Dive Industry Innovator: Karolin Troubetzkoy

Karolin Troubetzkoy grew up in the hospitality world, discovering her passion for the industry at just 6 years old while spending time at her aunt’s hotel at Lake Tegernsee in the Bavarian Alps. After completing a practical semester in St. Lucia while pursuing her degree in tourism and hospitality management at the University of Applied Sciences in Munich, Troubetzkoy found herself drawn back to the island in 1984 for a different reason: to live with her future husband, Nick Troubetzkoy, the architect and visionary behind Anse Chastanet Resort.

Together, the couple developed Anse Chastanet and, later in 2006, its sister property Jade Mountain. Before ecotourism became a buzzword, the Troubetzkoys championed marine conservation, organic farming and buying locally.

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Responsible travel isn’t just about what you avoid doing it’s about who you empower through your choices.

—Karolin Troubetzkoy

In addition to working as the executive director of marketing and operations at the two resorts, Troubetzkoy has become a leader in building a more regenerative approach to travel in the St. Lucian and Caribbean tourism industries. Among her roles, she has served as chair of the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, president of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, and president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association. Troubetzkoy also helped establish the Tourism Enhancement Fund, which created a reliable, industry-led funding mechanism to support local tourism development, community projects and training programs.

“There is a real need to protect and preserve what we have,” says Troubetzkoy. “It’s not just about the hotel and having a wonderful environment. It’s also about the livelihoods that depend on the blue economy.”

Q You’ve advocated for the environment since very early in your career and built sustainable hotels when that wasn’t the industry norm. Can you talk a bit about what first inspired your commitment to responsible tourism?

A While I started my career focused on hospitality, after living and working in the Caribbean for over four decades, I became increasingly aware of the fragility of our ecosystems and the threats of climate change. This shifted much of my volunteer leadership toward conservation and biodiversity protection. I have become an advocate for destination stewardship, ensuring that tourism development goes hand in hand with the preservation of the natural and cultural assets that make our region unique.

This commitment led to the creation of the Marine Health Alliance under the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund, bringing together partners dedicated to marine protection. Through my role as chair of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation, we also established the Marine Health and Tourism Resilience Scholarship to help train the next generation of Caribbean professionals working at the intersection of tourism and environmental sustainability.

Q As a leader in Caribbean tourism and hospitality, you’ve advocated for keeping tourism dollars within the community. What are some of the initiatives you’re proudest of?

A Looking back, one of my proudest achievements is that we’ve always put St. Lucia first—economically, socially and environmentally. From the very beginning, Nick and I made a conscious decision that, as much as possible, the resorts would purchase, build and produce local furniture and furnishings, promote local artisans and celebrate local culture.

We pioneered our Art in the Hotel program back in the 1980s, created a network of local seamstresses and craftsmen for our furniture and textiles, and built meaningful connections with farmers and fishermen. This philosophy became a true form of community-based sustainable tourism.

Q How can we still do better as responsible travelers when we visit the Caribbean?

A Travelers can make a profound difference by asking: Where does my money go? Choose locally owned businesses, stay at hotels that support their communities, buy local products, support conservation programs and respect the fragility of island ecosystems. Responsible travel isn’t just about what you avoid doing—it’s about who you empower through your choices.

Q What are your ambitions moving forward? What would you like to accomplish next?

A At this stage of my life, my passion remains building resilience. Whether it’s supporting our national conservation fund, advancing marine biodiversity initiatives or creating training opportunities for young Caribbean professionals, I want to help leave behind stronger institutions that can carry this work forward long after I’m gone. And, always, to continue mentoring the next generation of tourism leaders to build sustainable businesses that serve both people and planet.

MILESTONE MOMENT

Thanks to the Troubetzkoys’ unique vision and sense of purpose, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain’s magic extends well beyond the resort grounds. The couple pioneered the creation of the Soufriere Marine Management Area in 1995, a marine park that protects an abundance of St. Lucia’s underwater life. Anse Chastanet is found at the center of the park, with most dive sites within a 10 to 15-minute boat ride away.

“Nick was truly ahead of his time in recognizing that the marine space needed to be protected long before marine conservation became a global conversation,” says Troubetzkoy. “He saw very early on that St. Lucia’s reefs were not only beautiful but fragile, and that without careful management, overfishing, anchoring and development could quickly damage these precious underwater ecosystems. He became one of the early advocates for creating a formal protected area along St. Lucia’s coast and worked tirelessly alongside government officials, local fishers, scientists and community leaders to advance the establishment of the Soufriere Marine Management Area. It was one of the first true comanaged marine parks in the region—balancing conservation, tourism and livelihoods for local communities.”

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Later, as climate change and reef degradation became more apparent, Troubetzkoy took their work even further, partnering with Reef Rescue Network and Perry Institute for Marine Science to launch two coral nurseries directly in front of Anse Chastanet. “This allows us not only to help restore corals, but also to involve our guests and local community members in meaningful reef conservation efforts right at the shoreline.”