Stay with purpose
We’ve curated a list of hotels and resorts with noteworthy initiatives in the social impact space. By supporting eco conscious practices, fostering genuine connections with local communities, or supporting cultural and environmental conservation, these properties are paving the way for a new era of responsible tourism. By choosing to stay at these hotels, travelers not only indulge in exceptional experiences but can also contribute to the wellbeing of the destinations they visit—bridging the gap between personal enrichment and global stewardship.
Featured: Rosewood Baja Mar, Nassau, The Bahamas
Explore Asia Pacific
4 properties
Helping elephants, mahouts and families
Four Seasons Tented Camp supports the ongoing efforts of the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, which works to rescue elephants from abuse or compromised circumstances and ensures they are cared for by a team of vets and elephant scientists. Four Seasons Tented Camp is dedicated to providing a safe environment and supporting a dignified livelihood for the owners (mahouts) and their families.
The Foundation also funds a range of elephant-related education, research, and conservation-based projects in the region. In this safe haven, guests can enjoy a guided educational interaction and form meaningful connections with these majestic elephants.
Educational tours throughout the community
Four Seasons Tented Camp encourages guests to engage with the local community by offering a selection of guided nature and cultural tours. Guests can discover local flora and fauna with seasoned guides, go fishing along the Ruak River, hike to Ban Ja Jor and meet a Lahu hill-tribe. Along with a local guide, guests can explore a variety of markets while navigating the bustling streets in a tuk-tuk before escaping to the calm of ancient temples, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Pa Sak.
Environmentally conscious food and beverage
Food waste at Four Seasons Tented Camp is diverted from a landfill and donated to local farms for use as animal feed. To reduce packaging waste and support local economic development, loose-leaf teas and coffee are sourced from local plantations. And, all sourced coffee pods available in guest tents are biodegradable. Glass bottles of water are delivered daily to guest rooms as the property is free of single-use plastics.
Guests can take part in an intimate tasting, an artisanal food & beverage experience that introduces them to the robust flavors of locally produced wine and cheese. The wines have a taste of the ocean thanks to the mineral-rich soil in the coastal province of Hua Hin, and are paired with cheeses produced at farms near the property. Guests can also enjoy a foraging tour of the gardens to learn about the produce grown on-property.
Bamboo Shark Nursery and Conservation Center
JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa provides guests with an up-close look at marine conservation. The Bamboo Shark Nursery and Conservation Center is a dedicated marine sanctuary for the Andaman Sea's threatened bamboo shark population and is the first of its kind within Marriott International in Asia Pacific. Established in partnership with the Oceans for All Foundation, it offers guests a hands-on, educational experience and enables them to learn about how a balanced ecosystem helps keep our oceans healthy. Guests can join guided tours at the education center, meet the resident marine biologist, collect seawater for the aquarium, and help release juvenile sharks back into the wild.
Locally sourced luxuries
The JW Garden is a serene sanctuary that delights guests and grows indigenous herbs that are prominently featured at the resort experience, from the welcome cocktail to fragrant restaurant meals, spa treatments, and even turn-down amenities. Signature herbs including lemongrass, Thai basil, and roselle are all grown on-site, reducing reliance on the supply chain. Locally sourced coconuts can also be found throughout the hotel. From coconut milk cocktails by the pool, coconut oil and scrub treatments at the spa, grated coconut toppings on ice cream, to coconut shell plant pots in the garden — the resort has found a way to maximize the use of this local fruit.
Water conservation is also top of mind for this resort. With the longest swimming pool in Southeast Asia, the resort ensures its water use is sustainable by collecting monsoon rains in a reservoir that treats and circulates water throughout the property, which is then recycled for use in the farm and laundry.
Food waste reduction plan
The resort sources 25% of its produce for its restaurants and bars from local producers and suppliers. Thoughtfully curated menus feature a minimum of 30% plant-based dishes and smaller portions that are intended to decrease the risk of uneaten food. The resort has also implemented a strong inventory management system that tracks and utilizes supplies in a timely manner. The resort currently reprocesses 80% of its food waste, and its daily food waste management initiatives include on- and off-site composting and donations to nearby pig farms.
Vietnam
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay
Protecting native species
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is committed to protecting local biodiversity, ensuring the property is a place for a variety of species to thrive—plants, bees, and monkeys alike. The property is home to 500,000 stingless bees, who live in ‘villas’ custom built by the resort. Over 150 Langur monkeys roam the property grounds, and Six Senses collaborates with local NGO GreenViet to give biologists the opportunity to study this threatened species in their natural habitat. Guests can enjoy hikes through this wild oasis and learn about the hotel’s conservation efforts from a full-time resident GreenViet biologist. While exploring, keep an eye out for the native Six Senses Turmeric, a plant species discovered by the hotel’s research program.
The hotel’s conservation efforts extend to the ocean, with a coral propagation program launched in collaboration with the Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang. This initiative helps to protect and preserve the marine ecosystem surrounding the resort. The team transplants coral fragments onto artificial reef frames and monitors the growth and types of marine life affected. Guests have the opportunity to directly support this initiative by sponsoring these frames.
Moving towards self-sufficiency
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay introduced Ninh Van Greens, the first in-resort solar farm in Vietnam and, as of January 2023, it supplies 20% of the resort’s energy. The farm’s organic garden thrives beneath the shade of 800 solar panels, which also power hot water and electricity for the resort.
Beyond Ninh Van Greens, the property has multiple, expansive gardens that cultivated almost 17,000 pounds of produce in 2022 alone. These fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs turn up in essential oils used at the spa and on diners’ plates at the restaurants.
Guests can also feel good about the quality of their water, as Six Senses leverages an on-site reverse osmosis water processing plant to provide still and sparkling re-mineralized water, bottled in reusable glass bottles. An on-site chicken coop for sourcing eggs is yet another example of the resort’s growing self-sufficiency.
Helping the local community
Six Senses also plays a meaningful role in the surrounding community. The property offers ongoing English classes in two local primary schools. In 2022, Six Senses provided clean water systems to five local primary schools, and donated three full and four partial scholarships for outstanding high school graduates to attend university in Vietnam.
Walking with the giants
Nestled in the heart of Thailand, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort operates the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), a nonprofit dedicated to the welfare of formerly captive elephants. Guests are invited to spend time with the elephants’ caretakers, called mahouts, and learn about their history, culture, and how they care for their elephants including feeding them a medicinal diet. Various programs are available, from gourmet picnics amongst the elephants to jungle walks, and proceeds go towards upkeep and care of benefitting these gentle giants.
Fresh from the garden
Anantara also boasts the Suan Sai Jai garden, a vibrant ecosystem where a mushroom farm yields two varieties of mushrooms and over 37 hens produce around 350 eggs each month. Five beehives contribute honey that guests can enjoy with their breakfast, and a hydroponic garden provides fruits, vegetables, and herbs for use throughout the resort’s kitchens, including ginger, galangal, lemongrass, betel leaves, lime, avocado, cacao, and eggplants.
Immersive cultural experiences
Guests are invited to immerse themselves in local culture, with everything from tranquil boat rides along the river, to countryside bicycle tours and exploring villages like Wang Lao where they can enjoy tea and breakfast in an organic garden. For a taste of daily life, visitors can venture into Chiang Saen market for a guided tour to select fresh produce and participate in an organic cooking class at the Million Fields farm. On a monthly basis, Anantara also invites traditional medicine healers from the community to the resort. While there, practitioners offer guests indigenous wellness therapies drawing on centuries-old traditions at the Anantara resort spa.
Learn more about Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Explore Europe
4 properties
A biodynamic garden inspired by 12th-century monks
Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine’s philosophy is inspired by the monks who inhabited the property in the 12th century. The hotel developed its own biodynamic vegetable garden located exactly where the monks had their vegetable garden when they lived on the estate centuries ago. Abadía continuously studies which vegetable varieties are best suited to the soil and other conditions in the garden. The flagship restaurant, Refectorio, holds a Michelin Star and Green Star and works with 35 local producers and uses its own organic garden to obtain ingredients for its dishes.
Supporting 21st-century art
Abadía Retuerta is a proud patron of 21st-century art and is working to improve access to culture and supporting high-quality artistic projects. The estate has an artists’ residency program, its own open-air museum featuring works by the German sculptor Ulrich Rückriem, and a private collection of more than 170 works. Guests can admire these works up-close by joining the Living with Art experience, which showcases the collection and ends with a wine tasting session.
Environmentally conscious approach to winemaking and wildlife
Abadía’s winery is equipped with rooftop solar panels that have contributed to a 30% reduction in the estate’s energy consumption. Committed to conservation throughout the winemaking process, Abadia packages its wine in biodegradable cardboard cases made from wood chips that decompose quickly and leave no toxic residue. In 2019, the winery was awarded the Wineries for Climate Protection certification which is based on a property’s commitment to four key tenets: the reduction of greenhouse gases, water management, waste reduction, and energy efficiency with renewable energies. Additionally, the estate holds Green Globe certification, recognizing it as one of the most sustainable resorts in the world due to its environmentally-friendly policies.
On an electric bike tour, guests can take in the beauty of the vineyard and experience the estate’s varied habitats, from pine groves to wetlands to riverbanks, home to various species including wild boar, roe deer, ducks, red-legged partridges, wood pigeons, rabbits, hares, and foxes.
Ireland
Ashford Castle
Aiding wildlife to flourish
Ashford Castle has created an ARK on its 350 acres, where half of the estate is left to its natural habitat, allowing native wildlife to thrive. It introduced a bug hotel in the gardens and bat boxes throughout the estate to protect dwindling species. The hotel works to boost biodiversity by distributing 10,000 bulbs around the castle grounds for pollination. It is also part of the All Ireland Pollinator group, which supports the native black bee.
Immersive experiences enriched with history
Ashford Castle offers an array of experiences that enable travelers to get a hands-on experience with Ireland’s rich histories, traditions, and trades, while supporting local artisans. Itineraries can include forging metal with an acclaimed blacksmith, joining a ceramicist at her potter’s wheel, trying wool spinning, and so much more. Guests can even forage for food on the seashore with one of the hotel’s food artisans and then take their bounty back to the kitchen to enjoy with a glass of wine.
Reducing waste and supporting renewable energy
In 2009, The Savoy launched a program to convert food waste into renewable energy through anaerobic digestion. The hotel also utilizes Orbisk, an AI food waste monitoring system, and recycles kitchen oil into renewable energy and biofuel.
Eliminating single-use plastics
The Savoy has eliminated single-use plastics across guest-facing areas, kitchens, and back-of-house operations. Toiletry dispensers have replaced individual bottles, laundry bags are crafted from recycled parachute material, and water is served in reusable glass bottles filled onsite at “The Savoy Well”.
Supporting biodiversity and green spaces
The Savoy promotes biodiversity through partnerships like the London Heritage Quarter and supports pollinator populations with its gifted Savoy Bee Hotel at Canada House in Trafalgar Square.
Community engagement and ethical sourcing
As a founding member of the UK’s Sustainable Restaurant Association, The Savoy is mindful of the food it sources, emphasizing local, seasonal items and banning endangered fish species. It also donates unused food and amenities to local organizations, reinforcing its role as a responsible community partner.
Explore Africa
3 properties
Explore Middle East Africa
3 properties
Mozambique
Kisawa Sanctuary
A community-focused platform for marine research
Kisawa Sanctuary is the world’s first resort to work in tandem with its own non-profit marine research center. A symbiotic relationship, the resort provides the majority of the annual funding to the sanctuary’s ocean observatory, called the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies or BCSS, while the scientific data obtained from the sanctuary is used by the hotel to inform guest activities, including diving and laboratory visits. BCSS utilizes its location to support environmental management at a community level, and the data it gathers helps to answer questions on the impacts of climate change. This unique and innovative platform is the first permanent ocean observatory focused on multi-ecosystem, time series research in Africa.
Whale song recording and reef diving
Kisawa offers guests the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and partake in science with experts at BCSS, physically adding critical data to inform environmental decision-making. This includes whale song recording and diving in unique reefs that house hammerhead sharks, giant manta, and groupers which have been 3D mapped by BCSS technology.
Rwanda
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Keeping it local
Guests can awaken all of their senses with native ingredients from the land. The Rwandan chef at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest creates authentic, regional culinary delights by cooking with local ingredients like plantains, amaranth, eggplants, sweet potatoes, spinach, taro root, and cassava. The on-site spa features wellness treatments that make the most of their homegrown coffee, roses, and herbs. There, guests can enjoy a coffee and coconut body scrub, a coconut oil massage, and the use of heated coffee beans which can help relieve muscle tension. In the spa’s Essence of Rose Journey, rose oil, acupressure, and rose quartz are used, which are believed to help boost energy and stimulate the immune system.
Culture and community
Support the local community by celebrating humanity, culture and craft, from drumming and dance to ancestorial storytelling. Experience Handspun Hope, a working farm run by women, in support of women who produce handmade wool clothing and felted sculptures. Guests are invited to meet the women, learn how they work with the wool, and take home a unique souvenir by purchasing a product from the farm. Another authentic experience leads guests through a banana plantation, where a local family explains how bananas are grown and even invites guests to be part of the community by planting their own banana tree.
Getting back to nature
Nearby Volcanoes National Park offers guests a glimpse into this home for protected wildlife including mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and over 300 bird species. Guests are invited to step into nature with a walk through the property’s lush garden, home to eucalyptus, roses, butterflies, and birds, while enjoying home-made tea and rose macaroons. The common Rwandan pastime of cycling is available with bicycles for the guests to use while exploring the property, and there are teen-specific activities, including an adventure by bike and an educational wander through the forest. One&Only Gorilla’s Nest also helps guests obtain a permit through the Rwandan government, allowing them to go on a hike through a neighboring bamboo forest to track mountain gorillas—a true experience of a lifetime.
Rwanda
One&Only Nyungwe House
Tea plantation experience
Nestled within a lush tea plantation on the edge of Nyungwe National Park, One&Only Nyungwe House offers guests a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of tea production. Partnering with the Nyungwe Cultural Village Cooperative, the resort supports local tea pickers who harvest tea leaves from the plantation. Guests can embark on guided tours of the Gisakura Tea Factory, learning about the art of tea harvesting, processing, and tasting. Through these experiences, visitors can gain insight into the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Rwandan tea production while supporting local communities.
Empowering Rwanda's youth
In collaboration with Esther's Aid, One&Only Nyungwe House is committed to empowering Rwanda's young graduates through internship programs. Offering internships lasting four months to one year, the resort provides valuable training and employment opportunities for graduates, fostering personal and professional growth. By investing in the youth of Rwanda, the resort aims to inspire and guide them towards a brighter future, believing in their potential to create positive change in their communities.
Wildlife experiences + community engagement
The protected Nyungwe National Park surrounds the resort, and the Monkey Trek experience offers an opportunity to get an up-close look at the chimpanzees and colobus monkeys that call the park home. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in local wildlife and adventure, hiking the Karamba trail which begins at the open-air site of a former gold mine, enjoying breath-taking views from the Mount Bigugu trail over the highest peak in the park, or looking over the Rwandan border on the Irebero trail. They can even take in the rainforest from the treetops along a treetop walkway called the Canopy Walk, floating 60-metres above the forest floor.
Through partnerships with local cooperatives like Kora Tubungabunga Ibidukikije, One&Only Nyungwe House is actively involved in community development efforts within Nyungwe National Park. Former poachers have transitioned into alternative income-generating activities such as farming in their communities and maintaining walking paths and hiking trails across the One&Only property.
Explore Central America
5 properties
Costa Rica
Nayara Tented Camp
Rebuilding a refuge for wildlife
Nayara Tented Camp is replanting native plants in the surrounding forest, creating not only beautiful grounds for guests to enjoy, but also a natural refuge for birds, monkeys, and sloths. Ample space was left between tents to allow for trees to be planted, as reforestation is the most important action Nayara Tented Camp is taking to protect the rainforest and its wildlife.
Designed to keep a light footprint
Nayara Tented Camp was specifically designed with the goal to have a light environmental footprint on its rainforest property. Each structure was built as a modular kit on stilts, using eco-conscious materials such as bamboo and local Tekal stone, energy-saving lighting, and natural hot springs to feed the plunge pools. The tents are elevated and open, immersing guests in the surroundings and maximizing the effects of sunlight and ventilation to reduce heating and cooling needs.
Panama
Nayara Bocas del Toro
Designed to coexist in harmony with nature
Nayara Bocas del Toro conducted five different studies before it was built to ensure its existence would minimize harm to the native mangroves and coral reefs of Panama. This is why the hotel is on stilts and off the grid. From its stylish water window villas to its treehouses, accommodations provide breathtaking views of the surrounding nature. The hotel is also committed to helping the local community, providing staff with free transportation, health services, and early education for their children.
Reusing rainwater
Nayara Bocas del Toro designed its own clean water and energy infrastructure. This means the hotel’s fresh water for drinking, bathing and cooking is provided by harvested rainwater. Large custom gutters funnel rainwater into catchment basins that can store as much as 100,000 gallons. The water is then purified using an advanced ultraviolet purification method.
Coral reef restoration
In 2022, Nayara Bocas del Toro partnered with the locally-based Caribbean Coral Restoration to install 10 fish habitats, or artificial reef structures. These were seeded with genetically resilient coral for faster growth and recovery, and have already resulted in marine life returning to the bay.
Chile
Nayara Alto Atacama
Desert plants + animals
Nayara Alto Atacama hosts an in-house botanist who created an Andean Scape Garden on the resort property. Boasting over 2,000 square meters of dry altitude desert land, the garden nurtures a wide variety of indigenous plants and animals including edible Andean plants. The garden is also home to llamas, a guest favorite, while Culpeo foxes and Andean seagulls regularly visit the property, a surprise and delight to guests.
Using the natural environment
Nayara Alto Atacama is the only luxury hotel in San Pedro de Atacama with an “S” certification for sustainable tourism from the Chilean government, a rigorous certification process that’s recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council . The property has also embarked on a new solar panel and battery project that is completely disconnected from the national electricity grid, which reduces their carbon footprint and minimizes the noise and traffic pollution. The property blends into the natural environment in many other ways as well—from Adobe-style rooms and self-sufficient lodges warmed with thermal heating to fine finishes made by local artisans like handwoven throws and macrame hangings. Some rooms are even equipped with outdoor rain showers, where guests enjoy water that has been treated with reverse osmosis, and once used, gets recycled further to irrigate the garden.
Connecting with culture
Guests are invited to take part in personalized experiences for exploring and connecting to the land and history around them, including daily hikes, private excursions, and astronomy lessons from Alto Atacama’s own telescope. Cultural excursions uncover heritage, teaching the rich history of the Lican Antai people and the later, more well-known Incan legacy. Contemplative tours offer a deeper connection to the desert, from architecture and masonry to geysers, remains of volcanic eruptions, and native wildlife, like the nesting flamingos.
Community as a priority
The hotel takes pride in its home’s natural and cultural richness. The kitchens use seasonally available, local products and produce while supporting nearby farmers and producers. Even the wine served in the restaurant is made from Chilean grapes unique to the region.
Costa Rica
Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo
Wildlife exploration adventures
From land to sea, guests are invited to experience Costa Rica’s flora and marine fauna. Explore the lush forests of Costa Rica and embark on a thrilling quest to spot various primate species, including howler, white-face, and spider monkeys. Led by naturalist guides, guests of all ages can join in the adventure, spotting playful baby monkeys swinging through the trees. See the ecosystem of mangroves that protect local wildlife or take a guided wilderness hike, with an impressive network of aerial trails 30 feet above the ground with The Explorers. With every new moon, guests can witness the enchantment of the Gulf of Papagayo, with the underwater magic of bioluminescence when the plankton blooms. And, so guests can understand how the country is helping to protect the environment, the resort also offers hands-on experiences for guests to support coral restoration through coral gardening, coral planting and snorkeling.
Empowering local communities
Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo is deeply committed to supporting and empowering local communities. Through initiatives like the annual "Books 4 All" fundraising program, the resort supports over 1,300 children from 13 schools, fostering a culture of literacy and education. Additionally, the resort showcases the talents of indigenous Costa Rican artisans, providing them with opportunities to share their craftsmanship and culture with guests. Guests can take a class led by a skilled craftsman to learn to make hand-painted pottery in the traditional Chorotega style, focusing on the ancient process used to create this type of pottery.
Ancestral spa rituals
Indulge in rejuvenating spa treatments inspired by ancient traditions and local ingredients. From the Tsuru Cacao Ancestral Ritual to the Cleansing Herbal Ceremony, each experience offers a holistic approach to wellness and relaxation. Guests can immerse themselves in volcanic purification rituals, drawing on the therapeutic properties of natural elements like volcanic ash and mineral-rich mud. Not only can these treatments nourish the body, but they can also provide a deeper connection to the land's ancient roots and indigenous heritage.
Costa Rica
Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Collection
Unraveling the Secrets of Costa Rica's Blue Zone
Guests at Hacienda AltaGracia are invited to tap into the ancestral wisdom of Costa Rica's indigenous people while engaging in time-honored artisanal traditions, like pottery making, textile embroidery, and traditional mask painting, with the locals who practice them.
The Osa Peninsula, easily accessible from AltaGracia, is home to vast history and wildlife. Encounter birds, alligators and sloths as you make your way through one of the largest mangrove systems in the country, or snorkel and dive in the blue waters of the Isla del Caño Biological Reserve to truly experience the island's beauty. From exploring a private farm to spotting quetzals in the treetops while hiking to a waterfall, there are treasures at every turn to ground guests in a deeper understanding and connection to the land.
Indigenous Immersion: Discovering Boruca Culture
Hacienda AltaGracia invites guests to delve into the cultural heritage of the Boruca indigenous reservation. In a uniquely immersive experience, visitors explore the forest and its history after being greeted at the firepit with an enchanting performance that is steeped in cultural symbolism.
For the more adventurous, try 100ft high guided rope canopy tours or a Ficus tree climb in the heart of El Rio, scaling the boundless beauty of the culture and the land. Don’t miss a full day rafting trip along the Sacred Pacuare either, complete with a helicopter ride to the pristine section of the river, learning from an indigenous guide, and world class rafting through class III and IV rapids.
Meanwhile, family travelers can enroll young explorers in the Junior Adventure’s Club, an immersive experience of tradition and craft from on-site butterfly gardens to kid-friendly rope courses and play areas.
Marvin's Cacao Farm: A Journey into Costa Rica's Rich Culinary Heritage
Costa Rica’s rich culinary heritage is on the menu during tours of Marvin’s Finca de Cacao. Welcomed in by Marvin himself, guests can explore cacao orchards, coffee plantations, and lush forest trails, tasting fresh pataste (a white cacao) and peppercorns along the way. The experience provides a glimpse into the art of chocolate making as well as the science of fermentation and processing techniques, while supporting Marvin’s commitment to thoughtful farming practices and the preservation of Costa Rica’s deep history with the cacao seed.
Explore North America
11 properties
Explore North America
11 properties
California
Conrad Los Angeles
Hiring from all backgrounds
Conrad Los Angeles partnered with and hired over 30% of its team through Homeboy Industries, a local non-profit organization that helps formerly incarcerated people reclaim their identity and become contributing members of the community. The hotel has also hired team members from the Downtown Women’s Center, a nonprofit which empowers and serves women experiencing homelessness.
Empowering career growth in the community
Through partnerships with local community organizations, Conrad Los Angeles hosts educational workshops focused on resume writing and interview skills. These programs are designed to empower individuals by enhancing their employment prospects, supporting career growth, and fostering economic stability within the community.
Helping to clean and feed those in need
Conrad Los Angeles partners with Clean the World, collecting and donating used soap that is sanitized and redistributed to developing nations. The hotel also partners with FoodCycle LA to send excess food to those in need, including single mothers and the elderly.
Protecting the Los Angeles River
Conrad Los Angeles collaborates with Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR) to support sustainability initiatives and educational programs that benefit both the local community and others along the river. Through this partnership, the hotel contributes to efforts aimed at preserving the river’s ecosystem and promoting environmental awareness.
Maine
Inn by the Sea
Healthy habitats, goat gardeners, and more
Guests of Inn by the Sea have the opportunity to experience the property's conservation efforts firsthand. Since 2007, the Inn has partnered with the State of Maine to help remove invasive species (like Japanese knotweed), replacing it with native plants for a healthier and safer habitat for endangered species like the New England Cottontail rabbit. Every summer for the past 3 years, the Inn has brought in a small herd of hungry goats to eat through the invasive knotweed in the neighboring Crescent Beach State Park, and plans to continue these efforts over the next couple years. Guests can wander down the Inn's boardwalk into the park to watch the goats, and have the opportunity to play with baby goats during the manager's cocktail events.
Classes like How to Plant for Wildlife teach guests about the importance of biodiversity for healthy coastal ecosystems, and Bug's Life Garden Tours gives younger guests an opportunity to dress like bugs and learn about local ecosystems from a bug's perspective. There are also guided beach ecology walks with local naturalists where guests can learn about coastal environments and sustainability. The property's conservation efforts extend beyond their gardens and goats to renewable energy. As of October 2023, the Inn is proud to be powered by 100% renewable energy from a community solar farm in Maine.
More than just dog-friendly
Inn by the Sea has been welcoming dogs onto its property for 30 years. For the last seven years, the Inn has collaborated with the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland to bring rescue dogs on-site for guests to walk, play with, and adopt. This has been an incredibly popular program for guests and canines alike — so far, 173 dogs have been given long-term homes by guests at the Inn.
Community support projects
The Inn has an annual fundraiser called Hospitality for Habitat, in which guests receive 50% off rooms in exchange for a $35 donation to Habitat for Humanity. It also has a Books for a Booking program which supports local schools—for every December reservation, the Inn purchases a book from the librarian's wish lists. On Earth Day local students are invited to contribute to the property's conservation efforts, visiting Inn by the Sea for environmental lectures and to help clean the beach. The Inn also hosts the outdoor winter Sea Food Celebration, which brings attention to Maine's traditional fishing industry and celebrates local, responsibly harvested seafood. Entry fees for the festival are donated to Full Plates, Full Potential, which helps feed hungry children in Maine.
Renewable Energy Leadership
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, has embarked on a journey to help reduce their waste. The resort boasts one of the largest privately owned microgrids in the state, harnessing the power of the sun through over 8,000 solar panels spread across two acres—a pioneering feat in Hawaii’s hospitality landscape. The resort supports multiple initiatives to reduce waste, including a recycling program and partnerships with a local pig farm, where appropriate food waste is transformed into food for the animals. Just as the management of waste is of high importance to an island community, so too is the preservation and treatment of water. The property’s efforts include the development and operation of its own reverse osmosis and wastewater treatment plant on-site. Also, the property was architected to have a deliberate layout planned in accordance with the traditional winds of the area to maximize natural breezeways and thereby reduce the need for air conditioning.
Monk seal conservation hub
At Kona Village, the preservation of endangered species takes center stage. The resort proudly supports Ke Kai Ola, the monk seal rehabilitation center, by providing live tilapia from its fishpond to aid in training rehabilitating seals. Guests are invited to engage in preservation efforts by fishing for tilapia from the on-property lake. This activity not only provides food for seals, but also supports the health of other native marine life by controlling the invasive tilapia population. This unique partnership underscores the resort's commitment to conservation and its role as a guardian of Hawaii's precious marine life.
Cultural engagement
Immersed in the rich heritage of Hawaii, Kona Village invites guests to engage in aquaculture experiences guided by on-site biologists and cultural advisors. With 22 anchialine pools, the resort places a strong emphasis on plant and animal conservation and restoration efforts and is eager to share its knowledge. The brackish water anchialine pools on site are naturally occurring, and are home to rare, endemic plant and animal species. The property not only understands the environmental significance of these pools but also the history of stewardship that ensured the longevity of these delicate ecosystems. The development team worked to remediate these pools from invasive aquatic species and plants, supporting ecosystem health and proliferation. They are continually monitored, cared for, and studied so that these rare habitats not only survive, but thrive.
An on-site cultural center invites guests of all ages to deepen their understanding of Hawaiian culture and heritage. Featuring immersive programming and activities such as guided archeological tours through an on-site petroglyph field, wildlife walks, traditional hula dancing, lei making and ukulele lessons, the center launches guests on a journey through the destination’s past, present, and future. The resort also offers experiences via their Ocean Pursuits program, based in Kilo Kai arts—kilo (observing) kai (the water)—focused on respectfully engaging with and understanding the local waters. As part of the program, the resort’s knowledgeable watermen and women lead guided water activities, from sunrise paddles to sailing canoe excursions. The resort team seeks to share the ocean's wonders with respect and understanding, educating guests and local youth on the significance of the resort’s surrounding environment as well as the importance of preservation and conservation.
The Bahamas
Rosewood Baha Mar
Coral reef preservation and education
Guests of Rosewood Baha Mar can immerse themselves in the magical world below the ocean’s surface through Coral Reefs: A Citizen Science Program. In partnership with The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF), this activity allows guests to learn the basics of snorkeling, facts about coral reefs, and how to identify coral and fish.
Participants can dive in for a tour of a living art gallery and contribute to the growth of a coral reef nursery and BREEF’s vital conservation and restoration efforts by “adopting” coral fragments to be planted beneath the sea in a propagation unit.
Additionally, guests can partake in The Ocean Guardian Experience, an exclusive monthly event led by renowned Bahamian Dive Guide and Filmmaker, André Musgrove, alongside a Reef Specialist from the Perry Institute for Marine Science. This immersive half-day boating adventure includes a visit to the BREEF Underwater Sculpture Garden, a mesmerizing site commissioned by Sir John Nuttall. Guests will have the chance to explore the coral nursery and observe the vibrant marine life thriving in this protected area.
Flamingo yoga, tortoise feeding and more animal encounters
Mingle with flamingos and more amazing wildlife during one of Baha Mar’s unique guided tours and experiences. At the Wildlife Sanctuary, guests can watch as the resort’s dedicated animal professionals feed and interact with nurse sharks, stingrays, green sea turtles, and Caribbean fish.
Guests can also partake in some Flamingo Yoga alongside the resort’s colorful residents, feed and take photos with tortoises in an Aldabra Tortoise Encounter, and observe tropical bird species during a Meet the Macaws experience at Baha Mar’s Aviary.
Promoting a culture of local consumption
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende’s Partners in Provenance program emphasizes maintaining a seasonal and diverse menu featuring local fare. Rosewood buys products from nearby farm Via Orgánica and arranges guided tours of the farm to promote a culture of local consumption and natural products.
Showcasing local talent
Chef-led cooking classes at Rosewood incorporate ingredients picked fresh from the farm. Guests can also taste and learn about pulque, or “Mexican kombucha,” which is made onsite from 10-year-old agave plants and flavored with native fruits and herbs including passion fruit, celery, and prickly pear. Sensorial ranch tours, liquor tastings, healing workshops, and horseback riding are also on offer, and the hotel’s art gallery showcases a regularly updated collection of local artists’ paintings and sculptures.
Monthly bazaar highlighting local artisans
The Cape, a Thompson Hotel organizes a high-end monthly market called Cape Bazaar that showcases the work of Mexican and Latin American makers. Guests can engage with and support the diverse cultures of the region as they explore handmade goods such as ceramics, apparel, and jewelry, along with specialty food and drink. This cultural event provides a platform for local artisans to amplify indigenous traditions, arts, and crafts, allowing guests to directly experience the vibrant Baja community and support it through purchases.
Tequila tasting and traditional hat painting
In another effort to showcase the skill, passion, and craftsmanship of Mexican and Latin American makers the hotel holds weekly hat painting classes with a local hatmaker to give guests a first-hand look at the creative process behind a beloved Mexican-made accessory. Handcrafted straw hats are also available for purchase on property at the Glass Box Boutique. Additionally, guests can enjoy expert-led tequila tastings that offer education around the regional, agave-based spirit. Guests can also explore the history of the product, the traditions of the experts who create it, production methods and more.
Horse rides and rehabilitation
The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Collection is located on 3,500 acres of wilderness, which is home to more than 300 wild elk and deer in the winter. There are also 66 horses on the property, many of which have been rescued from farms where they were neglected. They are now cared for by an on-site vet, who ensures their health and happiness.
Guests can get to know The Lodge’s unique style of natural horsemanship through its popular Equine Experiences program, including Horse Therapy, which helps fund The Saving Gracie Equine Healing Foundation, their rescue horse rehabilitation program. Even the youngest guests can get in on the fun with The Lodge’s Little Vaquero's Kids Camp, which offers a range of programming in nature, including interacting with the horses.
Supporting the local community in need
The Lodge at Blue Sky supports Voice for the Nature Foundation by giving local inner-city kids an opportunity to take part in nature-based experiences every fall. They also work with local schools to offer guidance on career growth and hospitality education.
Learning about biodiverse farming
The Lodge’s extensive programming includes a vast array of eco-focused initiatives. Guests can harvest and plant crops at farm school, learn about beekeeping, and dive into specialty produce-related classes, including how to preserve fruits and vegetables.
Kuilima Farm agritours
The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay aims to promote responsible food production on the island through its on-site farm known as Kuilima Farm. The 468-acre farm has a variety of initiatives that help the neighboring community, such as giving local farmers space to set up roadside farm stands to sell their own fresh produce to residents and visitors. The farm also leases plots of land to local farmers and provides training, with the goal of increasing Hawaii’s food security. Hotel guests can experience the farm through agricultural and cultural education opportunities such as agritours, where they can learn about the land and Hawaiian culture and take part in planting and fruit tasting.
Marine life encounters and birdwatching
The ocean in front of the resort is a National Marine Sanctuary and guests can gain a greater appreciation of marine life conservation through wildlife encounters. Guests can see endangered or threatened species on every tour at Turtle Bay Hawaii, including its namesake, the Pacific green sea turtle. During the winter months, humpback whales can be spotted from the hotel. There is also a resident monk seal, which was born at the resort and is frequently spotted on wildlife tours. The hotel’s birdwatching experience also offers many glimpses of rare and endangered birds that are only found in Hawaii.
Environmentally conscious operations
In 2013, Turtle Bay Hawaii became the first O’ahu resort to have a solar roof, with additional solar panels added in 2021. The resort also hosts monthly beach clean-ups and sand dune restoration days in partnership with the North Shore Community Land Trust, which has resulted in five acres of dunes being restored. Additionally, resort-wide recycling is in full effect, including the transformation of the kitchen’s cooking oil into biodiesel, through a partnership with Pacific Bio Diesel and the transition to takeaway cups made from corn-based or post-consumer materials. The hotel’s efforts also extend to their golf course, where the resort’s waste water is treated and recycled through their nearby wastewater treatment plant and used to irrigate the course. Additionally, glass bottles from the restaurant outlets are crushed into sand and used throughout the resort landscape and golf course.
Farm-to-table experience
Wildflower Farms has a four-acre organic farm on-site where guests can learn about ecologically sound farming practices. Complimentary experiences include guests feeding the chickens in the morning, gathering eggs, and bringing them to the restaurant to be cooked for breakfast.
The hotel also models practices such as composting, as much of their food waste forms a closed-loop system, providing food for their plants and their heritage breed pigs. They also leverage their relationship with Tuthilltown Spirits, whose spent grain from whiskey distillation is used as a food source for the hotel’s pigs.
Respecting their environment
Prioritizing land stewardship and conservation, Wildflower Farms placed 54 acres of its 141 acre property into conservation easements which prevent future development and ensures continued agricultural usage of a significant portion of the property. The property also received an ENERGY STAR certification from the US Environmental Protection Agency. This certification is awarded to properties who meet the EPA’s strict energy design criteria through the use of energy efficient lighting, upgraded heating and cooling and energy recovery equipment, among other sustainable design choices. In addition to its eco-conscious design, Wildflower is thoughtful about their energy usage. The hotel participates in Community Solar, a partnership with a local community solar farm in Stone Ridge to put solar powered energy into the grid.
Immersive Hawaiian culture
At the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, guests can delve into the rich tapestry of Hawaiian crafts and traditions through the Hoolauna Cultural Program. From lei-making and hula dancing to ukulele playing and herbal healing, the resort offers daily workshops and demonstrations that celebrate the island's vibrant heritage. Private Hula Lessons provide a deeper insight into the art of Hawaiian dance, allowing guests to learn basic steps and choreography while embracing the spirit of aloha. The weekly Resort Cultural Tour offers a closer look at the artwork and cultural artifacts located throughout the resort. Guests can also enjoy a guided sunrise hike to Puupehe, take an off-roading excursion, or embark on a guided tour of the night sky at the Lanai Observatory.
Stargazing at Lanai observatory
Embarking on a celestial journey with the Kilo Hoku Experience at the Lanai Observatory led by Love Lanai Cultural Advisors, guests get to explore ancestral knowledge of the night sky and its significance to Hawaiian navigation. They learn how indigenous Hawaiians utilized the stars for guidance, and dive into a mesmerizing viewing experience through the observatory's powerful telescope for a unique perspective on the cosmos.
Biodiversity and conservation
Four Seasons Resort Lanai is dedicated to preserving the island's natural beauty and biodiversity. As part of that commitment, the resort participates in marine conservation efforts including avoiding use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides (which can lead to runoff that damages the reef) and supporting the University of Hawaii Institute of Biology as they conduct research on the island looking at the organisms and health of Hulopoe Bay and how fishing and human interaction impact marine life. Additionally, the resort engages in botanical preservation projects and holds Arboretum Accreditation highlighting its dedication to tree conservation and environmental stewardship.
Eco-conscious practices extend to the guest experience on the resort as well, with guests receiving refillable bottles to use at FloWater refill stations, reducing single-use plastics. Food served on the resort also gives back to the island, with much of it being sourced from local farmers, fisheries, and purveyors. Likewise, culinary practices on property make efforts towards a more sustainable future, with used cooking oil from the resort’s kitchens converted into biofuel off-site to power construction equipment.
California
Alila Ventana Big Sur
Enveloped in wilderness
Alila Ventana Big Sur embodies the notion that space is luxury in 160 magnificent acres of natural splendor. The resort employs property-wide recycling programs and low-flow faucets. They also provide on-property housing for more than 40 employees. Throughout the resort, select pieces of furniture are made from reclaimed wood gathered from fallen trees around the property, giving the feeling that nature itself is greeting the guests.
Connecting with nature
Guests at Alila Ventana are invited to explore the unique ecosystem of Big Sur through guided hikes and classes taught by local teachers and guides who are highly skilled in their crafts. A walk through the redwoods reveals the art of wild-food harvesting while the Wild Apothecary experience allows participants to create salves, lotion bars, or lip balms using herbs gathered from the land. The resort’s beekeeping program, Dive in the Hive and Bees in Big Sur, provides a hands-on learning experience about the critical role of bees in sustaining ecosystems. From falconry classes where guests can meet hawks, falcons, and owls to forest bathing, guided meditations, and Reiki sessions among the towering redwoods, Alila Ventana offers many enriching experiences to choose from.
The Big Share
Alila Ventana’s organic garden (complete with a coop of 27 chickens) provides herbs, vegetables, and eggs for the culinary and programming teams, and kitchen scraps are composted daily to feed the chickens. On Sundays, guests are invited to take part in giving back to the community, harvesting vegetables from the garden to take to The Big Share, a local event hosted in Big Sur where locals gather to share produce with their neighbors each Monday.
Traveling responsibly can be rewarding
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