Fitness
With Beyond Green Properties, Sustainable Luxury Isn’t an Oxymoron
Ask people what it means to travel sustainably, and you’ll get some vague, tepid answers. To most, sustainable tourism means staying closer to home; avoiding large franchise resorts (we won’t name names, but think the Costco of travel); and assuming a hotel isn’t going to wash your towels every day. Those answers aren’t wrong, per se, but sustainable tourism is far more nuanced. More and more properties are seeking out ways to lessen their burden on the environment and local people. Not just that, they’re looking for ways to enhance everything they influence. Luckily there’s a new global portfolio of forward-thinking lodges, resorts, and hotels that exemplify sustainable tourism leadership so you don’t have to do the legwork; it’s called Beyond Green.
Every property that’s inducted is actively uplifting local communities, revitalizing ecosystems, restoring endangered species, and protecting cultural heritage. Guests are booking luxury trips that don’t just have a sustainable veneer. For example, at Wilderness Safaris Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, locals are given employment opportunities; community-owned conservancies are collaborated with to lessen local wildlife conflicts by providing lion-proof kraals (cattle enclosures); and partnerships are fostered with programs like Wilderness Safaris’ Children in the Wilderness, which support at nearby schools.
Wilderness Safaris Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp Courtesy Image
At Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa, CA, on-site restaurants source all organic, seasonal ingredients from its own garden, as well as small regional farms; the property also does outreach efforts with Napa Valley Community Foundation to donate food to areas ravaged by wildfires, while its Diversity in Wine program puts the spotlight on wines made from vintners and winemakers of color.
We spoke with Costas Christ, co-founder and executive director of Beyond Green, to get a deeper look at what it means to travel with intention.
Men’s Journal: What was the impetus to launch Beyond Green?
Costas Christ: There’s a lot of innovation going on in sustainability and travel. For a long time, my passion has been to create a portfolio of hotels, resorts, and lodges that represent sustainability leadership based on action and impact—to demonstrate what is truly possible in pushing the frontiers of sustainable tourism. Beyond Green is the result.
IHG Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa Courtesy Image
For example, Beyond Green members, The Brando in French Polynesia and its sister property IHG Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa, pioneered the world’s first air conditioning system using deep sea water cooling without any harmful chlorofluorocarbons, the harsh chemicals known to damage the ozone layer and contribute to climate change. That technology is now being explored by tropical cities like Honolulu for climate-friendly air conditioning of downtown buildings. That is the kind of innovation I’m referring to that can benefit people and the planet.
Some luxury resorts are defined by exorbitant excess, and choices favor aesthetics or guests’ expectations rather than benefiting the planet. How do Beyond Green Properties find this balance?
In my opinion, exorbitant excess is the antithesis of living and traveling sustainably. In addition, the concept of luxury is changing. It’s less about “bling” and more about life-enhancing, authentic, enjoyable travel experiences. Beyond Green is all about the guest experience, and that translates into beautiful places to stay with a commitment to benefitting local communities and supporting the protection of cultural and natural heritage. A prime example of this is Ashford Castle in Ireland.
Billiards room at Ashford Castle in Ireland. Courtesy Image
The historic 13th-century castle had fallen into decay and, with it, the village of Cong, where generations of locals had worked at the castle. Enter the new sustainability-minded owners, The Travel Corporation, who invested tens of millions of dollars to restore the castle to its cultural and historic glory, becoming a Beyond Green member along the way. When I met with one of the leaders in the village of Cong, she literally had tears of joy, exclaiming, “Our castle is back!”
Today, Ashford Castle has an Experience Ambassador on staff who works with local villagers, creating exceptional guest activities that benefit cultural heritage and directly support the local economy. And most people would also be surprised to learn that Ashford Castle is powered 100 percent by renewable electricity, among many other sustainability initiatives.
How are properties inducted?
Sometimes we reach out to a hotel and sometimes they reach out to us. We launched Beyond Green during the pandemic with 24 founding members (today we have 30 members in 20 countries around the world). My own work in sustainable travel spans more than 30 years, so I knew many of our founding members prior to launching the brand, and when they heard Beyond Green was being created in partnership with Preferred Hotel Group, they were excited to join.
We have a very rigorous vetting process for Beyond Green members. For example, a hotel or resort must have already eliminated single-use plastic water bottles on property before they can submit an application to be considered for Beyond Green membership.
The Ranch at Laguna Beach’s system for crushing glass bottles into sand. Courtesy Image
Over 50 globally recognized sustainable tourism standards must be upheld for properties to stay in the Beyond Green portfolio. Which are most difficult for resorts, lodges, and hotels to meet?
The removal of all single-use plastics on property is difficult but important in a world awash in plastic waste. It’s one thing to eliminate plastic water bottles on property and another to, say, also eliminate plastic wrap in the restaurant kitchen. We have members that are experimenting using natural beeswax paper for food prep and storage in the kitchen. And again, we’re seeing some great innovation. Beyond Green member The Ranch at Laguna Beach also eliminated plastic room keys, using recycled wood [instead]. They’re also the first hotel in North America to use an innovative system for crushing glass bottles into sand, which they use on foot paths and for replenishing beach sand.
What are some ways people can travel more sustainably?
In my own case, I ask several key questions before booking a trip, such as:
- How does your travel company follow environmentally friendly practices?
- In what ways are you involved with protecting nature and supporting cultural heritage?
- How does your business benefit local people in the places you visit?
In the past, those questions may have seemed odd to ask a tour operator or hotel, but times have changed. If I don’t get a straightforward answer on at least two of these questions, I find another company to go with. I want my hard-earned vacation dollars to reward those companies that share my values as a sustainable traveler.
What’s greenwashing? And are there ways to spot properties who may be inflating just how sustainable they are?
Greenwashing refers to talking the sustainability talk without doing the sustainability walk. There will always be unscrupulous businesses trying to take advantage of people by saying one thing and doing another. That said, travelers are much savvier today, and I would advise any hotel or tour operator that thinks they can keep pulling the proverbial wool over people’s eyes that they’re taking a great risk. The questions I ask before I book a trip that I just mentioned are one way to flush out greenwashing. On the other hand, a traveler who books with Beyond Green can be confident they’re in good hands. Each one of our member hotels must undergo an on-site sustainability inspection every 24 months.
Los Campesinos Day Tour at Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort in Costa Rica. Courtesy Image
Any projections for the future in terms of hospitality as a whole?
The sustainability train has left the station. This is not a trend or a fad but rather a transformation and evolution of travel as we know it, and that’s a great thing. Those hotel companies that understand this transformation today will be the leaders in a new, better hospitality industry tomorrow. Now’s the time for action.
And how about future goals for Beyond Green?
We want to continue to grow our hotel membership to provide a range of great guest services and enlightening experiences, representing travel as a force for good. On a more personal level, and as someone who helped define the concept of ecotourism back in the early ’90s and helped establish the United Nations Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria nearly 20 years ago, I look forward to the day, hopefully sooner than later, when we won’t need to single out hotels or travel companies for special sustainability collections or awards. Rather, it will be considered a normal part of all travel. That’s the future I look forward to.
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The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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