Ken Cruse is the founding partner of Soul Community Planet
Sure , a handful of luxury brands had a lock on affluent travelers concerned about the planet , but in the accessibly priced space , options were few and far between . Thus , Soul Community Planet ( SCP ) was born .
The mission of the San Juan Capistrano , California-based brand is to provide holistic hospitality experiences for individuals who want to make positive choices for themselves , society and the planet . The name is a mix of the three defining attributes : Soul , or personal wellness ; Community , or social good ; and Planet , or sustainability .
The initial SCP opened in Colorado Springs , Colorado , in 2018 and two additional properties have since debuted . Cruse says they have been the brand ’ s “ test kitchens ,” providing a chance to refine the look , feel and procedures before expanding further .
SCP is arguably the antithesis of cookie cutter . The development model relies on existing boutique hotels and vintage motels ; in the conversion process they assume what Cruse describes as an eco-industrial vibe . The core design elements are shared , including eco-friendly sustainable materials , energy-efficient systems , solar power , coworking spaces , plant-forward foods and workout / yoga facilities or in-room fitness options like Peloton . “ But from a design standpoint , they have a great deal of flexibility , mostly driven by what the market is looking for and what the asset is made for ,” he explains .
“ If a bohemian barista / yoga instructor developed a product , it would look like Soul Community Planet ,” Cruse says . One of the core elements are “ peaceful rooms ” where 10 % to 20 % of the inventory is designed without clocks , radios or TVs and furnished with meditation pillows , yoga mats , salt lamps and other zen-like touches . Cruse chooses a peaceful room when he stays at one of the hotels . “ Psychologically , I think I ’ m doing something good for myself .”
SCP doesn ’ t force feed the hippie vibe to guests . Cruse himself might subscribe to certain wellness practices — he eschews meat and alcohol , exercises daily and surfs for fun — but the idea behind the hotels is to make a variety of healthy choices available to anyone . “ People can stay in whatever
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