The 700’000 heures Impact Story
What is 700’000 heures Impact?
ABOUT US700’000 heures Impact was founded by Thierry Teyssier and Diane Binder who united their visionary approach to harness micro-hospitality as a powerful tool for regenerating local communities, biodiversity, and natural ecosystems. As pioneers in regenerative hospitality, 700’000 heures Impact offers extraordinary private experiences in remote destinations, using travel as a force for good to transform the local community and render it self-sufficient. Our approach to regenerative hospitality is a transformative journey that invites travelers to discover and contribute to the preservation of local communities and the restoration of natural ecosystems.
A NEW WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE WORLD700’000 is the average number of lifetime in hours that we have on earth. Co-founder of 700’000 heures Impact, Thierry Teyssier is proposing, through new destinations every year to rethink the way we spend this time. The maverick hotelier behind Dar Ahlam started a new concept of floating hotels in 2015 through Japan, Cambodia, Brazil and more, working alongside local communities. In 2023, Thierry joined forces with Diane Binder, an international expert on environmental preservation and economic development. Diane is the founder of Regenopolis, an international collaborative initiative supporting local actions contributing to the regeneration of cities, communities and natural ecosystems. Together, they have interwoven hospitality and regeneration to provide a unique approach to both travel and local development.
Why “700’000”?
REGENERATIVE TRAVEL AND IMPACTOur approach to regeneration projects.
We are a value-driven organization. Humanism, empathy, consciousness, authenticity, social justice, well-being are embodied in our principles and actions. Our projects are co-created with local communities and have a net positive impact on local development and nature. We are aiming to bring locally-led projects towards autonomy within a few years and contributes to the development of a local bio-economy, specifically empowering women, in harmony with nature and anchored in ancient wisdom and traditions.
MEET THE FOUNDERThierry Teyssier
Thierry Teyssier, a visionary in the realm of luxury travel, founded 700'000 heures Impact in 2018, an ephemeral itinerant travel experience that offers members the chance to immerse themselves in authentic local cultures across remote parts of the world. This unique travel concept reflects Thierry’s innovative and renowned approach to hospitality. His illustrious career includes founding the esteemed Dar Ahlam a luxury boutique property in the south of Morocco, which has been consistently ranked among the world's best hotels since 2002, and Romaneira in Portugal in 2007. Recognized as a leading "Luxury and Creative Talent" in 2010, Thierry launched the Memory Road in 2015, an exclusive road trip through Morocco. He expanded 700'000 heures Impact to destinations such as Italy, Cambodia, Brazil, Japan, and France in 2018 offering once in a lifetime experiences with every exploration. Celebrated by Conde Nast Traveller in 2019 as one of "The 44 people changing the way we travel," Thierry received an award from Tatler Magazine in 2022 for his commitment to communities and the environment. Today, Thierry continues to expand the destinations of 700'000 heures Impact.
MEET THE FOUNDERDiane Binder
Diane Binder is the founder of Regenopolis, an international initiative that supports local solutions at the intersection of climate action, preservation of biodiversity, urban and community resilience. Diane has articulated her vision and actions around the idea that self-regeneration, regeneration of communities and regeneration of the planet were all intertwined. As a system thinker and practitioner, she has dedicated the past 20 years to launch or develop initiatives bringing together local communities, governments and international institutions to achieve social and economic development. She has worked in over 15 countries in Africa, as a investor, a project developer in water management and circular economy, and has founded various NGOs supporting local private sector development in France, the Mediterranean area and Africa.