Mexico Meeting & Incentive Planner 2014 - (Page 45)
GOING GREEN
Sustainability is a hot topic in today's meetings world. Hotels, convention centers and
tour operators throughout Mexico have comprehensive sustainability programs that
help reduce carbon footprints.
Which means now your clients can be green no matter where
they're staying. From Green Globe and LEED certified to eco
meeting tools, Mexico is helping protect and preserve the
environment in myriad ways.
Compared to 10 years ago, many of the newest centers are
in boutique destinations, where they enhance development by
attracting new hotels, shops and restaurants. New resorts now
grace the beaches near the new Mazatlan International Center, and
downtown Puerto Vallarta's first new hotel in 10 years opened on the
heels of the new Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center.
HOTELS
Mexican Caribbean
"Some firms won't even consider a facility unless it has green
programs," says Brad Williams, Carlson Wagonlit senior director
of operations, meetings and events. In the Mexican Caribbean,
you'll find a wide choice of eco-certified resorts. Properties with
the esteemed Green Globe International certification include all
eight Iberostar resorts in Cancun, the Riviera Maya and Cozumel;
Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Viva Wyndham Maya and Viva Wyndham
Azteca, and Karisma properties' El Dorado Maroma, El Dorado
Royale and Azul Sensatori resorts. Dreams resorts are Rainforest
Alliance Verified and Barcelo resorts are Earth Check certified.
Carbon offsets are included in the pricing at the Grand Velas
Riviera Maya, which includes solar water heating, a co-electricity
plant, two desalination plants, water recycling, composting and
19,000 mature trees, planted during its 2008 construction. In
www.visitmexico.com
45-46_2014_GoingGreen.indd 45
addition, 83 percent of its supplies and services are locally sourced
and 92 percent of the staff ride to work in company shuttles.
The Grand Velas was Mexico's second hotel to receive
the Clean Beach certification from the Mexico Institute of
Standardization & Certification. And like most of Mexico's coastal
resorts, it manages a sea turtle rescue and release program.
The Fairmont Mayakoba's Eco-Meet program lets planners
minimize clients' ecological footprint in many ways. Four
components-Eco-Accommodation, Eco-Cuisine, EcoService and Eco-Programming-allow groups to customize
their sustainability. Options include organic and/or sustainable
menus, waste-free meetings (for example, metal instead of plastic
utensils) and activities with Sian Ka'an Community Tours, an
environmentally certified Mayan operator.
The Fairmont also employs an ecology manager to help
preserve the property's natural underground rivers, freshwater
lagoons and wetlands. The resort's golf course, the legendary El
Camaleon, is Audubon Certified.
Karisma's hotels are equally pro-environment. Each resort
achieves an average 11 percent reduction in water consumption
and 12 percent reduction in electrical consumption, and uses
biodegradable cleaning products and recycles. Karisma recycles
vegetable oil which is turned into bio-diesel fuel, explains
David Ortegon-Martinez, corporate sustainability development
coordination. Karisma also runs employee workshops supporting
the Mayan culture, gender equality and human rights.
The Sandos Caracol Eco-Resort & Spa in Playa del Carmen
is another eco-focused choice. As a Rainforest Alliance Verified
| 2014
GOING GREEN
45
12/5/13 2:31 PM
http://www.visitmexico.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Mexico Meeting & Incentive Planner 2014
Here and There
Centers of Attention
Meetings That Matter
Valuable Partnerships
Meeting Resources
What to Do
Spa Days
Industry Destinations
Going Green
Baja California
North
Central
Mundo Maya
Mexican Caribbean
Gulf/Isthmus
Pacific Coast
Mexico Meetings Hotels
Mexico Meeting & Incentive Planner 2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2011
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com