Hotel Xcaret Mexico Sets the Bar for Sustainable Hospitality

WHY IT RATES: Those preferring an eco-friendly resort can be assured that's exactly what they'll get at Hotel Xcaret Mexico, as they're the first, and only, hotel in the Americas to be awarded EarthCheck Certification for Planning and Design.—Jessica Zickefoose, TravelPulse Associate Editor

Hotel Xcaret Mexico, which opened in December 2017, is the first hotel by Experiencias Xcaret, the leader in sustainable and socially responsible tourism. It is also the first and only hotel in the Americas to have been awarded the EarthCheck Certification for Planning and Design, a recognition to the hotel’s compliance with best practices in key aspects such as energy, water, transport, material selection, ecology and social, economic and cultural well-being.

“Experiencias Xcaret is committed to promoting sustainable economic and sociocultural growth, and we do so by leading by example. We want our guests and visitors to experience the Mexico we love and honor responsibly, and the best way to do so is by operating by a business model that empowers our communities and protects the environment,” said Marcos Constandse, CEO of Experiencias Xcaret.

In addition to a design that required nine years of geological, environmental and water studies to assure preservation of the existing ecosystem, the hotel has taken other measures in its day-to-day operation to reduce carbon footprint, be energy efficient, use water responsibly and adequately manage waste. Furthermore, the hotel has taken a proactive approach to impact vulnerable Mexican communities in a positive and sustainable way.

Below are some examples of practices Hotel Xcaret undertakes to assure a sustainable tourism model:

—Reduced single-use plastic waste. The hotel uses straws made from avocado seeds and serves only purified water in reusable glass bottles. The straws were developed by a Mexican company, using technology that produces polymers very similar to plastic out of the avocado pit, a material that is 100% biodegradable.

—Continuous contribution to Experiencias Xcaret Animal Welfare and Endangered Species Conservation Programs, including Sea Turtle Conservation, Coral Reproduction, Stingray Research, and Scarlet Macaw Conservation. In fact, Xcaret Park holds the Guinness World Record for the highest number of macaw births born in one year (132), an initiative funded, partly, by guests stays at Hotel Xcaret Mexico.

—Adherence to a very strict recycling and waste management policy. All organic materials are taken to Xcaret Park and turned into compost that is then used to reforest green areas of Destino Xcaret (that includes all parks and the hotel), as well as reforesting the median of surrounding highways.

—Implementation of programs that support vulnerable communities. For example, lamps in every room are made by inmates of a nearby prison, which is part of an educational program funded by the hotel that aims to rehabilitate through teaching them a trade; stained glass decorations are made by indigenous communities in Oaxaca and Chiapas; and wicker baskets given to guests at turndown service are handmade by artisans in a community development program in Campeche.

In addition to all the sustainable practices that Hotel Xcaret Mexico has, the guest experience is further enhanced with the ALL-FUN INCLUSIVE® concept that provides unlimited access to Experiencias Xcaret’s eight nature parks and tours including Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor, XplorFuego, Xoximilco, Xenses, Xichén and Xenotes, in addition to world-class accommodations, exceptional culinary experiences, airport shuttle service, 24-hour room service, concierge and many more perks.

For more information, visit hotelxcaret.com.

SOURCE: Hotel Xcaret Mexico press release