About this Episode
In this seventh episode of Hotel Voices, Nikolina Christo sits down with Rodrigo Sampaio A. de Almeida of Kenoa Resort in Brazil, for a revealing conversation on redefining barefoot luxury in today’s hospitality landscape.
Rodrigo shares how this family-run eco-luxury retreat on Brazil’s northeast coast has pioneered sustainability and soulful service for over 15 years. From balancing OTAs and direct bookings to crafting tailor-made guest experiences with zero automation, he reveals why true hospitality is still built on human connection, authenticity, and care.
This dialogue dives into the challenges and opportunities facing independent luxury resorts — from rate integrity and OTA over-reliance to the growing demand for wellness beyond the spa. Together, they explore how Kenoa blends rustic elegance, sustainability, gastronomy, and design to create a multisensory journey that keeps guests returning ten times over.
Tune in for an inspiring masterclass on barefoot luxury, guest ownership, and conscious hospitality — a reminder that in an age of corporatization, the future of luxury lies in independence, authenticity, and soul.
#HotelVoices #KenoaResort #BrazilLuxuryResorts #BarefootLuxury #WellnessHospitality #LuxuryHospitality #AuthenticLuxury #SustainableLuxury #HospitalityMarketing
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Episode Transcript:
Hotel Voices x Kenoa Resort: Brazil’s Barefoot Luxury with Soul
Perched on Brazil’s northeast coast, Kenoa Resort is a family-run eco-luxury hideaway that has redefined barefoot luxury for over 15 years. In this episode, Nikolina speaks with Rodrigo Sampaio A. de Almeida about blending sustainability, soulful service, and rustic elegance to create one of South America’s most distinctive independent resorts.
Key takeaways:
Owning the Guest Journey: Why balancing OTAs, direct bookings, and loyal partners is crucial to long-term success.
Service with Soul: How Kenoa delivers tailor-made experiences without bots, scaling intimacy with 100+ staff for just 23 villas.
Wellness Beyond the Spa: From Caudalie-branded treatments to silence, senses, and slow living, redefining what modern travelers seek.
Design That Calms: Why Kenoa’s organic architecture and multi-sensory environments create lasting emotional impact.
Family-Run Independence: How staying true to values — not corporatization — keeps guests returning over 10 times.
Perfect for hoteliers, marketers, and leaders seeking to balance sustainability, authenticity, and profitability while shaping the next chapter of luxury hospitality in 2025 and beyond.
