Suite Sojourn: Eduardo, your journey in hospitality has taken you from Spain to New Mexico, Panama, and now Mexico’s Pacific coast. What first drew you to the world of hospitality, and how has your international background shaped your approach to leadership at Naviva?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: I fell in love with hospitality as a child. My father traveled often for work, and every couple of years, he would take us on one of his trips as our family vacation. Brazil, Ecuador, South Africa, France… as I became a teenager, I realized how much the interactions with the hotel team mattered. How a great team could make a trip unforgettable, and how a disengaged or uncaring team could make even the most beautiful destination feel disappointing. Those opportunities to genuinely change someone’s day became the reason I decided to study hotel management. All the different countries and cultures I have been part of are very much reflected in my leadership style. European excellence, American efficiency and friendliness, and Latin warmth and care. Every destination has shaped who I have become as a person and as a leader, teaching me to treat every staff member and guest as an individual, to understand their unique qualities and preferences, and to honor them for who they are.

Suite Sojourn: Naviva is described as a place where guests are never a number, but always a name. What does that philosophy mean to you personally, and how does your team bring it to life from the very first moment of arrival at Capullo Landing?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: At Naviva, this philosophy begins before our guests even arrive. Our guides connect with each guest weeks before their stay, learning about their interests, preferences, and intentions for their time with us. By the time they arrive at Capullo Landing, we already know their story. With only 15 bungalows and a three-to-one staff-to-guest ratio, we have the privilege of knowing not just names, but the person. Our team members genuinely care about creating meaningful connections. Whether it’s remembering how someone takes their morning coffee, understanding their desire for solitude or connection, or anticipating what might bring them joy, we approach every interaction with intention. This isn’t scripted service. It’s a natural outcome of having the time and space to truly see each guest who arrives at our resort.

Suite Sojourn: You’ve worked across a fascinating range of properties — from alpine lodges to private island resorts. How did those experiences influence the way you lead a destination as intimate and nature-focused as Naviva?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: Nature has always been my ultimate passion, and that is reflected in the properties and locations I have led. From a very young age, wild animals, the outdoors, and the natural world captured my interest. I grew up in Madrid and realized early on that I wasn’t made for the city. I was always happier and more relaxed at the beach, in the forest, or in the mountains. This innate love for nature, combined with the knowledge I gained from diverse locations and properties, is why at Naviva, every experience has nature as its foundation. We’re not forcing nature on anyone. Nature is simply around you, always present and flexible. I love seeing guests who don’t know they love nature fall in love with it. I believe we all love nature. We just may not have been introduced to it in the right way for our personality. Naviva allows guests to be completely immersed without feeling uncomfortable or out of place.

Suite Sojourn: As someone who’s deeply passionate about the outdoors, how do you weave your own connection to nature into the Naviva guest experience? What do you hope guests take away from their time immersed in this jungle sanctuary?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: I take every opportunity I can to be outside with guests. Whether it’s taking them on a hike around the property to talk about life, going out kayaking in search of turtles and whales, sitting at Copal with my drone and following whales and dolphins, or chatting about our favorite ski resorts around the world. These moments of shared experience create bonds that go beyond the typical guest-manager relationship. My hope is that after staying at Naviva, every guest has developed a new or grown interest in nature as well as In human connection. These are two things I think we’re all missing in our modern lives.

Suite Sojourn: Naviva’s concept of “luxury in nature” challenges traditional ideas of resort living — from its open-air design to the freedom of no set schedules or menus. How do you see this redefining what modern luxury hospitality means?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: Modern luxury is no longer about luxury for the sake of it. It’s about freedom, authenticity, and intentionality. At Naviva, we’ve removed many of the formalities that define traditional resort experiences. There are no rigid mealtimes, no fixed menus, no pressure to follow someone else’s schedule. Instead, we offer something more valuable: the luxury of choice and the space to simply be. Biophilic design isn’t just an aesthetic choice; it’s a philosophy. By blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living, we invite guests to feel the breeze, hear the ocean, watch the wildlife, and reconnect with senses that are often filtered out in conventional luxury settings. True luxury today means having the freedom to wake up without an alarm, to eat what you’re craving when you’re craving it, and to spend your day guided by intuition rather than itinerary. It’s about removing transactions and building genuine connections, both with nature and with yourself.

Suite Sojourn: With only 15 luxury tents and an extraordinary three-to-one staff-to-guest ratio, personalization is at the heart of Naviva. How do you and your team cultivate such meaningful, intuitive connections with each guest?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: Personalization at this level starts with listening, not just to what guests say, but to what they don’t say. Our guides begin engaging with guests weeks before arrival, asking thoughtful questions about their interests, energy levels, and what they hope to feel during their stay. Then once guests arrive, our small size becomes our greatest asset. With no more than 30 guests at a time, our team has the capacity to notice the details. We observe whether someone seeks solitude or community, whether they light up during a yoga session or prefer a private hike. We adjust in real time, offering experiences that feel intuitive rather than prescribed. Most importantly, we’ve built a culture where our team genuinely cares. They’re not just following protocols. They’re invested in each guest’s journey. This level of attention often surprises our guests, who tell us they feel truly seen and understood, often for the first time in a hospitality setting.

Suite Sojourn: The resort’s no-menu dining concept invites guests to simply share what they’re craving, and your team brings it to life. What inspired this culinary philosophy, and how do you balance spontaneity with thoughtful preparation?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: Traditional menus, while often beautiful, can feel limiting. They dictate what guests should want rather than responding to what they actually crave. At Naviva, we wanted to flip that dynamic entirely. Our culinary team, led by Chef Sofía Mojica, maintains a deep pantry of seasonal, local ingredients and a repertoire of techniques rooted in Mexican tradition. When a guest shares what they’re craving, whether it’s a light ceviche by the pool, wood-fired octopus for dinner, or comfort food from home, our team can respond with creativity and skill. The balance comes from thorough preparation behind the scenes. We source the finest ingredients daily from local farmers and fishermen. We study our guests’ preferences before they arrive. And we maintain flexibility in our kitchen operations. What appears spontaneous to our guests is the result of thoughtful systems that allow us to deliver a dining experience that feels personal, intuitive, and deeply connected to both place and palate.

Suite Sojourn: From the Temazcal ritual to oceanfront training sessions, guided night walks, and private beach dinners, Naviva seems to blend wellness, exploration, and culture seamlessly. How do you design experiences that feel both grounding and transformative?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: Every experience at Naviva is rooted in biophilic design, which means they’re inherently connected to nature and human wellbeing. Whether it’s the temazcal ceremony that honors ancient Mayan healing traditions, a sunrise yoga session on Risco Terrace overlooking the Pacific, or a guided night walk through the forest, each activity is designed to ground guests in nature. We don’t believe in wellness as a checklist of activities. Instead, we see it as an integrated approach to living that encompasses movement, nourishment, reflection, and connection. Transformation is possible because we create space for it. By removing distractions and encouraging digital disconnection, we help guests return to themselves.

Suite Sojourn: Naviva’s partnership with Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita gives guests access to broader amenities while preserving Naviva’s secluded feel. How do you strike that balance between connection and exclusivity?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: The partnership with Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita offers our guests the best of both worlds, in a way that is entirely optional and guest directed. Naviva remains a self-contained world where you can spend your entire stay without ever leaving. But if you want to play a round of golf or explore Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita’s restaurants, that option exists. It’s exclusivity with choice, not limitation.

Suite Sojourn: You’ve said that Naviva celebrates “the intrinsic bond humans have with nature and meaningful community.” How do sustainability, conservation, and local culture play into this mission?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: You cannot celebrate the bond between humans and nature without actively protecting and honoring that natural world. At Naviva, sustainability is foundational to who we are. From the beginning, we rehabilitated the land, surveyed every tree, and hand-placed each bungalow to minimize disruption to the existing forest. We use solar panels for 25% of our electricity, source drinking water onsite using hydropanel technology, and employ permeable concrete on all pathways to preserve natural stormwater systems. Our connection to local culture is equally intentional. We work with Mexican artists, craftspeople, and manufacturers, from the furniture makers at Taracea who specialize in recovered timber, to local farmers and fishermen who supply our kitchen daily. When guests visit award-winning artists at their private studios or sample small-batch Mexican coffee with local cafeteros, they’re engaging with the living culture of this region.

Suite Sojourn: You and your family have now made Mexico home. What do you love most about living here, and how has your time in Punta Mita influenced your perspective as both a leader and a resident?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: We are genuinely happy in Mexico as a family. My favorite part is watching our youngest son, who became completely bilingual in just a few months and now feels Mexican. I love being able to enjoy the ocean with them and the new perspective this is bringing into our lives. Living in Mexico has given us a new way of looking at life. We’re more relaxed, more connected to each other, and more connected to the community around us.

Suite Sojourn: If you could describe the ideal Naviva experience — from arrival to farewell — in just a few words, what would it be?

Eduardo Sampere, General Manager at Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort: The ideal Naviva experience is deeply personal, as it’s always tailored to each guest’s interests and needs, but here is mine: Early mornings with a guided activity like yoga, kayaking, hiking, or shore fishing. Delicious breakfasts savored slowly. Beach and pool time, including a daily nap. Spa treatments in the early afternoon, followed by a temazcal and sound healing session. Conversation, cocktails, and dinner at Copal with the team and other guests. And an Unplugged concert under the stars. Two or three scheduled experiences per day, with plenty of time in between to enjoy the grounds, connect with people, and retreat to my bungalow. The rhythm feels natural, with days that feel full but never rushed.

Image courtesy Four Seasons / Eduardo