In association with

Presents

A workshop on sustainability for hotels & resorts

Our Native Village, st nd th rd City office: 110, 1 floor, 2 cross, 4 main, HAL 3 stage, Bangalore – 560 075 Tel: +91 80 4114 0909 Retreat address: P O Box 8802 Hessargatta Post Office, Bangalore - 560 088

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE Introduction Over the last decade, we are increasingly seeing hotels and resorts becoming aware of concepts of sustainability, and wanting to learn about the concepts. While the larger hotels and hotels and hotel chains will have resources to address issues surrounding sustainability, small and medium hotels and resorts need guidance. Small and medium hotels and resorts form the bulk in terms of numbers of all hotels and resorts globally. United Nations Environmental Programme figures indicate that 83% of all hotels and resorts globally are small and medium size. Considering this, it is important that all resorts and hotels in general, and small and medium hotels and resorts in specific understand what sustainable tourism is, and what these hotels and resorts can do from a sustainable practices perspective. This becomes critical, as pressure increases on these establishments slowly. The main 2 issues we encounter are; 1) These hotels and resorts do not follow any sustainability guidelines for their properties. They also do not have any practical and application based guidance on what can be done, and how they can do it. Therefore, they set up practices that are unsustainable. 2) Hotel owners, developers, and decision makers do not have any guidance on what is right and wrong from a sustainability perspective for hotels and resorts. And even if they do, they are not aware of the practical and application aspects of this. The point to note Pressure will slowly but surely build on all hotels and resorts to star to becoming sustainable in their practices and infrastructure. It is very important that hotels and resorts start to understand sustainability principles and guidelines. The concept of a 100% eco resort is new and requires a total understanding. However this will only be possible if decision makers understand what a 100% eco resort is. They will also need to understand if it is practical to do develop these. And they will need to be exposed to working models of a 100% eco resort. This will help them be realistic of their expectations, set goals that are implementable, and be aware of sustainable issues from the perspective of hotels and resorts. The practical aspects of the workshop Participants in the GASP workshops will understand details of the concepts of sustainability as it applies to hotels and resorts. All participants will be required to bring with them, specific data of their respective hotels/resorts. This data will be reviewed in the workshop, and sustainable solutions discussed on how the hotel/resort can go off grid, or become self sufficient in water, etc. The workshop will also give details of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, since the world in general is now adopting the criteria for its tourism development. Terms of reference and practices that relate to sustainability will be shared, and it will break myths surrounding feasibility of sustainability. Our Native Village, st nd th rd City office: 110, 1 floor, 2 cross, 4 main, HAL 3 stage, Bangalore – 560 075 Tel: +91 80 4114 0909 Retreat address: P O Box 8802 Hessargatta Post Office, Bangalore - 560 088

RESOURCES The GASP workshop has been put together in association with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The workshop will detail all aspects of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, and its applicability to hotels and resorts. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council is a global initiative dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism practices around the world. The GSTC is currently active in all UNWTO regions, including Africa, The Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, Europe and Middle East. Representing a diverse and global membership – including UN agencies, leading travel companies, hotels, country tourism boards and tour operators - the GSTC serves as the international body for promoting the increased knowledge, understanding and adoption of sustainable tourism practices. The GSTC fosters sustainable tourism through the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles; compiling, adapting and creating the tools and training to engage in sustainable tourism practices; and increasing the demand for sustainable tourism products and services. At the heart of this work are the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, the minimum requirements that any tourism business should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation. The GASP workshop will also use resources from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The mission of UNEP is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UNEP has an extensive Environmental Education and Training (EET) programme. Environmental Education and Training (EET) promotes attitudes and value systems that influence environmentally ethical behaviour by developing understanding, skills and values that will enable people participate as active and informed citizens in the development of an ecologically sustainable and socially just society. Environmental Education is fundamental to the achievement of the goal of sustainable development. Education, awareness raising and training are essential to UNEP fulfilling its mandate of Inspiring, Informing and Enabling nations and peoples to achieve sustainable development. UNEP has developed tools and resources to guide small and medium hotels and resorts, who want to get onto the path to sustainable tourism. These tools in the form of 2 CD ROMs will be given to all participants and is an invaluable tool for hotels and resorts who want to get onto the path towards sustainability. Our Native Village, st nd th rd City office: 110, 1 floor, 2 cross, 4 main, HAL 3 stage, Bangalore – 560 075 Tel: +91 80 4114 0909 Retreat address: P O Box 8802 Hessargatta Post Office, Bangalore - 560 088

FACULTY Dr Brahmanand Mohanty PhD Dr. Brahmanand Mohanty has completed both master and doctoral degrees in the energy field. As the regional adviser for Asia for the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) for the past two decades, he has established institutional partnerships with several national energy and environment agencies for sharing experience, providing advisory services, policy formulation and capacity building in the areas of energy and resource management. He has also been associated with the School of Environment, Resources and Development of the Asian Institute of Technology since 1986 as a visiting faculty. Dr. Mohanty has undertaken short- and medium-term energy efficiency consultancy assignments for bilateral and multilateral funding agencies in about a dozen countries to provide technical assistance. Agencies for which he has carried out consultancy work include the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB) and the International Financial Corporation (IFC), the European Commission (EC), United Nations organizations (ESCAP, UNDP, UNEP, UN-HABITAT, UNFCCC and UNIDO), GTZ and DANIDA. Dr. Mohanty has been developing methods and tools to assist the hospitality industry in achieving environmental sustainability through resource conservation. He was instrumental in conceiving and designing an interactive e-tool for UNEP that is principally aimed at assisting small and medium sized hotels to improve their bottom line through resource conservation and environmental management. He is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars on the subject of environmental sustainability. He has several publications to his credit. Dr. Mohanty shuttles between Pondicherry and Thailand. CB Ramkumar. CB Ramkumar is the Founder & Managing Director of Our Native Village. Our Native Village follows a 100% eco principle, where all the major pillars of sustainability – energy, water, waste management, architecture and the food chain – are on sustainable platforms. Our Native Village has been awarded a Responsible tourism award in 2008, the GMR Express award in 2011, listed as the number 1 eco resort in India by Asia Geographic magazine, listed as one of to 10 eco resorts in India by MSN, India Today, Outlook traveller and the BBC. Ram is a Core Committee member of the KTF (Karnataka Tourism Forum), and a member of the special committee on tourism of the BCCI (Bangalore Chamber of Commerce and Industry). Ram is a regular speaker at most eco, sustainability and environment related workshops, and conferences and seminars, and a visiting faculty member at the some of the colleges in Bangalore. He is also a faculty member for the training of the Indian Forest Officers that is held in Karnataka. Ram has been part of the consultative process of the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria). Ram has worked with UNEP and the UN Foundation to bring this criterion into India. A successful national launch of this took place in New Delhi in July 2010. Ram now serves a three year term as a member of the Election Committee for electing Board Members for the GSTC. Our Native Village, st nd th rd City office: 110, 1 floor, 2 cross, 4 main, HAL 3 stage, Bangalore – 560 075 Tel: +91 80 4114 0909 Retreat address: P O Box 8802 Hessargatta Post Office, Bangalore - 560 088

AGENDA (2 night 3 days)

Time 2.00- 3.00 PM 5 PM to 6 PM

7PM 9 AM to 10 AM

DAY 1 Activity - Day 1 Arrive and check into Our Native Village Introduction & expectations setting for the workshop. Details on the content of the workshop for the next 2 days will be given. Networking and dinner DAY 2 Definitions for sustainability. What is sustainable tourism? Why do we need to go down the sustainability path?

10 AM to 10.30 AM

Introduction to the practices at Our Native Village

10.30 to 11.30 11.30 to 12.30

Review the data brought by the participants of their hotels. Everyone will get a fix of the sustainability task for the tomorrow Tea & Tour of Our Native Village

1 PM to 2.30 PM 3 PM to 5PM

Lunch Introduction to the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

5PM 5.30 PM to 6.30 PM 7 PM

Tea break Q&A Networking and dinner DAY 3 Sowing the seeds of change – an environmental and sustainable tourism teaching pack for the hospitality industry.

9 AM to 10 AM

10 AM to 11AM

11 AM 11.30 AM to 1.PM

Practical work – Plan for going off grid or self sufficiency in water – work with data of hotels of the participants to calculate this. Life cycle analysis to asses economies of these solutions will be demonstrated. Tea break Envirotel – integrating environmental practices in small and medium hotels

1PM to 2.30PM 2.30PM to 4PM

Lunch Q & A and discussions

5PM

Workshop ends with group picture

Our Native Village, st nd th rd City office: 110, 1 floor, 2 cross, 4 main, HAL 3 stage, Bangalore – 560 075 Tel: +91 80 4114 0909 Retreat address: P O Box 8802 Hessargatta Post Office, Bangalore - 560 088

LOGISTICAL DETAILS The venue This programme is conducted in Our Native Village, an eco retreat in Hessargatta, Bangalore, South India. This is a 100% eco retreat; it is not eco friendly or eco sensitive, but 100% eco. The retreat has 22 rooms, a vegetarian restaurant, pond style swimming pool, and a pyramid hall. More details about the retreat are in the next page. One can also log onto http://www.ournativevillage.com. The venue is the most critical aspect of this training, as participants will see the practical application of sustainable tools in the everyday functioning of the retreat. The timing Participants should check into the retreat by 3PM on day 1 of the workshop. The workshop will end at 5PM on day 3. All travel arrangements should factor these timings. Dress code Dress code for the entire workshop is casual.

COMMERCIAL DETAILS The cost The cost for the 2 night 3 day GASP workshop will be Rs 7,000 per participant on a sharing basis or twin occupancy basis. Cost on a single occupancy basis, will be Rs 9,000. This cost includes room cost, all vegetarian meals, and all course material. Government taxes are extra. This cost does not include, and extras like additional snacks, soft drinks, juices, wellness services, etc. Transfers to the retreat from the airport/railway station can be arranged at an extra cost. Extensions Extension trips to see the rest of Karnataka (Mysore, Hampi, Coorg, etc.), or to the rest of India can be arranged at an extra cost. These trips can be before or after the course. Please contact us you’re your specific requests. Minimum number This course needs a minimum number of 10 participants. Payment mode The full payment in advance has to be made for confirmation. All cheques to be made in favour of Native Resorts Pvt.Ltd. Contact details For further details on this programme, please write to us at [email protected].

Our Native Village, st nd th rd City office: 110, 1 floor, 2 cross, 4 main, HAL 3 stage, Bangalore – 560 075 Tel: +91 80 4114 0909 Retreat address: P O Box 8802 Hessargatta Post Office, Bangalore - 560 088

DETAILS ABOUT OUR NATIVE VILLAGE Our Native Village is the first 100% eco retreat, just 40 kms away from Bangalore city in a village, called Hessargatta, close to Protima Bedi’s dance school, Nrityagram. The retreat has 22 rooms, a restaurant, pond style swimming pool, and a pyramid hall that have all been creatively blended into the simplicity of a rural setting. Thematically, the retreat has borrowed customs, traditions, rituals and games from the Indian village. The games we play are gilli danda, flying kites, spinning tops, firing catapults, racing with cycle tires, etc. Other activities include milking cows, learning to churn butter, going on bullock carts, etc. in fact we are the only place in the world that issues a bullock cart driving license!

Our Native Village is a 100% eco retreat. What does this mean? First, we generate 70 to 80 % of our electricity ourselves – we use a wind mill, solar panels and 2 bio gas plants. The bio gas plants generate gas using de oiled cakes…we store this gas and this gas powers a generator that generates electricity that is then stored in a huge bank of batteries. Secondly, all the water in the kitchen is rain water that we harvest from all the roofs of the retreat. The water flows through a network of pipes and all the water is then stored in a 84,000 liter underground tank.

Our Native Village, st nd th rd City office: 110, 1 floor, 2 cross, 4 main, HAL 3 stage, Bangalore – 560 075 Tel: +91 80 4114 0909 Retreat address: P O Box 8802 Hessargatta Post Office, Bangalore - 560 088

Thirdly, all the construction is eco construction. All the bricks used for the construction were made on the site. We used the soil that we got when we dug for the foundation, mixed some stabilizing material like cement and quarry dust into this and made the bricks on the site. The bricks were sun baked for 9 days and then ready for use.

Fourthly, all the waste on the retreat is processed and reused appropriately – all waste except plastics that we send out to a recycling unit. All our food waste goes into our bio gas plant, all paper waster is used for the bon fires and our Gujarat boilers, all black water – which is the flush water in the rooms, goes into a leech pits that convert the waste to manure over time, all grey water - water from the showers and hand wash water, goes through reed beds and is used to recharge the ground water, all kitchen water is used for gardening and for our bio gas plants, etc. Fifthly - most of the vegetables in the kitchen are from the 12 acre organic farm that the retreat is on – so a fresh supply of organic vegetables is what the guests get every day. Sixthly -all the soaps and shampoos are natural, organic and hand made exclusively for our retreat.

Our Native Village, st nd th rd City office: 110, 1 floor, 2 cross, 4 main, HAL 3 stage, Bangalore – 560 075 Tel: +91 80 4114 0909 Retreat address: P O Box 8802 Hessargatta Post Office, Bangalore - 560 088