Nominee Summary
Rvival creates bespoke nature-focused experiences, working with traditional Scottish estates for corporate clients and high-profile individuals like David Beckham, connecting them with the knowledge and skills that connect us to nature. Eliza Brown started Rvival in 2023, wanting to ‘influence the influential’ by taking them into nature, teaching skills we’re losing, and helping them to make significant change. She brings together people such as herbologists and ghillies, to share their skills, knowledge and stories within bespoke experiences. She has seen first-hand the impact these experiences have, with clients using them to influence the world through their companies, audiences and network.
What makes your nominee stand out?
Rvival believes that everyone needs slow tourism. It is an investment anyone can make in themselves, and the biggest investment Rvival can give its clients is the investment in learning. It’s something no one can ever take away from you. Tourism is something you spend money on, so invest in something that will stay with you forever and influence how you go about your life. Rvival believes that deep down we all know we need this connection with nature and the company is creating this space within tourism that is so needed. Founder Eliza Brown has built the company from scratch, with a focus on supporting traditional, specialist skills, whilst being fair to others and helping estates showcase their valuable place in rural communities.
Changes that have been implemented
Rvival is turning itself into a collective of people and places that creates these personal, worthwhile experiences. The company has evolved due to hard learnings and trying to learn from the market and what’s going on in the world. Eliza is learning from different estates in Scotland and the ongoing learning experience of working with different people from different places and how they like to work and connect with others. Eliza feels the company is going through a massive evolution since starting in 2023 and it will continue to evolve to meet the needs of clients, estates and the ever-changing nature of rural Scotland. She has learned that first and foremost it is best to keep things simple. Her definition of luxury has evolved and she is trying to redefine it. Previously, luxury meant something materialistic but she feels luxury isn’t defined by comfort but by feeling, authenticity, and the skills and knowledge gained. She hopes that’s what clients get from Rvival.
Overcoming challenges
Rvival embraces slow tourism by targeting a specific audience who, as Eliza believes, has a greater ability to make significant change. It also responds to challenges by listening to the estate teams it works with and understanding the difficulties they face within the current climate. Mass tourism has affected individuals on the ground. One example is nesting birds disturbed through lack of understanding. Rvival can help estates bring better understanding to a wider audience. Rvival client David Beckham spent his 50th birthday learning to cook over fire on a Highland estate and then went on to write about the experience when he was guest editor for Country Life. This was a great way to broadcast a wider message on reconnecting with nature and being responsible.
