Redefining co-living
After working in Pedasí, a fishing town in Panama, Daniel Rudasevski and Rafael Museri saw the need for a unique hospitality offering. They traveled extensively, staying in more than 120 hotels, hostels, and houses. “We were looking for a consistent offering that allowed us to meet new people, experience different cultures, and seamlessly live and work anywhere. We couldn’t find it, so we created it,” Rafael tells ALHAUS.
Nicaragua | All images courtesy of Selina
by Matthew Burgos
While traveling, the duo noticed missing elements from the properties, such as local experiences, attractive price points, and the means to stay productive. “Following our year of travel, we sought to create a hospitality brand that would cater to a new generation of travellers—somewhere they could feel a sense of community and be comfortable, have a space to work, experience unforgettable moments, and create meaningful connections with other guests and locals.” This was the beginning of Selina.
Woven as a den to stay, explore, and co-work, Selina provides guests a well-rounded travel and hospitality experience while in the heart of metropolitan cities or in the depths of the Amazon forests. As Selina puts it, they gift “forever-travellers, break-takers, and stay-caters with a new and exciting way to explore the world.” Whether the guest is in Latin America, the USA, Australia, or Europe, there’s a space that will suit their daily grind and leisure, luring them in with the recreation, wellness, and local activities that come with the check-in.
Waking up from a luxury suite or a hammock after stargazing, guests may curb their morning hunger with Selina’s locally sourced and organic produce cooked up as traditional dishes in their chosen accommodation. If it’s too early to grab breakfast, they can tap into their zen and enter a reflective state with rooftop yoga, guided meditations, sound baths, dance circles, and cacao ceremonies—to name a few. Alive, alert and refreshed, it’s time to work.
Costa Rica, San Jose
Individually-designed offices—tucked into city centres, jungle hideaways, and beachside—stimulate creativity and productivity. Light spills from the windows or from bulbs enclosed in rattan; soft and earthy tones dot the surroundings; and pieces by local artists bring Selina’s culture to life. “As we continue to grow, Selina will prioritise health, wellness, and co-working among Millennial and Gen-Z travellers,” Rafael shares.
Aside from the Instagram-worthy look and flexible co-working and living spaces, Selina contributes to social responsibility with its Selina Impact strategy. “It helps churn our company values of authenticity, impact, integrity, and wellness into action. Through these programs, local community members who face social and economic challenges can access practical training to learn about the hospitality industry, develop new skills, and discover job opportunities inside their communities,” says Rafael. The programs offer workshops focused on mental health, job readiness, and sustainability practices, among others, to boost its staff and guests’ sense of purpose and commitment to social causes. All while free surfing classes and fitness activities help its communities zero in on shared wellbeing.
“In addition to our weekly and monthly programming of free local community workshops and classes, Selina provides resources specific to each location by giving spaces to local organisations to use as a platform for everyone to express, connect, interact, and talk about topics of common interest to improve the local communities where Selina is based,” says Rafael. Selina believes in promoting a culture of giving back by encouraging its communities to participate in these programs. “By doing this, we ensure participants have authentic experiences, connect with the local community, and contribute positively during their time at Selina.”
When asked about how Selina envisions its growth in the upcoming months, Rafael shares that the brand celebrated a record month in December 2021 with the opening of six new destinations and the soft launch of an additional six locations, marking its entrance into the new markets of Uruguay, Australia, and Thailand. “As we enter 2022, one of our main goals is to continue finding ways to excite and strengthen Selina’s communities. Over the next few months, this push will include continuing the brand’s global expansion; strengthening partnerships with big names like Volcom; developing new partnerships with TechnoArt; and planning for SIMS, Selina’s upcoming music festival series.”
Panama City
As Selina’s community of digital nomads and remote workers grows, it continues to offer immersive experiences that allow everyone to live and work seamlessly, be it in a city or in nature.