We want to set out a vision of a sustainable, outcome focused, approach for tourism and the construction of tourist resorts and destinations that has a net positive impact for biodiversity, people and climate.
We have been provided an opportunity to RESET our industry and approach
That identifies a destination and/ or its services as being Good for People, Planet and Prosperity
That has sustainability and wellness factored into the design and build of resorts and destinations from the very
start
With an emphasis on sustainability guided by being in Harmony with Nature and supported by Harmony principles
That creates an ambition for business and consumers that is “Beyond CO2 Neutral” and considers the full impact of industry on biodiversity, habitat, water, land, sea, people, and places
That lets consumers and travelers know that their holiday is benefiting themselves, the destination, and the planet
That enhances the capital funds available towards activities that Preserve, Protect and Restore the natural environment, locally and globally
• MEASURE – We support the scientific validated measure of Harm Impacts across Climate, Biodiversity and People
• MITIGATE – We act as consultancy to advise on harm reduction approaches activities including offset approaches that reduce carbon but enhance biodiversity. We enable customers to engage in the offset of harm, by putting a financial value to that harm, per item, per service, or per customer
• COMMUNICATE – We believe that the customer should be an integral part of the the reduction and mitigation of harm impacts and the most effective way to do that is engage them with effective and transparent communication that lets the guest/ customer know how you are tackling and improving your sustainability approach.
We are a signatory to endorse science and evidenced based, high-integrity, voluntary carbon markets as supported by the Taskforce for Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets
What is in it for the Business?
• MARKETTING/ BRANDING - An authentic, verifiable and simply to understand message, that the business is a Good for: People, Biodiversity and Climate.
• INCREASE REVENUE and PROFIT – Authentically sustainable business can charge more
• ATTRACT and RETAIN STAFF and CUSTOMERS – Business that are sustainable draw and keep quality staff, and customers
The Harmony Golden Ratio differs from other Sustainable Tourism accreditation kite marks in that is:
Outcome and Impact based and Simply and Accurately Describes to the Consumer the impact your business has on the natural environment and people; it is either:
- Carbon Neutral
- Carbon Negative
- Greenhouse Gas Neutral (Climate Caring)
- Greenhouse Gas Negative (Climate Improving)
- People Planet & Place Impact Aware (Working for People Planet & Prosperity)
- People Planet & Place Positive (Good for the People Planet & Prosperity)
The Approach identifies the financial costs of the positive AND negative impacts a destination or organisation has upon the environment, the location, and people.
Co-Founder (Tourism Marketing Hospitality)
Nicki is a marketing and public relations titan. Her finely honed experience at blue chip corporates like leading advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi and Marriott Hotels and Resorts is matched by her integrity and sensitivity to global cultures. Her influence has created a network of the foremost decision makers across Arab, South & South East Asian and African nations and she’s keenly negotiated the success of world-leading tourism and prestige destinations from Jordan to Malaysia, South Africa to the UAE.
Nicki has a deep understanding of promoting worldwide high quality health and wellness resorts; unparalleled insight into the role women have in influencing health, wellness and travel decisions; and an established, trusted business presence in Asia and the Middle East that includes a client list of ruling families, CEOs and top companies.
Executive Director/ Co-Founder
Leo's experience spans 30 years of developing health and community safety services in government, the voluntary and private sector. He has worked strategically in modelling harm costs and improving outcomes for health improvement, serious crime reduction, wellbeing, and safety nationally and internationally.
From General Practitioner Coordinator with the Maudsley NHS Trust, to Head of Drug and
Crime Reduction in the Government Office for London; developing Social Impact financial models with the UK Treasury;
to Business Manager for counter-terrorism in the UK Home Office HQ Strategy and International Directorate;
to Group Director of Business Development and Communications for the Social Interest Group,
Leo’s innovative, cost of harm modelling and strategic approach, has founded new health approaches, transformed sustainability paradigms, and led
government operations and national delivery.
Materials and Construction Advisor
Alex Page is the TLC Construction, Concrete and Materials Advisor; a geologist and executive construction technologist with over 30 years in the concrete, materials development and construction industry; formerly with Sika and currently with Carbon Capture
His projects have included the: 7 World Trade Centre Reconstruction at Ground Zero New York City, Beijing New International Airport, Shanghai Financial Centre, Chek Lap Kok- New Hong Kong Airport, Stone Cutters Island Bridge, Tsing Kau Bridge, and many many more.
Alex's geological, materials and construction experience and advice is invaluable in driving reduced embodied carbon emissions in new building and infrastructure development, and shift construction away from materials and methods that harm the climate environment and people.
Advisor
Taleb Rifai served as the Director General of the UN World Tourism Council from May 2009 to 2017, previously he had served as the Deputy Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). He has been instrumental in leading Travel and Tourism's contributions and responsibilities in a rapidly changing global scene.
Previous roles have included: Professor of Architecture at the University of Jordan in Amman, Head of Jordan's Economic Mission to Washington DC, Minister of Jordan for Planning and International Cooperation, Ministry of Jordanian Tourism and Antiquity, CEO of Jordan’s Cement Company, President of the Amman School for Tourism and Hospitality
His Current Positions include:
- Advisor to TLC Harmony Sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism Development
- Member of Advisory Council - Air B&B
- Ambassador - World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)
- Member of Board of Trustees - Mediterranean Tourism Foundation (MTF)
- Patron - African Tourism Board (ATB)
- Chairman - International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT)
- Chairman - The International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC)
- Chairman - United Nations Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR), CIFAL Malaga
- Co-Chairman - International Tourism Resilience & Crises Management (ICTRCM)
- Vice Chairman - Board of Trustees - Middle East University (MEU)
- Vice Chairman - International Sports & Tourism Organization (ISTO)
Non Executive Director
Dr. Mahendra Shah has had over four decades of international appointments in the UN, World Bank, Public and Private sector including, sustainable development, systems science and systemic policy, climate change, food security, famine emergency, and international negotiations.
He prepared the Agenda 21 Rio1992 Earth Summit summary report. He was co-authored 2002 Joburg WSSD “Climate Change and Agricultural Vulnerability”, 2000 co-authored World Bank Book “Food in the 21st Century- from Science to Sustainable Agriculture. Realizing that there can be no sustainable development without sustainable human beings since 2005 he has focussed on holistic wellness, lifestyle transformation, and sustainable tourism at Zen Resort Bali – www.zenresortbali.com.
Advisor
Diane currently serves as Vice President of the International Federation of Surveyors, and is a Trustee of Lionheart, the RICS benevolent Fund. Her previous board experience includes member of RICS Governing Council, founder and chair of the FIG, Africa Regional Capacity Development Network, Property Director Scott’s Hotels, UN Habitat Advisory Group on Gender Initiatives (AGGI), and over many years a member of a number of RICS regional, faculty and local boards as well as attendance at international expert group panels.
She holds a Doctorate in Land Policy Planning & business strategy in Coastal Area Management and a BSc degree in Land & Property Management. She is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and an accredited member of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR).
Diane is deeply involved in water and coastal resources projects with a focus on regeneration, water related projects and water rights.
Advisor
Professor David A Kirby, BA. Ph.d. - Co-founder: Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society. Is a UK academic who pioneered the teaching of Entrepreneurship in the UK and internationally and was awarded, in 2006, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion for his research, teaching, training and consultancy in the field.
He has been a Vice President and Director of The International Council for Small Business and a Director of the UK Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, in addition to being a Visiting Professor at the Henley Management College (University of Reading) and the University of Loughborough, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Australia and the University of Tehran.
He holds Fellowships of The Royal Society of Arts, the Institute of Business Consultants and the Higher Education Academy.
Advisor
Harold has for 20 years been a leader in developing Responsible Tourism theory and practice. A leading academic and educator, he has worked as a consultant and researcher for the UN World Tourism Organization, the UK’s DFID, the EU, the World Bank, KPMG, Deloitte & Touche, the International Finance Corporation, the Aga Khan Development Network and the International Trade Centre; and for a host of tour operators. He retired in 2016 from Manchester Metropolitan University, where he remains an Emeritus Professor. He currently leads the Responsible Tourism Partnership.
Dr Harold Goodwin has worked in Africa, Arabia, Asia (east and south), Europe and South America, with local communities, their governments and the inbound and outbound tourism industry to realise the ambition of using tourism to make better places for people to live in and to visit, balancing competitive advantage, growth and sustainability. He is the Responsible Tourism Adviser to World Travel Market and chair of the World Responsible Tourism Awards. His latest book is Responsible Tourism.
He is currently developing a Platform for Change to spread the word about tried and tested ways travel and tourism can contribute to sustainable development by reducing poverty and carbon emissions, making a net contribution to biodiversity.
Advisor
Dr. Willy Legrand is Professor of Hospitality Management at the IUBH International University of Applied Sciences in Germany.
Prof. Dr. Legrand is the lead author of Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry: Principles of Sustainable Operations. He is the lead author of Social Entrepreneurship in Hospitality: Principles and Strategies for Change featuring best practices with industry cases.
Also the Guest Chief Editor of the Hotel Yearbook Sustainable Hospitality 2018 and 2020 Special Editions. Prof. Dr. Legrand chairs the HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality.
Advisor
We regret to inform friends that our esteemed colleague Dr Natubhai Shah died in March 2022
Dr Shah was utterly inspirational. A true, kind and trusted person.
I was fortunate to have had the opportunity of meeting him with Leo. I was deeply touched with his trust in me and asking my help to champion the new temple cause and environmental centre.
Together Leo and I are here to help keep his light shining through his vision to complete the Jain Temple which absolutely must carry on. A lasting testament here in this life for always. That’s what his deepest wish was I’m sure.
With our kindest and heart felt thoughts
Nicki and Leo
Dr Shah, a UK medical doctor and a Chair/ CEO of the Jain Network, whose latest project is the creation of the new unique development of the Jain Centre based in Colindale, London.
Dr Natubhai Shah was a medical practitioner, PhD in Jain religion; author of Jainism: The World of Conquerors 2 volumes and visiting professor at FCVG Antwerp. He was the main force in the development of the Jain Centre Leicester and was involved in developing Jain Centre London. He held many posts in Jain and Interfaith Organisations, was the Chairman of Jain Network and Council of Dharmic Faiths UK. He represented Jainism at the highest level and was chosen ‘Man of the Year’ by the American Biographical Institute in 1991, was honoured as ‘Jain Ratna’ by the Prime Minister of India in 2001, had invitation of private lunch with the Queen in 2001 and of Royal wedding on 29/04/11.
Marine Environment and Biodiversity Advisor
Dr. Nigel Noriega is the founder and director of Sustainable Innovation Initiatives, a non-profit organization enabling ecologically regenerative and sustainable economies in tropical forest regions.
Dr. Noriega is a former research biologist who has worked at the Society for Conservation Biology, Dept. of Neurobiology Physiology and Behavior at the University of California at Davis, Division of Neuroscience at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, Endocrine Branch of the National Health & Environmental Effects Research Laboratory at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and Laboratory for Integrative Studies in Amphibian Biology at the University of California at Berkeley.
Environment and Biodiversity in Tourism Advisor
Dr. Pranab J Patar is an award winning environment & sustainability professional with over 20 years of experience on water resources, biodiversity, climate action, alternative livelihood & sustainable tourism issues.
Currently, he is Chief Executive of Delhi based Indo-American environmental charity – Global Foundation for Advancement of Environment & Human Wellness. Also part of the Climate Reality Leadership Corp and has been a member of multiple bodies including IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, ONet Facilitation Team of IPBES (Intergovernmental Science -Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), Responsible Tourism Society of India, International Council for Circular Economy, to name a few.
As a capacity development specialist, he has trained and addressed over 10,000 teachers, students, NGO professionals and corporate executives on key environmental issues. He regularly speaks on sustainability, water resources and changing climate and has been featured across global events/Institutions.
Recent awards include: a recipient of SABERA- Social And Business Enterprise Responsible Award 2021 | Green Future Leadership Award 2021| Water Leadership Award 2021 | Swachhta Satark Nagarik 2021 (Noida Authority) | ICT for Mountain Development Award 2015 | The Change Makers of Assam Award 2020 | Corona Warrior, etc.
Advisor
Somayeh is a visionary senior consultant with more than a decade of experience as an entrepreneur, Multidisciplinary Sustainability professional, process excellence & optimization specialist, and an experienced and proven Architect. An award winning sustainability professional focused on designing for Sustainable Ecotourism and regenerative designs.
She has a Master degree (M. Arch) in Sustainable Design with over 15 years of working experience in sustainable Architectural Design. Driven by her strong passion, she pursued education and led projects in a broader scope of Sustainability leadership and business sustainability management. She obtained her credentials in “Green Economy” and “Sustainability Management & Enterprise Process Excellence programs of Toronto Metropolitan (Ryerson) University in Canada, as well as “Business Sustainability Management” of the University of Cambridge in the UK. She is also a certified Blackbelt (CSSBB) from the American Society of Quality (ASQ).
Finding strong ties with sustainability and sustainable development, she pursued her career by applying and practicing Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement tools to Design For Sustainability Excellence (Business Strategy, Operation, and Built environment) and create value for stakeholders. Her focus is to help clients design efficient systems through integrating process excellence methodologies with the sustainability framework of balanced environment, economic and social pillars.
Somayeh is currently the instructor & Guest Speaker for the Sustainability Management and Green Economy programs at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is also the co-founding member, course developer, and instructor of the sustainability management program at McMaster University, continuing education department (MCE).
Advisor
Robert has a proven and successful background in strategic, commercial and operational management in waste, renewable energy, recycling and waste-water.
Ryan Resources, Management consultancy, specialises in delivering value in waste management, waste to energy and recycling for resource and waste focused businesses, local Government and Environment Consultancies. Current engagements include UK Residual waste procurements, International PPP, advising Central Govt and Local Authorities and procurement of waste wood for a biomass business.
He also led Viridor to support and negotiate Planning Applications, Environmental Permits, PPP Project Agreements and EPC contracts and achieving Board approval for 25 year contracts with Oxfordshire CC, Peterborough Council and South London Waste Partnership
o PPP contracts including Project Gwyrdd required £750m capital investment and created 1 million tonnes of EfW treatment capacity with 60% contracted with municipalities for >25 years and revenue forecast of >£2.5bn
o Led the UK Development team on residual and recycling bids with >40% success rate and directed all major bids
o Oversaw and led Corporate team and advisory provision of financial models, contracts and technical and operational input.
Robert has led growth and transition strategies and directed numerous projects and teams in these sectors. His principle achievements in waste management are implementing strategy through the winning of contracts, the delivery, commissioning and management of assets and the management of commercial and operational teams.
Young Professionals Ambassador
Born in Cardiff, Tom Ireland-Life is a 22 year old young professional currently working for KPMG in Canary Wharf.
Tom previously captained Wales at rugby before moving to Rugby School on a full William Webb Ellis scholarship. He then spent four years studying Politics and International Relations at the University of Bath whilst spending a year working in Brussels as a Communications Officer for the British Chamber of Commerce.
Tom currently holds a position has Chair of the Alumni Committee at the British Chamber, and remains committed to promoting sustainability in the things that he does - in the personal and professional sphere.