Champasak Accommodation Tadlo Lodge Sustainability

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:  

Community, Environmental and Animal Welfare

Detailed description of the Caring for the Destination Initiative: 

Tadlo Lodge does the following things to help out the local community and environment:

- Bungalows are fitted with mesh skylights around the top of the walls to maximise natural light and air, therefore reducing the need for air conditioning and excessive lighting. This in turn reduces energy consumption and costs whilst benefiting guest health with fresh air and natural light.

- Participates in ethical elephant tourism. Tadlo Lodge currently owns two elephants at the lodge for trekking and other tourism based activities in a humane, natural environment which has relieved the elephants from a traditional hard life of transporting heavy loads and other strenuous tasks.

In working with ElefantAsia, an International NGO, Tadlo Lodge cares for the elephants in an ethical way and is planning on buying and hiring another 6 elephants in the hope to breed them and increase the numbers of Asian elephants.

Ingrid Suter from ElefantAsia based in Laos commented "There are only an estimated 1000 wild and 480 domesticated elephants remaining in Laos.
Most domesticated elephants are employed in the logging industry, a physically demanding and environmentally destructive activity. Ecotourism is a humane and environmentally-friendly source of sustainable income for elephants and local Lao communities. Ecotourism allows elephants to reproduce and engage in national breeding programs. Support the conservation of elephants in Laos by supporting responsible, ethical elephant tourism!"

- Management employ all staff and gardeners from the local villages to help boost the employment level, livelihood and skills of the local communities.

- The resort has attempted to minimise the amount of trees cut down to build the property. Therefore bungalows are built around trees rather than unnecessarily cutting them down. This adds to the uniqueness of Tadlo Lodge where balconies have trees growing up in the middle of them.

- The lodge uses a modern septic system which ensures all waste and sewerage does not end up in the river.