In light of the environmental climate, we’ve seen governors and business leaders from both political parties join together in support of sustainability efforts. Tourism and real estate industries are also stepping up and using their own money and resources to maintain their commitment to helping Mother Earth. Palmetto Bluff, Hualālai and Mayakoba are a few example of leading resort and real estate communities paving the way for a better future. This is how they are doing it:

Hualalai

Hualālai, a luxury oceanfront community on the exclusive Kona-Kohala Coast, offers a comprehensive conservancy program committed to sustainability.

  • David Chai, director of natural resources, has revitalized the area with a coastal wetland ecosystem featuring native plants, fish and wildlife.
  • The Marine Life Advisory Committee manages fishery resources at the Kaʻūpūlehu shoreline.
  • The Natural Resources Department at Hualālai maintains an aquaculture program to raise fresh seafood.
  • The property offers interactive educational programming, including behind-the-scenes tours for guests and children.

Palmetto Bluff

Palmetto Bluff is the largest remaining waterfront property on the East Coast, a 20,000-acre nature preserve in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. When Crescent Communities purchased the land in 2000, it created the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy to ensure that the stewardship practices of previous owners were continued. Crescent set out to develop the community with one priority: preserving the unique natural environment of the property.

The Conservancy

  • ensures the Bluff’s natural resources and vast wildlife are not only intact but flourishing.
  • operates with an “anti-developer” mindset, slashing the originally planned 8,000 homes to 4,000.
  • ensures a portion of all sales go to the non-profit organization.
  • offers educational events for both owners and guests.

Mayakoba

Mayakoba is an eco-conscious luxury resort development amid lush mangroves lining a white-sand beach that is home to four hotels: Fairmont Mayakoba, Rosewood Mayakoba, Banyan Tree Mayakoba and Andaz Mayakoba. It has implemented significant practices to encourage sustainability.

The property…

  • was specifically created to be a model luxury enclave that preserves and protects the beach, jungle and wildlife for future generations.
  • employs a team of onsite biologists to conduct general monitoring of the over 200 species of birds and wildlife to ensure favorable physical conditions.
  • implemented a project to rehabilitate its coastal ecosystems in order to increase sea levels, rebuild coastal sand dunes, recover reefs and create new coral barriers.
  • received the Sustainable Standard Setter Award from the Rainforest Alliance and the Ulysses Prize for “Responsible Tourism Development” by the United Nations World Tourism Organization in 2011.