October 9, 2017 TnH Global

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge Kenya wins at the 2017 Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge’s Kimana’s Women’s Group Economic Development Initiative has emerged the winner of the 2017 Skål International Sustainable Tourism Award. The lodge won in the Community and Government Projects category during the opening ceremony of the 78^th Skål World Congress held in Hyderabad, India.

Skål International’s mission is to promote the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. And this award acknowledges best practices in the tourism industry around the globe. Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge was recognized for supporting small scale women farmers’ through the Kimana’s Women’s Group; move up the value chain from primary farming to participation in the supply chain of Serena Hotels.

Mahmud Janmohamed, Managing Director, Serena Hotels, says, “We are honoured to be awarded for our efforts to elevate the lives of our surrounding communities. Economic development and community empowerment is imperative in running a sustainable business.”

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge has worked with Kimana’s Women’s Group to turn their previously subsistence farming projects into viable businesses. This was achieved through training them on best practices and quality standards to turn the project into a source of livelihood. Serena Hotels plans to replicate this supply chain model in Tsavo and Mara regions where the hotel has safari lodges.

Winners were selected by a panel of independent judges based on a variety of criteria including contribution to the conservation of nature, cultural heritage conservation, community involvement, innovation and creativity, and educational features.