Beyond commerce, the resort also supports and gives back to the community in many other ways. (Many, if not all, of Samanvaya’s employees all hail from the local and nearby villages.) The locals’ dedication to showcasing the best of their neighbourhood shines through in every guest interaction, whether through providing local recommendations, sharing stories about the region and Balinese culture or simply keeping an eye on even the smallest details to ensure guest comfort.
One employee, Diah Wahyuna, has been with Samanvaya for four years. “I was born in Sidemen Valley and all my family live here, so to work at Samanvaya is one of my dreams. It is amazing to walk in the rice fields and see the sun rise in the middle of the fields,” said the 23-year-old customer relations officer.
The resort’s team also conducts various community outreach programmes to provide food and healthcare to the underprivileged. Additionally, she and her colleagues spread awareness about plastic recycling in local schools and coordinate a monthly Plastic for Rice initiative at the resort.