ROOM + WILD NATURALS: Francis Ford Coppola
By Nicholas Valsamis
In R+W Naturals, we connect with like-minded visionaries who set the bar in sustainable travel initiatives, embodying the Room + Wild mantra of ‘landscape enhanced hotels’ and ‘traveling with purpose.’ Achieving the successful architectural, ecological and cultural integration of their most wild surroundings.
Discover The Family Coppola Hideaways with Christine Gaudenzi, director of marketing, Francis Ford Coppola Resorts/Hideaways.
Each Room + Wild Naturals segment sees commonalities of unwavering devotion, passion and self-discipline from our varying subjects. Often, it is these attributes that have enabled these pioneers to be at the top of their game in their respective fields — each with a story equally as unique as the people and places they speak to. As we highlight the personalities who carry the torch in eco-tourism and sustainable destinations, we too, must learn from these nations, communities and their respective governments that collectively forge the path.
“You can find over 450 cayes (islands); dense, lush tropical rainforests, housing the largest remaining jaguar population on the planet; networks of caves, with the longest underground cave system in the Americas; and topping that list, is the second largest coral reef system in the world, which coincidentally just celebrated its 10,000-year anniversary.”
At the top of that list sits a Caribbean country on the northeastern coast of Central America, nestled below the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Known as “Mother Nature’s best kept secret,'' Belize houses some of the world’s last unspoiled ecological regions and wildlife. This does not come without consistent organizational and political mandates, and a whole system approach that truly seeks to protect and nurture the country's natural resources. One might also find a correlation in the fact that you will not find a single McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks or KFC anywhere within its borders.
Coral Caye
The geography also displays an incredible uniqueness, as we uncover more truths about the Belizean topography, land mass and surrounding ocean. The landscapes here are unlike any other part of the Caribbean, or the world for that matter. You can find over 450 cayes (islands); dense, lush tropical rainforests, housing the largest remaining jaguar population on the planet; networks of caves, with the longest underground cave system in the Americas; and topping that list, is the second largest coral reef system in the world, which coincidentally just celebrated its 10,000-year anniversary.
Keeping germane to the subject matter, we continue to uncover more layers of secrets, or, as a traveler searching for refuge might call it, a hideaway. The Family Coppola Hideaways found in Belize deviates from the cultural icon better known on the silver screen, but rather lends itself to an equally formidable collection of eco-hotels, all carrying with them a true sense of wild, and well-worthy of your next check on the bucket list.
“The Family Coppola Hideaways found in Belize deviates from the cultural icon better known on the silver screen, but rather lends itself to an equally formidable collection of eco-hotels, all carrying with them a true sense of wild, and well-worthy of your next check on the bucket list.”
As marketing director of this remarkable family-owned business, it’s safe to say our guest, Christine Gaudenzi, knows a thing or two about the eco-travel space and the importance of Belize on the world map as a leader in sustainable tourism. We sat down with her to get a peek into what makes The Family Coppola Hideaways in Belize the perfect destination for your next tropical adventure.
Blancaneaux Lodge
Blancaneaux Lodge
RW: Tell us about how you became involved in the travel/hospitality space and what you love most about your current role?
CG: I was in the right place at the right time. I had worked in the fashion industry in N.Y.C. and L.A., then moved to San Francisco and was part of the marketing team for a high-end shopping center there. There was an adjacent Kimpton hotel that I collaborated with to encourage guests to shop with us, and the director of sales (still a treasured friend) said, “You should be in the hotel industry.” Thus began a now 30-year career that started at a Kimpton hotel.
“I love the dopamine feel a hotel experience can provide to a traveler”
Travel can be cultural and aspirational, much like fashion, and I love the dopamine feel a hotel experience can provide to a traveler as much as I loved the same in the fashion industry. I’m thrilled to see that the fashion industry has evolved, and vintage and upcycled fashion is appealing to so many.
R+W: Room + Wild was born from a love for truly unique lodgings and hotels that are perfectly integrated into their natural surroundings. Your hotels in Belize are a shining example of rooms in the wild. With the growing need for people to be more aware of sustainable travel options, what would you say to someone that frequents places such as the Caribbean and overlooks Belize?
CG: Well, in the case of our hideaways in Belize, one might miss the fact that our founder and owner, Francis Ford Coppola, was a pioneer in sustainable tourism. When he purchased Blancaneaux Lodge in 1981, and eventually shared it with the public in 1993, he’d worked with an engineer to power the entire lodge off of the natural water flowing in front of it by creating a hydropower system on the Privassion Creek. If you don’t inquire as a guest, the sustainable practices that are part of our foundation might be missed. When you stay at our hideaways in Belize, you can have a full ridge-to-reef experience, as Turtle Inn showcases the sea experiences near the second largest barrier reef in the world, and Blancaneaux Lodge, the ridge experience with its further inland location on Mountain Pine Ridge where guests discover cave explorations, Maya ruins, waterfalls, hiking trails and much more adventure than a typical Caribbean sea-only experience offers.
“In the case of our hideaways in Belize, one might miss the fact that our founder and owner, Francis Ford Coppola, was a pioneer in sustainable tourism.”
Blancaneaux Lodge
R+W: With the entire world at our fingertips, can you give us some insight as to what attracted Francis Ford Coppola and his family to Belize back in the 80’s?
CG: As with each of their hideaways, it was very personal. Apocalypse Now was shot in the Philippines, and Francis Coppola loved it there and nearly bought an island getaway for himself. Eleanor Coppola suggested that it was a bit too far from their home in Napa. Someone mentioned to him that British Honduras would become independent in 1981 and become Belize, and that the verdantly beautiful country might remind him of his time in the Philippines. He ventured there with his son and quickly discovered the natural beauty of the land and the local people, and bought the abandoned Blancaneaux Lodge with the intention to only enjoy it personally to write on retreat and to bring his family on adventurous stays. Over time, as he slowly brought in amenities that no Belizean had seen — a wood-burning pizza oven, an espresso maker — soon he had all the necessary comforts of a lodge, and he continued to add cabanas as more wanted to visit, especially since the Maya ruin of Caracol was so near and under excavation. I refer to him as the “accidental hotelier.”
Turtle Inn
R+W: For someone who is unfamiliar with The Family Coppola Hideaways, can you tell us what makes the three different lodgings you offer in Belize unique: Blancaneaux Lodge, Turtle Inn and Coral Caye. And do you have a personal favorite?
CG: Oh, I can’t possibly pick a favorite. Though some likely do, which is more related to if the positive benefits of access to sea and sand feed their soul, or if the even more remote setting on Mountain Pine Ridge offering forest bathing feeds their soul. What makes each unique, is they are all private, remote, secluded, yet offer more services and amenities than any other choices within Belize. We have five cuisines in four dining venues at Turtle Inn; three dining venues, including three acres in the farm experience at Blancaneaux Lodge; and within lobster season, having lobster on-site at our private island Coral Caye is delightful. Additionally, we employ our own guides specializing in birding, hiking, archeology and more to showcase the cultural offerings in Belize.
“What makes each unique, is they are all private, remote, secluded, yet offer variety in services and amenities.”
Turtle Inn
R+W: We are curious to understand your ethos or brand pillars for such a unique and authentic brand in an industry where many make false claims or promises they don’t consistently deliver on. Are there specific values that you embody in your organization from the top down?
CG: Authenticity, quality and pleasure are our three brand pillars, with sustainability a core ethos, as we want to protect the natural environment that the Coppolas discovered at each of their hideaways.
“Authenticity, quality and pleasure are our three brand pillars, with sustainability a core ethos, as we want to protect the natural environment that the Coppolas discovered at each of their hideaways. ”
R+W: Where has your team drawn inspiration from when it comes to architecture, design, community and the overall experience of your hotels? Has it changed over time?
CG: We work for artists, true makers, as they have always been hands-on makers of anything they tie their names to, whether a film, wine, literary magazine (Zoetrope: All Story) or a restaurant such as Café Zoetrope in San Francisco. The Coppolas directed every detail in each, from a wine name and label at Inglenook (I’m partial to the delicious white wine named Blancaneaux made by Ingenlook) to the Guatemalan vintage textiles hanging in accommodations at Blancaneaux Lodge or the stunning carved wood doors from Bali gracing all of the dwellings at Turtle Inn. Every selection was personal and remains that way.
Regarding community, the Coppolas have generously supported local employment, including housing our team when on-site, and they’ve protected the natural environment and given to organizations in need. Newly, the general manager of Turtle Inn, following countless conversations with guests who want to do more for the locals as they fall in love with Belize and Belizeans, just announced our Belize Community Fund which seamlessly allows guests to make a difference for the local communities via the hand-selected NGOs and worthy organizations.
“The Belize Community Fund was started to allow guests to make a difference for the local communities via the hand-selected NGOs and worthy organizations. ”
R+W: Belize is often referred to as one of the top diving locations in the world. Some of the other very unique and equally attractive cultural, historic, geographic and biodiverse aspects of the country can easily get overlooked. As the head of marketing, we would love to know how you would best describe Belize in one sentence?
CG: A ridge-to-reef journey of an intimate country whose residents delight in sharing stories of the diversity offered there and who deliver warm, familial hospitality to everyone who visits their homeland.
“Describe Belize in one sentence: a ridge-to-reef journey of an intimate country whose residents delight in sharing stories of the diversity offered there and who deliver warm, familial hospitality to everyone who visits their homeland. ”
Coral Caye
R+W: Any advice for anyone out there who might want to start their own hotel business or eco lodge?
CG: Connect with the local indigenous culture first so that you offer something real and original, as opposed to built or fabricated, and befriend the many NGOs to understand the decades of work that is happening to protect land, sea, wildlife and the quality of life for local residents.
R+W: A lot of people do not realize the amount of history and Maya heritage in Belize, and how much of a rich, unique cultural melting pot it is. Do you find that your locations and the presence of that ancient heritage plays a part in the experience of being at your property?
CG: I’m so glad you asked. Yes, travelers might know before they arrive about some of the Maya history and experience it by visiting one of the sites. Garifuna drumming is an art guests experience at each of our hideaways on nights we add cultural musical performances to the dining experience. Learning about our organic farming practices during a tour of our gardens with the head gardener at each location teaches guests not only about agricultural history in Belize, but we also routinely educate farmers from all over Belize to embrace organic growing practices. We also offer cooking classes highlighting the melting pot of Belize, Maya, Garifuna and Creole cultures.
The Farm at Blancaneaux Lodge
R+W: We know that the Coppola family has a passion for wine and gastronomy. Can you tell us a little bit about the flavors we'd expect at your restaurants and produce grown on site?
CG: As mentioned in an earlier question, the variety is impressive for such intimate resorts. Whether one is craving a proper Napoli style pizza after a full day of snorkeling or hiking, or if Belizean-Creole slowly stewed meats, beans, rice and plantains is what a guest craves to ensure local flavors are tasted, we have both. And given our close proximity to Guatemala — where we have a beautiful lodge, La Lancha near Tikal — Blancaneaux Lodge offers a Guatemalan menu at one of their three restaurants. Of course, a fresh catch from the sea is showcased nightly, especially at Turtle Inn’s Gauguin Grill. And tied for my two favorite meals: dinner on the farm at Blancaneaux Lodge, which is a three-course vegetarian’s dream (promise you won’t miss the meat or fish!), and the Indonesian Rijsttafel dinner at Turtle Inn offered twice weekly — talk about flavors and spices and variety! It was born out of the fact that our GM, Martin Krediet is Dutch and thought this traditional shared meal experience would be a lovely addition.
*Images property of The Family Coppola HIdeaways, Aaron Colussi, Kevin Quischan, Gundolf Pfotenhauer.
