regenerative hospitality concept

Hotel Atabey

Concept by

team cornell university

Winner of the 2023

Regenerative Hospitality Case Competition

NHL Stenden, Leeuwarden, NL

Inspired by the native Taino and constrained by FEMA’s construction regulations, we envisioned the regenerative adaptive reuse of the Antigua Central Azucarera Canóvanas into a multifunctional hospitality project featuring nomadic tiny-home hotel rooms, micro plots for small farming, an open-air community market, culturally and thematically-based activities, and a sculpture garden.

This project leaves as light a footprint on the landscape as possible, following the ways of nature. It also provides space for local commercial and agricultural activity.

Support Provided

Concept Development

Financial Analysis

Budget Development

Project Coordination

Pitching

Full Concept

Regeneration is Atabey, a word from the indigenous Taino culture of Puerto Rico that means Mother Earth. Atabey encompasses nature, fresh water, and fertility of the land which are all ideals incorporated in our hospitality concept. Atabey expresses the synergistic relationships between people, communities, and the land. Our concept is built on respect for the people and place of Canóvanas, Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico, the native homeland of the Taino people, was the first community colonized in the Western Hemisphere. Christopher Columbus landed in Puerto Rico on November 19, 1493. Since his landing, generations of exploitative industries laid the groundwork for an island nation filled with impoverished communities. Those industries left natural systems shattered and people undervalued and overlooked. It is clear that Puerto Rico is the perfect location to plant the seeds of regeneration…

Read the Project Report below.

Hotel Atabey | Project Report |

Hotel Atabey

Project Report - 2023

Read

meet the team

Holly Kalousdian

Branding, Food & Beverage Development
Cornell University
B. Hospitality Administration & Management, Minor in Real Estate.
Alejandra Siguenza

Architectural Design, Site Planning, Energy Analysis
Cornell University
B. Architecture 2025
Alvieno James De Matos Oliani Stinson

Investment Analysis, Development Analysis, Location History
Cornell University
MPS Real Estate & M. Regional Planning
Emme Wong

Interior Design, Visualizations, Branding
Cornell University
B. Environmental Design
Harley Woodward

Branding, Events & Amenity Programming
Cornell University
B. Hospitality Administration & Management