How Casa di Langa Proves Sustainable Luxury Hotels Can Preserve Heritage While Driving Profitability

Mind Hous
Oct 9
4 min read

Updated: Oct 13

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 Check-in, host Amy Wald takes us behind the scenes with Eva Codina, General Manager of Casa di Langa, and Jessica Hinman, Director of Sustainability for the Krause Group. Their conversation reveals how this Beyond Green collection property transformed from an abandoned concrete structure into a regenerative hospitality destination that feels like it “grew from the ground.”

For hospitality professionals wondering how to balance sustainability with guest satisfaction and financial performance, Casa di Langa offers a masterclass in integrated approach that makes green hospitality not just possible, but profitable.

The Power of Authentic Place-Based Hospitality

Casa di Langa’s success story begins with a fundamental shift in thinking. Rather than imposing a generic luxury template, the Krause Group approached their first hospitality project with what Jessica Hinman calls “stewardship”—preserving and amplifying what makes a destination unique.

“We don’t want to change any of the brands that we own,” Jessica explains. “We want them to still be authentic and still be themselves. And we’re here as almost that support system.”

This philosophy translates into remarkable operational results:

80% of their 70 associates are from the local area
Staff retention rates that Jessica describes as “one of the highest percentages I’ve ever seen in hospitality”
Employees from other hotels actively seeking to transfer to Casa di Langa

The lesson for hospitality professionals? Sustainable guest experience starts with sustainable employment practices. When you prioritize local hiring and authentic cultural integration, you create a foundation for guest experiences that can’t be replicated elsewhere.

From Concrete Eyesore to Community Asset: Regenerative Development Done Right

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Casa di Langa’s story is its physical transformation. Eva Codina describes the original site as “an awful concrete thing, unfinished, sitting in the middle of the hill with the privilege view. But I’m feeling terrible, and nobody would have invested to complete this building.”

The Krause Group’s founder Kyle Kraus saw opportunity where others saw only problems. His vision: “let’s finish it, let’s do it. Beautiful. As a gift to the community and bring local people to work here.”

This regenerative approach offers crucial insights for boutique hotel sustainability:

Design Integration: The finished hotel feels like it emerged naturally from the landscape, using local materials and respecting the natural topography.
Community Investment: Rather than gentrifying the area, the project created local employment and economic opportunity without displacing existing residents.
Environmental Stewardship: The property incorporates biodiverse landscaping and ecologically alive design elements that support local ecosystems.

For hotel developers and operators, Casa di Langa demonstrates that sustainability isn’t about limiting design options—it’s about finding more creative, site-specific solutions that enhance both guest experience and community value.

The Shared Value Methodology: Why Profitability and Purpose Aren’t Mutually Exclusive

Jessica Hinman brings a critical framework to understanding sustainable hospitality success: the shared value methodology. “Profitability, luxury success does not have to come at the cost of doing good. They’re not mutually exclusive,” she emphasizes.

At Casa di Langa, this philosophy manifests in practical ways:

Local Sourcing: The hotel’s minibar features curated selections from local producers like Enrico’s Serafina Alta Langa sparkling wine, connecting guests to regional heritage while supporting local businesses.
Cultural Programming: Truffle hunting experiences with local guides don’t just entertain guests—they preserve traditional knowledge and provide income for local families.
Operational Efficiency: Regenerative technologies, waste management systems, and energy-efficient design reduce operating costs while improving environmental impact.

This integrated approach to hotel sustainability consultant strategies shows how each sustainable practice serves multiple business objectives simultaneously.

Opening During a Pandemic: Resilience Through Community Connection

Casa di Langa opened in May 2021, at the height of COVID-19 uncertainty. “We opened in the middle of the pandemic,” Eva recalls. “We made the miracle.”

Their success during this challenging period highlights the resilience that comes from deep community integration:

Local staff members were already invested in the property’s success
Supply chains remained stable through regional partnerships
The property’s emphasis on outdoor experiences and small-group activities aligned with post-COVID travel preferences
Strong community relationships provided operational flexibility during changing regulations

For hospitality operators, this experience demonstrates that eco-friendly hotels built on genuine community foundations are inherently more resilient to external disruptions.

Practical Takeaways for Hospitality Professionals

Casa di Langa’s approach offers actionable insights for any hospitality operation looking to integrate sustainability with guest satisfaction:

Start with place: Invest time in understanding your destination’s unique cultural and environmental characteristics before developing guest experiences
Prioritize local hiring: Build your team from the community where you operate—it creates authenticity that guests can’t experience elsewhere
Think systems, not add-ons: Integrate sustainability into core operations rather than treating it as a separate program
Measure retention: Track both guest return rates and employee retention as indicators of authentic community integration
Embrace the slow movement: Encourage guests to engage deeply with experiences rather than rushing through activities

The Future of Luxury Hospitality is Regenerative

As Amy Wald often emphasizes, the conversation around sustainability in hospitality has evolved far beyond compliance and cost-saving. Casa di Langa represents what’s possible when hotels approach sustainability as a creative opportunity rather than a constraint.

Their success in the competitive luxury market—while maintaining rigorous environmental and social standards—proves that sustainable hospitality isn’t just the future of the industry. For properties willing to commit to authentic place-based development and genuine community engagement, it’s the key to differentiation in an increasingly homogeneous marketplace.

The full conversation with Eva and Jessica reveals even more insights about opening a luxury property during a pandemic, creating authentic guest experiences, and building sustainable business models that benefit communities, environments, and bottom lines simultaneously.