Profile
The Kepri motto: "It is not where you go but who takes you there"...
Founded in 2004, Kepri (previously "Ecotours") is a team of multicultural Creative Organizers that design trips and accompany groups on cultural ecotourism adventures around the world.
Since we come from the country you are visiting we know the destination like the back of our hand. Since we live in North America we understand what you need and can thus bridge the gap between you and the destination you are visiting.
Kepri trips consist of: (1)- Discovering nature without destroying it, (2)- Meeting locals that will become your friends (3)- Having fun & relaxing and (4)- Positive impact activities. We will show you the hidden treasures that tourists never get to experience.
Who better to take you to Egypt but an Egyptian like Karim that knows his country of origin inside-out yet lives in Montreal, Canada and speaks English, French and Arabic perfectly... the same goes for Peru (with Alyson) or Greece (with Kathy) etc...
We are a young dynamic team that is passionate about the creation of authentic trips through cultural exchange and we of course hold development of the country being visited to heart. What makes the team unique is the fact that everyone is (1) multicultural, (2) multitalented, (3) has a desire to be part of a positive impact on the (natural and social) environment of the planet.
Absolutely passionate about travel and the discovery of the world’s cultures, our team of Creative Organizers (COs) is constantly creating holiday solutions that combine travel and sustainable development. We are thus revolutionizing the industry by planting the seeds needed to help develop the tourism market to becoming more responsible.
With its innovative business model and its engagement to making Kepri a global leader in the green, sustainable and responsible tourism industry, our team has already been presented with a number of awards and bursaries. We've also been featured on CTV News, CBC News, Global TV, The Montreal Gazette and others...
We offer two types of products: (1) fixed departures for those who want to join our groups with set dates and prices and (2) custom-made trips for private groups (academic, corporate, families, etc…).
For more information on custom-made trips click here.
Our team works hard to bring together knowledge from different industries: tourism, environment, community development, fair trade among many more to integrate the best practices and create unique experiences.
The trips we offer are innovative and sustainable. We create a platform for you to discovery the authenticity of the destination while developing strong links between you and the locals. By varying our activities we ensure you have fun and experience unique holidays while having a positive impact on the natural and social environment of the destination, and this, at a very affordable price (since we've eliminated the middle men).
Kepri reinvests a percentage of the revenue on the Research and Development of new products and services as well as the development of new knowledge management and information technology practices so we can also stay ahead of the curve.
The project started when two childhood friends, Karim Haggar and Anthony Chamy decided to launch their business idea into the real world to be able to fight against the planet’s degradation with respect to tourism.
Both founders originate from a country (Egypt) where tourism is the principal source of revenu but also the principal source of the destruction of the national heritage as well as loss of culture. Egypt, like most developing countries, does not possess the financial and human resources to properly manage its natural and cultural treasures.
Kepri sees the steady degradation of the planet’s beautiful natural sites and cultures as absolutely revolting and is the major reason why the project (first as ecotours, then renamed kepri) was launched in the first place.
It was in the summer of 2004, after a desert expedition organized for university colleages. Their utmost satisfaction has always come from being able to help their Canadian colleagues discover their country of origin in a responsible way with a constant perspective on sustainable development.
They adopted and diffused an exploratory and ecological travel model ever since their adolescence, thus making it simple and quick for them to commercialize their formula through their personal network or friends and family.
The business established itself for the first time with foothold on St-Denis street, right in downtown Montreal (Canada) in September 2006. These charming offices are in the heart of the Latin Quarter, between the newly built National Library and the St-Denis Theatre.
OUR VALUES
Innovation, Multiculturalism, Harmony, Leadership & Passion!
Innovation: We continuously innovate in everything we do; our products and services, our business procedures, our methods, etc...
Multiculturalism: Diversity inspires us and motivates us. It is our differences that attract us and enrich our senses!
Harmony: We strive to live in harmony with everyone and everything that surrounds us on this planet, and we insist on spreading these aspirations to as many people a spossible.
Leadership: We aim for excellence in everything we do. We want to make a difference and follow this with concrete actions and determination.
Passion: We love what we do and it is with this love and passion that we are capable of creating amazing things.
VISION
We imagine a world where man will be able to live and progress in harmony with his natural and social environment and want to be the organization that participated to help make this possible through the tourism sector.
We want to have a concrete impact by changing things to conserve the natural and cultural beauties of our planet and to improve its environment. To do so, we plan to become the global leader in ecotourism (sustainable tourism).
MISSION
Kepri’s reason-for-being is to balance travelling with sustainable development, here’s how we do it:
- Improve the travel industry by continuously looking for the model that better manages the resources to achieve harmony between the destination’s nature, culture and economy as well as the tourists’ satisfaction (to unforgettable experiences that surpass their expectations)
- Have a personal impact on the travellers to promote an active and responsible way of travelling
- Conceive trips with itineraries, modes of transport, activities and lodging that have a positive environmental impact
- Influence partners and service providers to allow them to value their social and natural environment and to help them develop better, more responsible ecotourism competencies.
- To be the answer for those who want to travel knowing that their trip’s impact on the ecosystems of the planet is minimized, if not positive.
- To offers trips that allow travellers to discover the most beautiful natural and cultural aspects of a country all the while knowing that the ecological lifecycle of the trip is studied to better preserve its fragility.
- Kepri finds solutions to travellers needs by creating organizational structures and business processes that allow it to continuously innovate and constantly increase its performance while developing the necessary competencies to achieve the following :
- Recruit creative, dynamic, multicultural and entrepreneurial people who share the same cause (reconcile tourism with sustainable development)
- Continuously invest in R&D to develop new products and innovate to become the industry leader in ecotourism
- Bring the traveller close to the destination they are visiting by creating a cultural bridge that allows them to feel like they are experiencing the true local way of life, and even bringing them to feeling attached to the country
