Crowd Funded, Community Managed Eco-Retreat: OurPlanet Retreats

OurPlanet Retreats is a crowd funded and managed hotel group with an awesome plan for an eco-retreat in Papua New Guinea. The rooms are spheres hanging in the forest, which is just a phenomenal idea for a hotel.

OurPlanet Retreats is committed to taking care of and involving the local people, fixing local environmental problems and improving both the environment and the local economy.

The members of OurPlanet make the decisions about every aspect of the group, from deciding on the room rates and marketing plans to the recruitment of staff and working on the hotel development.

Membership starts at $30, and OurPlanet gives 75% of the profits back to the members. 12.5% goes toward conservation projects and 12.5% goes to the management team.

As a member, you get to decide on the direction of the retreat. All of the major decisions must be voted on by the members. The management team, which is already in place, will oversee the daily operations of the retreat.

The aims of OurPlanet Retreats are:

• To make our members happy, financially and spiritually – It’s one thing to make a few bucks, but why can’t we make a few bucks and feel good about it, knowing all the good we do?
• To establish a new kind of hotel, making sustainable unique hotels, that provide jobs, education & conservation programs for local people
• To establish sustainable tourism practices
• To make a difference

If you want to purchase a sphere of your own, you may, and at only $2500, you’re getting a sweet deal. If you are a sphere owner, you can stay up to 70% of the year, or have a friend stay, free of charge.

With membership starting at only $30 USD, it’s an affordable investment, and if you wish to invest more, you are certainly encouraged to do so. I bought my first share last fall, and am planning to purchase more shares as I can.

For more info about joining, head over to OurPlanet Retreats.

Update: To clarify, by buying shares in OurPlanet, you aren’t owning land in Papua New Guinea. You are investing in the project, which does have permission from the appropriate authorities there. The project entails working with local groups, not exploiting them, and the positive effects of eco-tourism could be a welcome addition to the country. I have been in contact with the founder, Ryan, and he assures me that they do have the goodwill of the local people, and are not developing a mega-project that will simply pull profits out of the country in order to enrich the investors at any costs. If you have further questions, the website has contact info and a chat feature, so don’t hesitate to inquire about the details. Our Planet Retreats is also working toward projects in other locations, such as Bali.

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