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Each year, more luxury properties have made commitments to do their part in reversing the negative effects of climate change and preserving the culture, natural environment, and biodiversity of a particular region. @tswalu, which means ‘new beginnings’ in Setswana, has been paving the way and setting an example for luxury properties to take action in sustainable development and conservation. @tswalu defines three major conservation goals linking the past, present and future of the southern Kalahari region: (1) restoring the natural environment; (2) re-establishing and protecting the biodiversity; and (3) maintaining the Kalahari’s characteristic ecological processes. @tswalu’s overarching objective is to adopt “a holistic approach to correcting past mistakes, laying the groundwork for long-term ecological and economic viability, and creating a model of conservation supported by ecotourism that can be sustained indefinitely.” @tswalu is setting a great example for the luxury hospitality segment and we are proud to stand behind them.
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Spanning over 37km, the Benban Solar Park is one of the largest solar photovoltaic parks in the world and the largest solar project in Africa to date. The huge complex, with more than 41 solar power plants, generates about 930GWh/year. That’s enough energy to power over 420,000 homes! The Benban Solar Park is also making history from a technological perspective, being the first solar park to employ bifacial solar modules - a type of solar panel that produces energy from both sides. With this monumental feat, Egypt is well on its way to meeting its goal of producing a majority of the nation’s electricity from renewable sources.

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Since the signing of the Paris Agreement, an inspiring number of countries have publicly declared net-zero pledges and deadline-imposed commitments to reducing carbon emissions. Three countries in particular have pioneered the path and serve as trailblazing examples to the rest of the world that it can, in fact, be done.

Bhutan
With over 70% of the country being covered in trees, Bhutan makes history as the 1st country to be named carbon-negative. The expansive forest acts as a natural carbon sink, absorbing more carbon emissions than the country itself emits. Their success stems back to the environmental protections enshrined in their constitution, empowering the country to enact legislation in the dual and interconnected interest of their people AND their environment. It is also worth noting that most of Bhutan’s energy is sourced from hydroelectric power. In fact, they produce so much hydroelectric power they are able to sell to neighboring countries, further offsetting an additional 4.4 M tons of annual emissions. By 2025, they aim to offset 22.4 M tons.

Suriname
Similar to Bhutan, 93% of Suriname is covered in forest. Suriname’s new climate commitment endeavors focus on the following four areas of concern: forests, electricity, agriculture, and transportation. Current projects include the development of climate smart farming, such as water resource management and sustainable land management. Suriname has also vowed to revamp their public transportation system and introduce new sustainability measures, in an effort to regulate and decrease vehicle emissions.

Panama
With 65% of Panama covered in forest, the nation absorbs more carbon than it emits. Panama has a goal of advancing a clean-energy push by embracing ethanol in its gasoline, and eradicating any use of heavy fuels and coal for its power plants by 2023.

The three countries have formed a carbon-negative coalition, working together to keep each other accountable in maintaining their respective climate goals and commitments. Bhutan, Suriname, and Panama have led by example, who will be next?

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“The minute we paused, the Earth was able to breathe again.” With travel halted and businesses closed, the world did, indeed, have a moment to breathe, and most importantly, heal. In India, as individuals sheltered in place during lockdowns, for the first time in over 30 years, the air became clear enough that The Himalayas could be seen from a great distance. An incredible sight unseen since the early 1990s. @davidattenborough’s “The Year Earth Changed” focuses on the significant change that took place during the course of a year of lockdowns, and nature’s phenomenal ability to bounce back when, and if, given a chance.

Perhaps most striking of all were the observed changes to the oceans and diverse marine life. With beaches closed to visitors, scientists were able to study sea turtles more efficiently. As sea turtles return to the same beaches from which they hatch, to lay their eggs, findings revealed a direct link between beach closures and a significant increase in the once endangered sea turtle populations (about 40%-60%), allowing for a spectacular comeback! Furthermore, underwater communication between sea mammals, such as dolphins and humpback whales, greatly improved with a notable reduction in ocean traffic from cruise ships as the underwater world was 25x quieter.

The documentary takes a similar look at land-based species. In Nara, Japan, with their main food source — tourists — on hold, the Nara deers began searching for alternate food sources, traveling meters from the temple grounds they now call home, to spaces that still have remnants of the meadows they once grazed. As a result, local scientists reported a noticeable difference in the overall quality of life for the Nara deer.

“The Year Earth Changed” shows us that taking the smallest steps, such as putting time limits on beaches during sea turtle nesting season or altering cruise times and paths to avoid interference with the communication and food gathering of whales, we can definitely make a difference and make the planet a better place for all of us.

📷: @appletv

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Polar bears will be wiped out by the end of this century unless more is done to tackle climate change.

Dr. Jon Aars, a polar bear scientist at The Norwegian Polar Institute, has dedicated his life’s work to staging annual polar research expeditions in the Svalbard region. Dr. Aars’ and his team have had great success in gathering critical data via satellite-collaring - a common-practice used around the world to track and study animal behavior while mitigating human-animal interactions as much as possible.

First, to locate the bears, scientists scour the skies by helicopter. Once discovered, researchers tranquilize the animal from the air with a fast-acting sedative. From there, the helicopter lands and the team swiftly gets to work - checking vital signs and extracting blood samples, before outfitting the sedated polar bear with a satellite collar. As a final measure, a specialized veterinarian administers a reversing agent to counter the residual sedative. The team remains on sight to ensure the bear is safely up and walking before they make their final take-off.

All Arctic animals rely on sea ice - polar bears to breed and hunt for seals, seals & walruses to raise their young, foxes, whales and caribou to forage for food - meanwhile the Arctic is warming TWICE as fast as the global average. While most of us are not in a position to develop and implement advanced solutions to undo the present damage, we can certainly make conscious changes in our day-to-day lives to minimize our individual carbon footprints and do our part to reduce global warming.

Consuming less energy, generating less waste, driving less, conserving water and eating seasonally are all tangible examples of how each and every one of us can contribute. At The Legacy Untold, we like to remember and remind others that perfection is the enemy of progress, and that even the smallest changes are a great place to start - you don’t have to live off-the-grid and become vegan, but consider using energy-efficient lightbulbs and adopting “Meatless Mondays”.

📷: @nytimes

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Now, more than ever, individuals and businesses alike are taking an honest look at how their daily lives and operations impact our shared planet. As part of the Paris Agreement (a legally binding international treaty on climate change), countries (and businesses) are publicly pledging to commitments focused on reducing CO2 emissions and lowering the average global temperature. One such company, @everlane, announced their environmental goal of “No New Plastic” by 2021. With over 8 million tons of plastic on the planet, and knowing that every single piece of plastic ever made is still in existence, @everlane’s pledge is a meaningful one. As of today, the company has reached 90% of its no “No New Plastic” goal.

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With a greater focus on reducing the use of single-use plastic products, hotels have been looking for innovative ways to do their part. The international hotel industry generates 150 million tons of single-use plastic annually…imagine if they didn’t... One step being taken by many hotels is replacing the small shampoo and conditioner bottles with refillable shower and sink dispensers. In particular, @marriottintl, through their own sustainability initiatives, were able to eliminate 23,000 small bottles from their average-sized hotels, amounting to over 250 pounds of plastic waste per year! Another noteworthy adaptation is the shift to alternative key cards, from digital key cards accessed on guest’s mobile devices to wood-fiber, biodegradable solutions. For example, @andaz properties have implemented a digital key card accessed through Apple Wallet, eradicating the continuous production of plastic key cards with the added benefit of streamlining the check-in process. At The Legacy Untold, we are often engaged to help properties re-evaluate their operations and implement new sustainability measures. And our approach is always the same - we design Earth-positive solutions that enhance the guest experience, ensuring that the sustainable choice is always viewed as a step up; never a downgrade.

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Uncovered in 2000 and stored for over ten years, scientists have made history with the discovery of a rare, well-preserved fossil of a baby dinosaur. The 70 million-year-old fossil preserves the embryonic skeleton of an oviraptoroid dinosaur. With this incredible discovery, scientists can now further their research into the links between dinosaurs and birds. More to come soon, we hope!

📸: Courtesy of Dr Darla Zelenitsky via @cnn
Source: @cnn & @bbcnews

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Regarded as “the greatest route in the history of mankind,” the ancient silk road not only led to the economic development of the ancient world but bridging the gap between the East and West to build economic and cultural relations that lasted centuries. The key focus is to conserve historical sites along the ancient silk road route while also promoting tourism through economic growth and job creation. Some historical sites to see along the Silk Road are the Yuanyang rice terraces, the Ming Sha Shan (better known as the 'Singing Sand Dunes'), Zhangye-danxia mountains, the Madrasah in Uzbekistan, and Pamukkale hot spring in Turkey.
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In a renewed interest in the Silk Road, UNESCO has been developing a Sustainable Tourism strategy through the Silk Roads Heritage Corridors, a project designed to bolster the cultural connections between 15 countries, spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. How great is it to see a 15 country-wide project that would revolutionize the historical preservation of the ancient world?
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When it comes to sustainability, New Zealand leads the way for being the ‘greenest country on the planet’, and many of New Zealand’s sustainable practices have come from work of the Indigenous populations of the land. As the original custodians of Aotearoa (New Zealand), the Māori people have spent generations preserving the land and environment — a value better known as Kaitiakitanga — which refers to the Māori people’s commitment not only to their community but for the land they are meant to protect. Through NZ Māori Tourism, visitors get to experience the Māori culture while also showing respect for the people, the land, and the environment. The tourism company abides by ‘Manaaki Manuhiri’ — meaning care & respect for all people, from all places — making sure visitors leave as whānau though beginning their respective journeys as strangers to Māori sustainable practices and culture.
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Learn more at http://www.maoritourism.co.nz, and become part of the whānau!
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Photo cred: @jimmy.nelson.official

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Boasting beautiful architecture and breathtaking views, the @svartglacierhotel will be the world’s first energy-positive, low-impact hotel. Opening in 2023, @snohetta, in collaboration with Arctic Adventures of Norway, designed to be the first ever ‘Powerhouse’ hotel, aiming to not only reduce its energy consumption by 85% (compared to most modern hotels) but also be able to produce its own energy through sustainable efforts. To produce their own energy, the Svart hotel will use its solar panel system to power other projects, such as their greenhouse farm, waste management system, and boat destination. In regard to its unique, innovative architecture, the general design of Svart draws inspiration from traditional Nordic fishing culture, with wooden frames used for drying fish and seasonal home structural designs used by fishermen.
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Fun fact: The namesake of the hotel, “Svart,” comes from the Norwegian word for “Black,” referencing the deep blue ice of Svartisen and its name. It pays homage to the precious environment for which it has been built.
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Leading the way in eco-friendly luxury resorts, @discoversoneva Fushi in the Maldives is an eco-pioneer with its very own “Waste-to-Wealth” program. With its own Eco Centro recycling plant, the resort recycles approx. 90% of its own waste on-site. Soneva Fushi has also worked with the local government to introduce the “Waste-to-Wealth” program to three neighboring islands, while educating the local communities on waste and respecting the ocean. This goes to show that practicing sustainability does not compromise luxury.
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Measuring at 10,582 km, Salar de Uyuni is the biggest salt flat in the world - containing over 10 billion tons of salt.

The geological history of the Salar is associated with a sequential transformation between several vast lakes. Some 30,000 to 42,000 years ago, the area was part of a giant prehistoric lake, Lake Minchin. When the lake dried up, it left a couple of seasonal puddles and several salt pans, including Salar de Uyuni.

The center of the Salar contains a handful of islands, which are the remains of the tops of ancient volcanoes submerged during the era of Lake Minchin. These islands, including the notable Isla Incahuasi, afford a unique vantage point and breathtaking panoramic views of the Salar.

During the rainy season, Salar De Uyuni is covered in very clear water, making it the largest natural mirror in the world.

The salar is a photographer’s wonderland. The relatively flat, endless expanse of the salt flat creates a natural lack of depth perception which allows for creativity and illusion alike.

A breathtaking natural wonder that inevitably makes us miss the ability to travel and embark on adventures that re-invigorate our sense of wonder. Just keep in mind that there are ways to travel safely when you choose destinations that are socially distanced by nature, in the fresh air and the great outdoors.

Whether you’re traveling now or dreaming to travel in the future, check out our travel division @thelegacyuntold_travel

The schools of the future can be built in less than a week.  
The world’s first 3D-printed school is taking shape in Madagascar, offering a new model for affordable educational spaces in under-resourced communities.

Designed by @studiomortazavi, an architecture firm based in San Francisco and Lisbon, the school is a project of the nonprofit Thinking Huts, which aims to increase global access to education through 3D printing.

Repost by @fastcompany

In the last century, owning things was the marker of wealth and success. The more money you had, the more things you could own. But as manufacturing became less expensive, the barrier to owning a great deal of stuff was lowered.

In fact, as millennials enter adulthood, the trend is for them to want to own less stuff. Where Baby Boomers and Gen Xers might have had shelves and shelves dedicated to books, magazines, and music in their homes, today we can fit the same amount of media and more onto the pocket-sized computers we call smart phones. Whereas being a “two-car family” was once a mark of status, today many millennials see more status in being a one-car or even zero-car family and making use of services like Uber and Lyft.

Ridesharing, apartment/home lending, peer-to-peer lending, reselling, coworking, talent-sharing… The sharing economy, sometimes also called the collaboration economy, is taking off.

There are many interesting theories in circulation - one in particular is that by monetizing the untapped potential of under-utilized goods, this genre of economy may prompt consumers to purchase more expensive products that are more durable and more eco-friendly as well. Padden Guy Murphy, head of public policy & business development at car-sharing service Getaround, cites electric cars as a primary example. Sharing can be “a massive needle mover for adoption of electric cars,” he said, noting that a Tesla Model S, which might lease for $900 a month, becomes affordable for many more people when it also produces $3,000 in that same period via Getaround rentals.

76% of U.S. adults familiar with the sharing economy believe it’s better for the environment and that makes intuitive sense. Whereas the general thinking is that there is significant environmental benefit to increasing the use of existing goods and reducing the demand for new ones, it is worth noting that the hard data remains limited and identifying and quantifying just how environmentally friendly the new peer-to-peer economy is can be difficult. But the good intent is there and the data will soon follow as the sharing economy is estimated to grow from $14 billion in 2014 to $335 billion by 2025.

As many states move from tight dining restrictions to reopening once again, restaurants, bars, and cafés continue to adapt. We can’t help but admire their resiliency as we watch many strengthen their business by redefining hospitality, prioritizing employees, and finding ways to keep guests and staff safe - and let’s not forget that’s all on top of rolling out new menus, serving delectable dishes, introducing cook at home kits, offering grocery shopping options, serving cocktails to go, and updating service standards to be both friendly and germ conscious.

La Palapa in New York City’s East Village personifies resilience—the restaurant has survived floods, blackouts, and 9/11. “In 20 years, there are so many things that [become] part of tradition and ‘untouchable,’” says chef/owner Barbara Sibley. “[Crises] give you a chance to reinvent, [to say], ‘well you know what, we didn’t need it.’” By embracing flexibility, she’s seen how creativity can flourish under the most difficult of circumstances.

These days, chef/owners describe the landscape as “like opening a new restaurant every day,” meaning a daily exercise in navigating operational viability amid extra-tight margins and shifting mandates. It’s not enough to be a resilient leader: COVID-19 is proving that organizations must show resilience, too.

Pictured above are a handful of NYC’s most impressive outdoor dining sets proving that necessity really is the mother of innovation, and our beloved New York is indeed tough. #nytough #outdoordining #covid19 #covidresilient

About a year ago, one of our nation’s largest financial firms @blackrock pulled back from its investments in coal as investors increasingly recognized climate change as a very real risk that can no longer be ignored.

The company has vowed to make sustainability a key factor in its investment approach going forward, exiting investments that present a high sustainability-related risk, such as thermal coal producers, and offering investment portfolios that exclude fossil fuel companies.

This example proves that the private sector can be the change we need, the light for the path forward.

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For several years we have had the privilege of creating compelling content for the elite creative class that is at the core of Soho House’s membership base, and in turn being inspired by them. Today we reflect back on a very special private screening we produced at Soho House New York with Academy-Award winning director Louie @Psihoyos . “Racing Extinction” is a documentary that follows undercover activists in their efforts to stop the world’s 6th mass extinction.

@RacingExtinction focuses its sights on the chilling possibility that over the course of the next 100 years, we could lose 50% of all species on Earth. It shows the dark corners of the illegal wildlife trade, second in size only to the illegal drug trade. “We’re losing species faster than we can describe them,” Psihoyos laments. “When you’re talking about losing all of nature, it’s no longer a spectator sport. Everybody has to become active somehow.”

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

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Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president and an enduring icon of the struggle against racial oppression. Mandela spent 27 years in prison after being convicted of treason by the white minority government, only to forge a peaceful end to white rule by negotiating with his captors after his release in 1990. He led the African National Congress, a long banned liberation movement, to a resounding electoral victory in 1994, the first fully democratic election in the country’s history. Mandela served one term as South Africa’s president. Mandela's decades in prison and his insistence on forgiveness over vengeance made him a potent symbol of the struggle to end his country’s brutally codified system of racial domination, and of the power of peaceful resolution in even the most intractable conflicts. In a time of unprecedented political turmoil in the US, it is our hope that leadership like Mandela will rise from our ashes and lead us to a unified nation.

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The Legacy Untold is renowned for pioneering tourism to frontier destinations like Saudi Arabia… helping countries proudly open their doors for the first time in their history. We scout, we blue-sky think, we create, we partner, we conserve, we design, we ideate, we innovate, we iterate, we launch, we amplify, and together we succeed.

We were invited to #Kazakhstan by a prominent local finance and real estate visionary with a grand plan of pioneering uber-luxury leisure tourism to his beloved motherland. While Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world with a GDP representing 60% of Central Asia, its pristine wilderness is largely untouched, untainted, and unknown, with no history of international leisure travelers. The above 50 second sizzle is from our scouting trip where we scoured the country for the best experiences and lodge locations. DALA’S mission includes designing, developing, and executing a sustainable leisure luxury tourism circuit to showcase the majesty of Kazakhstan’s people, landscapes, animals, history, and culture to the world. We couldn’t be more excited to be building Kazakhstan’s luxury tourism offering to the world from day 1! Stay tuned.

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New luxury brands should seek to engage with consumers on a variety of levels – including their lifestyle and social values. Consider the flooded airline space and one illustrative example of one of the world’s largest airlines who seeks to connect with its consumers based on being the first to adopt same sex partner benefits and non-gender binary booking options. The inclusive measures taken by @united have had immeasurable positive effects on both travelers and the industry, encouraging many others to follow suit.

The industry will recover, and when it does, it’s worth taking a moment to think through where your travel dollars are going and if the brands and companies you’re supporting are in turn supporting your values, our planet, and a better collective future for all.

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At a time when world leaders lack the political will to protect our planet and its climate for future generations, 15 year old @gretathunberg took matters into her own hands. Her immediate ascent to world fame has made her both a thought leader and a target for critics. Greta has received numerous honours and awards including an honorary Fellowship of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, inclusion in Time's 100 most influential people, being the youngest Time Person of the Year, inclusion in the Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women and two consecutive nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize (2019 and 2020). The idea of our youth rising up to create a better planet when their elders are failing them is a powerful one.

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As a young girl, @Malala Yousafzai defied the Taliban in Pakistan and demanded that girls be allowed to receive an education. She was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in 2012 but survived. In 2014, at the mere age of 17, she became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

A fighter, a survivor, an activist, a role model, a beautiful human inside and out, and an inspiration to us all.

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The tiny islands of São Tomé and Príncipe promote small-scale, high-end tourism, preserving the island's ecosystems so they can be enjoyed for years to come.

The Zero Plastic on Príncipe initiative involves a trade-in program where locals collect discarded plastic bottles that litter the coastlines and exchange them for stainless steel drinking bottles that can be used to unlock and collect clean water from freshwater fountains across the islands. Water points include schools, markets, the airport, and other public spaces - such that children, for example, can take their bottles to school and refill them there. During 17 plastic trade-in events, more than 456,000 plastic bottles were collected and the island's residents were given access to unlimited free clean drinking water.

Since UNESCO has declared the island a biosphere reserve, the local government and population are trying to find the right balance between economic development and conservation - seeking solutions that adhere to the prosperity of both.

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The above video depicts #singitagrumeti, and a handful of Singita lodges dotted across Tanzania’s Grumeti Reserve. Singita Grumeti is a hallowed ground. 350,000 private acres of the densest wildlife on the planet. A cathedral worshipped by global nomads for its flawless execution of top luxury, deep meaningful experiences, amazing food and wine, warm anticipatory service, community upliftment, conservation, and sustainability. A stark contrast to what the land once was. The Legacy Untold founder @mark_lakin recently spent 3 weeks at Singita Grumeti amidst the global Covid-19 crisis.

There are few pioneers in the travel industry that we admire as much as Luke Bailes, the visionary behind @singita. Luke shared with Mark that just 17 years ago, when Singita purchased the property, there was virtually no wildlife. It had all been hunted out. Today it is arguably the best place to see wildlife on the African continent.

“As I stood there digesting Singita Grumeti’s biblical metamorphosis, it reminded me that with the right leadership and funding, anything is possible. At this extraordinary bleak moment in history, Luke’s words gave me so much hope… we can still turn this around.” - #MarkLakin

Singita is a true leader in conscious capitalism and sustainable luxury tourism and we are proud to amplify their bold and brazen efforts to make travel a force for good.

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