1. Stonefield Villa Resort in St. Lucia

Stonefield Villa Resort was founded by Anista Brown, a female entrepreneur. The hotel used to be a cocoa plantation, and served as her childhood home. She, along with some other members of her family, worked together to transition the large plantation to a luxury resort. Brown now is the sole owner of the property, with her daughter helping with sales and marketing. Some highlights of the resort include restaurants, gyms, event spaces, and private villas, each with their own private pool. One specialty that residents admire is that most of the produce is grown directly on the property, ensuring fresh ingredients for each meal. Check out Stonefield Villa Resort's website here! 

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2. Hotel Manapany in St. Barts

Anne Jousse, the founder of Hotel Manapany, has had a successful career developing other hotel properties all over France. She chose to expand to St. Barts because she had grown up visiting St. Barts, and felt at home having spoken the French language. She wanted to emulate her childhood memories of visiting the island when creating her hotel. Her hotel’s vision was “privacy and immersion.” Given that vision, some hotel specialties include private beachfront rooms with individual sundecks, morning yoga sessions, and more. Check out Hotel Manapany's website here! 

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3. The Retreat Costa Rica in Atenas, Costa Rica

Diana Stobo originally purchased the land that their hotel is now built on after an unexpected death in the family. She purchased the land that formerly belonged to her mother’s husband on a whim, and three months later started the beautiful hotel boutique now called “The Retreat Costa Rica.” The resort also serves as a wellness retreat, and is best known for the amazing views. Check out The Retreat Costa Rica's website here! 

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4. The Mansion Bali in Ubud, Indonesia

The Mansion Bali was founded by Claudine Quynh. Her idea was to create both a luxury hotel while also displaying traditional Balinese art. Her vision for the hotel was for it to be both luxurious while incorporating as much Balinese immersion for guests as possible. Some highlights of the resort include Balinese art galleries scattered throughout the resort, lotus ponds, multiple pools, and more. Check out The Mansion Bali's website here! 

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5. The Chanler at Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island

Lani Shufelt, now owner of The Chanler, was raised surrounded by family members in the hospitality industry. The Chanler was originally purchased by Shufelt’s father, and was called The Cliff Walk Manor up until 2003. After a renovation and many years of working at the hotel for her father, Shufelt became the sole owner of the resort in 2016. One main highlight of the resort that makes it stand out from others is the high sense of personalization. The intimate resort includes 20 individually designed rooms, extremely friendly staff members, and ocean front property. Check out The Chanler's website here!

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