Luxury travel can be sustainable if done correctly. Here is how these luxury hotels are giving back to local communities around the world.
Sustainability in travel and the necessity of giving back to local communities when travelling has become a big topic, especially in the last couple of years. There is no doubt that the travel industry is one of the biggest polluting industries on the planet. Still, we also have to realise that tourism plays a massive part in the global economy and, for a lot of countries, is the primary source of income.
The way we travel has an impact not only on the planet but also on its inhabitants. Being mindful of the people that live in the country we visit and the culture we are immersing ourselves into is the first step of having a more sustainable and fulfilling travel experience.
When we talk about sustainability in travel and hospitality, we tend to point the finger against luxury travel, often accused of being wasteful. If this was the case until not long ago – and in some cases still is – there are examples of luxury establishment that have the care of local people and culture at the core of their business.
Although we can’t travel right now, we have prepared a list of establishments to visit in 2021 that are making a difference in their local communities. giving back to local communities
Banyan Tree Lăng Cô, Vietnam
A trip to Vietnam seems like a beautiful mirage. Stunning beaches, delicious food, and the warmest people – Vietnam should be at the top of your 2021travel list.
On the Central Coast of Vietnam, located only 60-minutes from Da Nang International airport, Banyan Tree Lăng Cô is a gorgeous exclusive resort nestled next to a UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
With sustainability at its core, Banyan Tree has been awarded the Silver Certification for three consecutive years from EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking and certification group for sustainable tourism. In their quest to inspire their guests to “embrace the environment and empower people” invites them to pay a visit to the 10,000-square-metre organic farm launched in 2014 to learn about a cycled model which utilises worm farming as the source of nutrition.
The resort – that has banned single-use plastics – aims is to restore the natural environment whilst raising awareness on climate change through tree-planting events around the area, with a current target of 2,000 trees per year.
To keep giving back to local communities, the resort has created a few different programs. The Seedlings programme was designed to nurture young people at risk of societal exclusion, providing vocational and life skills and education, and preparing them for life and work; while the English programme aims to improve the English proficiency of high school students.
Lastly, the Swimming for Safety programme is organised every year for 300 local students at primary schools to learn swimming skills and how to handle emergencies like drowning, with support from experienced teachers.
For further information on Banyan Tree Lang Co, visit banyantree.com.
One&Only Nyungwe House, Rwanda
Located alongside the Nyungwe Forest National Park, there is no better place to learn more about African flora and fauna than One&Only Nyungwe House in Rwanda. Guests can explore the forest through adventurous treks to discover chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, the Kamiranzovu Swamps and Waterfalls, giant hornbills, great blue turacos and red-breasted sparrow hawks.
Guests are invited to connect with the local environment and become immersed in the conservation of the lands and wildlife. They are also invited to develop personal relationships with the Rwandan locals through experiences such as tea harvesting and tasting sessions in the rich tea plantations of Gisakura.
For further information on One&Only Nyungwe House, visit www.oneandonlyresorts.com.
Arctic Bath, Sweden giving back to local communities
If you are after an unforgettable experience, look non further than our mighty neighbour: Sweden, of course.
Arctic Bath, only opened on 15 January 2020 and we can’t wait to visit. This extraordinary floating spa hotel is located on the Lule River near the small village of Harads in Swedish Lapland. The hotel is built in a circular shape on the water, which means that it floats during the summer and freezes into ice during the winter.
A unique year-round wellness experience, with a giant ice bath in the middle, ringed with three saunas, a spa treatment room and hot baths – makes Arctic bath a magical luxury destination in Lapland.
The hotel also invited its guests to immerse themselves into the Sámi indigenous culture. Travellers will be accompanied to meet Anna Kuhmunen – a young Sámi woman who lives in the local area with her family. She was brought up with reindeer herding and has a vast amount of local knowledge to offer guests a unique insight into an ancient culture that is still very much alive in Lapland.
In Anna’s lávvu (tent house) guests will sit around the fireplace and listen to stories and joik (traditional Sámi singing), whilst being served a three-course meal prepared over an open fire with locally produced ingredients, before heading out to feed the reindeer.
Arctic Bath also offers an insight into Arctic healing herbs in collaboration with local wild herb expert Eva Gunnare. Eva will take guests for a short walk into the forest and down to the stream near her house. After the hike, guests will be warmed by the fire in the kitchen with homemade herbal teas, listening to stories and healing songs. You will have a unique holiday, giving back to local communities and having incredible experiences at the same time.
For more information on Arctic Bath, visit arcticbath.se.
Cayuga Collection, Costa Rica
Do you lack vitamin D? Then Costa Rica is the place for you.
Cayuga Collection has a collection of ‘sustainable luxury’ hotels all over Costa Rica – from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde to San Jose – and they take their commitment to giving back to local communities and taking care of planet very seriously.
The collection makes a conscious effort to source as many products as they can from as close to home as possible. Their minibars are stocked with only local drinks and snacks, and their spa products and bathroom amenities are 100% made in Costa Rica. This includes the gift shop that offers a variety of products handmade by local artisans. The furniture and art present in the hotels are also locally produced as the company prioritises supporting local suppliers and artisans. This way, the economic benefits of sustainable tourism projects stay within the local communities.
For more information on Cayuga Collection, visit https://www.cayugacollection.com/local/.
