Rethinking What Luxury Travel Looks Like with Wilderness Boutique Stays
What if luxury wilderness travel was about more than a beautiful room and an incredible view? In this episode, architect and hospitality designer Kevin Kennon joins Lisa to talk about his vision for Beyond Zero, a new concept focused on intimate wilderness destinations designed around adventure, comfort, connection, and personal transformation. THIS EXPERIENCE IS COMING SOON…
Kevin shares his thoughts on what makes a truly special travel experience, why remote locations matter, and how thoughtful design can help travelers reset and reconnect with nature. Plus, hear about his favorite way to travel, his must-have item for every trip, and what he hopes to create with the future of wilderness hospitality.
Kevin would love to receive input in designing these experiences. You can reach out to him here paulkevinkennon.com
When you think of a luxury wilderness getaway, what comes to mind?
Maybe it’s a beautiful tent overlooking the mountains, an incredible view, cozy accommodations, and a gourmet meal waiting for you at the end of the day.
But architect and hospitality designer Kevin Kennon is imagining something very different.
Kevin has spent his career designing everything from skyscrapers to homes, teaching architecture at universities including Yale, Princeton, and Columbia, and working on hospitality projects around the world. His latest venture, Beyond Zero, is focused on creating small, wilderness boutique hotels and resorts designed around something deeper than simply having a beautiful place to stay.
The goal is personal transformation.
What Is Beyond Zero?
Kevin founded Beyond Zero, a company focused on wilderness boutique hotels and resorts.
But these aren't simply places to sleep in a beautiful location!
The concept is centered around the guest experience and the idea that travel can be transformative.
Rather than starting with a predetermined idea of what a wilderness resort should look like, Kevin and his team are trying to start from scratch and ask:
What would travelers actually want?
That means paying attention to the different reasons people seek out wilderness travel.
Some guests might want:
Adventure
A sense of discovery
Connection with nature
Privacy
Comfort
A cozy place to escape bad weather
Opportunities to meet other interesting travelers
A chance to disconnect from everyday life
The idea is to create an experience that can accommodate all of those different motivations.
It's Not a Hotel. It's a Destination.
Perhaps the best way Kevin describes the concept is that it's not a place to stay. It's a destination.
Instead of thinking about the experience like an Airbnb, he compares it more to an amazing dinner party.
You might meet people with similar interests who have traveled from completely different parts of the world, while still having plenty of privacy and personal space.
The goal is to create a balance between:
Privacy and connection
Adventure and comfort
Social experiences and solitude
Activities and relaxation
It's a small-scale approach to hospitality that puts the experience ahead of simply maximizing the number of rooms.
Why Remote Locations Matter
Kevin and his team are currently looking primarily at properties in the American West, Southwest, and Midwest.
One important part of the concept is finding truly remote land. The properties they're considering are generally at least 1,000 acres.
Why so much land?
Because Kevin doesn't want guests to arrive at a supposedly remote resort only to see other hotels nearby or drive through a developed tourist area to reach it.
For him, that takes away from the experience.
The goal is to create a place where travelers can genuinely feel surrounded by nature rather than feeling like they're simply staying at a hotel that happens to be located somewhere scenic.
The Goal: Personal Transformation
At the heart of Beyond Zero is the idea of personal transformation.
Kevin hopes these properties will give guests an opportunity to reset and recalibrate their mind, body, and spirit.
And that doesn't necessarily mean everyone needs to spend their trip doing adventurous activities.
For one person, transformation might look like:
Hiking through the wilderness
Trying a new activity
Meeting new people
Exploring the surrounding landscape
For someone else, it might mean:
Reading a book
Sitting somewhere quiet
Enjoying a beautiful view
Disconnecting from social media
Simply having space to think
The experience is intentionally broad enough to accommodate both types of travelers.
A Guest-Centric Approach to Hospitality
One thing that makes Kevin's approach particularly interesting is his focus on designing around the guest rather than simply designing around the business model.
Kevin describes the process as guest-centric, with an emphasis on understanding what travelers actually want and what experiences have worked or failed for them in the past.
The company is even seeking input from travelers as it continues developing the concept!
So if you've ever stayed somewhere and thought, I wish this hotel had done this differently, this could be your chance to help shape what comes next.
Please reach out to Kevin if you have any ideas!
The Wilderness Lodges Are Still in Development
The first Beyond Zero property is currently in the design and development phase.
The initial property is expected to have approximately 24 to 26 rooms, keeping the experience intentionally small and intimate.
The company is still searching for properties and refining the concept, so the exact locations and details aren't being publicly shared yet.
And that's intentional.
Kevin and his team don't want to rush the process. They want travelers to have an opportunity to provide feedback and potentially become part of the community surrounding the project before the properties open.
Want to Help Shape the Experience?
One of the coolest parts of this project is that Kevin is actively looking for feedback from people who love to travel.
If you have strong opinions about what makes a wilderness experience incredible, he's interested in hearing them.
Think about:
What makes a luxury hotel feel truly special to you?
What amenities actually matter?
What makes you feel connected to a destination?
What would make you want to completely disconnect?
How much adventure versus relaxation do you want?
What would make you return to the same property again?
Kevin says the easiest way to connect with him is through LinkedIn. Travelers who are interested in the project can reach out, mention the podcast, and potentially schedule a short conversation with him about their experiences and ideas.
Rethinking What Luxury Travel Can Be
Kevin's approach to wilderness hospitality is a great reminder that luxury doesn't necessarily mean more.
Sometimes it means better.
A better connection to nature.
A better understanding of what travelers actually want.
A better balance between adventure and comfort.
A better opportunity to disconnect from everyday life.
Beyond Zero is still in the design and development stage, but the concept is already an interesting look at where luxury wilderness travel could be headed.
And perhaps the biggest takeaway is that the most memorable travel experiences aren't always about how many amenities a place has.
They're about how a place makes you feel.
If you could design your own dream wilderness retreat, what would it include? Kevin and his team would love to hear your ideas as they continue developing Beyond Zero.