Just last month, we at Travel Daily Media shared our thoughts regarding the challenges facing the regenerative tourism sector; now, we are shifting the focus to the hospitality industry and how it is gaining headway in the matter.
Nowadays, hotel management companies are actively implementing measures regarding sustainable operations, but a number are already shifting towards a regenerative operational model as opposed to a merely sustainable one.
Indeed, as experts at Hotel Mogel Consulting Ltd put it: “Regenerative tourism goes beyond reducing harm; it’s about actively improving local ecosystems, communities, and cultures. While sustainability often focuses on efficiency and reducing waste, regeneration means leaving a destination better than it was before, creating deeper guest engagement and long-term value for the hotel.”
What is regenerative hospitality?
Hector de Castro, chair of the REGNERA Hotels Association, defines a regenerative hospitality property as one that seeks to leave a place better than it was found.
De Castro’s concept encompasses several key elements; namely:
- Environmental stewardship Properties that prioritise the restoration and / or rehabilitation of natural habitats in their location. Such hotels or retreats support initiatives ranging from reforestation and wetland restoration to the preservation of native wildlife and local traditions;
- Community engagement Properties actively work with their host communities to ensure that tourism delivers economic, social, and cultural benefits to residents. This comes in the form of hiring personnel locally, sourcing supplies from neighbouring farms, as well as supporting the livelihood of local artisans;
- Cultural preservation Rather than superseding local customs with those from elsewhere, particularly commercial campaigns from the west, regenerative properties prefer to celebrate local cultures, showing due respect for their host communities by offering authentic cultural experiences that foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the destination; and
- Holistic wellbeing Hotel management companies recognise the interconnection between environmental health and human well-being. As such, they offer programmes promoting physical, mental, and even spiritual health at their properties, integrating concepts like farm-to-table dining, traditional wellness, and community outreach whenever possible.
Who’s blazing the trail for regenerative hospitality?
While there are numerous hotel management companies whose properties are already following the regenerative tourism model in their operations, there is one property that practically embodies the concept.
Located in Simondium, South Africa, Babylonstoren is hailed as the pinnacle of regenerative hospitality…and for numerous good reasons.
The brainchild of Karen Roos and Koos Bekker, this unique take on the agriturismo concept initially opened as a hotel in 2010 and has since expanded its scope into both regenerative and gastronomic tourism.
Babylonstoren is practically a self-sustaining property thanks to its vineyard, winery, biodiverse farm and orchard, bakery, and even its own olive grove and frantoio [oil press.]
Environmental and community stewardship is what lies in the core of the Babylonstoren ethos: safeguarding the natural environment by following seasonality whilst supporting the lives of the local people.
It should be noted that over 90 percent of the Babylonstoren staff are resident in local communities surrounding the property and its management team makes it a point to support local welfare initiatives, including health and early childhood education.
As general manager Dalené Claassens puts it: “Babylonstoren not only nurtures the land but also cultivates a future generation of horticulturists, botanists and environmental stewards. Our internship and volunteer programme in the garden and educational workshops help train individuals who may apply their knowledge and skills to destinations and projects around the world, continuing to expand the reach of our sustainable philosophy.”
While Babylonstoren is just one property out of hundreds currently in operation, it has certainly changed the game, but it hasn’t been one to rest on its laurels.
Indeed, with properties the world over making the shift from simply saving the environment to ensuring that it flourishes along with its people, we may be looking at a greener and healthier hospitality scene in the years to come.
