We recently connected with Ariel Barrionuevo and have shared our conversation below.

Ariel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

La Coralina Island House is the result of a mixture of curiosity, observation, and solid interest in the uncharted Caribbean. I grew up in a small town in Córdoba, Argentina, where I spent most of my childhood outside. I explored fields and worked along the river while imagining all the possibilities that life held for me outside of that little town. That sense of freedom and nature as a child has influenced how I now think about space and experience.

After moving to Buenos Aires at 18 years old, I had my first experience with hospitality by working at a hotel as a side job. Creating experience for guests through the anticipation of their needs, the design of the environment, and creating a personal connection to guests is very creative in its own right. I have come to see hospitality as my medium for combining my imagination, storytelling, and connecting with people.

Slowly, I was creating a vision of how to take that Philosophy on a journey of my own, in a new place – a place where authenticity, wellness, and nature could all be intertwined within harmonious tranquility. This would all begin with the Caribbean; it was the perfect canvas upon which to build. It was never just about opening a hotel but creating an experience where you could reconnect with yourself, with others, and with the natural rhythms of the world around us.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Ariel Barrionuevo, and I am the co-founder of La Coralina Island House. For over 20 years I have worked in the luxury hotel industry, including positions at both the Faena Group and Sofitel (Accor Group) in Buenos Aires.

As a child in a small town in Córdoba, my family placed great importance on both discipline and curiosity. I have always been drawn to creativity — painting, acting, and observing — and that blend of creativity and quiet observation continues to influence the way I think about hospitality.

While finishing school, I worked at a hotel to earn some extra money and discovered that this was where my creativity could be expressed. I discovered that creativity is not only found in traditional mediums, such as painting or acting, but also in creating experiences for others. Hospitality became my medium; it was a way for me to utilize human connection, intentional design, and storytelling to create an emotional connection with every person I met.

At the La Coralina Island House in Bocas del Toro, we create spaces and experiences that are intentionally designed, authentic, and connected to the natural world. We also provide holistic wellness services, including Temazcal ceremonies, cacao rituals, and retreat workshops, to help people reconnect with nature and its rhythms. In addition to our wellness offerings, we invest in community projects, such as a youth surfing and eco-program that teaches discipline, connects youth to the ocean, and promotes eco-friendly behaviors.

Creativity is the driving force behind my business strategy. I view my business as a canvas on which imagination, purpose, and structure coexist. Discipline and process are not barriers to creativity; they are the building blocks upon which creative ideas can be developed sustainably.

I am most proud of the ability to be resilient during challenging times. After losing my leadership role at one point, I had to rebuild from the ground up, and I had to rethink who I was without a title. This experience taught me that effective leadership must be based on purpose and not on a name or title.

Every piece of work I create is guided by intention. I believe that authenticity is the true measure of any creative entrepreneur’s success and that the only way to create lasting change is by having a meaningful impact on those around you, whether it be emotionally, culturally, or environmentally.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I experienced a point in my career when pretty much everything I had been working towards totally fell apart so fast that it made my head spin. From all outward appearances, I was doing great in the luxury hotel business — doing well financially, getting offered more and more international assignment opportunities, and gaining increased responsibilities. Then a new Exec comes in from another hospitality company and restructures everything at the top of the company. I was then told I was going to be replaced in the job I was doing.

My performance had nothing to do with what happened. At that time, it did not even matter. One day, I was looking for work, and the next day, I was not. I spent many months finding out what was next for me. My own ego was what made it so much harder because I could not find a new position for my new level of achievement.

At last, I decided to completely restart my business from the ground up. I was willing to have humility as I took this step, and did it for perspective as well. I slowly rebuilt my career, knowing that my title is only for a period of time; however, the passion I have for doing the job is what will last.

The experience helped me to become much more resilient. I learned that being a leader isn’t about having a title or position in society. If you love to create experiences, build teams, and serve others, then you can always start over and likely come back even stronger than before.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My reputation was built on creating meaningful experiences through creativity in hospitality. I have always seen myself as an artist or designer; however, this is not the only example of creativity. For me, creativity can also be found in how you anticipate someone’s needs, create a certain type of environment, and form an emotional connection with someone.

When I began to develop my values around leadership and hospitality, I learned that (1) structure helps support creativity and that (2) discipline, preparation, and process do not impede your imagination, but allow it to thrive.

I learned to treat my ideas as “seeds,” which need the appropriate amount of time, environment, and attention to flourish; therefore, I was able to provide intentional and sustainable experiences rather than impromptu ones.

Another vital element of storytelling that has helped create meaningful relationships with clients is the sharing of our core values, process, and intent through honest, authentic means. This type of trust is established before the customer arrives at the location to experience the space for themselves. Furthermore, consistency in one’s voice and delivery of these messages helps to build credibility with the customer.

In summary, reputation does not come from one’s title or social standing; it can only be earned through the demonstration of one’s purpose, humility, collaboration, and commitment to one’s values.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lacoralinaislandhouse.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacoralinaislandhouse/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacoralinaislandhouse/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-barrionuevo-21986a12/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaCoralina.IslandHouse

Image Credits

La Coralina Island House