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- What's Bamboo Got to Do with Luxury?
What's Bamboo Got to Do with Luxury?
Bamboo ushers in a new luxury.
Read time: 5 minutes
Hello ASTB friend!
Happy New Year.
We hope you all had a restful holiday. Our team is thankful that we had the past few weeks off to reflect on 2023 and plan for 2024.
We are happy to share that we have quite a few exciting initiatives in the works for this year. We cannot wait to share more updates with you once we are ready.
We’d like to start the year with the inspiring story of Elora Hardy, an ardent sustainability champion that we have followed for quite some time since we first learned about her from the docuseries Home on Apple TV+.
Our Feature Story sheds light on what inspired Elora to start working with bamboo, and how working with bamboo has influenced her views on luxury.
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Breaking Bamboo Barriers: Elora Hardy's Visionary Nature-led Designs Redefine Luxury
Sunset Bar at Bambu Indah in Bali. Photo by Dody Suryawan.
The influence of the Hardys extends far beyond the deep blue waters surrounding the island of Bali. They garner international recognition for their ‘ecologically mindful’ bamboo structures in the sustainable design community.
One of the driving forces behind the Hardy family is Elora Hardy, the Founder and Creative Director of IBUKU, a cutting-edge design and architecture studio in Ubud. In her role, Elora has not only carved a niche for herself and her family’s business but has also elevated Bali's architectural landscape to new heights.
Elora Hardy. Photo by Suki Zoe.
Through her designs, Elora Hardy has seamlessly blended artistic ingenuity with environmental consciousness. Her creative prowess, coupled with the collaborative efforts of her team, has left an indelible mark on Bali through the creation of iconic bamboo hospitality structures.
IBUKU’s initial entirely bamboo bespoke homes, many of them located at Green Village, became a testament to the elegance of artisan-led sustainable architecture.
Since then, her team has continuously impressed the world with a series of hospitality projects, such as the awe-inspiring Bambu Indah Resorts and Mari Beach Club in Bali, Indonesia, and the breathtaking Nayara Bocas Del Toro Tree House in Panama.
Since 2010, Elora's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable design has not only transformed spaces but has also set a precedent for innovation and excellence in the industry.
Echo Main House at Green Village in Bali, Indonesia. Photo by Indra Wiras.
Mari Beach House in Bali, Indonesia. Photo by venue.
Nayara Bocas in Panama. Photo by Rodney Mendez.
“Scaling [the nature-led design] movement involves a fundamental shift in how we perceive luxury. We have to reimagine what luxury means by making it more accessible and inclusive.
It's our responsibility to seek out and elevate materials that we're proud to work with, ones that excite us and challenge our creativity. Each of us holds a conscience and has the moral responsibility to leave a positive legacy.”
Key Trade Shows to Attend in 2024
Trade shows and conferences have been important events for travel companies and industry professionals alike to build new business partnerships, launch new products, and exchange knowledge.
As we stand on the cusp of 2024, you may be wondering whether revisit familiar trade shows or attend new ones.
We have explored the complexities of attending a trade show, and examined their benefits and potential drawbacks. To provide you with a comprehensive roadmap, we have developed a detailed 9-step guide to help with your decision-making process.
An increasing number of events are now incorporating sustainability into their programming, and some events are solely dedicated to sustainable and/or regenerative travel.
Our team has curated a list of noteworthy trade shows for 2024. This exclusive compilation is a perk reserved for ASTB newsletter subscribers.
When you're ready, there are two ways that we can help you:
1. Send your travel stories and news releases to [email protected] for coverage opportunities on Travel Asia Now. When you are ready to promote your brand, sponsored content or ads are always an option on the website.
2. If you're looking for support in your sustainability transition and/or communicating sustainability with your target audience, email the Sainha team at [email protected]
→ The Sustainability Certification Program: Increase your sustainability credibility by gaining a globally-recognized sustainability certification.
→ Decode Asia: From clueless to marketing your brand with confidence to your target Asian travelers. Use our proven framework to unlock your growth opportunities in Asia.
→ Asia Accelerator: Level up your Asia-focused marketing. Accelerate your growth in Asia with forward planning including a one-day workshop for your team.
Or if you’d like to explore other collaboration ideas such as content collaboration, speaking engagement, or brand partnership etc., please email us at [email protected]