RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO—Emerging on the hotel scene with an environmental focus, Sandos Hotels & Resorts unveiled plans to convert Sandos Caracol Beach Resort & Spa and Sandos Select Club Beach Resort & Spa in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, into an Eco-Resort and Eco-Versity in which guests will view, learn and engage in ecological techniques and practices. The new Sandos Caracol Eco-Resort & Spa will debut in 2009.
“In order to move towards a sustainable future, we decided to transform our Caracol complex into an Eco-Resort by implementing a variety of ‘green’ practices that are taken to the next level,” said Jacques De Paep, director of sales and marketing, Sandos Hotels & Resorts.
“One of our goals is for hotel guests to take home some of the eco-friendly principles we’ve put in place at the new Caracol Eco-Resort & Spa, and in this way, everyone can continue to play a role in sustaining the environment,” he added.
Plans for the Caracol Eco-Resort & Spa include the following:
• Carbon dioxide reduction. The resort aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 75 percent by 2012. Using alternative energy technologies, Sandos will transform one of the property’s structures into one of the hospitality world’s first “zero emissions” buildings. Upon completion, this technology will be used on additional buildings within the property.
• Eco-Zoo. Sandos Hotels & Resorts is pioneering a concept whereby each area of the property will be designated to a type of autochthonous animal. Many of the chosen species have been endangered in the area, and the resort will work with universities and other agencies to implement breeding programs to re-establish the species population.
• Daily Eco-Zoo activities. Once the Eco-Zoo is in place, guests will have the opportunity to attend free lectures and tours in order to learn about the wildlife at the resort. Guests will also be able to interact with and feed certain animals.
• Eco-points. Guests will have the ability to participate in ecological activities including beach cleanups, saving tortoises in Akumal, Mexico, and setting exotic bird species “free” into the wild to earn points that can be redeemed for free nights at the property.
“We realize that in order to teach our guests how to actively protect the environment, we must lead by example,” De Paep said. “Ultimately, we hope to promote responsible environmental and social practices to all of our visitors as well as the all-inclusive hotel industry at large.”
The Caracol complex was originally built with respect to its surrounding eco-systems in order to preserve the maximum amount of nature and wildlife within the property. Accommodations and facilities are interwoven and separated by bridges, streams and gardens where guests can discover exotic birds, turtles and a variety of colorful fish. The complex 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 and contact their gods.
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