[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his post congratulates Lisu Lodge for being recognized as a 2013 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards Winner. This award recognizes exceptional commitment to supporting the local community and economy in which your business operates.

Named after the Lisu hill tribe village that is found near the lodge, Lisu Lodge is part of a community-based project that aims to conserve the natural heritage of the hill tribes of northern Thailand. The Lisu migrated from southern China and Tibet in the early 20th century.

Our favourite things about them!

• Outstanding benefits spread throughout community. Long term, consistent commitment to the host community.
• A fund set up to support local communities – Village Bank – an innovative example of how a business can contribute to local well-being in a concrete and practical way. Tangible, quantifiable contributions to local capacity and development funding.
• 55% occupancy rate and 9000+ guests last year – these demonstrate that the lodge is a financially viable business, which is a critical factor.
• Focus on low-impact activities such as walking, trekking and biking – a great way to engage travellers in the lodge’s effort to walk the talk.
• Local villagers are not just the beneficiaries, but also involved in the business of the lodge – e.g. being part of marketing efforts, identifying new sources of revenues, having a say in management practices.
• Ecological and sustainability practices such as use of locally sourced building materials, solar panel, water usage agreed by villagers, sewage management, etc. demonstrate awareness and commitment beyond what meets the eye. 

Inspiring Management

• Provide each guest room with information on local culture and ways in which to behave when visiting a villager’s house.
• Local guides provide orientation at the beginning of each tour, explain etiquette of hill tribes.
• 94% workforce is local.
• Provide opportunities for staff and villagers in business development, education, hospitality training.
• Staff are paid exceeds national minimum wage (monthly salary, share of guest service charge, social security); meals and uniform provided.

Community Engagement and Development

• All staff are local community members, including tour staff.
• Tour guides have been trained with experienced facilitator to develop ‘introduction brief’, information on safety, history of Lisu communities, culture, environmental issues etc.
• Local community engaged from beginning of development.
• Lodge contributes to village bank each year, owned and operated by locals exclusively. 2012 contributed approx. US$4,000. Money funds community projects, e.g. waste collection, decided upon by community (lodge has no input).
• Contribution to building of a school, dam, water investigation studies, disease prevention measures.
• Purchase fresh produce from local farmers at a fair price.
• Local work force try to purchase other goods from local family members.
• Designated area in lodge for local people to sell handicrafts at no charge, as a result the village is now one of the largest local suppliers of handicrafts to the region.
• Regular meetings with village chief. 

Cultural Preservation

• Lodge has library with largest collection of hill tribe literature, available for guests and locals.
• Guests visit local festivals or ceremonies upon invite of community members only.

Resource Efficiency

• Solar energy used to heat water.
• Water sourced from source agreed by local villagers.

Protection of Natural Areas and Wildlife Conservation

• Run project ‘Earth Care’ and deliver annual workshops on e.g. recycling for local people.