IBEROSTAR Mexico: Certified sustainable tourism

IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts policies for sustainable development are founded on corporate values. As part of this policy, the group strives to work with socially responsible suppliers and environmentally friendly products on a daily basis. The group has joined the United Nations Global Compact which promotes the implementation of sustainable and socially responsible practices at companies around the world. This reflects IBEROSTAR’S foremost objective to mitigate the effects of climate change through resource efficiency and contaminant reduction.

Green Globe recently re-certified 10 IBEROSTAR properties in Mexico in accordance with a strict set of compliance criteria that evaluate sustainable standards.

“IBEROSTAR is a socially responsible company that works nonstop to keep its operations 100% sustainable by making the most of its resources and using them wisely. Our goal is to contribute to responsible tourism, by minimizing the environmental impact of our industry. We consider it very important to have the certifications that validate the work we do every day through socially responsible initiatives that promote environmental wellbeing,” said Laura Molano, Corporate Marketing, Communication and CSR Director at Grupo IBEROSTAR.

IBEROSTAR properties are involved in a range of conservation programs that preserve natural areas and wildlife. The Think Green program is the main initiative that has been in place since 2010 to implement sustainability standards within the daily operations of all the group’s hotels in Mexico. The environmental impact of each property is measured before sustainable management and mitigation goals are set. Since 2010, IBEROSTAR has participated in the International Coastal Cleanup and from 2013 to 2015, more than 8 miles (13 km) of public beaches have been cleaned. In addition, in 2011, a Sea Turtle Conservation Program was introduced with the aim of spreading awareness about protecting sea turtles that lay eggs on the beaches of hotels. From 2013 to 2015, more than 55,264 hatchlings were released into the wild from IBEROSTAR hotels in Mexico.

On land, IBEROSTAR supports reforestation projects and contributes toward the monitoring of local flora and fauna. Furthermore, a unique collection of national and exotic, indigenous plants are on display for visitors. These conservation efforts have had a positive effect on animals in the region. The Coati Conservation Program also launched in 2012 aims to monitor and limit negative impacts on White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica), an animal native to Mexico and related to raccoons.

Each and every IBEROSTAR hotel utilizes green energy optimization technology. New hotels such as IBEROSTAR Playa Mita incorporate the latest innovations including the installation of a solar heating system capable of producing approximately 250 MWh/year. Future plans aim to double the system’s current capacity from heating 45% of the hotel’s hot water to heating 90% of water requirements thereby generating 500MWh/year of solar power.

To further minimize energy consumption, LED lighting has been installed replacing conventional bulbs (lasting 2,000 hours) with high quality, durable bulbs that last a minimum of 30,000 hours. While more efficient magnetic air conditioning equipment saves energy and allows optimal usage of cooling systems. All facilities that require temperature control, heating and lighting are regulated by a centralized building management system (BMS). The efficiency of the automated control system has led to a reduction of more than 20% in energy usage.

All water used at hotels is generated through a reverse osmosis process to conserve water supplies. And a water treatment plant recovers 80% of all wastewater and reuses it to irrigate the grounds. Biodegradable cleaning products are also preferred that protect nature and minimize the environmental footprint of individual properties.

Every hotel in the IBEROSTAR group has a solid waste management plan that keeps track of total waste volume produced and allows annual reduction goals to be set. Awareness campaigns on waste segregation are also provided for staff and guests alike. In 2015, more than 995 tons (903,349.7 kilograms) or almost 30% of all solid waste was recycled.

Community support programs are also of key importance to IBEROSTAR management and employees. The inaugural IBEROSTAR’s Run for a Cause was held in 2015 where staff and guests were invited to participate in and raise funds for a charity organization. Last year, IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts collaborated with the Quintana Roo Children’s Rehabilitation Center to hold a fundraiser that assisted children with neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. This year IBEROSTAR will join forces with the Quintana Roo Family Services Department that contributes toward cancer treatment for children. This event will be organized by Mexico’s Teleton Foundation and held next month on October 15.

IBEROSTAR is currently working on another CSR initiative – the Caps for Treatments program to be implemented at all of its hotels in Mexico. Bottle caps will be collected for an association that recycles them in order to help children with cancer. More than 10,000 caps have been collected so far. A ton of caps equates to one course of cancer treatment for a child.

IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts is a resort hotel chain based in Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain), founded by the Fluxà family in 1986. IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts is an integral part of GRUPO IBEROSTAR, one of the main Spanish tourist companies with over 60 years of experience, which currently has 100 hotels of 4 and 5 stars in 17 countries around the world. For more information, please visit: iberostar.com

Green Globe is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe is based in California, USA and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe is an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). For information, please visit greenglobe.com