Director of PR, Sustainability and Wellness, Jungle Bay Dominica
Laura D. Ell, MA is a tourism specialist with a successful track record of over two decades advising governments and enterprises in more sustainable and competitive tourism development. She’s served the United Nations World Tourism Organization, World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Organization of the American States, the European Union, and projects funded by USAID. Over 45 tourism destinations have advanced by differentiating their wellness tourism products and promotions and discovering assets that highlight their region’s sense of place. Laura is also a lecturer for various universities globally in courses on wellness, marketing, and community-based tourism. Laura is passionate about discovering solutions toward triple-bottom-line benefits that address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals while minimizing economic leakage and strengthening resilience. Laura has been a tourism consultant to the award-winning Jungle Bay, Dominica for 16 years. The island has become her second home where she indulges in the hot springs and other therapeutic benefits. Laura is past Communications Director for The International Ecotourism Society in Washington DC where she was liaison to 800+ members. Her graduate research: Code of Conduct for Indigenous-inspired Spa & Wellness Tourism earned a nomination for the Governor-General of Canada’s Gold Award. She has also been a featured expert on CNN Travel and supported Travel+Leisure Magazine in establishing the 1st annual Global Vision Awards criteria.