A Journey in Responsible Tourism: Q&A with the founder of Babel Guesthouse and Babel Boutique Hotel, Katrine Solhaug

Always on the look out for movers and shakers in the Kingdom, Cambodia Lifestyle recently learned of Katrine’s amazing story and simply had to find out more! 

After you have read below, be sure to find out more about Babel here! 

Q: Katrine, tell us a bit about yourself and what brought you to Cambodia!

I’m Katrine Solhaug, originally from Norway. I’ve lived in Cambodia for 17 years with my Norwegian husband, Simen Julner, and our two daughters, who are now seven and five years old. I initially came to Cambodia to run another guesthouse similar to Babel Guesthouse. With my background in social work, I quickly realized that managing a hotel in Cambodia involved a lot of social impact—creating opportunities for locals, promoting responsible tourism, and making a tangible difference in the community.

I had lived in seven different countries across Latin America and Africa and traveled to over 50, but something about Cambodia was different. Here, what you do actually makes a difference. The focus on responsible tourism in Siem Reap was something I felt even universities in Norway could learn from.

Q: You own two hotels in Siem Reap. Can you tell us more about Babel Guesthouse and Babel Boutique Hotel?

We opened Babel Guesthouse in 2008, and it quickly became known for its strong commitment to responsible tourism and environmental sustainability. We provide good working conditions, healthcare, and training for our 28 staff members. We also run an education program that offers higher education opportunities for staff who want to study, including our 17 tuk-tuk drivers, who are an integral part of our Babel family.

We collaborate with educational institutions such as Build Bright University, The University of South-East Asia, and ACE School, and we have strong ties with renowned hospitality training schools like Spoons, Sala Bai, and Ecole d’Hotellerie Paul Dubrule. We also educate our staff and tuk-tuk drivers on responsible tourism, and our drivers are the only ones in Siem Reap trained in Child Safe policies by Friends International.

Discover Something Different in Cambodia

Babel Boutique Hotel is our second venture, which offers a higher standard of accommodation while maintaining the same responsible tourism values. It has only nine rooms, a pool, and features art by Tamara Venn, with part of the profits going to ACCB, an organization working with endangered species. This hotel was even mentioned in the New York Times, which helped bring it global recognition.

Q: Sustainability is clearly a major focus for you. Can you share some of the eco-friendly initiatives at Babel?

In 2018, we opened Cambodia’s first Eco Shop and Refill Station in our lobby. We were frustrated by tourists complaining about plastic pollution while continuing to use plastic bottles and bags themselves. So, we created a shop offering plastic-free alternatives for travelers. We sell soaps, mosquito spray, and oils on a refill basis—guests can bring their own containers and purchase only what they need.

We stopped selling plastic bottles in our restaurant nearly a decade ago and were early advocates of the Refill Not Landfill campaign. We also organize regular garbage cleanups, involving our staff, tuk-tuk drivers, and even other businesses in Siem Reap.

Q: Your business also prioritizes community support. How do you ensure your guests contribute positively to the local economy?

We recommend restaurants, shops, and tours that align with our responsible tourism values. We’ve created a guidebook placed in every room that highlights ethical businesses where guests can eat, shop, and visit while giving back to the community.

Discover more Arts & Culture in Cambodia 

Our guesthouse has also become a hub for group tours from around the world, with a strong focus on responsible travel. These guests get to experience Siem Reap in a way that benefits both the local people and the environment.

Q: How did COVID-19 impact your business, and how did you overcome the challenges?

When COVID hit, we faced a crisis. We had to support 30 staff members and tuk-tuk drivers with no income coming in. We launched a massive fundraising campaign, raising $40,000 to keep things afloat for a year. We created videos to show what was happening on the ground in Cambodia and even introduced ‘virtual tours’—people paid for me to go on tours with our drivers and send them personalized videos. It was a lot of work, but we just survived.

At the same time, the Cambodian government started a massive road renovation project, which took five meters from our garden. We had to tear everything down and rebuild. Fortunately, with the funds from our campaign, we could employ our own staff and tuk-tuk drivers to do the reconstruction. Now, everything at Babel is built by our own team.

Q: It sounds like you had to innovate a lot during that time. How did your family-friendly approach evolve?

During COVID, we also had to create a nursery and school on-site for our children and the children of our staff and tuk-tuk drivers. When we reopened, we had so many play areas and eco-friendly toys that we unexpectedly became a favorite among traveling families. This turned into an entirely new market for us, and we now have a strong base of family travelers year-round.

Q: What’s next for you? You mentioned a new project in Nesat Village.

Yes! We recently bought land in Nesat Village, down south in Cambodia, where we built Cambodia’s first Aircrete building during a workshop with world-famous Domegaia. We are always looking for new ways to integrate sustainability into our work, and this is just the beginning of our next big adventure.

Q: What advice would you give to travelers who want to make a positive impact while visiting Cambodia?

Be mindful of where you spend your money. Choose hotels, restaurants, and tours that are committed to ethical practices. Reduce your plastic consumption by using refill stations and reusable items. Most importantly, be respectful of the culture and understand that tourism, when done right, can create a lasting, positive impact on local communities.

At Babel, we always say that responsible tourism isn’t just a trend—it’s the future of travel. And we are proud to be part of that movement.

How to find Babel Hotels in Cambodia?

Babel Guesthouse 

Address: No 738, Wat Bo Road, Salakamroeuk, 17254 Cambodia

Phone: +855 (0) 788 58 469

Babel Boutique Hotel

Address: 26 Aleah Road, Salakamroeuk, 17254 Cambodia

Phone: +855 (0) 772 99 803

Email: babelsiemreap@gmail.com

Website: www.babelsiemreap.com