March 2017 | Business View Caribbean

62 63 all of the existing cottages are all tucked away into the vegetation. So, we would not want to change the intrin- sic charm of this place. To destroy the vegetation and overbuild – that would be sad.” In fact, Fond Doux’s com- mitment to environmen- tal stewardship has been recognized internationally as The America’s Best Sus- tainable Boutique Hotel, having received the acco- lade in 2015 and 2016 at the World Boutique Hotel Awards ceremony, held in London. Lamontagne stresses that in addition to its many amenities, including its two open-air restaurants that serve Creole masterpiec- es using the fresh, organic fruits, vegetables, and local spices harvested daily from certified organic farms; its Mamma La Terre Spa that only uses products made from all natural, organically grown ingredients; and its The Fond Doux Plantation & Resort Preferred vendor n Cats (1995) Ltd. www.stluciaboattours.com hiking and walking trails that offer magnifi- cent views of the Pitons and the lush, trop- ical rainforest foliage; the most important part of the Fond Doux experience is the authentic St. Lucian hospitality offered by the resort’s staff of 62 employees. “There’s a family feel about Fond Doux,” she says, “with an authentic, innate hospitality. The other hotels directly in our vicinity are completely different in style. In St. Lucia, we’re the only one that has been able to achieve this.”