Mariette Williams
The Caribbean is on a hot streak. The region continues to see increased traffic, and recent data by the Caribbean Tourism Organization found that tourism grew 2.5% in 2025.
As tourism momentum builds, it's also a pivotal time for hospitality leaders to confront the dual challenges of climate resilience and rising energy costs. This shift has prompted more regional resorts to adopt ecofriendly practices that protect the natural environment while simultaneously elevating the guest experience.
The Bahamas: The rise of the off-grid escape
Several properties in the Bahamas have shifted toward total energy independence. Kamalame Cay on Andros Island is currently transitioning to a fully solar-powered grid. The private island resort already utilizes solar-thermal systems for hot water and pool heating, while its backup generators run exclusively on biofuel processed from recycled vegetable oil.
On Eleuthera, the Little Island Hotels collection has introduced The Farm, an off-grid sanctuary that doubles as an agricultural laboratory. Using aquaponics and agrivoltaics (the practice of growing crops beneath solar panels), The Farm supplies organic produce to surrounding sister properties. Current developments include a future farm-to-table restaurant designed to offer a vegetarian-forward menu that celebrates the property's budding orchards and arboriculture.
This focus on sustainability aligns with the broader vision for the nation's survival.
"The future of The Bahamas is directly tied to how we protect and sustain it," said Latia Duncombe, director general of Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation. "Our focus is clear: to ensure that responsible environmental stewardship continues to create meaningful opportunities in tourism for Bahamians while safeguarding the experiences that draw visitors to our shores."
Royalton sets 2030 portfolio mandate
Leading the charge on a corporate scale, Royalton Hotels & Resorts recently launched its comprehensive "Royalton Sustainability Standards," leveraging high-tech solutions to manage its large-scale footprint.
Across the portfolio, hotel officials estimate the Vero Water filtration system has eliminated more than 10 million single-use plastic bottles across properties, while solar and trigeneration systems (an advanced energy system that simultaneously produces electricity, heating and cooling from a single fuel source) have been implemented in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. And through the "Do Good, Check In" program, guests are incentivized with resort credits for opting into water and energy conservation measures, turning the stay into a collective effort.
The initiative formalizes a strategy with a firm commitment to full implementation by 2030. Royalton operates more than 24 all-inclusive properties in seven countries including Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and Barbados.
"History shows us that some of our most beloved destinations in the Caribbean are also among the most sensitive to environmental change," said Alejandro Rodriguez del Peon, vice president of marketing and PR at Royalton Hotels & Resorts. "Our commitment is to honor our natural resources and beautiful landscapes through consistent action such as integrating renewable energy and sustainable innovation into the DNA of every new and existing resort."
Jamaica: resilience through restoration
Perhaps one of the most poignant examples of sustainable resilience is found at Bluefields Bay Villas & Suites in Jamaica. Just six months after Hurricane Melissa struck the coastline, the resort has transformed recovery into innovation, starting with the two-bedroom Milestone Cottage.
"Hurricane Melissa pushed us to rethink how we rebuild and operate, and we saw it as an opportunity to move toward a more responsible, future-focused model," said Houston Moncure, managing director of Bluefields Bay Villas & Suites. "Milestone Cottage now has a solar-powered roofline redesign that enables it to operate fully off-grid using Jamaica's natural resources."
The cottage serves as a functional blueprint for the resort's future: a transition to entirely off-grid operations. By harnessing Jamaica's solar energy, the property ensures an uninterrupted luxury experience that is immune to local grid instability.