Is sustainability a destination—or just the beginning?
After months of work, the moment of truth has arrived. The Casiola team anxiously awaits the verdict from Sustonica, reflecting on the victories, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. In this final episode, we revisit the full journey—from waste reduction to community connection—and discover which properties passed the rigorous audit. But even certification isn’t the end. With the launch of Casiola’s new Digital Guidebook and long-term commitments to sustainability, the team proves that true sustainability lies in staying the course.
Can a vacation home be both fun and eco-friendly? Casiola is finding out. In this series, they’ve gone on a journey to make their homes more sustainable, aiming to get certified according to Sustonica.
Now we begin the final step of this journey, as we find out if Casiola has what it takes to meet today’s standards for more sustainable property management. So… they finally have an answer for us. Let’s see if it’s good or bad news.
[Music fades in]
Hey team, I have some great news.
We just received our first sustainability certification badge from Sustonica!
[Applause]
All right, team—we did it!
But our journey doesn’t end here. Let’s inspire others to change hospitality for good.
[Applause]
I won’t lie—it wasn’t easy. It took a lot of time and resources. We had to collect tons of documentation, switch out many of our products and guest amenities, and go through time-consuming audits for every single home.
But now that we’ve done the groundwork, we’re hopeful the process will be smoother and faster going forward. And the best part? We did it. Even if it’s a small step, it feels amazing to know we’re making a real difference.
There is, however, one tricky part: there might be surprise reviews from the auditors at any time. So you need to be prepared year-round to receive an inspection.
There are so many small things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint and educate our guests while they stay with us.
We ran into quite a few challenges. Some utility providers don’t offer green energy, some counties don’t have a recycling program, and it’s tough to find affordable suppliers that avoid microplastics.
But thankfully, Sustonica was there to help us through it all. A lot of the requirements are common in Europe, but feel completely foreign here in Florida.
Take double or triple-pane windows—many of our homes still have single-pane, which is wild considering the extreme summer heat.
Fortunately, there are great resources online, like the partner courses from Booking.com, and the team from Sustonica has been amazing to work with.
As the procurement manager, this process really opened my eyes—it changed how I evaluate products, and I’ve gained a lot of valuable knowledge. I’m genuinely proud to work at Casiola.
Now that we’ve obtained this certification, I feel incredibly proud. It makes me think more about our role in caring for the world.
When speaking to our owners, some were immediately on board. Others needed a bit of explanation—but once we showed them how simple the process would be, most were easily convinced.
And the results? Lower energy bills, lower water bills, and happier guests who are thrilled to see we’ve implemented eco-friendly practices.
Newer appliances, sustainable toiletries, and other updated amenities all add value. Guests appreciate properties that are efficient, clean, modern, and thoughtfully equipped.
There are small but meaningful upgrades—easy to implement, but powerful enough to give you that peace of mind that says: “I took our properties from here… to here.” It’s a worthwhile effort. And I’m happy we did it.
Of course, I’d love to get all our owners on board—but I know that’s not realistic. Still, every little step counts. Every owner who joins us is part of the impact, and it’s exciting to know that we’re leading the way.
But this is bigger than Casiola. I hope we can inspire other property managers and hosts to follow suit.
On our own, our impact is small. But by sharing this journey, we hope to spark a global movement toward more sustainable vacation rentals.
Saving resources means saving money. It’s a win-win for everyone.
With that, the adventure comes to a close—and Casiola is now officially Sustonica certified.
Vacation rentals can be both fun and forward-thinking. From reducing energy use and waste, to connecting guests with the local community, we’ve proven that sustainability and hospitality go hand in hand.
All of it made possible thanks to the hard work and dedication of the entire team.
For more information, visit sustonica.com and discover how your property can make a difference too.
And like Dennis said:
Let’s change hospitality for good.
About “Sustainability through Sustonica – The Casiola journey”
Sustainability Through Sustonica follows Casiola’s transformative journey to achieve Sustonica certification, a prestigious global standard for sustainable tourism. Across six episodes, the team navigates various challenges, from waste reduction to community engagement, all while striving to meet rigorous criteria. Through our commitment to practices that can reduce our encironmental impact, Casiola not only redefines how vacation rentals operate but also inspires the broader industry to adopt sustainable practices.
This docuseries is an exploration of innovation, dedication, and the impact of small changes in creating a more sustainable world.
