A St Dogmaels businesswoman who set up a company to create sustainable holidays at an ecolodge in Morocco has received an Influential Women in Business Award.
Jane Bayley, the founder and director of Holidays with Heart at La Maison Anglaise Garden Ecolodge in Morocco, first travelled to Morocco in the early 1990s as a researcher, investigating tortoise conservation and habitat decline.
Whilst there she fell in love with the ancient town of Taroudant and nearby mountains along with the vibrant culture, the warm, friendly Berber people, fresh food, beautiful scenery, remarkable wildlife and warm climate.
Realising the potential for sustainable, ethical, and responsible tourism Ms Bayley took out a second mortgage and finally opened a guest house in 1997 which the locals dubbed ‘La Maison Anglaise’ (the English House).
The ecolodge showcases Moroccan traditions combined with innovative energy and water-saving designs to inspire their guests in more sustainable ways to live and also to learn from the remarkable local culture and environment.
Holidays with Heart aims to support people in need in the local community. Charitable work that they support includes a women’s co-operative producing argan oil, a Children’s Project supporting vulnerable children and their families, women’s soap-making and embroidery projects, and a project to save the endangered Yellow Saharan Bee and another supporting working animals in need.
