A new luxury experiential eco-lodge brand and management company, ENVI Lodges, has launched in the GCC.

The brand taps into growing demand for authentic travel experiences, with the value of the global experiential lodging (glamping) market expected to reach $3.9 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 17.5 per cent.

“Travellers are looking for meaningful trips. They want to have a positive impact on the place they visit,” said ENVI Lodges co-founder Noelle Homsy.

“So, we created a hotel brand in line with this global shift towards transformational and regenerative tourism, focusing on eco-lodges that are immersed in nature and anchored around experiences: adventure, wellness, agritourism, cultural immersion, and environmental discoveries.”

ENVI, which officially launched at this week’s Arabian & African Hotel Investment Conference, staged at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, offers three types of accommodation – tents, prefab suites, and alternative pods – all built with a low impact on the environment, according to the brand’s seven sustainability pillars.

According to a recent report by Booking.com, 83 per cent of global travellers now believe sustainable travel is vital and all ENVI Lodges accommodation will be developed and operated based on globally recognised sustainable tourism standards.

With MENA region governments, particularly in the GCC, promoting eco-tourism and the development of nature-centric tourism projects, ENVI Lodges is well positioned to grow its portfolio of properties within a short time frame, according to the new brand’s co-founder Chris Nader.

“Last June, we raised funds from European and GCC investors to develop the brand and we’re getting ready for our second round in 2022,” he said.

“What is very encouraging is to see the growing interest of investors in developing lodges with ENVI at such an early stage of our inception, and we already have a promising pipeline of projects under negotiation, particularly in the UAE and KSA.”

ENVI Lodges is working with world-class hospitality experts and advisors specialised in experiential travel and is set to announce a major partnership with an alliance of eco-resorts and a renowned loyalty programme that will enhance the brand’s global reach.

envilodges.com