PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO—Mexico’s Grand Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit have achieved Gold and Silver Status, respectively, through EarthCheck. EarthCheck, a leading organization in the certification of sustainable tourism, has distinguished the resorts for their pioneering eco-friendly methods.
Surrounded by 206 acres of jungle, mangroves and freshwater cenotes, the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya is committed to implementing sustainable practices. It is also meticulously designed to exist harmoniously with its fragile environment, including more than 18,000 trees which were reforested after its construction. The property reduces its dependence on local and country-wide energy sources with co-generation electricity plants, two reverse-osmosis desalting plants and an on-site residual water treatment facility which processes and reuses all the water throughout the entire resort. The resort also participates in the Federal Sea Turtle Conservation Program, offers complimentary Behind the Scenes Eco-Tours for guests, maintains on-site botanical gardens used in all resort restaurants, and constructed artificial reefs in the property’s ocean which foster and protect native sea life. Among other achievements, the property is one of only several hotels in Mexico to receive a Clean Beaches Certificate from the federal government.
Demonstrating its commitment to preserving its cultural heritage and natural surroundings, sister property Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit also takes several steps to reducing its environmental impact. The resort practices the responsible use of energy sources; continuous inspection, monitoring and verification of adherence to environmental regulations; separation of waste for recycling; and use of biodegradable products for cleaning, fertilization and fumigation. Furthermore, the resort is committed to educating all employees about conservation and respect for the natural world. In effect at the resort are a permanent water-saving campaign for employees, internal implementation of the “Green Mailbox”, where employees can suggest ideas for saving resources and ecological preservation initiatives, and a Recycling Expo for employees to demonstrate their craftsmanship using recycled materials to create art and useful items. In addition, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit retains the Blue Flag certification, which recognizes the sustainable development of beaches and marinas regarding water quality, education, information and environmental management.
“The Velas Resorts team is very proud to be recognized at the highest levels by EarthCheck,” says Eduardo Vela Ruiz, Founder and President of Velas Resorts. “This distinction reaffirms our steadfast commitment to the management and preservation of our resort’s environments.”
Go to EarthCheck and Grand Velas Resorts.
