Ocean Friendly Hotel Spotlight: Soul Community Planet Hotels

Meet Soul Community Planet Hotels (SCP), a hospitality company built around creating meaningful connections between people, places, and communities. In this blog, SCP shares their perspective and insights from behind the scenes of the business.

Please tell us about your hotel. What makes it a special destination for your guests, and how is your location connected to the ocean?
At SCP, we call what we do Holistic Hospitality: wellness-minded rooms, plant-forward dining, cozy gathering spaces, and access to nature, all built around three simple pillars: Soul, Community, and Planet. From our destinations in Laguna Beach and the Mendocino Coast in California, to the unique rock formations of the Oregon Coast, to the island of Hawai’i and Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, guests wake up steps from tide pools, surf breaks, and some of the most biodiverse coastline left on the planet. We didn’t choose these locations by accident. When your neighborhood is the ocean, protecting it and living in balance with its rhythms is part of daily life.

What ocean-friendly practices does your hotel have in place? What sets your hotel apart in terms of its commitment to sustainability and ocean health in particular?
Sustainability is baked into how we operate. On property, that looks like eliminating single-use plastics, composting food waste, using low-flow fixtures to conserve water, and sourcing our plant-forward menus locally and with the seasons. Beyond our hotel properties, guests create a positive ripple effect through our Every Stay Does Good® program, which turns every guest stay into direct action for the ocean. Depending on the property, that means funding coastal and reef restoration with SeaTrees and the Boardriders Foundation in Southern California, cleaning Costa Rican coastline through Innoceana’s Pristine Playa program, or removing trash from Hawaiʻi’s beaches alongside the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund. Across our portfolio, it all adds up: we’ve eliminated 680,000 plastic bottles, diverted 33,000 pounds of food waste from landfills, and helped avoid a million pounds of CO2 emissions, with our guests’ impact growing every day.

1 The Laguna Surf Lodge overlooks the Pacific Ocean, in the eclectic seaside community of Laguna Beach.

2 Guests staying at Laguna Surf Lodge by SCP Hotels can access nearby kayaking and explore spots like Diver's Cove.

3 SCP's Laguna Surf Lodge has oceanfront firepits -- the perfect spot to catch the sunset. 

4 Wellness is big focus of SCP's amenities. Laguna guests can join an 8 am cold plunge at the ocean, or practice yoga on the beach with mats provided in each guest room.

5 With ocean views like these, responsibility comes naturally. The beauty beyond SCP hotels is a daily reminder of why sustainability matters.

Why did you decide to join Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Hotels program?
Joining the Ocean Friendly Hotels program felt like a natural extension of who we already are. Pam Cruse, our CMO and co-founder, put it this way: “Ken and I have spent our whole lives on the water: sailing, hiking, chasing the next coastline with our daughters in tow. Partnering with Surfrider was about making sure that gift gets passed on and shapes the lives of others the way it's shaped our own.” We wanted our commitment to the ocean to grow alongside a community of hotels and advocates who inspire each other to keep raising the bar.

Why do you think it’s important for the hospitality industry to prioritize sustainability? What role can you see the industry playing in protecting our ocean?
Travel has the power to invite people to fall in love with the coast, and that same invitation is a chance to help them fall in love with protecting it, too. Hotels sit at a unique intersection with guests, staff, vendors, and local communities all in one place. This means the choices we make around plastics, water, and local sourcing create a ripple effect that reaches further than most industries. When ocean health becomes part of the guest experience itself, hospitality has the power to be one of the strongest forces for coastal protection there is.

1 SCP Hotels hosts epic adventures via vintage 1967 Land Rovers. Guests can book private tours to the Southern California or Oregon Coast and experience secluded surf spots and scenic paddleboard tours.

2 The Salishan Coastal Lodge in Gleneden Beach, Oregon features a spa with views of the coast.

3 Rocky shores, salty air, and endless views—hotel guests can step away from Salishan and explore the rugged beauty of Gleneden Beach right along the Oregon Coast.

4 Many of SCP properties have complimentary cruiser bikes for guests to explore the coast at their own pace.

5 The spa at Salishan Coastal Lodge is the perfect way to relax at the end of the day, especially after a day of adventure. From the aerial park to scenic nature trails, there are plenty of ways to get out and explore Oregon’s natural beauty.

What advice do you have for other hotels looking to become more sustainable and may be considering joining the Ocean Friendly Hotels program?
Start with what's achievable today, and let that momentum carry you forward. At SCP, we think of sustainability as a daily practice and a part of who we are. Every concrete, measurable step builds on the last and adds up to real change over time. Share that journey openly with your guests and lean into programs like Ocean Friendly Hotels; the community and shared accountability help everyone move faster and go further, together.

Anything else you want to share?
One more piece of this story worth sharing: our restaurants are part of it, too. Every SCP menu is built around plant-forward, locally sourced ingredients that celebrate the flavors of the communities right outside our doors and keep our supply chain close to home. That same care carries all the way to the plate: our restaurants are certified through Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants program, and the values that shape our hotels show up in every meal we serve, too. 

Beyond that, just gratitude. Partnerships like this one with Surfrider remind us that protecting the ocean isn’t something any single hotel or organization can do alone. We’re glad to be part of a community that’s driving the hospitality industry to be better, together.

1 At their property in Mendocino, Terra Farm Kitchen celebrates the vibrant bounty of Northern California, bringing together exceptional local ingredients, sustainable sourcing, and thoughtful preparation in every dish.

2 Stay right on the Mendocino Coast in one of SCP Mendocino Coast Lodge’s oceanfront cottages, where peaceful surroundings, private garden entrances, and sweeping ocean views make it easy to slow down and savor the Northern California coast.

3 At SCP Hilo, adventure is just steps away. Guests can take advantage of complimentary stand-up paddleboards and explore the waters of Hilo Bay during their stay.

4 Experience the spirit of Hawaiʻi at SCP Hilo with hands-on island activities like lei making, hula lessons, and fresh fruit tastings — an authentic way to connect with the local culture during your stay.

5 At the Corcovado Wilderness Lodge, guests can start the day grounded in nature on the open-air yoga deck, surrounded by lush jungle, ocean views, and the soothing sounds of Costa Rica. A peaceful space to reconnect, recharge, and prepare for whatever adventure comes next.

6 From guided wildlife and birdwatching tours to hikes through Corcovado National Park, mangrove excursions, and whale and dolphin monitoring, there are countless ways to experience Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity with SCP Hotels. Explore the Osa Peninsula on foot or by water, with each adventure offering a closer look at the wildlife and wild landscapes that make this region so extraordinary.

Ready to experience Holistic Hospitality for yourself? Check out one of SCP’s ten locations and discover how every stay can do good for the planet. And if you know a hotel that sounds like a great fit for the program, encourage them to sign up as an Ocean Friendly Hotel and join us in raising the bar for ocean-friendly hospitality.