As an organisation, Tamara Leisure Experiences is deeply committed to respecting the natural and local environments in which its three properties have been established; a philosophy that is reflected in every business and operations decision made right from establishment till date. In an exclusive interview with The Organic Magazine, Shruti Shibulal, CEO, Tamara Leisure Experiences (and daughter of co-founder and former Infosys CEO S D Shibulal) shares how her brand is designed to offer guests authentic, rejuvenating, and memorable experiences and why she is convinced that responsible luxury is not only possible, but necessary.
What is the vision behind Tamara? Why the name Lotus?
Tamara Leisure Experiences is the proud owner of three properties in the luxury space:
- The Tamara Coorg: A luxury nature resort
- The Tamara Kodai: A luxury heritage resort
- O by Tamara: A business hotel in Trivandrum
In addition, the company also runs two Lilac Hotels; mid-segment properties in Bengaluru. All Tamara properties are established under the vision of promoting the Sustainable Good Life. As a luxury brand in the hospitality sector, we have approached luxury tourism in the most responsible and sustainable way possible; beginning with the construction and establishment of the properties, their operations, waste management, policies on products and materials used within the resorts and hotels, and the manner in which experiences are designed, promoted, and offered to our guests.
The word “Tamara”, in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu, means “lotus flower”. This flower has come to stand for purity and the pristine quality often associated with the forested Hills of Coorg. The Tamara Coorg was our first launch as an organisation, and the word Tamara was chosen to root us to the place around us, and to celebrate the pristine bounty of nature that we love and cherish.
Who is the target customer for Tamara? What is the brand’s USP?
Each property has a unique target audience, as they offer different experiences. But broadly, an experience at a Tamara resort or hotel is for the luxury traveller; one with a love for nature and carefully and thoughtfully curated experiences. We have found ourselves successful in attracting travellers both from India and overseas, and have been a popular choice for families, honeymooners, couples, and even groups of friends. Our guests are often trekking enthusiasts, food connoisseurs, or those looking for a relaxing and pampering getaway.
The USP of a Tamara resort is in its ability to balance many aspects of the luxury holiday: From authentic nature experiences, to award-winning wellness and spa services, to delightful cuisine, and customisable experiences for any occasion. All of this, while maintaining a respect for the surrounding environment, local communities, and responsible and sustainable business practices.
At O by Tamara, we aim to balance the needs of the business traveller, with the comfort of attentive and thoughtful hospitality.
How organic is the design of Tamara resorts? Use of local materials?
At The Tamara Coorg, we are proud to have established this luxury resort with minimal invasion of the natural environment. The suites and restaurants are constructed on stilts, that eliminated the need to excavate the face of the hills. Felling of trees was kept to an absolute minimum, and the resort was not fenced, allowing the natural flow of flora and fauna in the region to be disrupted to the smallest extent possible.
The establishment of The Tamara Kodai, a heritage property, involved restoration of an old colonial building, and its expansion to build suites and rooms in the same style. Materials, to a large extent, were sourced locally, including the treatment and refurbishing of wood from old railways tracks to lay the floors of the restaurant decks. In addition, suitable materials were used to extend the old stone and brick walls, in order to maintain the historical look and feel of the original structure.
At both resorts, all produce and products (in restaurants, toiletries, and spa products) are produced locally and organically, and a constant effort is made to ensure the highest quality and sustainability of materials and products at the properties.
What are the kind of eco experiences that the resorts offer?
The resorts offer guided treks, birdwatching, yoga sessions, heritage and plantation tours, coffee-making experiences, cycling, indoor and outdoor activities, Forest Therapy, and lots more. All experiences and activities are designed keeping in mind the serene location of both properties, and attempt to bring our guests authentic, rejuvenating, and memorable experiences.
How is the community around these resorts benefitting?
As an organisation, Tamara Leisure Experiences makes a concerted effort to keep the respect for local communities as an important factor in any decision that is made. First and foremost, our staff is comprised of more than 50% local individuals. We hope that this has created employment opportunities to local residents, and at the same time has provided a way for our guests to have an authentic connection to the places our resorts are established in. In addition to this, certain activities at the resorts are designed to celebrate the local history, culture, and produce of the region.
At The Tamara Coorg, the plantation tour and the Blossom to Brew experiences allows our guests to interact with plantation workers, and understand better the fine and intricate craft of coffee-making; right from the growing of the beans, to harvesting, drying, roasting and grinding them, to the brewing of different varieties of local coffee.
At the Tamara Kodai, heritage walks allow our guests to learn about the rich history of the region, both in terms of the establishment of Kodaikanal as a settlement in colonial times, as well as in terms of the local flora and fauna and how it has changed over time. These experiences help us to remain rooted and connected with local communities, celebrating their history as deserved.
Both resorts also have stores within the property that promote the sales of local produce. This allows the surrounding communities to sell craft products, coffee, spices, honey, and lots more.
Finally, Tamara Leisure Experiences also puts a lot of effort and resources into supporting local communities in need. This is done through scholarship funds for children in need, flood relief work, distribution of food and medicine during Covid-19, and participation in local planting activities in the region.
Your thoughts on how luxury can be responsible?
Sustainable and responsible business practices is a decision; and one that we, as an organisation, took very seriously right from the start. It is possible, as we have seen over the years, to offer luxury experiences in a manner that does not negatively impact the natural environment.
This is done through careful design of policy; for example, keeping the Coorg resort unfenced, using low and warm lighting around the hills, maintaining the resort as a no-plastic zone etc. It is also achieved through the implementation of innovation and technology to constantly increase the energy and resource-efficiency of the property.
Over time, we have also found that the expectations and concerns of the luxury nature traveller is slowly changing. Travellers are becoming increasingly concerned about environmental issues, and are more and more insistent on organic, eco-friendly, sustainable, and sensitive practices. We are encouraged by this, and more convinced than ever that responsible luxury is not only possible, but necessary.
Sustainable initiatives at Tamara?
The Tamara Coorg and The Tamara Kodai:
- Rainwater harvesting
- Within property sewage treatment with re-usage of treated water
- Composting of all organic material and production of compost within the resorts
- No-plastic zone
- Organic toiletries and spa products
- Energy-efficiency measures
- Low lighting along pathways to reduce disruption to fauna
- Reduction of food wastage to minimum possible
O by Tamara:
- In-house RO-bottling plant to allow elimination of plastic
- STP-treated water is used in cooling tower and toilet flushes
- Indoor plants over cut flowers as décor
- Windows constructed with double-glazed toughened glass that cut down heat by 30%, ensuring much lower strain on the ACs
- Traditional local snacks, produced by a women’s self-help group in Thiruvananthapuram, are made available in minibars and restaurants to promote local businesses
- Homemade jams, pickles, and butter are also made available at the hotel
- Organic garden to meet part of the hotel’s vegetable needs
