Green Globe

View Original

Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination: “Everything We Do Counts”

Located in the heart of the Riviera Maya, Mexico, Occidental at Xcaret Destination is a spectacular combination of beautiful natural surrounds and Mayan culture, inspiring guests, collaborators and visitors to enjoy an unparalleled vacation experience.

Jesús Campos Daniel, General Manager says, “Our approach to sustainable tourism is driven by the belief that, ‘Everything we do counts’. Here at Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination we take care of the present to enjoy the future, committing ourselves to do so daily at work and in our daily lives.”

All hotel employees are committed to sustainable practices that promote care for the environment and local culture. Occidental at Xcaret Destination has regulations and policies for the responsible use of energy as well as the separation, recycling and disposal of waste.

Preservation of culture and respect for indigenous Mayan traditions, while taking care of the archaeological sites that adorn the surrounds, are a priority for the hotel. As well, the hotel makes social commitments via donations to local causes and purchases local products from regional suppliers who also respect and care for the environment.

In 2021–2022, the key sustainability activities for Occidental at Xcaret Destination further enhanced the hotel’s sustainability performance.

 Go Planet: The promotion of an internal brand and program, which encourages activities by hotel collaborators who are caring for the environment.

 YaxChé Nursery: Creation of a new production area assigned for the propagation of ornamental and native plants, as well as composting green waste. The plants are used for decoration of the hotel’s gardens and surrounds.

 The Art of Recycling: An awareness activity, which uses recycled material from the operation of the hotel, to create decorations and ornaments to enhancement the nursery.

 Reforestation: Native Chit Palms were planted-out along the resort’s ecological trail and areas bordering buildings. The Chit Palm is in danger of extinction and was traditionally used by Mayan to create utensils for daily life and material for building thatched roofs.

The Tree Of Knots: To instill in the hotel’s collaborators a commitment to the planet, a Mayan ritual is performed, to thank and give offerings to mother earth. As part of the ceremony, ribbons with phrases of commitments are tied to bamboo trees and tropical plants that grows in the jungle around the hotel.

 The Chef's Garden: The garden was established to create a connection between the natural landscape and a variety of ingredients grown for the kitchen, as well as inspire the hotel’s gastronomy. While the Chef’s garden cannot produce of all the vegetables that are used in the hotel, this initiative promotes a better understanding of the fertility of the land and its ability to provide food and sustenance.

Occidental at Xcaret Destination features 765 rooms and suites nestled amongst jungle gardens, and was first certified by Green Globe at the start of 2018. After five years of continuous certification, Occidental at Xcaret Destination has achieved a compliance score of 96% and earned Green Globe Gold status. 

Contacts:

Jesús Campos Daniel
Gerente General / General Manager
Occidental Hotel at Xcaret Destination
Carr. Chetumal – Puerto Juárez km 282
77710 Solidaridad
Q.Roo, México
Phone: +52 984 871 54 00
www.barcelo.com

 

Bradley Cox
Director Communications
Green Globe Certification
1223 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 925
Santa Monica, CA 90403 / U.S.A.
Phone: +1-310-337-3000 ext. 105
Skype Direct +1 760 536 6581
Mobile +61 400 848 746
bcox@greenglobe.com
www.greenglobe.com

About Green Globe Certification
Green Globe is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe is based in California, USA and is represented in over 83 countries.  Green Globe is an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). For information, please visit www.greenglobe.com