The Good Hotel Antigua is a stylish and charming twenty-room boutique hotel located deep in Antigua, Guatemala. The hotel is part of the UNESCO-protected center in Guatemala and is a part of the Good Group. Many of the efforts of the good hotel revolve around giving back to the community. They promote premium hospitality with a cause as their motto. Being a branch of the good group, they are part of many programs that uplift the community.
THE GOOD PURPOSE
When visitors stay at Good Hotel Antigua, all operational margins go to Niños de Guatemala, a foundation by CEO Marten Dresen, the Good Hotel founder. Marten started the hotel in 2006 when he began to fundraise for a young girl named Mirna to be able to go to school. The process led him to build an elementary school that would help Guatemalan children like Mirna have an education and a better life. The foundation provides schooling for 600+ underprivileged children who need education.
The hotel has many programs that contribute to Antigua’s local economy, one of them being, The Good Training Program. This program is a hospitality training course that allows students to have three months of classroom study and paid work experience. When the students graduate, they have the chance to work full-time at the Good Hotel or one of the foundation’s partners’ hotels. The Good Program trained more than 300 employees with a 70% success rate, helping fight against unemployment.
THE GOOD GROUNDS
The unique boutique hotel sits on a former mansion and features contemporary design in its architecture. The settings are stylish and stunning, using repurposed materials, symbols, and colors. They tell a unique story about Antigua’s culture by blending local colonial inspiration with a minimalistic style. The hotel uses comfy decor and natural materials in its interiors. There is an emphasis on sustainability through up-cycling and recycling furniture and decor. The hotel is designed by architects Remko Verhaagen and Sikko Valk of Amsterdam, explaining why their aesthetic is so chic and modern.
The Good Hotel features a wide range of bright and airy communal spaces ideal for relaxing or working. The hotel practices sustainability by sourcing local and ethical materials. They are against plastic straws and always support local tradespeople and small business owners.
The architects decorate the garden terrace area with tall green bamboo plants to match the wooden frames and columns. The rocks are spread along the pathways, with grass on the left side. Near the walkway, there is a wooden swing that uses long ropes, and they match the color and design of the palm plants.
THE GOOD ROOMS
The rooms use herringbone tile planks as the floor tile designs, with wooden desks and bamboo doors. The decor also includes wooden coffee tables and other plant-based elements that are regenerated. Even though the hotel uses sustainable products, the decor does not fall short of luxury and quality. The architect’s organic and straightforward approach in design matches perfectly with the hotel’s sustainable theme.
Some of the rooms have bold and vibrant blue carpet designs. The walls are in a neutral beige tone, along with a very modern black staircase. The couches have tribal patterns that remind us of Guatemalan history and culture. The Guatemalan children are on the large portraits that hang on the wall, smiling while socializing with friends. They remind people that their stay is helping them build a bright future.
Staying at the Good Hotel is a fantastic reminder of just how lucky we all are. It reminds us that we are the future, and we need to do our best to make sure our future is as bright as it can be for our community.