Jade Mountain, St Lucia, Builds Upon Newest Eco Status - Forbes
Jade Mountain's recent entry to the Regenerative Travel portfolio of sustainable hotels brings attention to the continually evolving eco efforts of a resort placing care for the island at the core of its newest endeavors.
Understandably a favorite among the jet-set, Jade Mountain has long garnered global attention for its distinct architectural design, almost brutalist in its unique style, and breath-taking setting on lush hillside rising up from the estate's sandy shores. Far-reaching views take in the forested valley and Caribbean Sea along with this island's iconic twin peaks, the Pitons.
Set above its sister resort, Anse Chastanet, the panoramic property is a part of a sprawling 600-acre estate made up of thick jungle leading down the hillside to idyllic coastline and former plantations now overgrown with wild tropical plant-life. A reservoir dating back to the 18th century in the Anse Mamin valley has been restored to provide freshwater, which is treated and bottled on-site, for both resorts and treated waste water is then used to irrigate the landscape.
The estate home to Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet in St Lucia.
Overall, Jade Mountain's new status as a Regenerative Travel Member Hotel represents the property's commitment to regenerative principles and being a transformative presence in the community it's a part of. The LEED Gold certified resort first opened, joining the already established Anse Chastanet, in 2006 following the realisation of an ambitious project bringing the vision of architect and owner Nick Troubetzkoy to life.
The one-of-a-kind resort was designed to be built in alignment with the island's natural environment. Combining innovation and creativity in equal parts, the property was constructed without the use of machinery, using local stone for the main structure, and bringing locally made and sourced furnishings into the interiors. The work of local artists and artisans features throughout each corner of the property, and with 99% local staff, the resort is well connected to the community.
One of the beaches on the estate also home to Jade Mountain resort.
This approach to having minimal impact on the environment and benefitting the community it's a part of will also be at the forefront of the forthcoming development of the estate's next major project, Jade Sea. This new property will complement Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet as a cliffside resort showcasing its own one-a-kind design, as seen through the individuality of architectural and interior design at the two existing properties, with views over the sea from its position also facing the Pitons.
Just like at Jade Mountain, suites hidden amid lush tropical flora will be fully open-sided and designed with their own private infinity pools. As plans evolve as spontaneously as they famously did for the creation of Jade Mountain ahead of development, we can be sure this new property will draw just as much attention as its sister resorts.
Harvesting cacao on Emerald Farm, St Lucia.
From Jade Mountain, as well as Anse Chastanet, guests interested in finding out about the sustainability side to the estate's overall hospitality concept are taken out on tours of the valley for insight into the culture, history and ecology of the region along with the properties' sustainability program. On request, guests can also take part in conservation projects from reef and beach cleaning to planting trees.
Away from the estate, you have the opportunity to visit the resort's own agricultural set-up, Emerald Farm. It's here that cacao is grown for the estate's chocolate production alongside papaya and mango trees, coffee, vanilla, starfruit and an abundance of vegetables and herbs, all providing ingredients for the resort's kitchen. The farm produces its own honey and a range of natural beers is brewed in the farm's recently launched micro-brewery, Antillia Brewing Company.
The celestial terrace of Jade Mountain, St Lucia.
You can try some of this brewery's creations, such as a passion fruit ale and rum-barrel-aged IPA, through Jade Mountain's craft beer menu or at Emerald Estate during a farm-to-table dining experience in which the chef turns ingredients taken from the farm into plant-based dishes, such as coconut ceviche, in an open kitchen and dining area that's also set to be further enhanced for an even richer experience.
Connecting guests with the property's chocolate production, the resort then hosts chocolate making sessions in Jade Mountain's on-site chocolate lab producing bars also incorporating ingredients such as wildflower honey and cashews from the farm.
Panoramic dining at Jade Mountain, St Lucia.
At Jade Mountain, a stay can be spent exploring the island – taking in sites such as Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, climbing to the top of one of the Pitons, or venturing offshore to snorkel and dive among the marine-life – or back at the resort enjoying the seclusion of your own private sanctuary.
The resort's dramatic Galaxy Suites come with the most panoramic views, with not one but two of the walls removed, and an impressive 2,000 sq ft of space as well as an expansive infinity pool.
One of the three Galaxy suites at Jade Mountain, St Lucia.
Each suite is individually designed and each pool is distinguished by its own hues of iridescent glass tiles that glimmer in the changing light. Bridges connect each of the individual sanctuaries to the Jade Mountain Club, which sits at the highest point, home to an open-sided restaurant and bar, serving culinary creations that also connect you with the locale, topped with the celestial terrace for sunrise yoga, stargazing and sunset drinks.
Ensuring a widespread impact beyond this luxurious hideaway, the estate and its surroundings, co-founder Karolin Troubetzkoy, who was previously also president of both the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association and Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, has been committed to promoting a transition to more sustainable tourism models in the Caribbean, founding and leading several hospitality and conservation associations including re- energising the Caribbean Alliance of Sustainable Tourism.
Jade Mountain sits on the hillside above Anse Chastanet.
Now, as a member of the Regenerative Travel collective, Jade Mountain can work alongside other sustainable hotels across the world to have an increasingly positive impact through each new endeavor launched.
Jade Mountain, St Lucia, Builds Upon Newest Eco Status - Forbes
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