Owner of Playa Viva and Co-Founder of Regenerative Travel
David Leventhal has been recognized as a pioneer of regenerative travel since founding Playa Viva in 2005. By honoring place—geographically, socially, and historically—Playa Viva redefines luxury as an experience rooted in natural immersion, positive impact, and impeccable service. This ethos is best captured in its trademarks: “Where Your Vacation Meets Your Values™” and “Immersion in the Luxury of Nature.”
In 2019, Leventhal co-founded Regenerative Travel with Amanda Ho, expanding his vision to a global scale. His mission is to harness travel as a force for good, replicating Playa Viva’s whole-systems, eco-luxury approach across properties, travel agencies, DMCs, and other key players in the industry worldwide.
David now serves on the board of Regenerative Travel and LegacyWorks Group, a nonprofit organization that fosters regenerative initiatives by bringing together communities, capital, and collaboration to drive positive, lasting change.
“I’m a regenerative (social and environmental) impact entrepreneur and investor,” David says. “A Biz Dev guy at heart, my background is in sales and marketing in emerging media and technology. Over the last 20 years, my endeavors have focused on real estate and hospitality and follow my values for regenerative, environmental and social impact.
“Through Playa Viva and Regenerative Travel Inc, we have endeavoured to leverage hospitality (and real estate investments) to bring capital (social, market, intellectual, natural and financial) to work in improving the ecosystem, both people and planet, to create vibrant, resilient, healthy and profitable systems for all participants. It takes a “slow money” committed investment and it’s working. Hospitality can positively impact and transform you, the communities and ecosystems you visit. We are all just tourists on this planet and our goal is to make it better for the next generation.”
