By BRUCE DENNILL
ARTifacts: a series of articles highlighting the work of tourism destinations around the world that have a special focus on community and sustainability alongside hospitality. The team behind Katerre Expedition and Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge in Brazil discuss their work.
When you build or begin managing a lodge or resort, what are the non-negotiables in terms of connecting with the community in the area?
We believe and have founded our business based on the idea that a tourism company should operate as socio-environmental preservation hub to the Amazon rainforest, including cruise ships, a jungle lodge, and a local DMC [Destination Management Company] providing tours. Katerre Expedition, founded in 2004, and Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge, founded in 2014, are pioneers in community-based ecotourism in the region, developing tourism operations in partnership with riverside communities. Nature and experiential tourism, when structured under solid local governance, employs and offers income: 90% of both companies’ staff teams – 150 employees – are local. Tours, including jungle trekking, aquatic trails through flooded forests and wildlife observation, are guided by local residents and paid by the lodge and river cruise company. Visitation fees also help maintain the infrastructure of these communities and the wellbeing of their residents.
At the same time, what are the non-negotiables – for you – in terms of practically setting up your operation to be sustainable?
We believe “sustainable” is a much-used , even worn out, term, and in the Amazonian emergency preservation context, it should be expanded to its many forms of positive gains and benefits – wildlife conservation, deforestation brakes and community wellbeing. Tourism here is not designed to extract value, but to create it for the communities their cultural heritage. The rainforest is a sensitive, live entity. Far beyond the ecotourism, gastronomy and handicrafts production, there must be a joint effort to bring economic diversification and generate sustainable sources of income for local workers so they won’t look for predatory economic options:,
How do the above decisions affect the way you market your destination and the activities there?
The decisions reflect a travel trend of travellers seeking impactful journeys. After decades of degradation of the planet’s ecosystems, bright travellers are looking for the world’s last frontiers where they can meet nature as its original form. Travellers have been gaining more understanding around how their presence affects the many beneficial chains linked to it. In future vacations and travels, they will choose products committed to environment, community and culture. We believe we have established ourselves in this area, where every practice of tourism should set its sight on the present and the future.
What have you found to be the most effective channels or platforms in this regard?
Those of us who seek transformation often bump to each other. From the architect of our future lodge, Mirante do Madadá, who is an enthusiast of biomimicry applied to sustainable construction in natural and living environments, to responsible travel associations such as The Conscious Travel Foundation, we all believe we can gain real results when we’re acting together. Whether you’re in London organizing a charity gala dinner in support of a wildlife conservation organisation, or a teacher in Brazil donating his time to teach environmental lessons to riverside kids, we want to be side by side to these transformational agents.
How do you define “hospitality”?
In the “wild” Amazon, we must deliver the basics that guests expect: comfortable rooms, good beds and soft bed sheets, well-presented gastronomy made with local ingredients and flavours and authentic experiences. Design also has a role. Our 13 spacious bungalows are made in hardwood in the shape of inverted boats and the interior design incorporate materials from the forest – from basketwork and woven coverings made of natural fibres created by the Novo Airão Artisans Association, to fine wood furniture with marquetry details created by the artisans of the Almerinda Malaquias Foundation. At its core, hospitality is less about a particular service and more about the experience you create for another person. We like to bring the sense of connection; to create a stay where people feel they are immersed. Our lodge and our cruise boat were created as a hub for guests seeking a more intimate contact with nature while still enjoying comfort.
As a traveller or holidaymaker, what do look for when booking a destination?
We research the sustainable economic practices that have been implemented in that territory. How do they make use of local resources and engage positive changes in for residents and environment?
What do you consider to be the unique selling point of your establishment?
Today, luxury travel in nature reaches beyond that, to community wellbeing, strengthening environmental awareness, wildlife conservation, managing natural resources responsibly and adopting healthier practices to the venue’s operations. That’s how we wish to keep moving forward and leaving a legacy.
Katerre Expedition and Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge are members of The Conscious Travel Foundation.