Our world is a beautiful place with so many incredible destinations to discover and explore. As the travel industry is realizing how fragile our environment is, and the importance of preserving our planet for generations to come, there have been many positive moves by companies big and small towards more sustainable and planet-friendly practices.
After recently visiting 1 Hotel South Beach and learning about their passionate commitment to environmental sustainability, I wanted to highlight five of my favorite resorts that are not only dedicated to a phenomenal experience for their guests, but are equally dedicated to preserving the beautiful destinations where they are located.
Walking into the absolutely stunning lobby of 1 Hotel South Beach, you would not know that everything you see is in its “second life.” With a beautiful color palate of whites, creams, and natural woods, all from re-purposed materials, the real stars of the show are the thousands of plants that serve as the artwork and focus of the hotel’s interior design. From special machinery that breaks down leftover food from the kitchen, to chalkboards in guestrooms instead of paper, and “triple- clear” water filtration instead of water bottles, the 1 Hotel team has thought of it all. 1 Hotel’s commitment to sustainability is definitely something that sets it apart among the hotels that line South Beach, so it is no surprise that it is a favorite of celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, and the Jordan family.
And, did I mention you can drive one of their Teslas while you are there? This is Miami after all.
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is serious about doing its part for the environment. They were the first carboNZero certified hotel in the world, and have been re-certified as carbon-neutral every year since they opened. With not only a focus of reducing their negative impact on the planet, but increasing their positive impact, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley has an incredible conservation effort to protect endangered species, has planted thousands of trees, and actively involves guests and the local community in its efforts. Beyond being super eco-friendly, the resort is known for exceptional service, luxurious villas, and the ability to be secluded in nature while only being 3 hours outside Sydney. Ready to go already? I can throw in a complimentary Signature Wildlife and Sundowners Tour for 2 as a preferred partner.
All of the Six Senses resort have a dedication to sustainability as a part of their core values, but the Six Senses Con Dao stands out as particularly committed. In their latest sustainability report they revealed in the past year they grew 90,000 pounds of organic fruits and vegetables for guests and the community, created 491,000 pounds of compost, and replaced over 1 million plastic water bottles with glass (to name a few of their achievements). As the tourism industry is growing in Vietnam, more and more people are finding out the country has so much to offer including beautiful nature, delicious food, a fascinating culture, and surprisingly affordable 5-star luxury. What’s not to love? If you are looking to escape to this hidden gem of an oasis in Southeast Asia, I would love to pamper you with some VIP perks including free breakfast, a 50-minute massage, and round-trip airport transfers, on me.
Andaz is one of my favorite lifestyle hotel brands, and the Andaz Maui is the perfect Hawaii option for those who care about environmental sustainability. Andaz properties pride themselves on being different, and the Andaz Maui is definitely is creative in the way they think about the environment, from using local sunflower and coconut oil for their massage treatments, to throwing “Parties with a Purpose” to benefit local non-profits. The resort itself has a real sense of place with a contemporary design, renown cuisine, and great location, making it the perfect island getaway.
The one-of-a-kind Pikaia Lodge strongly believes in the importance of eco-tourism. The Galapagos has a fragile and unique ecosystem, and Pikaia is passionate about treasuring this fact, and sharing it with its valued guests. Sustainability is key to everything that happens at the ecolodge, from energy production to water use to recycling to conservation. Pikaia definitely believes in luxury, but defines luxury as a superb level of comfort, service and experience for its guests – not opulence.
Thinking about the Galapagos but don’t necessarily want to do a cruise? Pikaia Lodge is the best of both worlds where you have a great home base on land, but can explore the exotic Galapagos islands by land or by sea.
