Coastal Tourism and Sustainability

This program is part of our 2025 Climate Change Series: Coastal Impacts and Resources. This series is co-sponsored by York Public Library, York Ready for Climate Action and York Land Trust. 

Sessions include: Sea Level Rise on Feb. 12, Offshore Wind on Feb. 26, How to Speak Bird on March 12, Native Bird Stroll on March 16, Working Waterfront on March 26, Coastal Tourism and Sustainability on April 9, Helping Coastal Towns to Adapt on April 23, Invasive Plant Removal on April 29, and York Land Trust Native Plant Sale on May 10. Most are Virtual Programs!

Popularly referred to as "Vacationland," Maine hosted 15.3 million visitors in 2023, with tourism a major driver of the State's economy.  Learn from two hospitality experts, Haven Hatch (COO of the Crane Hotel Group, York, ME) and Rauni Kew (PR & Green Program Manager of Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, ME) of creative ways Maine resorts have adapted facilities, practices, and services to become more sustainable.  Including moving beyond sustainability to regenerative tourism where guests are encouraged to leave their destinations better than they found them.

Register Below! You will then receive confirmation and the zoom link for the session. 

About Haven Hatch: 

Haven is the Chief Operations Officer of Crane Hotel Group in York, Maine, overseeing boutique hotels, restaurants, and a newly launched spa. With a background in environmental science, sustainability, and environmental education, she is passionate about the role hospitality plays in protecting natural resources and supporting local communities. Growing up in York, Haven saw firsthand the impact of tourism on the environment, shaping her commitment to sustainable and regenerative practices. She now works to integrate these principles into hospitality operations, creating guest experiences that are both memorable and environmentally responsible.

About Crane Hotels: 

Crane Hotel Group is a boutique hospitality company based in York, Maine, known for its innovative approach to guest experience and operations. With a portfolio of hotels, restaurants, and a newly launched spa, the group is dedicated to creating thoughtful, memorable stays that blend coastal charm with modern hospitality. By continuously evolving its offerings and anticipating guest needs, Crane Hotel Group delivers high-quality service, unique amenities, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that keeps visitors returning year after year. The Crane Hotel Group includes Viewpoint, Stones Throw and The Nevada, all in York.

About Rauni Kew: 

Rauni Kew has been working in hospitality for over two decades and is the Green Program Manager at Maine’s Inn by the Sea, supporting the luxury beach resort’s initiatives around sustainability. She served on the board of Visit Portland for 13 years, and chaired the DMO, also serving on Maine’s Tourism Commission and as the Greater Portland’s Regional Representative at the Maine Office of Tourism. She has been a member of University of Southern Maine's Tourism and Hospitality degree program’s advisory board for 12 years. Inn by the Sea has achieved a LEED ® Silver certification and is a member of Beyond Green Travel, a highly curated collection of hotels and resorts with sustainable operations in 18 countries around the Globe that adhere to the United Nation’s pillars of sustainable tourism. 

Previously Ms. Kew was Marketing Director for a manufacturer in the Chemical Process Industry, launching dispersion equipment that reduced sludge in activated wastewater treatment plants. 

About Inn by the Sea: 

The Inn by the Sea is an idyllic oceanfront escape, located on a mile of unspoiled sand beach, and is Maine's premier beach destination. The Inn offers elegant hospitality in 62 rooms, and one and two bedroom suites with the best of two worlds- a relaxed coastal retreat but located just 7 miles from Portland's urban- chic small port city with unique boutique shopping, galleries and world class museums and restaurants. Guests at the intimate Inn enjoy a full service SPA, heated pool, cardio room, fireplace lounge, ocean view dining and a private boardwalk to Crescent Beach.