Doing Good, Looking Good — and Having a Great Time

By Amulya Hiremath and Tansy Kaschak on 4.22.22

We’re madly in love with Mother Earth — and with hotels helping us be better guests to our beautiful planet. Especially when they look cool and make us understand that it is possible to do good and have fun at the same time. Travel and hospitality have a huge role in preserving our communities and ecosystems so, to light the way, we’ve put together a round-up celebrating some of the most future-forward hotels and initiatives around the word.

Giving Back With the Skill Swap Program at  SALT of Palmar in Mauritius

Mauritian hotel SALT of Palmar is integrating global cultures and resources like no other. Through their unique Skill Swap program, the hotel promotes learning, upskilling, and sharing by connecting guests with the local people for an exchange of skills and knowledge. As we look for meaningful travel experiences, SALT is pioneering by combining local with the global. They make it possible to visit plantations, be a part of the cultivation of pesticide-free aromatic herbs and vanilla, and learn traditional farming methods. Every guest receives a This Is Mauritius guidebook and a local SIM upon arrival to help them explore the island on their own terms while also giving back to the community that hosts them.

Soneva Namoona’s Policy of Reduce, Recycle, Inspire

It’s no news that Soneva has been a pioneer for responsible tourism — carbon neutral for a decade now, various regeneration programs, missions to restore 500 million hectares of ecosystems — the luxury hospitality brand combines a conscientious, proactive approach to sustainability with its trademark exquisite and intuitive personalized service. With comprehensive initiatives in place such as Eco Centro Waste-to-Wealth facilities which recycle or reuse 90% percent of resort waste, the brand is committed to focusing on the three Rs: Re-use, Reduce, Recycle across all its services. They also aim to establish one of the world’s largest coral nurseries and plant a million trees while continuing to support all the green initiatives they are already a part of., making Soneva truly Future Forward.

Exploring Potato Head Studios Is A Sustainable Creative Campus In Bali

A destination in itself, Desa Potato Head is described as “a place where music, art, design, food, wellness, and sustainability collide, offering a new type of holistic experience for both the local community and guests”. Potato Head Studios wants to ‘transcend hospitality’ with a hotel experience centered around creativity, culture, and sustainability.  Ronald Akili, the founder of Potato Head, says: “At Desa Potato Head we’re not trying to change the industry, we want to create an entirely new model for it.” Desa Potato Head’s concept was born out of global and local design collaborations, with a strong focus on sustainability. Furniture and amenities have been crafted from recycled plastics and eco-friendly materials created by British designers Max Lamb and Gaye Toogood. These have been enhanced by Balinese artisans, who have used indigenous materials and techniques.

Caring For People and the Planet in Sri Lanka with Resplendent Ceylon

Ever since its inception in 2005, Sri Lanka’s answer to small, unique luxury resorts, Resplendent Ceylon has been involved in the preservation efforts of the country. 15% of profits are dedicated to two charitable foundations. Working with the MFG Foundation, they have contributed positively to changing the lives of over 100,000 underprivileged Sri Lankans by way of scholarships, livelihood assistance, and Small Entrepreneur Programmes. Through their other initiative, Dilmah Conservation, the brand is actively participating in biodiversity conservation and environmental education, while their Centre for Climate Change Research and Adaptation is the first private sector facility of its kind in the world.

Marbella Club Launching Seahorse Repopulation Project

Iconic beachfront resort Marbella Club in Andalusia, Spain, is helping conservation efforts to protect seahorses in the Mediterranean Sea with their four-year-long rewilding project. In line with their long-term goals of contributing to the conservation of seahorses and helping recover their natural habitats, the initiative is in collaboration with the marine conservation research center Aula del Mar (Classroom of the Sea). The resort is introducing interactive activities and games for young travelers and the nursery aquarium will be housed at the Marbella Club’s Kids Club. 

Celebrating Ten Years of Rainforest Conservation at Mashpi Lodge in Ecuador

Home to over 400 species of birds, monkeys, peccaries, and even pumas, it is unsurprising that Mashpi Lodge is one of the most biodiverse places in the world. The eco-lodge was the perfect place for an ocelot rewilding project earlier this year. Further, partnering with revolutionary tech organization Rainforest Connection — the world’s first real-time eco-acoustic monitoring company — the resort has installed ten ‘Forest Guardians’, solar-powered mobile recording systems to curb illegal activities like deforestation and poaching. The same system also helped them discover The Mashpi Glass Frog, a new species for science. The lodge is allowing guests to participate in the process of conservation through interactive sessions like scientist walks and birdwatching excursions.

Embracing Sustainable Living in Rural Portugal at São Lourenço do Barrocal

A restored 19th Century farmhouse sitting on 200 acres, São Lourenço do Barrocal is committed to supporting its local community. With two farm-to-table restaurants in the hotel, Barrocal sources produce from their own organic garden and nearby suppliers and producers. The property is also investing in its photovoltaic plant that will allow the production of electricity on-site, while already having deployed renewable means such as solar to heat hot water. 80% of the staff at Barrocal come from the five neighboring municipalities, further upholding their commitment to preserving cultural heritage. Guests are also encouraged to participate in local experiences and are provided curated sessions from visits to local pottery factories to ethnobotanical hikes. 

A Bee-inspired Cocktail Supporting the Pollinators

Bees are the great keepers of our ecosystem. The Times Square EDITION and North Fork Table & Inn are dedicating this Earth Month to their conservation and donating $1 to The Bee Conservancy — a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting bees through research and education — for each be-inspired cocktail sold. At The Times Square EDITION, the BEElieve in Me limited-edition libation is crafted by award-winning Beverage Director Amy Racine. At North Fork Table & Inn, the Barn & The Bees uses honey from the restaurant’s own beehives. Both cocktails are infused with The Botanist Gin, a certified B Corp and sustainable distillery.

Nature-based Nurturing at Beaverbrook’s Coach House Spa

Beaverbrook is not new to the holistic hospitality game. The  Coach  House Health  Club  & Spa which has AMAN’s former regional spa director, Rene van Eyssen, only elevates it. Inspired by the rolling English countryside where it sits snug, everything is nature-based to nurture transformative wellness and deep healing experiences at the countryside hotel. With a team of skillful Celtic Druids, Traditional Chinese Medical Practitioners, and Wim Hof certified experts in guided group sessions, Beaverbrook leaves no stone unturned in ensuring top-of-the-class recharge and reenergizing sessions. 

Helping Nature Bloom at The New York EDITION

In tow with their new, eco-conscious Spring menu, The New York EDITION is also encouraging guests to help nature bloom. From April 16th to 22nd, the hotel is gifting a packet of wildflower seeds for each of their five special drinks, which include: Glenmorangie Whisky, James Rahn Orange Wine, Ruinart Blanc de Blancs or Rosé, Roku Gin Bloodshot or the Belvedere Spiced Colada. EDITION Hotels promises all drinks are produced keeping sustainability at the forefront.

The Shoals Supports Local and Organic Oyster Program

A new waterfront “boatel”, The Shoals in Southold, on the North Fork of Long Island is all about representing and exhibiting the local community and its natural beauty. The hotel has partnered with a female-owned family business, Little Ram Oyster Company, on a robust oyster program that will operate from the hotel. Surrounded by organic farms and some of the best vineyards and wineries on the East Coast, the hotel features 20 hotel suites and 20 boat slips, making it accessible by both land and sea.

The Ameswell Hotel’s Long-term Commitment to Sustainability

The Ameswell Hotel is leading through example the sustainable way of life in the Silicon Valley. Inspired by the backdrop of California’s untamed wilderness and legacy of unconventional thinking, the hotel is committed to long-term green goals and has implemented several initiatives. From eliminating single-use plastics to partnering with local farms to reduce long-distance food transportation, from using smart appliances in kitchens to carpeting outdoor spaces with astroturf, the lifestyle hotel thinks sustainability in every step. The ten-acre property has also saved hundreds of trees and has been involved in repopulating indigenous vegetation. 

Eco Consciousness Forms the Foundation at Kisawa Sanctuary

The recently opened Kisawa Sanctuary in Mozambique lies just off the mainland and the coastal town of Vilanculos. Designed by owner Nina Flohr, the hotel lies on 750 acres of land, of which she intends to keep most of it untouched. The villas were constructed with conscious construction methods and materials are in tandem with craft-based construction such as weaving and thatching, like the roofs and woven doors. Flohr’s environmentally friendly philosophy continues with Kisawa’s electric mini mokes that guests cruise around in. The restaurant also sources local produce. 

Flohr initially set up an ocean conservation organization on the island, the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies, which includes Africa’s first permanent ocean observatory focused on multi-ecosystem research. A sister project to Kisawa, Flohr intends to use revenue from the hotel to support its work. The BCSS laboratory and training station is entirely run on solar and focuses on research and collecting data to contribute to international scientific programs.