Regenerative Travel Impact Awards 2024 – People’s Choice

Words Amanda Ho | Regenerative Travel

Date18 December 2024

This year’s People’s Choice Award in the Regenerative Travel Impact Awards goes to Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba, run by sisters Kimberly and Stephanie!

Boardwalk's treasure maps are aimed at supporting local small businesses and navigating peak times at certain locations, helping to spread the visitor load.

Kopie van Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba Casita 4

Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba: A Model for Community Partnership

Within a former coconut plantation just steps away from Palm Beach Aruba lies Boardwalk, a family-run boutique hotel offering a truly unique Caribbean experience. With 49 fully equipped private casitas set amidst a lush tropical oasis complete with hammocks, tranquility zones, two pools, a cozy cocktail bar & restaurant and dedicated Boardwalk beach, the hotel is a haven of relaxation and serenity. Situated on the vibrant island of Aruba, where summer reigns year-round, they take pride on delivering personalized and distinctive experiences tailored to ensure your vacation is everything you desire.

Owned and operated by twin sisters Kimberly and Stephanie, who were born and raised in Aruba, Boardwalk embodies their deep connection to their native soil. Despite spending their formative years in Belgium, the sisters never missed their annual vacations to Aruba, maintaining a strong bond with their homeland. During a kiteboarding trip in Aruba in 2008, Kimberly and Stephanie stumbled upon Boardwalk and were instantly captivated by the tropical oasis and its rich history dating back to the late 1800s. They knew they had discovered something special. In 2011, Kimberly and Stephanie acquired the hotel, and in 2018, embarked on an expansion project.

In Aruba, Boardwalk Boutique Hotel exemplifies how hospitality can serve as a force for good. Through initiatives like treasure maps highlighting local businesses and a Do Good Program that supports food banks and beach cleanups, Boardwalk fosters meaningful connections between tourists and the island’s community.

Boardwalk also leads by example, offering staff sustainability training and partnering with organizations that provides internships at the hotel for differently-abled young adults. Their Donate a Crate program has delivered critical resources to families in need, while collaborations with local artisans promote Aruban crafts to global visitors.

By promoting respectful travel and sustainable practices, Boardwalk empowers both its guests and employees to make a positive impact. The hotel’s innovative approach is transforming how hotels contribute to their local ecosystems, blending care for people and the planet seamlessly.

Read more about Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba here.

What are the Regenerative Travel Impact Awards?

The Impact Awards celebrate people and projects that embody the spirit of regeneration—improving people’s lives, our communities, and the world around us.

We search the globe for inspiring changemakers working to solve our biggest challenges and inspiring positive action, both inside and outside of travel.

Our judging panel was handpicked based on their exceptional expertise, achievements, and diverse backgrounds. With their collective knowledge in marine ecology, social entrepreneurship, travel journalism, sustainability, visual storytelling, tourism policy, hospitality, and impact investing, the judging panel is well-equipped to identify innovative ideas that have the potential to advance regenerative travel.