Did you know that travelers maintain their eco-friendly habits during their vacations? A report published by Booking.com in 2023 revealed that 74% turn off the air conditioning when leaving their room, 53% reuse the same towel multiple times, and 56% bring their reusable water bottle.
While this trend is essential to adopting good practices for the planet, what is the hospitality industry doing to enhance these efforts and benefit its surroundings?
Learn more about sustainability and the best practices that can be implemented in the hotel industry.
What is Sustainability?
According to Cristina González Quintero, Doctor of Research and Education for Sustainability at UNAM, sustainability was defined in 1987 as “the type of development that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Over time, this definition evolved and included three fundamental dimensions:
- Social: related to the well-being of people, such as health, education, and culture.
- Economic: the efficient use of goods and services with equitable distribution.
- Environmental: the preservation of natural resources and ecosystems.
Therefore, sustainable hospitality must consider resource efficiency, reduce environmental impact on destinations, and support the development of local communities.
Sustainability in hotels
Due to the growing importance of adopting responsible practices at both individual and collective levels to protect our environment, at Velas Vallarta we implement multiple sustainable activities across our properties, which have led us to earn the recognition from EarthCheck. This is a leading certification for sustainable tourism that validates compliance with strict environmental policies, awarding Gold Level certification to Velas Vallarta.
Among our eco-friendly practices, we have focused on waste reduction and nature preservation, through initiatives like supporting local recycling programs, organic waste processing, beach cleanups, and sea turtle protection.
Regarding the efficient use of goods and services, we have energy-generating plants to reduce dependence on non-renewable resources and practice responsible water use through wastewater treatment and reuse.
As a contribution to Puerto Vallarta, we participate in activities and donate to community development.
Learn more about Velas Resorts’ sustainable commitment at: velasresorts.com/ecological-practices.
