Charline Catteeuw is the founder of Côte. Her journey into hospitality entrepreneurship is a testament to the impact of personal experience and social consciousness. Pursuing a degree in hospitality management, she felt discouraged by traditional hospitality management education and explored various industries before immersing herself in sustainable tourism.
Engaging in community work in underprivileged areas from a young age, Charline recognised her privilege to travel freely and sought to give back to the places she visited. A pivotal moment during her travels highlighted the stark contrast between hotels and (often disadvantaged) communities in many of her destinations, motivating her to seek change by narrowing the gap between tourism and local realities.
Living on the island of Sri Lanka for the past five years, she witnessed her quiet fishing village transform into a popular tourist destination, which deepened her understanding of local communities' challenges amid rapid tourism growth. Balancing her roles as newcomer and part of a local family, she gained unique insights into the impact of tourism on local communities.
Through Côte, Charline aims to redefine hospitality concepts, prioritising responsible practices and community connection. Her journey highlights the importance of leveraging privilege for positive change, prompting the industry to prioritise destinations, communities, and the environment.
Charline, a member of Regenerative Travel and regularly shares her expertise on sustainability, localism and place-based tourism at hospitality schools.