Hotel in Mexico’s Riviera Maya Seeks to Change the World

It has been said that one person cannot change the world, but one hotel in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, is working hard to become the most environmentally-conscious resort in the industry and hopes that, by example, it will lead to greater efforts among hotels worldwide.

Sandos Hotels & Resorts continues to transform Sandos Caracol Eco Resort & Spa (http://www.sandoshotels.com/) into the number one environmentally-friendly property on the Riviera Maya, Mexico, through the implementation of conservation and preservation programs, activities aimed at raising awareness, highlighting the natural beauty of the region, and executing projects to protect the environment.

Recognizing its responsibility to reduce the use of non-renewable resources as well as sustain the region, Sandos Hotels & Resorts currently carries out a preservation programs which is monitored internally by an Ecological Committee as well as external auditors to ensure that they maintain a positive impact on the environment.

That program includes the reduction of carbon footprint, the implementation of a electricity savings program, the launch of a water conservation program, the recycling and separating trash, the use of biodegradable bottles throughout the resort, the elaboration of compost, the protection and reproduction of indigenous plants, the use of recycled paper for all printed material, the improvement of the flow of the fresh water system, wildlife conservation and eco-educational activities.

“At Sandos Caracol Eco Resort & Spa, our conservation program goes beyond environmentally-friendly activities,” said Jacques DePaep, director of sales and marketing for Sandos Hotels & Resorts. “We've appointed ourselves full-fledged allies of the environment.” He added.

Through the use of alternative energy, Sandos Caracol Eco Resort & Spa features a unit that uses a pilot system and solar panels to reduce the carbon footprint (CO2 emissions) by 75 percent. This technology will be used on other buildings throughout the resort in the near future.

The resort partnered with a local company, Publimedia Recycling, to collect and separate trash. Recyclable materials are brought to recycling centers in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. In addition, Ecolsur, a company located in Northern Mexico, has been tapped to assist the resort in training personal to handle and dispose of dangerous residue from substances such as oils, toners and batteries.

In an effort to reuse and maximize recycling, the resort implemented a project to turn organic material into compost. A compost canister made of recycled material is situated on the hotel property.

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort & Spa was originally built with respect to its surrounding eco-systems in order to preserve the property's pristine nature and wildlife. There is a nursery on property where indigenous plants are reproduced and replanted.

The resort is the only property on the Riviera Maya with 16 cenotes, underwater caves that were used by the ancient Mayans as a place to communicate with their gods. Sandos Caracol Eco Resort & Spa has removed sediment from the natural cenotes to allow the fresh water system to flow better. Better water flow allows nutrients to flow freely to the mangroves and out into the ocean to feed the coral reefs.