The Fairmont Mayakoba, on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, is a tourist destination nestled in the heart of Riviera Maya. The hotel offers spectacular views of canals, lagoons, and mangrove forests, and also offers close access to Cozumel, Chichén Itzá, and beautiful beaches.
But being a beautiful resort and a tourist destination was not enough for this hotel—they also wanted to be one of the most sustainable eco-tourist destinations in Mexico. Working with the GSTC, the Fairmont Mayakoba has been able to make great strides toward being fully sustainable, while also protecting the surrounding habitat, along with its flora and fauna.
Fairmont Mayakoba has a genuine commitment to continuous improvement on their social, environmental and cultural performance, including active approval and continued commitment at the management level. The criteria have been an instrumental tool in steering management to implement a sustainability program.
“One of the best things about joining the GSTC was how easy it was for our hotel’s management to implement a sustainability program and measure progress toward our overall goals,” said Lyn Santos, Ecology Manager at the Fairmont Mayakoba. “The GSTC also provided us with opportunities to get the word out about our sustainability programs, and gave our program legitimacy, to avoid the stigma of greenwashing.”
The Fairmont Mayakoba has sought to preserve the heritage of the ancient surroundings, which included tree relocation as well as the safe relocation of more than 40 species of animals. Inside the hotel, there has been significant progress on grounds naturalization, waste management reduction, natural resources preservation, and sustainable food service.
“Being involved with the GSTC will allow our hotel to continue to be recognized as one of the most sustainable eco-tourism destinations in the world,” said Santos. “Companies in the tourism industry should take advantage of this resource that not only builds recognition in the industry, but also helps the company save money and increase overall revenue.”
