Interview: Michel Eganya on Courage, Regeneration, and the Future of Hospitality

Building Differently: The Vision of Michel Eganya and EIR Resorts

In an era defined by disruption and transformation, few entrepreneurs are bold enough to challenge the very foundations of business itself. One of them is Michel Eganya, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of EIR Resorts, a company reimagining what it means to build, lead, and prosper in harmony with people and the planet.

Recently, as part of a university thesis on emerging business models in sustainable luxury hospitality, a student from a prestigious global institution conducted an in-depth interview with Michel Eganya. The conversation, which forms part of the student’s research, explored the evolution of leadership, purpose, and regeneration within the future of luxury.

To protect the student’s privacy and the confidentiality of her academic work, her name and university will remain undisclosed.

What emerged from this exchange was not merely an interview — it was a masterclass in conscious entrepreneurship, and a reflection of how EIR Resorts is reshaping the definition of success in the business world.

Interview: Michel Eganya on Courage, Regeneration, and the Future of Hospitality

This in-depth interview was originally conducted as part of an academic research project exploring new business models in sustainable luxury hospitality.
The following conversation reveals the philosophy, purpose, and courage behind EIR Resorts — and the vision of its founder, Michel Eganya, a leader redefining what it means to build differently.

Q1 — When you close your eyes and imagine EIR Resorts ten years from now, what do you see?

Michel Eganya:
Ohhh, we’re starting with some deep questions. Okay. I once heard a saying that went, “My son, if you dream, dream big.” Taking this into consideration, and considering the fact that the world is broken; and this is due to outdated ways of doing business. thank God today there is a movement of entrepreneurs who, more than profit, seek to solve real problems.

Examples include the transformation of what was previously considered waste into useful, reusable things, and above all, the elimination of that enormous accumulation of waste that does so much damage to the environment.

My vision goes a little further. We all agree that everyone needs vacations, right? Well, what if your vacation destination was a place you knew wasn’t destroyed to build it? And when you arrive, you find an architectural marvel, intelligently designed with materials like bamboo, wood, and stone, powered by 100% clean energy, and operating on a circular system that prioritizes efficient waste management and the use of resources the environment provides for free, such as rainwater.

What if, when you arrive at this place, you feel that the people who work there feel valued, respected, and fulfilled? Because even though many may doubt it or want their employees to project well-being when they don’t genuinely feel it, the visitor ends up noticing; because well-being cannot be forced.

What if, when you arrive at that place, you have the opportunity to contribute to regenerating the environment, have adventures without breaking or polluting, only leaving a positive footprint, and at the same time have an authentic cultural experience; not the typical tourist trap with high socks and flip-flops?

Having said all that, and finally answering your question: if this business concept becomes a business case, or let’s say an example to follow, I believe that in ten years EIR Resorts could be changing the way business is done, the way people travel, the hotel industry itself; and could be changing the world in a positive way.

Q2 — Many investors still prioritize short-term profits. How do you convince them that a purpose-driven model can also be profitable?

Michel Eganya:
Well, this is easier to answer than you think. First, finding the person or group of people who are committed to doing things right is crucial. Our concept isn’t based on an excessive number of keys, but on exclusivity and a transformative experience.

That said, and considering that each resort will be relatively small, it will be much easier to scale the business sustainably and maintain profitability in the long term.

As I explained, we don’t seek to destroy in order to build, but to reuse in order to regenerate. In this sense, we have several plans in place to do it simply, efficiently, and above all, to do it right; or not at all.

By having the right investor, we can guarantee doing business in the right, sustainable, and long-term way, instead of looking for ways to make money faster by cutting costs, trying to get more out of the people who work with you, or looking for cheap solutions that will be more expensive in the long run.

Q3 — You mention “the right investors.” In a world full of greenwashing, how do you tell who truly shares your values?

Michel Eganya:
Okay, let’s get this straight. There’s nothing wrong with doing business; the difference is obvious. As you rightly say, many businesses use appearances and empty words, but then their actions reveal that these companies are only trying to capitalize on trends to feed their greed and their desire to get richer and richer in the short term; as if all that money would make them happy, when in reality their talent retention rates are a disaster.

The truth is that more and more, talent is choosing where they feel most comfortable working instead of where they get paid the most. To answer your question, you can always choose who you want to work with instead of who offers you the most money first. And regarding people who aren’t honest about their intentions, we can always draft contracts that, above all, protect our guiding principles and values.

Q4 — You’ve said the world is “broken” because of outdated practices. What habits must entrepreneurs unlearn to build a regenerative economy?

Michel Eganya:
Let’s be clear: what makes a company great, successful, and long-lasting is the people who work there. Without those people, nothing is possible.

For a long time, business schools have been teaching management instead of leadership; teaching that the right way is to maximize profits for a few instead of reinvesting in those who make your company famous in the business world.

And for a long time, many companies have forgotten that their people are their most important ambassadors, that the communities where our businesses operate are our best customers, and that the world we live in doesn’t belong to us.

This isn’t a catastrophic statement, but a fact. There are species that lived for millions of years on this planet and are simply gone. Humans have inhabited the planet for a few thousand years, and we are so arrogant as to think we can do whatever we want without consequences.

Well, you know that the consequences have been showing themselves all over the world; and with increasing frequency. Now we only have two options: first, to continue acting without thinking about the consequences, or second, to rectify, regenerate, and innovate, focusing on repairing what has been destroyed, and isn’t already gone forever

There are countless examples of how extraordinary things have resulted when humanity has united for a cause of good. Let us not forget all the great civilizations of the past and the results of their entrepreneurial spirit and curiosity to create and seek knowledge.

Q5 — The hospitality industry often prioritizes profit per square meter. How do you handle resistance from traditional players?

Michel Eganya:
That’s a great question. History is full of success stories of companies that revolutionized industries without being directly part of them.

Here are a few examples: Kodak and digital photography, Apple and the mobile phone industry, the music (MP3 devices) and streaming television industries (and also digital photography), Blockbuster versus Netflix and streaming television, and Airbnb and the hotel industry.

The list is long, but all these companies revolutionized industries and set new standards.

Q6 — Every disruptor solves a deep human need. What need is EIR Resorts truly addressing?

Michel Eganya:
What EIR Resorts seeks is simple: our answer to the world is to allow those seeking escape from their daily lives to enjoy wonders that can be created, to feel the richness of interacting with other cultures without invading them, but giving back.

We want them to know that it is possible to fill that void, which money has clearly demonstrated cannot and will not fill, and to return home with a restored body, a renewed spirit, and a soul full of kindness, love, and hope.

Q7 — Many brands talk about wellness or sustainability. What makes EIR Resorts truly different?

Michel Eganya:
Well, my friend, that’s something we’ll leave to those who experience what we’ve learned to decide.

Our purpose, vision, mission, and guiding principles are clear. To that, I must add our insatiable hunger for continuous improvement, our openness to listening to our people, correcting our course, and refining our best practices.

Our success formula is simple: Culture + Strategy + Regeneration = Success.
We live by it every day.

Q8 — Let’s talk about culture. How do you turn a “human-first” philosophy into real daily practices?

Michel Eganya:
Well, that’s easy to answer, not so easy to implement due to the long-standing business mindset. But the good news is that this can change.

The culture we will cultivate is based on mutual respect, caring for, valuing, listening to, and serving our team. Our leadership’s primary responsibility is not to command and control, but to ensure our team has everything they need to do their best work every day.

This means acting as a servant leader, removing obstacles, fostering a sense of ownership, promoting open and honest communication, and supporting and celebrating individuals and initiatives that prioritize the well-being of others over their own, as well as continuous improvement.

This is achieved through constant reinvestment in leadership training, emulation workshops for collective problem-solving, and events celebrating creativity, collaboration, and teamwork.

Q9 — Your strategy favors patience over speed. How do you handle investors used to quick returns?

Michel Eganya:
Our strategy is based on long-term cost reduction through efficiency, attracting highly qualified talent through our culture, and creating a circular operation.

We carefully select our partnership partners and are therefore firmly committed to not working with or entering into agreements with investors or partners accustomed to quick returns and aggressive timelines.

Q10 — You often speak about regeneration instead of sustainability. What’s the difference?

Michel Eganya:
Unfortunately, the word “sustainability” has been overused lately and with a misleading meaning. Many believe and claim that being sustainable means avoiding causing more harm, but then they buy an island in Indonesia and destroy all the flora and fauna to build an “eco-luxury resort.”

We look for locations already in use with low yields or a different use than the hotel industry, where we implement our concept.

That’s one aspect, and the regenerative aspect comes from some of our initiatives, such as planting ten trees for every one used in the construction or renovation of our resorts.

Furthermore, we ensure that the origin of these trees is not from indiscriminate logging or anything of the sort; circular operations with a commitment to 0% plastics.

Another part of our regenerative strategy is that wherever we operate, 75%+ of our team is local, and our philanthropic experiences; such as coral reef restoration, beach and forest cleanups, turtle release ceremonies, etc. — are tailored to our location and the environmental problems we can address.

Q11 — Where does that regenerative mindset come from personally?

Michel Eganya:
Thank you so much for asking that. To answer it, I have to take you back a few years and tell you the story of how, after suffering a personal crisis for several years and seeking professional help, I understood my purpose in life.

A few years ago, I found myself plunged into a deep depression; one of those where you’re so far down that darkness envelops you and you can’t see, feel, or hear anything; you just want it all to end.

At that point, for the first time, I followed my wife’s advice: “You need help.” And so I did. I sought help and received psychological therapy.

To my surprise, I began to feel better. I saw the colors of the sunset again, and my eyes welled up with tears at the beauty of the world we live in.

I started looking for ways to improve my communication skills and came across a man named Simon Sinek, who instantly awakened me with his TED Talk about “Finding Your Why.”

Since then, I’ve devoured his work, and other figures who have inspired me, like Bob Chapman, have also appeared. These are people who share a common hopeful thought: “That we can be better human beings and, by helping each other, we can change the world.”

Through these discoveries, I began to feel better each day and realized that just as I began to heal internally, I felt even better when I helped others heal as well.

And that’s when I realized that this is my purpose in life: to help others heal internally and inspire them to do the same for others.

Q12 — Purpose can be heavy. What keeps you grounded when things get hard?

Michel Eganya:
Well, one thing is certain: when you find your purpose in life, it doesn’t change.

I’m someone who never gives up, and when I make a decision, I go for it. With that in mind, when I feel too weak to continue, I take a break to analyze what isn’t working.

I disconnect from everything, focus on myself, using meditation, gratitude, and service to others as fuel to feed my soul.

What I’ve discovered is that when I do this, inspiration always comes, new ideas arise, creativity awakens within me, and it fills me with energy and optimism.

If we add this to my innate curiosity and my hunger for continuous improvement, it all gives meaning to my purpose and the strength to continue sharing my story and seeking people to join this project that began as a dream.

Q13 — If you were speaking to a room full of CEOs from traditional industries, what would you tell them?

Michel Eganya:
I would tell them, and this is certain, that every time an idea becomes a dream, a project, and then a successful business, the goal is to solve a problem.

This doesn’t happen simply to make money. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with creating wealth; what’s wrong is failing to care for, value, and respect the people who are making it possible.

And as a final point, a few more million won’t make you happier. In fact, depending on how you earn those millions, they can make you feel miserable and empty.

My advice would be to go back to when we were nobodies, when nobody knew our names, and stay humble because, ultimately, we have a limited time in this world that isn’t ours, and any second could be the last time we take our final breath.

Q14 — What legacy do you hope to leave through EIR Resorts — and as its founder?

Michel Eganya:
My name isn’t important. I always say, “I’m just a simple man with a wonderful dream.”

If my purpose becomes a case study and an example for new and experienced entrepreneurs to follow, my mission will have been fulfilled.

If the competition decides to implement my concept and do things the right way, seeking to create value and good, then my mission will have been accomplished.

If more leaders in the world realize that the old way of doing business is not sustainable in the long term and truly want to work on making a difference for good in the world, my mission will be accomplished.

My name is not important, and I will work hard so that if one day I am no longer here and this business continues, the person who takes the reins will be trained, motivated, and committed to driving the bus safely so that our people can continue to thrive.

Q15 — What would you tell the next generation of entrepreneurs?

Michel Eganya:
Dream big and share your dream out loud with as many people as you can. Stay humble; remember, you’re just a small fish in a vast ocean.

And lastly, never forget the people who will help you along the way to making your dream a reality. Show them they are the most valuable thing, that you depend on them.

Get to know them, show genuine curiosity, and celebrate them. Loyalty costs less than you think.

Closing Thoughts

Michel Eganya’s words reveal more than a business model; they reveal a worldview.
At EIR Resorts, profit and purpose are not opposites; they are partners in a shared mission to restore balance between humanity and nature.

As Eganya often says:

“We don’t build to compete; we build to regenerate.”

And in a world desperate for renewal, that kind of courage may be exactly what the future needs.

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