Amy Wald sits down with Kurt Bjorkman, COO of The Ranch at Laguna Beach, to explore sustainable hospitality as a driver of luxury guest experience and real operational ROI. From bamboo room keys and plastic-free initiatives to community stewardship, Beyond Green certification, and “nature as our economy,” Kurt shares actionable, property-tested strategies. You’ll learn how guest expectations are shifting, why costs have flipped in favor of sustainable purchasing, and how to build culture, hiring, and design choices that elevate both impact and guest loyalty.

Timestamps / Episode Breakdown

00:01 – Cruise ship roots: hospitality grit, guest connection, and leadership lessons

00:06 – The Ranch history: Indigenous gathering place to mid-century golf resort

00:12 – Preservation first: community-backed revitalization over teardown

00:14 – Strategy start: from basics to meaningful, place-based sustainability

00:17 – Stewardship mindset: operating as land and water guardians

00:19 – Overcoming barriers: budgets, ROI, and the new cost curve

00:21 – Case study: bamboo room keys reduce plastic and costs

00:23 – Procurement made easy: vendors now lead with sustainable options

00:25 – Big brand shifts: Hilton/Marriott phase out plastic water bottles

00:26 – Guest behavior: rising demand for eco-friendly hotels and amenities

00:28 – Leadership toolkit: scuba’s “stop, breathe, think” applied to operations

00:31 – Culture and hiring: the vibe check for true hospitality hearts

00:33 – Keeping it human: humor, humility, and guest joy

00:36 – Sustainability vs. regenerative: what language serves guests now

00:39 – Sense of place: designing for immersion in canyon and coastal sage

00:43 – Let nature teach: fewer signs, more felt experiences

00:44 – Urban lens: nature-based hospitality in cities (harbors, parks, rooftops)

00:45 – Reality check: regulatory complexity of nature-immersed properties

00:46 – Full circle: personal vision, purpose, and place

00:48 – Why The Ranch exists: people, community, and ownership alignment

00:49 – Learn more: Beyond Green recertification and rigorous standards

00:51 – Close: visit, learn, and experience green luxury

Key Links

Our platforms

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conscious-check-in/id1832522451

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YfXT8SElYqYEbhYqbD1AJ?si=00fad07476c14a70

Connect with us

Sponsor this Podcast: https://www.greenluxeinc.com/partner-with-us

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theconsciouscheckin/

About Greenluxe: https://www.greenluxeinc.com/

1:1 with Amy: https://calendly.com/greenluxeinc/sustainable-hospitality

About the podcast

The core mission of The Conscious Check-in is to inspire travelers and hospitality leaders to embrace sustainability, showing how conscious choices in travel and luxury hospitality can create meaningful experiences for guests while driving positive impact for people, planet, and business.

Award-winning eco-resort designer Louis (Louie) Thompson, CEO of Nomadic Resorts ( ⁨@Sixsenseshotels⁩ , ⁨@PlayaViva⁩ ) joins Amy to explore how bamboo, biomimicry, and biophilic design are transforming sustainable hospitality. From manta ray-inspired treehouses in Mexico to modular, nature-positive lodges, Louie shares practical insights on building regenerative, guest-loved experiences without greenwashing. You’ll learn why bamboo’s rapid renewability matters, how design shapes mental wellness, and what AI means for hyper-personalized, wellness-driven travel communities.

Who this episode is for

Conscious travelers, hotel owners, and hospitality leaders seeking high-impact, guest-centric sustainability strategies and regenerative design inspiration.

Timestamps / Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro: From Mauritius to manta rays—meet Nomadic Resorts’ Louis Thompson

02:31 – Career origin: Six Senses, post-tsunami pivot, and “special projects” innovation

05:03 – Career advice: Find what you enjoy, get feedback, and stick with it

07:15 – Why bamboo: Rapid renewability, tensile strength, carbon benefits, and resilience

10:08 – Organic forms: How bendy bamboo enables biomimicry and biophilic design

11:21 – Native ranges: Bamboo worldwide and what that means for local sourcing

13:40 – Genius loci: Designing for place vs. modular, scalable eco hospitality

16:49 – Playa Viva case study: Manta ray bamboo treehouses built in 8 months

18:30 – Results: Global awards, guest immersion, and regenerative tourism in action

20:12 – Rethinking luxury: From objects to transformative experiences and wellness travel

22:49 – “Well-washing”: Spotting superficial wellness vs. evidence-based design

24:34 – Healthy buildings: Materials, VOCs, indoor air quality, and ethical frameworks

29:43 – Biomimicry 101: Nature-inspired function (gecko feet to lotus effect)

31:30 – Biophilic design: Prospect/refuge, mental health, and evidence-based spaces

34:03 – Urban tips: Plants, sunlight, textures, images, and air quality at home

36:10 – Spas of the future: Circadian lighting, acoustic landscapes, color therapy

38:10 – Neuro-architecture: Designing spaces to evoke security, calm, transformation

39:55 – Cocoon-inspired tents: Purpose-built hospitality for specific life moments

40:51 – AI-curated travel: Birds of a feather, niche communities, and brand evolution

43:30 – Net positive impact: Guest experience, community benefit, ecosystem regeneration

44:42 – Life in Mauritius: Walks, sunsets, and building Nomadic Escapes

45:45 – Food with place: Creole outdoor cooking and communal dining

46:48 – Legacy: Leave every site more beautiful and biodiverse

Connect with the guest(s):

• Nomadic Resorts: https://www.nomadicresorts.com

• Follow Louis on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-thompson-9825308/

Out platforms

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conscious-check-in/id1832522451

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YfXT8SElYqYEbhYqbD1AJ?si=00fad07476c14a70

Connect with us

Sponsor this Podcast: https://www.greenluxeinc.com/partner-with-us

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theconsciouscheckin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconsciouscheckin/

About Greenluxe:...

GM TJ Pierri of Pelican Grand Beach Resort (Fort Lauderdale) joins Amy to unpack how a legacy-driven, guest-first approach can power sustainable hospitality. From achieving Green Key Global certification to electrifying team and guest transport with Circuit, turtle-safe beach operations, and energy efficiency in rooms, TJ shares practical steps hotels can take now—plus the leadership mindset that wins buy-in. You’ll learn how to align guest experience with sustainability, start small without sacrificing impact, and communicate values that drive loyalty.

Who this episode is for

Conscious travelers and hospitality leaders who want guest-loved, profitable, and sustainable hotel operations.

Timestamps / Episode Breakdown

00:00 — Conscious travel intro: sustainable hospitality and guest experience

00:29 — Live from Independent Hotel Show: Meet TJ Pierri, GM, Pelican Grand

01:11 — Leadership lesson from geese: team rotation, resilience, and servant leadership

02:53 — Mini-bar evolution: inclusive, low/zero-alcohol options and curated experiences

05:58 — Career path: Hyatt to Noble House; navigating a GM role through the pandemic

10:12 — Noble House DNA: authentically local, values-led, guest-centered hospitality

12:21 — What makes Pelican Grand unique: on-the-sand location, lazy river, Oceans 2000 dining, Pure Spa rooftop rituals

14:26 — Green Key Global certification: retrofitting a 2004 building, PMS-driven energy efficiency, water conservation, housekeeping optimization

16:20 — Electric mobility: partnering with Circuit for team shuttles and guest dinner runs

17:46 — Protecting sea turtles: daily monitoring, operations that respect nesting season

19:05 — How hotels reduce waste and get buy-in: start small, explain the “why,” celebrate wins

21:00 — Biggest operational win: reconcepting five outlets in six months—team-first execution

22:35 — Favorite guest story: turning a rainy-day crisis into a beautiful impromptu wedding

25:19 — Legacy: improve lives, inspire teams, and build cultures guests return to

26:17 — Dream trip: Greece calling

______

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Key Links

Connect with the guest(s)

TJ Pierri's LinkedIn

Our platforms

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Connect with us

Sponsor this Podcast

LinkedIn

Instagram

About Greenluxe

1:1 with Amy

About the podcast

The core mission of The Conscious Check-in is to inspire travelers and hospitality leaders to embrace sustainability,...