The Mbidia Koukou Hotel remodel project was undertaken as part of an effort to develop ecotourism in Mayumba. I gave the exterior of the restaurant a vibrant new paint job, and the interior was re-decorated using natural, sustainable materials such as bamboo, thatch, raffia, and traditional local handicrafts. Old dugout canoes were recycled into decorative planters. Murals were also added to give the space a unique identity. Dining terraces, a barbecue pavillion, and a souvenir boutique selling local arts and crafts were added to the existing structures. Landscaping, wooden stepping-stones, a sea turtle hatchery, and turtle-friendly, solar-powered lighting were also incorporated to make this hotel a seaside haven for ecotourism visitors. The project provided employment opportunities to at approximately 30 local people, from village women making thatched roofing and decorative mats, to welders, carpenters, masons, and an old 'papa' whose beautiful handmade bamboo fishing traps were converted into decorative lampshades.