PreprintOpen access
Preprint: early-stage research that may not have been peer reviewed yet.
Resources
Research, a glossary, guides and reading to understand and practise regenerative tourism.
Research
The academic foundation of regenerative luxury.
The working paper that proposes the first documented operational definition of regenerative luxury, with its principles, a KPI framework and a certification model for luxury and ultra-luxury boutique hotels.
Defining Regenerative Luxury: Principles, Operational Framework, KPI Architecture and Certification Model for the Transformation of the Luxury and Ultra-Luxury Boutique Hotel Segment
Héctor de Castro · Founder of LUSHIA · Founder & Chairman, Regenera Luxury · Professor, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Universidad Anáhuac Cancún
Proposed definition
“Regenerative luxury designates the operational practice of luxury and ultra-luxury boutique hospitality that, grounded in living-systems thinking and place-based nested-scale awareness, seeks not merely to reduce harm to the ecological, social and cultural systems in which it operates, but to actively participate within them as a node of restoration, capability-building and long-horizon flourishing — for the guest, the staff, the host community, the ecosystem, the cultural heritage and the destination as a whole — under conditions of independent audit, continuous measurement and intergenerational accountability.”
What it contributes
- A formal operational definition of regenerative luxury, with eight canonical principles offered as citable constructs for further scholarly work.
- An operational architecture: a nine-section framework of 698 verifiable KPIs (Standard v1.4) and a management platform, the Regenerative Management Program (RMP™).
- A governance layer: independent third-party audit and the Regenera Luxury Hospitality Awards, unveiled at ITB Berlin 2026. The framework is already engaged with more than 160 properties in over 30 countries.
How to cite
De Castro, H. (2026). Defining Regenerative Luxury: Principles, Operational Framework, KPI Architecture and Certification Model for the Transformation of the Luxury and Ultra-Luxury Boutique Hotel Segment [Preprint]. Regenera Luxury; Universidad Anáhuac Cancún. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15449.07529
Glossary
Key concepts in regenerative tourism, from A to Z.
More than 300 terms on regenerative tourism, sustainable hospitality, climate, biodiversity and communities.
LUSHIA guides and policies
To understand, practise and collaborate.
Guide
Regenerative tourism and regenerative travel
Definition, how it differs from sustainable tourism, principles, examples and first steps.
Guide
What is regenerative luxury?
Hospitality that leaves nature, culture and community measurably better.
Policy
Code of ethics
Our values, conflicts of interest, use of resources and how to raise a concern.
Policy
Safeguarding policy
How we protect children, adolescents and people in vulnerable situations.
Policy
Equality and inclusion
Non-discrimination, gender equality and intergenerational inclusion.
Collaborate
Values assessment
The first step in any collaboration with LUSHIA.
Regenera Luxury
The regenerative luxury standard, born of the same purpose.
LUSHIA was the social-value pillar on which, driven by Héctor de Castro’s professional career, Regenera Luxury was built. Today they are independent organizations sharing one vision: tourism that leaves destinations better than it found them.
Certification
Regenera Luxury
Regenerative luxury management and certification system for hotels and retreats, based on measured, verified impact.
Training
Regenera Luxury Institute
Online courses on regenerative tourism and luxury. LUSHIA members get a 50% scholarship.
Recognition
Regenera Luxury Hospitality Awards
The first international awards dedicated to regenerative luxury in hotels and retreats.
Directory
RL Stays
A directory of more than 160 regenerative hotels, retreats and destinations worldwide.
Initiative
World Regenerative Tourism Day
An annual day, on 23 May, of which LUSHIA is a founding partner.
Directory
Essential resources
Institutions, associations and research networks in responsible hospitality, selected by Regenera Luxury.
Reading from the Regenera Luxury Journal
Insights and opinion
4 April 2026
What your hotel needs to know about the new 2026 EU green regulation
Directive (EU) 2024/825 against greenwashing applies from 27 September 2026: every environmental claim must be backed by specific, verifiable evidence. What changes for hotels and how to prepare.
8 June 2026
What Regenerative Travel Truly Means: From Intention to Verified Impact
Why regenerative travel goes beyond reducing harm, and why its positive outcomes need to be measured and independently verified to avoid greenwashing.
8 March 2026
Hoteliers Embrace ‘Living Systems’ as Regenerative Tourism
Hospitality is moving from sustainability, which aims to reduce harm, to regenerative tourism, which improves the health of the places and communities it depends on.
14 March 2026
The New Geography of Trust: Why Resilience Will Define the Next Era of Luxury Travel
Global volatility is redrawing the travel map. Resilience, and regenerative hospitality in particular, will decide which destinations keep travellers’ trust.
News
15 October 2026
Meet the Winners of the Regenera Luxury Hospitality Awards 2026
The first international awards for regenerative luxury: hotels from 17 countries and 23 awards, including two of our partners, Refugio Amazonas and Enkopiro Camp.
4 March 2026
Regenera Luxury Launches Global Regenera Luxury Hospitality Awards
The launch of awards recognizing hotels that go beyond sustainability, with winners chosen on the basis of verified data.
7 March 2026
Héctor de Castro Joins International Jury for the Fourth Consecutive Year at Equality in Tourism Awards
For the fourth consecutive year, Héctor de Castro sits on the jury of Equality in Tourism’s Gender Equality Champion of the Year award, presented at ITB Berlin.
Content published by Regenera Luxury, LLC. We link to it for its relevance to the sector; LUSHIA receives no income from these links.
Institutions and networks
Reference organizations for responsible tourism.
Tourism and sustainable development
- UN Tourism ↗The United Nations agency for responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism.
- Tourism for SDGs ↗A platform on tourism’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.
- GSTC ↗Global Sustainable Tourism Council: reference criteria for destinations and businesses.
- WTTC ↗World Travel & Tourism Council, representing the private sector.
Hospitality, people and children
- Sustainable Hospitality Alliance ↗An alliance of hotel companies for sustainable hospitality.
- Equality in Tourism ↗Gender equality in tourism. LUSHIA sits on the jury of its awards.
- The Code ↗Code of conduct to protect children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism.
- GTTP ↗Tourism education and career development for students.
Regions where we work
- Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) ↗Mexico’s federal tourism policy.
- Caribbean Tourism Organization ↗Sustainable tourism and heritage in the Caribbean.
- PATA ↗Pacific Asia Travel Association, with a focus on sustainability.
Collaborate
Let's join forces for training in destinations.
Universities
Recognized internships, faculty and co-created specialized content.
Hotels & companies
Internships, mentoring and opportunities for young and senior talent.
Foundations & destinations
Training programmes with measurable impact on the ground.
See our membership options for individuals and organizations →
Collaboration request
Tell us who you are and what you are interested in. We will reply from info@lushia.org.
Prefer email? Write to us at info@lushia.org · Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico