Welcome to the Regenerative Travel Impact Awards, a platform dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the forefront of innovation in regenerative design, particularly within the realm of hotel and hospitality. Sustainability and conscious living are increasingly vital, this award honors the trailblazers who are redefining the boundaries of design, reshaping spaces into regenerative havens that not only offer exceptional guest experiences but also contribute to the well-being of our planet.
Our global quest seeks to uncover the most inspiring changemakers—those who tackle our most pressing challenges head-on, both within and beyond the realms of travel. The initiatives we spotlight not only reimagine spaces but also reframe our understanding of design’s potential to make a positive impact. These pioneers showcase how regenerative design has the capacity to elevate guest experiences while simultaneously conserving natural resources and bolstering the communities they touch.
The Regenerative Travel Impact Awards stand as a testament to the spirit of regeneration—a spirit that transcends mere aesthetics and delves deep into the heart of holistic transformation. As we honor people and projects, we celebrate the convergence of human creativity and environmental stewardship, manifesting in spaces that inspire awe, connection, and revitalization.
View the winner & finalists:
Winner
Buahan’s ‘No Walls, No Doors’ Design: Where Nature and Architecture Converge in Harmonious Luxury- Indonesia
An embodiment of a “no walls, no doors” concept spanning its 16 luxurious balés (villas), the adult-exclusive Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, beckons guests to embrace a transformative way of existence. The core of the resort showcases the Open Kitchen and Living Room, designed to foster a communal ambiance for dining and relaxation. An innovative zero-waste farm-to-table approach, deeply rooted in local sourcing and heritage techniques, permeates the dining experience.
Buahan celebrates unconventional craftsmanship, embracing sonic branding in partnership with Singapore’s Parable, while showcasing repurposed Ulin ‘iron’ wood from boat jetties, intricately carved wooden headboards, hand-forged copper bathtubs, and naturally dyed soft furnishings. The resort’s idyllic setting amid rice paddies and lush jungle, flanked by the Ayung River and waterfall, offers a serene backdrop. Buahan’s expansive balés intertwine indoor and outdoor living, granting a 180-degree panoramic vista while presenting the bold concept of ‘The Naked Experience,’ where the thin boundary between guests and nature dissolves. Hidden within the landscape, secret Hideaway Spots invite guests to rekindle their connection with nature, providing private garden sanctuaries for contemplation, reading, and moments of serene reflection.
Finalists
Timeless Charm Meets Modern Comfort: Introducing andBeyond’s Punakha River Lodge – Bhutan
Nestled along the Mo Chu River in Bhutan’s Punakha Valley, andBeyond Punakha River Lodge is set to unveil its doors in late 2023. The lodge boasts six tented suites, a two-bedroom villa with a private pool, and a one-bedroom villa featuring a plunge pool and hot tub, depending on the season.
True to the brand’s ethos, the lodge harmoniously blends traditional Bhutanese aesthetics with a contemporary twist, drawing inspiration from the natural surroundings. The tented suites are suspended within a classic Bhutanese timber structure adorned with intricately painted and gilded woodwork, notably showcased in the luxurious brass-clad bathtubs. The country’s emblematic blue poppy, the national flower, graces the interior design, woven throughout with handwoven Bhutanese wool products adding bold color and texture. The lodge’s hospitality mirrors the brand’s signature warmth, offering exclusive experiences such as paddy field lunches, surprise drink stops, and riverside picnic lunches. A dedicated organic vegetable garden reinforces their commitment to local and sustainable sourcing, while guests can also engage with a nearby community farming project, fostering an immersive connection with the locale.
Tiskmoudine’s Renewal: A Regenerative Hospitality Project Breathing Life into Tradition – Morocco
Tiskmoudine, situated in southern Morocco, serves as the site of an innovative regenerative hospitality endeavor, a collaboration between 700,000 Hours and Regenopolis. In an inspiring move, the villagers of Tizkmoudine have united under an association to revive their historical village, which had been abandoned for fifty years. Their vision materialized as a hospitality project that offers travelers more than just accommodation – it delivers an immersive experience, fostering connection and cultural exchange between visitors and the local community. This venture harmonizes with the village’s collective granary preservation efforts, a joint initiative led by local authorities, the Guardians of Memory Association, and the Global Heritage Fund.
Tiskmoudine, located in Morocco’s southern region, presents an opportunity for curious and open-minded travelers to engage in a transformative life experience, transcending mere exploration to become an integral part of the village’s vibrant reality. By collaborating closely with the Tiskmoudine community and partnering with the Global Heritage Fund, this initiative plays a pivotal role in reinvigorating the local economy, rebuilding social bonds, empowering women, preserving cultural heritage, and nurturing natural ecosystems.
Jade Mountain Resort: Where Architecture and Nature Converge in Harmony – Saint Lucia
Jade Mountain Resort in Saint Lucia stands tall as a mesmerizing testament to the seamless fusion of architecture and nature. Architect Nick Troubetzkoy’s visionary approach materializes in the form of rugged stone columns, individual bridges, and infinity pool sanctuaries that gracefully blend with the breathtaking backdrop of St. Lucia’s Piti and Gros Piton mountains. Since its inception in 2006, Jade Mountain has maintained a commitment to local sourcing, employing a 100% St. Lucian team and utilizing regional resources for furnishing. With an emphasis on community support, the resort employs over 500 local team members, thus cultivating a significant socio-economic impact.
Born in 2006, Jade Mountain’s conception and construction, achieved entirely by a St. Lucian team, marked a significant milestone. Committed to nurturing local economies, the resort’s ethos shines through in their furniture and furnishing choices, each piece either locally crafted with homegrown labor or sourced from neighboring businesses. This fervent dedication to the region’s prosperity is further evidenced by their employment of over 500 local team members, solidifying their role as a cornerstone employer in the island’s southwest region alongside their sister property.
Ngalung Kalla Retreat: A Coastal Oasis of Raw Luxury and Adventure – Indonesia
Built with the three tenets of Permaculture in mind – Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share, Ngalung Kalla Eco Retreat is a perfect place for travelers seeking adventure and relaxation on a paradisiacal island. The idyllic Ngalung Kalla Retreat sits on the southwest coast of Indonesia’s spectacular Sumba island. It spans 250 hectares of oceanfront, biodiverse nature and offers the possibility of disconnecting from more hectic, urban ways of life.
Positioned to face the ocean, each bungalow provides abundant seclusion and features outdoor showers with hot and cold water, composting toilets, solar lighting, and a captivating vista of the coastal expanse. With five ocean-facing bungalows, a yoga studio, spa space, lounge, waterfront restaurant, and a stunning infinity pool, Ngalung Kalla Retreat is tailor-made for the intrepid traveler seeking an adventurous escape with a touch of rustic luxury. The retreat’s 24-meter infinity pool, powered by solar energy and chlorinated with salt water, beckons guests over a 60-meter cable bridge soaring 20 meters above the forest floor.
