Where you stay matters: Sustainable luxury hotels for conscious travellers

Sustainability in travel is no longer a behind-the-scenes effort—it’s an essential part of the journey itself. This way of travelling isn’t new for us. It’s a philosophy that has shaped our trips for decades, guiding how we explore the world and the partners we choose along the way. For our travellers, where you stay is as meaningful as where you go. Across the globe, a growing number of exceptional hotels are redefining luxury through thoughtful design, deep community engagement and ambitious conservation initiatives that protect the landscapes they call home. From coastal <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/british-columbia-bespoke">British Columbia</a> to the wilds of <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/patagonia-bespoke">Patagonia</a> and the plains of <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/africa/tanzania">Tanzania</a>, these properties invite you to experience the world more intentionally, offering not just extraordinary access, but the opportunity to leave a positive impact long after you’ve returned home.&nbsp;<h2>The Wickaninnish Inn&nbsp;</h2>Tofino, British Columbia&nbsp; Experience this hotel on a <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/british-columbia-bespoke">British Columbia Bespoke</a> trip&nbsp;Perched on the wild coastline of Vancouver Island in the surf-swept enclave of Tofino, the iconic Wickaninnish Inn is as much a guardian of its environment as it is a refined oceanside retreat. Set within the protected expanse of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Inn was conceived with sustainability at its core—an ethos that shape every detail of a stay. From high-efficiency energy systems and low-impact infrastructure to an ambitious waste diversion program that keeps hundreds of pounds of material out of landfills, operations here are quietly but rigorously designed to minimize environmental impact. During your stay, you'll find refillable water stations that replace single-use plastics, menus that celebrate hyper-local ingredients, and interior design that reflect the work of regional artisans. And beyond the property, the hotel participates in the West Coast Sustainable Tourism Association’s sustainability fee program to directly support community infrastructure and conservation efforts, ensuring that tourism actively contributes to the region’s long-term wellbeing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Borgo San Felice Resort&nbsp;</h2>Berardenga, Tuscany, Italy&nbsp; Experience this resort on <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/small-group/super-tuscan-biking">Super Tuscan Biking</a> Small Group trip or a <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/tuscany-bespoke">Tuscany Bespoke</a> trip&nbsp;Set amid the storied vineyards of Chianti Classico, Borgo San Felice is a beautifully restored medieval village where Tuscan tradition and forward-thinking stewardship are deeply intertwined. Sustainability at this resort is grounded in agricultural regeneration and social responsibility, most notably through its long-standing collaboration with the Universities of Florence and Pisa to identify and preserve more than 230 endangered native grape varieties—many of which have been carefully reintroduced into production, breathing new life into the region’s viticultural heritage. For travellers, this translates into a richly immersive experience: wines that are as rare as they are expressive, and a culinary program rooted in the rhythms of the surrounding land. Equally impactful is the estate’s commitment to social sustainability, including initiatives that provide agricultural training and employment opportunities for young people with disabilities. Paired with a broader focus on biodiversity, renewable energy and responsible resource use, every element of a stay reflects a thoughtful balance of preservation and progress.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Jaya House River Park Hotel&nbsp;</h2>Siem Reap, Cambodia&nbsp; Experience this hotel on our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/small-group/cambodia-vietnam-biking">Cambodia &amp; Vietnam Biking</a>, <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/small-group/cambodia-vietnam-walking">Cambodia &amp; Vietnam Walking</a> and <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/small-group/vietnam-laos-cambodia-multi-active">Vietnam, Laos &amp; Cambodia Multi-Active</a> Small Group trips&nbsp;Tucked along the tranquil banks of the Siem Reap River, just moments from the temples of Angkor Wat, Jaya House River Park offers a serene, design-forward retreat with a deeply human approach to sustainability. Here, the focus has evolved beyond eliminating single-use plastics—now a welcome norm across the region—toward something more urgent and far-reaching: reforestation. The hotel, through its support of the Cambodia Rural Students Trust and its Trees for Life reforestation project, has contributed to planting thousands of native trees across Siem Reap province to restore ecosystems, combat heat, and support rural communities. For guests, this commitment is felt not only in the lush, shaded grounds of the hotel itself, but in the knowledge that their stay actively contributes to a greener, more resilient Siem Reap. For our travellers, Jaya House River Park a gateway to Cambodia’s cultural treasures, and a chance to be part of a community-led vision for a more sustainable future.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Explora Torres del Paine and Explora Patagonia National Park&nbsp;</h2>Patagonia, Chile&nbsp; Experience these hotels on a <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/patagonia-bespoke">Patagonia</a> or <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/chile-bespoke">Chile Bespoke</a> trip&nbsp;Across some of the most remote and awe-inspiring corners of South America, Explora Torres del Paine and Explora Patagonia National Park offer extraordinary access to two very different expressions of Patagonia's wild beauty—and a shared commitment to protecting it. At Torres del Paine, Explora has established a conservation reserve in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, actively safeguarding and restoring nearly 15,000 acres of fragile ecosystem, from rewilding former grazing lands to reintroducing native species and preserving native biodiversity. At Explora Patagonia National Park, guests bear witness to one of the world's great conservation success stories: the Tompkins Foundation's decades-long rewilding of the Chacabuco Valley, which became the foundation of Chile's Patagonia National Park in 2018. For travellers, the impact is immediate and immersive: quieter trails, deeper encounters with nature, and the rare privilege of exploring land that is being thoughtfully protected and regenerated. A stay at these lodges offers a meaningful connection to a model of conservation that is shaping the future of one of the world's last great wildernesses.&nbsp;

<h2>Chem Chem Lodge&nbsp;</h2>Lake Manyara, Mdori, Tanzania&nbsp; Experience this lodge on a <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/tanzania-bespoke">Tanzania Bespoke</a> trip&nbsp;Set within a private concession in the Burunge Wildlife Management Area, between Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park, Chem Chem Lodge offers a slower, more deliberate kind of safari—one rooted in conservation, community and connection. Positioned along the Kwakuchinja Wildlife Corridor, a vital migration route linking the two parks, the lodge plays an active role in protecting both wildlife and habitat through the work of the Chem Chem Association, which supports anti-poaching efforts, habitat restoration and community outreach across the region. For guests, this translates into an experience that feels both intimate and impactful: encounters with wildlife in a less-travelled landscape, paired with insight into the people and initiatives working to preserve it. Chem Chem has also launched a Kids Safari program, which introduces local students—many of whom have never had positive access to nearby protected areas—to their natural heritage through immersive educational expeditions. B&amp;R's is proud to support a mobile safari classroom through our Slow Fund. A stay here goes beyond observation, offering a genuine connection to place and a tangible role in sustaining it.&nbsp;

Learn more about our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/sustainability">sustainability work</a> and the projects we support with our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/the-slow-fund">Slow Fund</a>.

From Patagonia to Tuscany, Butterfield & Robinson’s Experience Designers seek out hotels and lodges where conservation, community and design guarantee meaningful travel experiences.