The B Corporation is a leader in high-end tourism in Latin America. Through various tools and programs, it generates a positive impact that reaffirms its community and environmental commitment.
Connecting travelers through experiences that combine nature, adventure, gastronomy, and art, while valuing the intangible, is the mission of Esencia.Patagonia. Their high-end experiences offer exceptional service beyond the conventional, redefining luxury. This comprehensive approach has evolved into the “Esencia Transformation Method,” a working philosophy that prioritizes quality over quantity, promoting an emotional connection with the natural environment. This method invites travelers to be active observers, enjoying responsibly without leaving a footprint.
The Method impacts all levels of the company: products, marketing, and operations. The concept of “Km 0” has been enhanced, focusing on low-impact environmental activities, and locations and accommodations are selected to minimize the need for vehicle transfers.
Amid the 2020 pandemic, Esencia.Patagonia began obtaining B Corp certification, which was completed in 2021. This certification measures companies’ social, environmental, and economic impact, promoting a new inclusive economic model that creates value for humanity. “The certification allowed us to quantify and structure our community, environmental, and economic commitment. It also helped us balance our business purpose with social and environmental impact,” explains Nahuel Alonso, CEO of Esencia.Patagonia. However, the certification was just the beginning. “We wanted to go further,” says Nahuel. “This led to the creation of the Esencia Transformation Fund, an initiative designed to ensure the sustainability of our positive impact projects. A percentage of all our product fees is allocated to this fund, which supports conservation projects in the regions we visit,” he adds. This new tool incorporates a previous one used by Esencia: measuring the carbon footprint.
The Esencia Transformation Fund focuses on raising environmental, social, and economic awareness. Through support to third sector organizations, the fund finances projects for the restoration of native forests, wildlife protection, environmental science research, and educational workshops for children and young people.
Experiences designed by Esencia.Patagonia offers a deep immersion that acts as a catalyst for transformation in people. To maximize the positive impact, moments are created in which travelers actively engage in the places they visit, participating in activities such as beach clean-ups, extraction of exotic plants, reforestation of forests, or placing signs with environmental awareness messages.
In addition, each trip or event is carried out with a strong commitment to waste reduction and responsible management. This includes source separation and delivery of sorted materials to the Bariloche Recyclers Association (ARB), ensuring a positive impact on the local community.
“If we work towards creating sustainable travel, practicing responsible tourism, we can become guardians of the destinations we visit, creating tools that preserve the environment and prevent the negative impact of mass tourism, so that future generations can also enjoy them in their purest state,” assures Alonso.
B Corp-certified companies represent a paradigm shift towards a new, more equitable, and regenerative economy. In this sense, it is estimated that high-end tourism can directly and indirectly generate up to fourteen jobs to provide services for every two people.
