Nicolas Peluffo : Disconnecting into Awe

In a hyper-connected world filled with constant noise, notifications, and performance, we often travel just to capture the photo rather than live the moment. But what happens when true luxury isn't about being seen—it's about the privilege of disappearing?

In this profound episode, Chris Schembra sits down with Nicolas Peluffo, CEO of Awasi Lodges. With over two decades of experience across hospitality, real estate, and finance, Nicolas explores how Awasi’s carbon-neutral, Relais & Châteaux lodges in South America—from Patagonia and the Atacama Desert to Iguazú and Santa Catarina—provide the setting for guests to disconnect, surrender control, and reconnect with intrinsic human awe. 

Together, they discuss why time and space are the ultimate modern luxuries, how unscripted nature lowers cortisol and restores genius-level creativity, why hiring for attitude over aptitude is the secret to true hospitality, and how surrendering to the present moment unlocks our deepest clarity.

10 Memorable Quotes

  1. "You come to experience something unique, right? To be in awe. And that's the reason that makes you get there." — Nicolas Peluffo

  2. "A normal hospitality company says, 'We're your home away from home.' The way we approach it is: this is your best friend's home." — Nicolas Peluffo

  3. "We're hit by way too many distractions—noise, people, email, text... that makes it increasingly difficult for anyone to be human." — Nicolas Peluffo

  4. "We all need that connection with nature. We all need that disconnection from the noise and the things that are unimportant." — Nicolas Peluffo

  5. "We're not built to be in a seat, on a sofa, definitely not in a shopping mall." — Nicolas Peluffo

  6. "When looking for attitude versus aptitude, attitude always prevails. It's very difficult to teach someone to smile, but it's pretty easy to teach someone to use Excel." — Nicolas Peluffo

  7. "Smile, not because you were told to smile. Smile because this is what you were meant to do." — Nicolas Peluffo

  8. "Hospitality is unlike any other customer experience. I don't think any other business has the same level of vulnerability and surrender both ways." — Nicolas Peluffo

  9. "Surrendering for me is letting go of all those constraints that the world told us—that we need to be better, faster, cheaper." — Nicolas Peluffo

  10. "Forcing things into existence is not the best way of going about things... Flow happens when you surrender." — Nicolas Peluffo

10 Key Takeaways

  • The Privilege of Disappearing: In an overstimulated society, true well-being comes from reaching places where you can become unreachable and step away from constant noise.

  • Hyper-Customized Hospitality: Exceptional experiences are built around individual human pacing ("your pace, your space") with dedicated guides and private vehicles rather than rigid group itineraries.

  • Space for Cognitive Genius: Slowing down in nature allows the brain to process internal insights, creating the mental space needed for breakthrough creativity and innovation.

  • The Neurobiology of Awe: Immersing oneself in vast natural landscapes reduces cortisol, lowers inflammation, and shifts focus away from big egos toward prosocial connection.

  • Unstaged and Unscripted Moments: Authentic human experiences cannot be transactional or manufactured; they flourish in unscripted interactions with nature and local cultures.

  • Hiring for Heart and Energy: True hospitality cannot be scripted; organizations must hire people with an innate inclination to serve, prioritize attitude over skills, and cultivate genuine presence.

  • The Power of the Smile: Emotional energy is transmitted instantly—even through a phone call—making authentic warmth and positive energy essential for meaningful human connection.

  • The Vulnerability of Hospitality: Creating transformative experiences requires mutual trust and vulnerability between host and guest as people share meals, stories, and life moments.

  • Surrender Before Power: Letting go of the need to control every outcome opens up flow, presence, and deeper alignment both in leadership and in personal life.

  • Living Intrinsically vs. Extrinsically: Shifting from external validation (like social media approval) to intrinsic presence transforms a brief transaction into a lifelong memory.

About Our Guest

Nicolas Peluffo is the Chief Executive Officer of Awasi Lodges, a collection of carbon-neutral luxury lodges and Relais & Châteaux member set in South America’s most remote corners—including the Atacama Desert, Torres del Paine, Iguazú, and Santa Catarina. Bringing over 23 years of experience across hospitality, real estate, finance, and technology, Nicolas previously served as Founder and CEO of TRVLR and spent nearly seven years at Awasi's Santa Catarina property (formerly Ponta dos Ganchos) rising to General Manager. He served as President and Co-Founder of the Brazilian Luxury Travel Association (BLTA) and sat on the Board of Directors of Relais & Châteaux as Delegate for South America. A graduate of Harvard Business School's OPM program with certifications from Cornell University, Nicolas resides in Santa Barbara, California, leading Awasi’s conviction that time and space are the greatest of privileges. Learn more at awasiexperience.com.

Chris Schembra