Quito, ECUADOR – Sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity have always been high priorities at Mashpi Lodge. The World Travel Awards has taken notice, honoring the luxury eco-lodge in the Mashpi Reserve as “Ecuador’s Leading Green Hotel 2014”. The award was bestowed at a gala ceremony in Quito, Ecuador, on August 9, 2014.
It was quite an evening for Mashpi Lodge as well as for the World Travel Awards, which was held in Ecuador for the first time in its 21-year history. The red-carpet event took place at the Itchimbía Cultural Center, with top national and local tourism authorities and the elite of the Ecuadorian and South and Central American tourism industries in attendance.
Considered the “Oscars of the Travel Industry,” the World Travel Awards recognizes the finest travel, tourism and hospitality organizations on seven continents. Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder of the World Travel Awards, noted the “solid growth that Ecuadorian tourism is enjoying,” adding, “We are delighted to host our first ceremony in Ecuador, a decision that reflects the crucial contribution that tourism makes to the national economy.”
Mashpi Lodge is a luxurious 22-room cocoon set in the heart of Ecuador’s Chocó Bio-Region, just three hours by car from Quito. The lodge is tucked amid a 3,200-acre Private Reserve of tropical and cloud forests, a “hot spot” of biodiversity that is home to hundreds of species of animals and plants, some only recently discovered. Guests enjoy unique encounters with nature at its purest, led by a fantastic team of Mashpi guides. Activities range from pure relaxation and contemplation to soft or intense hikes and exploration outings. Opened just two years ago, the lodge blends the adventure of a remote natural wonderland with the highest standards of urban luxury-style accommodations and service.
The World Travel Award as Ecuador’s Leading Green Hotel 2014 recognizes Mashpi’s overall sustainable project, infrastructure, services, and environmental and socially responsible practices. The lodge maintains strict standards of energy management, water conservation, waste disposal, recycling, and a host of other programs to protect the unique ecosystems of the Reserve and to provide employment, professional training, the purchase of food products and more for the benefit the nearby native communities.
The lodge is also committed to scientific research, investigation, conservation and education, and hosts important projects, several in conjunction with recognized universities, to enhance the knowledge and preservation of such an extraordinarily rich and bio-diverse natural world.