Sustainable resort development doesn't have to be an oxymoron. Meet Stanley Selengut, who created Maho Bay Camps, a 114-unit campground on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, in 1976. It was built to be an economically viable and environmentally friendly camp, compatible with National Park mandates. It's now one of the most profitable businesses on the island. And as with any good story, there's more.
Maho Bay was built by locals on hand-dug footings to minimize impacts to the land. How refreshing, and quieter than heavy machinery. Beep beep beep.
Maho Bay is considered a pioneering development by leaders in the ecotourism field. To go along with the resort, there's a "Trash to Treasures Art Center," which focuses on the re-manufacture of waste from the resort into saleable craft items and fine art.
This is all according to the International Ecotourism Society, and another refreshing item. How many times have been been at a resort, and wondered where all that trash goes? Doesn't waste give tourists a bad name, too? Stanley has helped turn this around, and it seems that other resort owners could learn a thing or two.
Stanley was recently the featured speaker at an Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference put on by society in South Carolina, USA. He also was given a Lifetime Achievement Award, which is noteworthy. Stanley sounds like an unsung hero of the sustainable development movement. How about a tip of the hat to him?
A little more on Stanely's background and Maho Bay Camps. The spot now has a sister eco-resort called Estate Concordia Preserve, which takes in 51 acres and features "utility self-sufficient cottages, super insulated villas, solar power, cisterns to collect rainwater, and other green building processes," according to a conference brochure.
Stanley has been telling his story for some time, speaking at schools and conferences around the world, and holding workshops at his resort. He even helped establish the International Ecotourism Society.
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