Skift Global Forum Preview: Cayuga Integrates Luxury and Sustainability in Central American Indie Hotels
Photo Credit: A villa estate on Isla Palenque in Panama balances luxury and sustainability as part of the Cayuga Collection. Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality
Skift Take
Upscale hotels are embracing environmental awareness these days. But for many hoteliers, it's crucial not to let their luxury standards slip while skipping the straw.
The traditional definitions of luxury and sustainability have been at odds. The old concept of luxury was all about material excess, and sustainability was all about reducing unnecessary waste. Today much of the luxury travel sector embraces environmental awareness, as filling the ocean with a hotel's tiny plastic bottles of Bulgari bath product falls way out of fashion.
That’s where companies like Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality come in, giving travelers a balanced combination of luxury and sustainability at 10 independently owned hotels along Central America's Pacific coast. A green hotel doesn’t have to feel like a cheap hostel and luxury doesn’t have to contribute to the nearest landfill. Smaller chains like Cayuga, based in San José, Costa Rica, can even be more nimble when it comes to implementing green policies, as some larger hotel companies are slow to adapt on a global scale.
Cayuga co-founder An
