Yucatan Peninsula beach resort, Mexico
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We Care for the Environment
The Hotel Hacienda is the first one to be built within Tres Ríos and, just like the rest of the project’s components, inherits the park’s philosophy of achieving an environmentally sustainable development through the intelligent and responsible use of our ecosystems and natural resources.
The Tres Ríos’ model of Sustainable Tourism Development clearly distinguishes us from other hotels and resorts. Establishing a clear set of environmental criteria to guide the design of the hotel allowed us to clearly identify the proper technologies and actions required to both develop the resort and protect the environment. Thus, Tres Ríos has invested in infrastructure, equipment and environmental management tools that have positioned us as model for sustainable tourism development.
Environmental Mission Guided Planning & Development
Two years of environmental study
Several years were used to study the ecosystems in Tres Ríos. During that stage of Environmental Characterization and Analysis, a team of scientists and experts was assembled to undergo research in topics as diverse as digital aerial photography, geographic analysis, mangrove and jungle ecosystems, wildlife, coral reefs, geo-hydrology, etcetera. This stage was fundamental, as it provided the basic information required to orient the sustainable development of the Tres Ríos Master Plan
Environmentally Friendly Construction
The information obtained from several studies allowed us to establish “preferred use” areas, which were used as the basis to appropriately place the Hotel Hacienda on an area with a lower environmental value within the ecosystem. The placement of buildings on lower environmental quality areas is fundamental to lessen environmental impacts and to avoid disturbing higher environmental quality areas.
Some other low impact construction practices included:
•Buildings constructed on over 400 pilings, 2.8 meters above ground which allows natural water flow to continue
•Use of pre-fabricated construction, assembled onsite, reducing dust contamination
•Refuse carefully sorted and recycled when possible
•Use of regional materials and finishes
•4,000 plants of 11 endangered and protected species rescued
Our Environmental Management System
Proper environmental management requires executing daily actions that are guided by the Tres Ríos Environmental Management System (EMS). This system is comprised of 7 programs and 20 sub-programs that are constantly implemented by the Tres Ríos’ “Green Team” (also known as the Environmental Supervision Team), and includes plant and wildlife management, environmental monitoring, waste management, environmental education and environmental contingency actions.
Best Environmental Practices
•Cold water from deep well used to cool air conditioning systems
•Heat generated from air conditioning is captured and used to heat water
•In-room motion sensors shut down unnecessary energy use when rooms are unoccupied
•A titanium-clad water desalination plant treats and filters the water, avoiding use of the freshwater aquifer
Quick Facts
•326 acres of land
•150 acres of nature preserve
•90 animal species
•120 plant species
•10 cenotes
•Over 50,000 plants reforested in 6 acres of forests previously impacted by hurricanes
Our commitment to the preservation of the environment
Water Use
Being fully aware of this issue, Tres Rios decided not to make any use of the planet’s freshwater reserves for the hotel’s consumption.
In order to achieve this, a desalination plant was installed to treat saltwater and turn it into pure drinkable freshwater. So all of the water used in the hotel is saltwater that has been desalinated.
We also have several measures to make a more efficient use of water, as for example: air-mixing showerheads that reduce water use by 40%, dual flush toilets, low flow waterfaucets, continuous hot water circuits to reduce wasting water, continuous water consumption monitoring, reuse of treated waters for irrigation, and more.
Energy Use
We are committed to reduce harmful emissions and the hotel is designed to be energy efficient. Among many measures, one of the most important is the efficiency of our air conditioning system, which is traditionally the biggest consumer of energy in a hotel located in the tropics (55% of total energy use). We have installed high-efficiency centrifugal chillers, into which we additionally pump cold water from a deep well in order to pre-chill the system and raise its efficiency even more. This allows us to reduce the energy required for air-conditioning by almost 40%.
Our air-conditioning equipment also has a heat-recovery system which heats the water used in rooms, public areas and even one of the swimming pools. This technology has allowed us to reduce 75% of the fuel that is normally needed to heat water in a hotel, and we have replaced the traditionally large
boilers for small water heaters that use natural gas, the cleanest fossil fuel available.
We also raise energy efficiency by using energy efficient light bulbs in almost all of the hotel (70% less energy), installing automatic equipment controls, movement sensors that shut off lights in unused rooms, sensors in balconies that shut off the air-conditioning if the door is open, architectural design to reduce the amount of sunlight directly entering the rooms, double glass windows to reduce energy loss, and more.
Waste Management
The challenge is implementing
integral waste management practices to Reduce the volume of waste, Reuse
products and Recycle materials (the three R’s).
What are we doing at Tres Ríos?
We have an Integral Waste Management Program with several actions such as:
• Vegetable waste is separated in the kitchens
and composted
• Waste from rooms and public areas is separated in the waste chamber so plastics, aluminum, glass and cardboard are sent for recycling
• Food production is programmed according to hotel occupancy so we can minimize waste
• Kitchen grease waste is captured and sent to an authorized processing company
• Local suppliers of food products such as fruits, vegetables and eggs are required to deliver them in reusable containers
• Cleaning products are biodegradable and environmentally-friendly
• Beverage straws are only used by request; reusable and recyclable hard plastic glasses are used instead of disposable plastic ones
• Paper used in the hotel contains at least 50% recycled fibers and is chlorine-free; and more.
Flora, Fauna and Natural Areas
We have applied sustainable practices from the preliminary phases of design, during construction and operation of the hotel, including
comprehensive scientific studies in environmental characterization and diagnostics, environmental zoning, environmental planning and management, eco-friendly design, flora rescue programs, flora and fauna monitoring, reforestation campaigns, and more.
As part of the Flora and Fauna Rescue Program the “Green Team” was the first group of workers to enter the site as the hotel’s construction began. Twenty people led by an environmental supervisor identified and marked all endangered and protected plant species, which were carefully removed and relocated to the plant nursery (around 6,000 individual plants).
The Reforestation Program has restored over 6 acres (25,000 square meters) of storm-impacted mangroves by planting over 80,000 mangrove trees that were produced at the plant nursery. The hotel uses only about 5% of the entire Tres Ríos property and the quality of the flora, fauna end ecosystems is continuously monitored. Tres Ríos has more than 120 different species of plants and over 90 species of animals.
Community
Ninety-five percent of the investment in supplies and personnel recruitment for the operation of Hacienda Tres Ríos takes place in México, benefiting the companies, workers, and communities of Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula.
Our commitment to human resources and social development
Tres Ríos adopted some principles of social development, which incorporate three main aspects or elements:
* Preserve the local culture and traditions
* Improve the standard of living in local communities
* Support the development of the local economy
Tres Ríos also suppor ts and collaborates in promoting the development of social projects, such as Kanché AC, Golden Years, Kuxtal, and Community Tours Sian Ka’an, with the objective of having direct, positive impacts on the economy, cultural traditions, and standard of living in local communities.
Golden Years Club
The Golden Years Club for the Elderly was created in 1992 as a place in Cancun as an organization for seniors in Cancun, where they could develop different cultural, sporting, manual, and recreational activities. To date, the club has more than 200 members who attend daily and participate in activities such as singing, acting, dancing, sports, languages, computer, science, and handcrafts, among others.
The association does not depend on government financing, meaning that private enterprise plays a very impor tant role in its survival. The donations given to this club, which was initially directed by Doña Angelita Marroquín, mother of one of the founders of the Tres Ríos family, is both in cash and in-kind.
The Golden Years Club for the Elderly is a model of sustainable assistance of international standards since elderly participation in activities significantly benefits their mental and physical health, improving their quality of life. The club not only acts as a place for promoting these activities but also as an impor tant place for increasing active social integration.
Horseback Riding Therapy at Hacienda Andalucía
Polo Club and Equestrian Center
Horseback riding therapy is a therapeutic technique that takes advantage of the vibrations emitted by the horse when it walks as an auxiliary treatment for children and youths with different handicaps and ailments. The natural steps of the horse produce vibrations that are transmitted to the rider through the spinal cord at a frequency of 180 oscillations per minute, stimulating the rider’s motor system and strengthening his or her muscles. Also, interaction with the horse offers multiple benefits for the rider : it improves levels of selfconfidence and self-respect, and strengthens attention and mental concentration.
Tourists who stay at Hacienda Tres Ríos have free access to this complimentary treatment for their children with body paralysis problems, Down’s syndrome, and autism, among others, so they can continue receiving therapy while enjoying their family vacation.
Horseback riding therapy is also available at the Hacienda Andalucía facilities, a sister company of Tres Ríos, which has specially bred horses trained for
horseback riding therapy, under the supervision of specialized volunteers.
Hacienda Andalucía has been offering this program to the children of Cancún for four years and now offers this service to tourists who visit the Mexican Caribbean.
Cer tified therapists who enjoy their vacation at Hacienda Tres Ríos can also be volunteers for this therapy during their stay, in order to receive feedback
and offer their knowledge to par ticipating minors with special needs.
Kanché Civil Association
Tres Ríos collaborates with Kanché Civil Association through an economic and technical suppor t agreement. Kanché is a generator of ideas and sustainable development processes in rural communities in the nor thern Yucatan Peninsula. Kanché works as a facilitating agency for the development of rural communities, engaging selected towns willing to par ticipate in the sustainable management of natural and cultural resources. It offers alternative tourism activities that complement the traditional productive activities of Mayan communities, taking measures to ensure that overcrowding doesn’t result and that various eco-friendly activities are available.
Kanché works towards the consolidation of the Puer ta Verde Ecotourism Community Network. For five years now, Kanche has offered them suppor t by providing technical advice to group members, such as tourist suppliers of handicrafts and traditional cuisine or natural medicine products; they are beginning to unite their strengths and ideas to achieve new development objectives and improve their standards of living. As a non-profit organization, they cater to the marketing needs of the alternative tourism circuit and use the profits obtained to carry out other projects that meet the global needs of the region.
Kuxtal Sian Ka’an
Hacienda Tres Ríos has initiated a cooperative suppor t agreement with Kuxtal Sian Ka’an, for line of handicrafts from the Mayan communities near the
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This brand of handicrafts encompasses eight companies in five communities close to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and guarantees responsible management of natural resources, fair commercial practices, and promotion of the producers’cultural values.
The organizations that make up Kuxtal Sian Ka’an designed the strategy to market community products, seeking to improve quality and create commercial and environmentally responsible links between the region’s producers and companies. Alternative tourism with Kanché AC This initiative was strengthened through the auspices of the United Nations Foundation (UNF), enabling them to create a collective brand whose ideal is the direct benefit of local communities, the preservation of Mayan culture, and the conservation of biodiversity.
In order to make it easier for visitors to acquire these products, Hacienda Tres Ríos established a point of sale for Kuxtal in its gift shop, Confeti. As par t of its
cooperation with the World Heritage Alliance, the hotel is looking for new ways to incorporate these beautiful community products into other par ts of the resort.
A percentage of each sale of Kuxtal Sian Ka’an products is assigned to the conservation of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Under the format of a non-profit organization, after recovering production, marketing, and promotional costs, the total returns are reinvested in the creation and reinforcement of new community companies.
Community Tours Sian Ka’an
Community Tours Sian Ka’an is an alliance of three companies that supply community tourism services, based in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a place
that is home to many families and abundant with wild life. They differ from other tour operators, due to their native origin and local community affiliation, as well as their firm commitment to sustainable tourism.
The members of Community Tours Sian Ka’an base their operations in Punta Allen and Muyil, two small communities located inside the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Their commitment to conscientious design of tourism activities and recruitment of local, knowledgeable guides constitute the foundation of genuine and unforgettable adventures.
The tours offered by Community Tours observe three
fundamental principles:
1. Ensure personalized experiences in small groups, minimizing the ecological impact
2. Offer tours that provide adventure and environmental education on the challenges faced by the conservation of the Sian Ka’an Reserve
3. Provide genuine cultural exchanges
Socially Responsible Tourism
Protecting Historic and Cultural Heritage,
and Respecting the Local Culture.
What are we doing at Tres Ríos?
We have established a Social Development Policy with the objective of preserving local culture and traditions, elevate quality of life for our staff and the community, and promote the development of the local economy.
We ask our guest to:
Please act as a socially responsable tourist.
Do not buy archeological or historical prod¬ucts, as they are considered a national heri¬tage (it is also illegal).
Visit regional archeological areas, nearby World Heritage Sites and get to know the local culture.
Be a part of the hotel’s cultural activities, such as regional cuisine classes and cultural events.
If you visit local communities always respect their rights, values and customs.
Preferably take tours that include members of the local communities to be visited and that have the prior consent of the community to receive tourists.
Pay an adequate price for the traditional crafts and products you buy, follow the principle of fair compensation
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