Successful Meetings - November 2008 - (Page 13) > On The Record News & Analysis Preserving Paradise With a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in marine biology under her belt and a second master’s in sustainable tourism in the works, Lyn Santos certainly has the educational background to serve as ecology manager of the Fairmont Mayakoba, part of the Mayakoba complex on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. And Santos’ past experience overseeing the development of all of Mayakoba from an environmental standpoint made her a natural to take the reigns at Fairmont when it comes to sustainable endeavors. She now ensures that the property’s four ecosystems—mangroves, coastal dunes, lagoons, and jungle forests— and the wildlife that call them home, function as naturally as they would if not surrounded by a luxury resort. Mayakoba itself is a development that also includes a Banyan Tree, Rosewood, and Viceroy hotel, as well as one other property yet to be named. Santos spoke with Successful Meetings about what makes Mayakoba special. SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS: How do the Mayakoba properties share environmental responsibility? SANTOS: The Mayakoba complex has a team of biologists that oversee ongoing environmental practices and ensure that all of the hotels on Mayakoba’s grounds comply with the environmental regulations established by the Mexican government. Every hotel has assigned one team member to head environmental initiatives and deliver the corresponding reports associated with these activities. At Fairmont Mayakoba, aside from overseeing these practices, the ecology manager ensures that daily hotel operaSUCCESSFUL MEETINGS NOVEMBER 2008 BEING REWARDED WHEN YOU RETURN IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. LYN SANTOS Ecology Manager Fairmont Mayakoba tions are aligned with responsible and sustainable lodging. These practices also adhere to Fairmont’s Green Partnership, a comprehensive approach to reducing the impact on the environment and promoting sustainable lodging established across Fairmont Hotel properties in 1990. S M: How is the environmental impact of the property’s golf course, El Camaleon, kept to a minimum? SANTOS: The golf course was developed taking into consideration the preservation of the mangroves that surround it. Additionally, the use of Paspalum grass has allowed for a much lower amount of potable water to be used during the course’s irrigation, as this particular grass is highly saltwater-tolerant and water from the hotel’s reclaimed water treatment facility is processed and also used to irrigate the golf course. successfulmeetings.com SAVE ON MEETINGS OF 49 OR FEWER ROOM NIGHTS Book multiple small meetings at a Hyatt Resort by December 30, 2008, and receive double Hyatt Meeting Dividends and rewards for your ® group. Please reference offer code RMMYS. SAVE ON MEETINGS OF 50 OR MORE ROOM NIGHTS Book multiple large meetings at a Hyatt Resort by December 30, 2008, and receive double Hyatt Meeting Dividends, rebates for your group and ® even more rewards for your board. Please reference offer code RMMYL. Contact your Hyatt Worldwide Sales Representative, call 800 872 3600 or visit hyattreply.com/resortmeetings for more information on offers and complete terms and conditions. http://www.hyattreply.com/resortmeetings http://www.hyattreply.com/resortmeetings http://www.successfulmeetings.com
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