World Savers Award winner Sam Raphael discusses the operating philosophy behind his small hotel, the Jungle Bay Resort & Spa in Dominica.

When I stepped up to the podium in Gotham Hall NYC to accept the prestigious "World Saver Award" from Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, I was thinking about more than just myself. I was thinking about what this means for the future of Caribbean tourism.

We are very proud at Jungle Bay that our picturesque spa resort was built in its entirety out of stone and tropical woods. The resort, which only opened in 2005, features thirty-five tastefully furnished wooden cottages elevated on wooden posts, nestled beneath the undisturbed jungle of Dominica. The cottages are accessed through a series of footpaths and stone staircases. The main building is a stone lodge featuring two large yoga studios, a gift shop, recreation center, business center and conference facilities. One of the most unique features of the on site spa is the natural soundtrack of the rolling Atlantic surf 100 feet below. Other amenities include the open air Pavilion Restaurant built around a towering royal palm tree and overlooking the volcanic stone swimming pool. The Resort offers a mix of authentic jungle adventure and spa & wellness pampering.

But we are really much more than a great destination; we are changing our entire community. And that's why I was thinking about the Caribbean tourism industry when I accepted my award. What we are most proud about is that the entire property was built over a five year span by previously unskilled local laborers using discarded rocks and reclaimed timber. A low technology, labor intensive approach was used during construction in order to absorb the large amounts of unskilled former farm workers who were displaced with the collapse of the island's banana industry. Because tourism was new to the southeast region of Dominica, we established a local NGO "South East Tourism Development Committee" (SETDC) to facilitate the entry of the industry in the area and to help develop the capacity of the area in order to prepare the people for the advantages and opportunities of future visitor traffic. Over the past ten years, SETDC has developed a network of natural sites and trails, trained farmers and small entrepreneurs, promoted environmental concerns, trained tour guides and promoted the overall welfare of the rural committee.

The resort has incorporated the culture and economy of the rural community into its identity. Instead of encouraging farmers to abandon their farms for jobs in the tourism industry, the resort has been working to improve farm productivity. Jungle Bay has financed two demonstration greenhouses and has sought ways to help generate additional income for farmers and other rural enterprises. Two unique examples of this concept are an interpretive organic farm tour for Jungle Bay guests and a heritage tour of working bay oil & backyard rum stills that end up at a local bar for sampling. Both of these tours are unique to Jungle Bay; they enable guests to sample authentic Dominican life far away from traditional tourist enclaves.