Mr Kai and Mr Katai - Office & Restaurant Managers

This accommodation provider has taken action to address one or more issues (whether environmental, social or cultural) which will contribute positively to the long term viability of the destination and hence their site displays a Caring for the destination rating.

Main area of focus in Caring for the Destination:  

Social and cultural contributions together with animal welfare.

Detailed description of the Caring for the Destination Initiative: 

Staff training and development:
The owners of Sala Done Khone are fair employers by ensuring staff is trained and ongoing employment is enhanced, enjoyable and flexible. Key staff is initially sent to Luang Prabang to receive training as they shadow experienced staff at the sister hotel Sala Prabang. This effective means of skills transfer and training means staff have more employment opportunity and the standards are the same throughout these properties.

Owners and management are flexible and accommodating with all staff in understanding village life on Don Khone Island and the responsibilities that come with living in a rural community and having strong family ties. Many members of staff are required to return to their homes throughout the rice harvesting season to help with family work and the harvest itself. This is an important tradition and way of live in Si Pan Don. Management of Sala Done Khone understand this and allow staff to return home during these months ensuring their jobs will still be available after the harvesting season. During this time, it can be difficult to find staff.

Social/Community:
Sala Done Khone, together with other businesses on Don Khone have helped to rebuild the local primary school which was in a state of disrepair.  Donations have also been given to the local temples and villages on a yearly basis.

Sala Done Khone has also previously hosted local festivals which in previous years, these traditional Lao ceremonies have gone unaccounted for due to lack of funds and knowledge. For example, after many distressful complaints about the lack of rain in the area, Sala Done Khone organised a ‘Rocket Festival'. These festivals have been used throughout Laos at the end of the dry season where people fire rockets into the clouds to induce much needed rain. This festival, the first of many on Don Khone, not only brought the community together, but also brought rain!

Animal Welfare:
Sala Done Khone is home to a gibbon. The owner of Sala Don Khone, Mr Luesak was working on an outlying Island in Si Pan Don when he noticed some young children with a baby gibbon. Curious as to their intentions, Mr Luesak found out the fate of the gibbon was to be a meal for the children's family. Instead, Mr Luesak bought the gibbon from the children and hand raised it at Sala Done Khone. So young, the gibbon needed constant care and was fed through a bottle for the first few weeks. The two are now inseparable and although the cheeky primate spends her time in a spacious cage showing off to guests, she used to have the pleasure of living freely on the property. Her cheeky nature, however, saw her break into staff quarters and guest rooms and steal all the toothbrushes she could find! From this point in time, the gibbon was built a cage to stay, but still today, spends her nights asleep in Mr Luesak's room.