Island with a Heart: How Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort Is Redefining Luxury Through Community and Care

With a strong sustainability ethos and inclusive collaborations, this Davao de Oro resort shows how tourism can uplift. The Lubi Art Project is just one expression of its mission.

- By Pamela Imperial

There are island getaways—and then there's Lubi. Tucked off the coast of Mabini in Davao de Oro, this serene slice of land is home to Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort, a property that offers much more than beachfront luxury.

Property Report recently joined the resort's media tour and the unveiling of the Lubi Art Project. What we found was something far more enduring than a weekend escape: a place where sustainability isn't just a buzzword, but a working system. Where community partnerships quietly transform the landscape into something thoughtful and alive.

"When people visit Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation, they can experience a kind of luxury that's at par with the most exclusive resorts," said Tomas Lorenzo, President and CEO of Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation, the company behind the resort. "But what will surprise them is how cost-effective it is to stay here."

And yet, what truly sets Lubi apart is not just its value, but its values. From infrastructure to imagination, the resort's foundation is one of balance—with nature, with its community, and increasingly, with the arts.

SUSTAINABILITY BY DESIGN
Lubi's approach to sustainability is deeply embedded in both its infrastructure and daily operations. The island is powered in part by a 1-megawatt solar farm, made up of 1,836 panels that generate up to 60% of its energy needs. Rainwater and seawater are filtered through a two-stage reverse osmosis process to produce clean, potable water. Even heat from air-conditioning units is captured and recycled to warm water in guest villas—a thoughtful design that minimizes energy waste.