PERSONALITIES
Facing Laigu glaciers , Songtsam Lodge Laigu in Tibet is located between snow mountains , glaciers and lakes
decided to create similar hotels where guests could feel and experience local culture while staying in a limited space .
Then , in 2000 , while still working as a filmmaker , Baima returned to Shangri-La where he converted his ancestral home into the first Songtsam boutique hotel , Songtsam Shangri-La Lvgu Lodge . From the architectural techniques to the decorative style , it was ingeniously infused with Tibetan cultural elements to create a “ home away from home ” hidden in the Himalayas .
By 2001 , Baima devoted himself entirely to working on expanding the Songtsam collection of luxury boutique properties . He successfully brought together nature , outdoor adventure , village life and local countryside customs to form what became known as the first “ Songtsam Circuit .” Named the Songtsam Yunnan & Tibet Route project , Baima developed the Lijiang Linka and Lhasa Linka retreats . These two hotels were announced as the starting and ending points of the route . At the same time , Baima initiated plans for a second circuit , the Songtsam Sichuan & Tibet Route . When the Mangkang Rumei Lodge , Ranwu Laigu Lodge , and Bomi Linka were opened , the second circuit was launched . The new Songtsam Yunnan & Tibet Route , merged the Ancient Tea Horse Road ( also known as the Asia Silk Road ), G214 ( Yunnan-Tibet highway ), G318 ( Sichuan-Tibet highway ), and the Tibetan Plateau road tour into one .
Baima has since created Songtsam Tours , a Virtuoso Asia Pacific Preferred Supplier , to provide guests an opportunity to curate their own experiences by combining stays at its different hotels and lodges .
As Songtsam further expands , Baima draws on his intimate knowledge of the very remote but spectacular scenic spots in Tibet and Yunnan Province , to select locations for the next lodges and retreats .
The most recent opening in March 2021 was the Songtsam Lodge Namcha Barwa located in Dalin Village in Tibet with a spectacular view of the famous Namcha Barwa snow mountain , the Father of Tibetan Mountains , which rises 25,531.5 feet above sea level . To promote the development of the village , Songtsam has committed to contributing US $ 30 from every room night sold to the village . The goal is to help improve the Dalin Village ’ s living standards and support local development .
Today , in many of his hotels , 95 % of his hotel employees are local and there remains an integral focus on protecting nature and indigenous species . Architecture and design fits into but the often-untouched local environment and each lodge is infused with the founder ’ s private antique collection and locally produced art works .
HOTELS reached out to Baima to learn more about his strategy to develop Songtsam in this Q & A :
HOTELS : What are your yet-to-achieve goals for the Songtsam hotel brand , and do you plan to wander outside your region in China for further development ? Baima Duoji : I think Songtsam has just started the journey . This is a lifetime task .
52 hotelsmag . com May / June 2021