The Myth That Sustainable Hospitality Costs More Just Got Destroyed For years, hotel leaders have hesitated to embrace sustainable hospitality practices, convinced that eco-friendly operations would drain their budgets and complicate their supply chains. But what if that assumption is completely outdated? Kurt Bjorkman, COO of The Ranch at Laguna Beach, recently sat down with Amy Wald on The Conscious Check-in  podcast to share a game-changing revelation: sustainable products

What if Your Next Hotel Could Absorb More Carbon Than It Produces? Most hoteliers think sustainability means compromise—sacrificing luxury for eco-credentials, or breaking the budget to go green. But what if the most sustainable building material also created the most memorable guest experiences? That's the reality Louis Thompson and his team at Nomadic Resorts have been proving for over two decades. Using bamboo construction  and biophilic design principles , they've created

\What if the secret to exceptional hotel leadership had nothing to do with management textbooks—and everything to do with learning habits from wildlife? When TJ Pierri, General Manager of Pelican Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, needed to explain his leadership philosophy to a new team, he didn't pull out corporate jargon. He shared a story about geese. And that simple metaphor has shaped how his property approaches everything from sustainable hospitality  to guest service re

Discover how Staypineapple Chicago combines sustainable hotel practices with bold design & luxury to create unforgettable guest experiences downtown.

The Power of S ustainability Storytelling That Move the Needle What if the most effective sustainability strategy for your destination or hotel wasn't a certification badge or a green policy document—but a story? That's the philosophy behind Rob Holmes' work. As founder of GLP Films and an active voice with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Rob has spent 17 years proving that sustainable tourism storytelling  isn't just about pretty videos. It's about creating s

The Secret to Being Unforgettable in Luxury Adventure Travel What if your guests cried tears of joy at the end of their stay—not because they were leaving, but because of what they experienced while they were with you? That's exactly what happens on trips with EXP Journeys, a luxury adventure travel company that's mastered the art of creating transformative guest experiences. In a recent episode of The Conscious Check-in , hosts Amy Wald sat down with Kevin Jackson and Maxie

What if your next luxury river cruise could help save one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems while delivering an unforgettable experience? This isn't just a dream—it's happening right now in the heart of Peru's Amazon rainforest, where eco luxury travel  is being redefined by visionary operators who understand that true luxury means protecting the places we love to visit. In a recent episode of The Conscious Check-in, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with Gabr

What if the future of sustainable luxury hotels isn’t about choosing between sustainability and profitability, but about discovering how they amplify each other? Deep in Italy’s Piedmont region, Casa di Langa is rewriting the rules of sustainable luxury hotels by proving that authentic heritage preservation, community engagement, and environmental stewardship can create the most compelling guest experiences—and the strongest business results. In this episode of The Conscious

Planning a Luxury African safari doesn't have to mean choosing between your dream adventure and making a positive impact. What if the question " how to plan an African Safari " could lead you to experiences that are both the adventure of a lifetime and a catalyst for meaningful conservation and community impact? This isn't just wishful thinking—it's the reality that sustainable hospitality and tourism  leaders like Go2Africa are creating across the African continent. In our

Have you ever wondered how a 21-year-old sitting around a campfire in Kenya could spark a global movement that would transform how we think about travel? That's exactly what happened when Costas Christ witnessed something that would change his life—and the entire hospitality industry—forever. In this eye-opening episode of The Conscious Check-in, I had the incredible privilege of speaking with Costas Christ, the "godfather" of sustainable tourism. From serving as a National G

Can luxury and sustainability truly coexist? It’s a question many hotel leaders wrestle with. For decades, luxury was synonymous with indulgence, excess, and little concern for environmental impact. But pioneers like Hervé Houdré —creator of the Forbes Verified Responsible Hospitality Program—prove that sustainable hospitality  is not only possible, but profitable. In this episode of The Conscious Check-in Podcast , Amy Wald sat down with Hervé to explore how luxury hotels ca

The Strategic Advantage of Sustainable Certification for Your Next Hospitality Project  Sustainability in hospitality isn't just about being green—it's about being smart, forward-thinking, and ultimately, more profitable. As the industry evolves, early adopters of meaningful sustainability practices aren't just leading environmental change; they're capturing market share, reducing operational costs, and attracting premium financing options that give them a decisive competitiv

It seems like everywhere you turn these days when it comes to travel there is an emphasis on ways to travel: eco, sustainably, consciously. But what does that really mean? Most of us will still fly (which most know emits greenhouse gases). We will produce trash that is not recyclable– however hard we try to avoid it. And, most importantly (I think) unknowingly funnel money that doesn’t go to support the very core people and communities in the places we are visiting for a holi

Before it was a global mandate, Secret Bay was all about seclusion and safety due to the values the property was built on back in June 2011. Their “Stay Well Certified” program is built on three principles: green and clean practices, nutrition-based vitality and Dominica’s healing biodiversity. Sounds like an interim vaccine to me? In recent months we have all become more familiar with the importance of healthy surroundings, nutrition and overall well being. Which is what mak

Why preserving culture is at the heart of Sustainability Hospitality The thought of Italy has everyone dreaming. Oooey gooey pasta, endlessly flowing wine (I mean, they invented the phrase “table wine,” right?) and the romanticism of a time and place preserved from long ago, where Caesar ruled and Jesus was said to walk the streets. For me, who had only ventured to the most well-known cities (i.e., Roma, Venice, and Florence), travelling to Piedmont (or Piemonte, in Italian)

A new way to travel Hi – I’m Amy, founder and president of GreenLuxe, and I am obsessed with everything travel and how to protect it. It all started from a young age. I can vividly remember loving EVERYTHING about driving to Florida with my family when I was little. From sleeping in the car (I think my parents drugged me) to stopping at the Florida citrus stands along the side of the road (anyone who was born in the 60s, 70s, and MAYBE 80s knows the nostalgia of these fun roa