainable.
Once a barren piece of land, the 15-acre Bagh Villas property today is teeming
with thousands of trees and dozens of termite mounds. During my stay, Nair
pointed out the laundry list of eco-conscious features — including solar panels,
a sophisticated water-harvesting system, and energy-reducing coolers in the
reception area. More than 140 species of birds flock to the two man-made lakes,
which have increased the water table significantly over the last decade.
One of Bagh Villas’ star features is its garden — where lettuce, eggplants,
beans, basil and dozens of other crops grow; 70 chickens provide eggs. A garden
10 times the size of the current one on land across the street will service the
property next year, and Nair has plans to buy cows that will provide the
property’s milk. “It’s so important to know what you’re eating and where your
food is from,” he told Sustainable Brands® (SB).
Situated on the edge of India’s Kanha Tiger Reserve with its 10 tented
accommodations, Bagh Villas might be small — but its positive impact is
noteworthy. Given the significant growth of tourism in India, it might also be
more important than ever.
According to
Skift,
India’s tourism industry is expected to grow 9.6 percent annually between 2024
and 2028. Hotels accounted for the largest share of revenue in 2023. Between
January and September 2023, 131 hotels opened across India, and there are more
to come: Radisson Hotel Group announced plans for 21
hotels,
Marriott plans to open 12
hotels,
and Hyatt is doubling its Indian portfolio from 50 to 100
hotels.
Whereas the country’s top destinations have attracted hotel construction in the
past, hotel brands are increasingly moving toward tier 2 and tier 3
cities
(as Skift calls them). It’s in these lesser-known areas that existing small,
boutique properties already showcase not only their appeal but their commitment
to the environment and local communities.
“Discerning travelers are looking for small luxury properties,” said Shoba
Rudra, founder of RARE
India — a community of 62 companies encompassing 89
properties across India, including Bagh Villas. (Note: My trip to India was sponsored by RARE India and the ImPart Collective to attend the recent BRIDGES event.) RARE’s portfolio consists of heritage palaces, boutique
homestays and other intimate accommodations — many of which are family-owned and
-run. All have a critical eye on combining high-quality guest experiences with
environmental protection, cultural and heritage preservation, and social and
economic benefits beyond a property’s physical footprint.
“A lot of the RARE properties are in off-the-beaten-path places,” Mohan told SB.
“The small hotels promote the destinations with a story. If you don’t have a
‘why,’ then why would people go there?”
At the 200-year-old Belgadia Palace in
Odisha, for example, sisters Mrinalika and Akshita BhanjDeo opened
the doors of their family home as guest accommodations served with a side of
social impact: “We believe in using tourism as a vehicle for sustainable
development,” Akshita said. “Tourism shouldn’t be only for one family. It should
benefit the whole community.”
A part of every Belgadia Palace guest fee goes toward a local non-governmental
organization or community group. Additionally, the sisters work with local
women, in particular, to offer experiences that showcase the culture and history
of this corner of India — which is home to more than 30 Indigenous communities.
“Women are the guardians. It’s only right they tell their stories,” Akshita
said. “We are only the facilitators.”
Nirmalya
Choudhury,
executive director of operations for Assam Bengal
Navigation, also emphasized the
importance of relationships between accommodations and the destinations where
they’re located: “Many small properties widely dispersed benefits more
communities,” he told SB. “New hotels need to be small, reflect local design,
use local materials and be built by local labor. Only then do they have the
potential to be sustainable.”
Assam Bengal Navigation operates four river boats, as well as Diphlu River
Lodge — a property with 12 cottages right
outside of Kaziranga National Park. Like Bagh Villas, it recycles greywater,
composts organic waste and has its own organic farm. The majority of staff are
hired from local villages. Its philanthropic arm, the ABN
Foundation, sends 5
percent of every room fee back into the surrounding area to support education,
environmental initiatives, and rural community development.
“We’re a little afraid of growing too big,” Choudhury said. “As long as people
are happy, we’ll keep doing what we do best.”
That’s a sentiment that seems to resonate with Nair as well. As we reached the
back edge of the Bagh Villas property during our tour, we stopped to rest on a
raised platform shaded by sal trees used by visitors during yoga retreats. Over
this past year, he’s been focused on the construction of an onsite
wastewater-treatment plant and is preparing the new garden for next year’s
planting season.
Meanwhile, his wife and Bagh Villas’ general manager, Lia, has helped women
on staff upcycle old tent coverings into bags sold on site, started making soap
and learned about beekeeping, in addition to her other daily tasks. What else
could they possibly do?
“I’m always looking for ways to improve,” Nair said.
A potential answer came a few days later — when Nair sent me a beautifully
styled food photo, with the caption: “Homemade pineapple jam and marmalade.”
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JoAnna Haugen is a writer, speaker and solutions advocate who has worked in the travel and tourism industry for her entire career. She is also the founder of Rooted — a solutions platform at the intersection of sustainable tourism, social impact and storytelling. A returned US Peace Corps volunteer, international election observer and intrepid traveler, JoAnna helps tourism professionals decolonize travel and support sustainability using strategic communication skills.
Published May 10, 2024 6am EDT / 3am PDT / 11am BST / 12pm CEST