ASHISH TIRKEY
Ecotourism Consultant | Wildlife Hospitality Business Leader | Professional Photographer | Entrepreneur
MY STORY
Firstly, a big Thank You for stopping by my website. If you are here, you are probably curious to know more about me.
My love for the wild began at a very young age from the dense forests of Southern Chhattisgarh – Kondagaon (Bastar), where I accompanied my father, posted as a Range Forest Officer. My early childhood encounters include, sloth bears, leopards, snakes, civets, hyenas, wild elephants, and the unforgettable capture of a man-eating tiger in the mid 1990s by him and the rescue team from Nepal.
These incredible experiences paved my path, and at the age of 23, I formally stepped into Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal and pursued my Post Graduation. With the guidance from my professors, I then, built my foundation on Ecotourism, Rural Business Development, Sustainable Tourism Practices, Agro-forestry, Integrated Farming System, Wildlife management, Environmental Studies, CSR, Project Management, Landscape Restoration Planning, Wildlife Photography, Content writing, Marketing and Sales. Since, then I never looked back.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
General Manager | Senior Lodge Manager | Resident Manager
Founder’s Camp, Bandhavgarh National Park – Bagh Tola
Tree House Hideaway Lodge, Bandhavgarh National Park – Pugdundee Safaris
King’s Lodge, Bandhavgarh National Park – Pugdundee Safaris
Denwa Backwater Escape, Satpura National Park – Pugdundee Safaris
Daroji Sloth Bear Resort & Karadi Café – JLR
K.Gudi Wilderness Camp, BRT Wildlife Sanctuary – JLR
Kabini River Lodge – Nagarhole National Park – JLR
Achievements
Above 95 percent of 5-Star ratings across Trip Advisor and Google reviews as General Manager
Received Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor for 10 Consecutive years during my tenure as Senior Lodge Manager
Multiple times 5-Star Sustainable Practice ratings received from TOFT
Winner – Best Responsible Tourism Practice Award from TOFT
Successfully developed and implemented SOPs, aligned with luxury hospitality standards
Built and trained local village boys, integrated sustainability and hospitality mindset as Core of lodge operations
Ecotourism & Landscape Restoration Consultant
Worked with
MP Ecotourism Board – Satpura National Park
Maharashtra Forest Department – Tadoba National Park
Madhuban Eco Retreat – Ratapani Tiger Reserve
Commonland’s Landscape Restoration Program – Samerth Charitable Trust C.G
We worked on Community-based tourism models, Eco-lodge design and Operations, Waste management systems, SOPs, Hospitality training, Stakeholder and Community engagement, Ecotourism policy, CSR driven conservation initiatives, Awareness program, Trainings, Capacity building and Exposure visits.
Professional Photographer | Naturalist | Content Creator
I am a visual story-teller, and have documented stories, written blogs, provided social media content, hosted and guided celebrities, global travellers and professional photographers on safaris and the lodges I managed.
Specialist for Central India landscape with 1500+ safaris
Documented Wildlife, Culture, Food, Interiors, and did Brand photography for Lodges & Safari Camps
Published Work
MP Tiger Foundation – WWF – Times of India – Undisciplined Environments – Saevus – Traffic – Deccan Herald – Pugdundee Safaris
I love to deliver valuable advantage from my work experience – combining wildlife domain expertise, hospitality leadership, strategic business development, content creation, eco-lodge development, operational nitty gritty’s and conscientious luxury, seeking service excellence and long-term brand equity for institutional partnerships, investors, and luxury wildlife safari hospitality businesses.
It brings me immense joy to celebrate and create this platform to share my learnings, experiences, stories, and wild encounters. Stay tuned.