The co-founder of Regenerative Travel—a company that champions environmentally friendly hotels and experiences—discusses a new model for sustainable travel
From the record summer temperatures in Europe to the devastating wildfires in the US and the warning signs of the Gulf Stream collapse, the climate emergency alarm bells are definitely ringing. Over the course of the pandemic, many of us have thought about the way we used to live and realised that we should use this reset to push for greater sustainability in every aspect of our lives, travel included.
One company hopes to help us make greener choices as the world opens up: Regenerative Travel. The concept of regeneration in itself is not new, as the company's co-founder Amanda Ho explains, but its popularity comes at a crucial time. Here, she shares more about the movement and the hospitality players leading the way.
What does “regenerative travel” mean, and how is it different to sustainable travel?
Amanda Ho (AH): Simply put, being sustainable and eco-friendly means not doing harm or reaching net-zero carbon emissions, while regeneration is looking to restore and replenish the environment and fix the damage that has occurred. Regenerative travel is about creating better conditions for the environment and for the community.
Bill Reed, principal at Regenesis Group, who worked with my co-founder on the vision for his resort Playa Viva, explains it well. He says, “You’re not going to make a sustainable planet with 100 million certified LEED Platinum buildings or 100 million living buildings. They don’t make a green planet. They make buildings that are less damaging to the planet. But it doesn’t heal the damage that’s already been done or make things work together in a synchronistic way with the living systems that exist all around us. You’ve got to go a step further to regeneration to get the results we need.”
See also: How Sustainable Hotel Design Can Be Both Practical And Green, According to Bill Bensley