The next adventure…

The Next Adventure

Just over two years ago, I left Tiamo and South Andros Island deciding to pursue the next adventure.

I learned a lot on South Andros Island and I have learned a lot more since then with work in Costa Rica, The Bahamas and more.

But now its time for the next great adventure…

It has a name:

Up South Resorts & Hotels

I need your input.

We recognize a market and operational opportunity not yet effectively undertaken in the Caribbean. Building upon the foundation of some fifteen-plus years of hands-on, island-based experience with Tiamo and the Emerald Palms, we are creating the Caribbean’s first-ever sustainable boutique hotel brand.

In order to do that we need to find destinations, hotels and opportunities that fit the quality and experience we were able to so successfully provide on South Andros Island.

Where would you go?

We are looking for boutique hotel opportunities to manage, acquire or develop in The Caribbean and potentially Central America. Your travel experiences and knowledge are important given your understanding of what we were able to accomplish at Tiamo.

If you have ideas or thoughts on how or where we can make this happen – I want to know. Please send me an email today!

Welcome back!

Additionally, I look forward to inviting those of you who have been to Tiamo back as my guests again soon at an Up South Resort & Hotel and additionally so for those who have not been our guests as of yet. So if you just want to stay informed – let me know or bookmark the website at: Up South Resorts & Hotels.

Right now the website simply outlines the basic premise of our business plan for our partners and investors – but soon you will see some of your next vacation opportunities – or as we say, Travels that connect you.

Thank you…

Thank you again for being a part of what we did on South Andros Island. I sincerely look forward to your being a part of my next adventure.

With warm regards,

Mike Hartman
Up South Resorts & Hotels
A Flying Teeth Company
305.586.9742

Republicans step backwards

This is an interesting article on the U.S. House of Representatives deciding to go back to using foam and plastic cups. Not the world’s biggest issue I agree but it’s the details that make the real difference sometimes. It’s also amazing to me that these guys aren’t reaching out to major single use companies like Starbucks who are heavily investing in finding effective sustainable food service materials. Instead they just revert back to the old ways. There is a great saying – “If you always do what you always did then you will always get what you always got.” It would be great to see innovation and business savvy come from our self proclaimed Republican capitalists – we need solutions not retroaction.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/28/republicans-foam-coffee-cup-environmentally-bad

Your guests and your brand… great article.

It is my opinion that boutique hoteliers have the greatest opportunity to capitalize on what Mr. Spence calls – Wikibrands. Check out this great article: http://www.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/Rick%20Spence%20Your%20brand%20play/4234414/story.html.

Traveling for the sake of traveling, or as the Italians say, “bel far niente” …

FlyingTeeth presents Up South Resorts & Hotels. At Up South Resorts authenticity, transformation and sustainability are matters of fact. See and feel what past guests had to say about their experiences with us …

Conchless Conch Fritters

Mike Hartman, Founder of FlyingTeeth, talks about the idea of integrating conservation into the guest experience at CHTA’s (Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association) Small Hotels Retreat (September 2010).

Building Parameters (Cliffs) into your Boutique Operation

Mike Hartman, Founder of FlyingTeeth, talks about the idea of building parameters (cliffs) into your boutique hotel operation at CHTA’s (Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association) Small Hotels Retreat (September 2010).

Providing environments that change perspectives….

This is a great article about a remote island vacation in The Bahamas: http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/travel/07privateisland.html?hpw

They were certainly extreme in their effort to get “off the grid” but it is interesting to listen (in the video) to his acclimation of being away from the typical stimuli we are so used to. We watched this happen everyday at Tiamo and just as he states – it took a couple of days and peoples perspectives changed. I am so looking forward to creating such a place again… not as extreme as this – but a place that easily facilitates that renewed perspective on life. The business plan for the next one is almost done – this week’s end at the latest!

Another note – the variety of perspectives in the reader comments is interesting as well.