Megan Epler Wood worked with thousands of lodge owners, tour operators, academics, and civil society to determine what makes ecotourism projects successful around the world as Executive Director and Founder of The International Ecotourism Society from 1990-2002.
Projects funded by the World Bank and USAID:
- Community-based Tourism in Protected Areas, Bangladesh
- Social and Environmentally Responsible Tourism, Sierra Leone
- Developing a Sustainable Tourism Economy, El Salvador
- Market & Finance Analysis for Ecolodge Development, Global
- Model Rainforest Ecolodge, Sri Lanka
In 2010, Epler Wood joined both Harvard and Cornell in positions that brought substantial talent to the table, via independent graduate research with both universities. This led to a vital information on how to further advance ecotourism results. (Affiliations)
EWI consults for businesses which seek to deliver conservation results on the ground in measurable triple bottom line terms.
Clients approaching EWI should consider how they seek to get their proposal to market and at what phase they need consultation:
1) Feasibility Study
2) Triple Bottom Line Reporting- Establishing Baselines
3) Triple Bottom Line Business Plan
4) Triple Bottom Line Capitalization Plan
5) Inclusive program which looks at:
- 1) feasibility,
- 2) business plan, and
- 3) capitalization program
EWI seeks to put the best students into the marketplace with the right planning methods to start a business or join a business team.
EWI seeks to improve and add to business case materials to improve global understanding of ecotourism business models.
- See Wilderness Safaris: Ecotourism Entrepreneurship, Harvard Business School
- Wilderness Safaris case – Part 2 is now underway with Harvard Business School