Great Plains Conservation News Update from Washington DC
Washington DC (30 June 2015)
Great Plains Conservation today announced that three of its properties, Mara Plains Camp and ol Donyo Lodge in Kenya plus Zarafa Camp in Botswana have joined National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, a prestigious collection of boutique hotels in remarkable destinations around the world. Great Plains Conservation’s three lodges are among 14 new Unique Lodges members who have each demonstrated their commitment to authenticity, excellence, and sustainability, while offering outstanding guest experiences that support the protection of cultural and natural heritage. Great Plains Conservation’s properties, and these three lodges in particular, all pride themselves on integrating the three objectives of conservation, commerce and communities to achieve the goal of sustainable and responsible tourism.
The addition of these 14 new lodges brings the Unique Lodges portfolio to a total of 38 distinguished properties on six continents. Launched in January 2015 with 24 charter members, the properties in the Unique Lodges collection offer a host of authentic and responsible travel experiences.
“Great Plains Conservation’s ethos and operation is a natural fit with National Geographic and we are certain that an association of this caliber will further boost our goal of conservation in these treasured wild life areas; as long time National Geographic Explorers–in–Residence this is welcome and obvious synergy between our efforts in conservation, filmmaking and tourism,” said Dereck Joubert, CEO of Great Plains Conservation.
The 14 new National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World members are:
• Petit St. Vincent, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Caribbean
• Siwash Lake Ranch, British Columbia, Canada
• Hacienda de San Antonio, Mexico
• Cuixmala, Mexico
• Zarafa Camp, Botswana
• Mara Plains Camp, Kenya
• ol Donyo Lodge, Chyulu Hills, Kenya
• Tutka Bay Lodge, Alaska
• Winterlake Lodge, Alaska
• Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, Amazon Rain Forest, Peru
• Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Sacred Valley of the Inca, Peru
• Inkaterra La Casona, Cusco, Peru
• Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island, Australia
• The Bushcamp Company, Zambia
Every lodge is evaluated through a comprehensive vetting process in which they are judged on property, guest experience, quality of service and sustainable tourism practices. The process includes an onsite inspection by an expert to assess hotel operations, to meet staff and to evaluate the lodge’s sustainable tourism practices.
“Our growing collection of Unique Lodges of the World offers a wide range of meaningful travel experiences to all kinds of explorers,” said Lynn Cutter, National Geographic’s executive vice president for Travel and Licensing. “We are thrilled to bring on these extraordinary new members, as they embody the values National Geographic and our travellers hold close.”
