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Making a Difference: Matagalpa Tours

Vea esta publicación en español.

Matagalpa Tours, Nicaragua

The first "Making a Difference" award winner in 2014 is Matagalpa Tours, a sustainable tour operator in Nicaragua that is Rainforest Alliance verified and focused on nature, rural, and community tourism.

We spoke with general manager Arjen Roersma, who tells us about the essence of Matagalpa Tours, its work with communities, and the challenges of being a sustainable tourism business.

Question: How did Matagalpa Tours get started?

Roersma: After exploring many beautiful places in the northern zone of Nicaragua (actually, it's in the center of the country, but it's commonly called the "north" because the paved roads don't go any farther), we realized that there was no company offering tours to the destinations here. We recognized an opportunity, knowing that adventurous travelers would love to discover the beautiful jungles, volcanoes, and people of this region.

Q: Why did you decide to focus on rural tourism and cultural experiences?

Roersma:There is very little tourist infrastructure in the Matagalpa region but these communities and their inhabitants have many fascinating stories to tell and interesting activities in which tourists can participate. Our tours are perfect for travelers who are interested in the culture and history of Nicaragua and who do not mind having to spend a night in very basic accommodations in exchange for having a unique and authentic experience.

Matagalpa Tours, Nicaragua

Q: How do you support the local people with whom you work?

Roersma:We have community initiatives to support indigenous women artisan groups and farmers. We also make a special effort to promote environmental education in the communities. Our Agualí project, which has been particularly successful, is an environmental education initiative executed by Matagalpa Tours with support from the Dutch embassy geared toward local youths. In 2013, we began organizing free tours for groups of students focused on environmental and sociocultural issues. We created the Aguali.net website in order to maintain a connection with the kids and increase the impact of our message. The website offers environmental, educational, and current events information for young people.

Q: How do tourists respond to your combination of entertainment, nature, and contact with communities?

Roersma: Many of our clients say they've had an unforgettable experience. It is essential for us that in addition to having a good time in Nicaragua, they take the message home. For example, we provide a lot of information on consumerism and how their choices at home affect the people here in our country. Some of our tours combine visits to sustainable coffee or cocoa farms so that tourists will think about the origin of what they consume and the power they have to make a change by being more conscious consumers.

Q: What environmental efforts do you make?

Roersma: We believe that best environmental practices should be an integral part of our lives. It cannot be that we save energy at work but do not care in our private lives. We have had a series of workshops and activities where the Matagalpa Tours team itself developed rules for environmental consciousness in all aspects of our lives.

Matagalpa Tours, Nicaragua

Q: Why is it important for a company like Matagalpa Tours to obtain sustainable tourism verification from Rainforest Alliance?

Roersma: For us, the efforts we make to be a social and environmental business are already a major achievement. The Rainforest Alliance verification seal confirms and reaffirms these efforts. In both the economic and business realms, the verification process has helped us to prove that we are a credible environmental and community-oriented company.

Q: What efforts are you making as a member of Tour Operators Promoting Sustainability (TOPS)?

Roersma: Although organizing ourselves is a challenge, in 2013 we trained the guides and drivers working with our businesses in good sustainability practices. We are also taking steps to promote Nicaragua as a destination with a sustainable profile nationally and internationally.

Matagalpa Tours, Nicaragua

Q: What does a tour operator need to do in order to be sustainable?

Roersma: Even though other tour operators are competitors, you must be interested in the overall growth of the travel sector. We can achieve a lot more together than alone.

As a company, you must invest in your staff and create a place for their personal and professional development. It is also vital that the company generates revenue for the communities to which it brings visitors and applies its best practices everywhere it operates, not just within the company.

Q: What achievements has Nicaragua made in sustainable tourism and what challenges remain?

Roersma: Tourism development in Nicaragua got started slow and late, but luckily many local initiatives have been able to establish themselves. Most service providers such as hotels, restaurants, and transportation services are family businesses, which has helped Nicaragua be an original and unique country where culture and the hospitality environment continue to be attraction number one.

A challenge for us and the tourism industry is to promote domestic tourism.

Making a Difference: Yacutinga Lodge

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Yacutinga Lodge, Argentina

Our Making a Difference winner this month is Yacutinga Lodge, a very special sustainable lodge in Argentina located in the middle of the jungle and very close to one of South America's most famous attractions -- Iguazu Falls. The hotel is part of a small group of lodging providers in the department of Misiones that recently achieved Rainforest Alliance verification for sustainable tourism. As the first business in Argentina to earn Rainforest Alliance verification, it is a pioneer in the field of sustainability nationwide.

Yacutinga Lodge's director Carlos Sandoval tells us more about why tourists love this hotel, its history, and its efforts to remain an ally of the environment.

Question: What makes Yacutinga Lodge's location so special?

Sandoval: Yacutinga Lodge is located in one of the last remnants of the Interior Atlantic Forest ecoregion, which used to be the second largest forest in Latin America up until the early 20th century. Today, the forest that's left remains an area of very high biodiversity, rich in endemic species, with nearly 500 species of birds and more than 700 species of butterflies. Our guests can explore the curiosities of this subtropical forest accompanied by professional ecologists and native Guarani guides in Yacutinga's private nature reserve.

In addition, we are close to the legendary Iguazu Falls, a main attraction for visitors to southern South America.

Q: Why did you decide to build a sustainable lodge instead of a traditional one?

Sandoval: Yacutinga Lodge was created to be the economic backbone of a larger environmental project in the region. It was made for lovers of nature and for the intelligent traveler who wants to interact responsibly with the environment.

Yacutinga Lodge, Argentina

Q: What are the importance and benefits of becoming Rainforest Alliance VerifiedTM ?

Sandoval: Achieving Rainforest Alliance verification is a reflection of our commitment to continuous improvement. We are delighted to receive this distinction after working so hard since the lodge was opened years ago to support sustainability. We hope that the Rainforest Alliance verified seal will now help us attract responsible tourists and build a sustainable identity.

Q: What were the main challenges you had to overcome to build and now run a business that is friendly to the environment and the communities?

Sandoval: Throughout the history of this project, there was one undeniable challenge: building with local labor in a quasi-pristine environment of tangled, wet jungle, far from modern civilization. It took us two years of intensive but highly constructive and creative work. Everyone involved participated enthusiastically, sharing technical or empirical knowledge and showing great coordination to optimize costs and efforts in a difficult working environment that had no drinking water, electricity, or roads. We consider ourselves late 20th century pioneers.

After inaugurating Yacutinga, the second great challenge began: constantly improving the delivery of services to ensure guest satisfaction and to keep local staff trained. This chapter is still alive, and it is a never ending process.

Q: How has Yacutinga's private wildlife refuge helped protect the valuable ecosystem in which it's located?

Sandoval: The refuge, which we administer, has been essential in protecting the region's natural resources. This reserve is a stronghold for the conservation of the Paraná Forest. Many scientific studies funded by Yacutinga Lodge have been carried out that have high academic value and have provided important data for improving our management of the area. We've used this information to make the hotel a self-sustaining economic and conservation system.

More than 320 species of birds and 572 species of butterflies have been documented in the reserve, and we even discovered 70 species that were new to Argentina and one subspecies new to science! We have planted over 20,000 native trees in the reserve as part of the project for forestry enrichment that we have been developing for six years. We also have volunteer and environmental education programs that we consider the soul of the Yacutinga project.

Yacutinga Lodge, Argentina

Q: Do you do anything to benefit the Guarani indigenous people?

Sandoval: The neighboring Kagui Pora community is a Guarani settlement of about 45 families who have many immediate and structural needs. We are constantly supporting them, not with a "charitable" approach but rather by training them to adapt to the dynamic of today's world without losing their roots. Little by little, and with great respect, we invite them to be involved in our ecotourism activities and our DO project, which aims to recycle non-polluting wastes generated by the lodge and transform them into art.

Q: How can tourists get involved with your sustainability efforts?

Sandoval: We invite guests to actively participate during their stay and provide ideas and contacts to help them do so. We do not ask for help or donations; we encourage them to have a respectful and responsible attitude toward our ecosystem and the local communities.

Q: What are Yacutinga's plans for keeping current and making improvements in the realm of sustainability?

Sandoval: We believe that keeping current requires constant improvement and maintaining the love for what you do. Regarding project sustainability, we aim to get the authorities more actively engaged with our work, since the threats are coming from outside of our gates. We need a stronger stance from those who govern us, one that is characterized by a long-term vision for solving together the negative impacts generated by the exploitative culture that has traditionally prevailed in the area.

Making a Difference: Pacuare Lodge

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Photo by Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica

Can one of the highest quality hotels in the world also be one of the most sustainable? The answer is yes. Pacuare Lodge, in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica, is proof that hotels can offer world-class accommodations in the heart of the rainforest while being an excellent ally of local communities and the environment. For this reason, Pacuare Lodge was awarded our Making a Difference recognition this month.

Roberto Fernández, founder and general manager of Pacuare Lodge, tells us about the lodge's history and their ambitious efforts to become a global benchmark of sustainability.

Question: Where did you get the idea to create Pacuare Lodge?

Fernández: More than 25 years ago, tour companies were offering expeditions on the turbulent waters of the Pacuare River, but the trips were limited to one night of camping and two days on the river. The first time I rafted the river, I was so impressed by its scenic beauty and natural wealth that I decided to create the first rafting company that was purely Costa Rican, without any international corporate ownership.

Later came the idea of opening a high-quality lodge in this exceptional destination. We acquired a small property and embarked on the adventure of building in a place with challenging geographical conditions and no road access.

Q: What makes this area so special and unique?

Fernández: The Pacuare River and its surroundings represent one of the most valuable and beautiful ecosystems in the country! The river forms the northern boundary of Central America's largest cluster of protected areas, national parks, and indigenous and private reserves, and it is considered one of the top 10 rivers for rafting in the world.

Photo by Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica

Q: Pacuare Lodge has been featured in dozens of international publications and was named by National Geographic as one of the 25 best lodges in the world. What can tourists expect when they stay in one of the world's best lodges?

Fernández: They can expect a truly unique travel experience! To reach Pacuare Lodge, visitors must raft down a wild river of incomparable natural beauty winding through a stunning tropical rainforest. When they arrive, they will find a lodge built with care and attention to detail that is simple yet sophisticated and run by a team renowned for its authenticity, warmth, and passion. Our mission is to provide the best in everything we do.

Q: Can you name three of the top experiences for tourists at Pacuare Lodge?

Fernández:: First is the journey there: venturing down one of the world's most scenic rivers by raft to reach Pacuare Lodge. Then, the stay at the lodge is an experience in itself. Our facilities are magnificently designed and decorated in the middle of a jungle that is beyond description.

Finally, do not miss having dinner in "the nest," a platform set 65 feet high in a kapok (ceiba) tree that offers wonderful views of the rainforest canopy. Your evening is completed with a meal that has been recognized for its quality and innovation.

Q: The UNWTO also named Pacuare Lodge as an example of sustainability in the world. What has your hotel done to earn this recognition?

Fernández: We strive to have a positive impact on the environment and on social and cultural issues. We began with a property of only 35 acres, and now we have 840 acres of forest that we are protecting. We support conservation projects like a jaguar monitoring program on our property.

Since our beginning, we've actively involved local communities so that our work would benefit them directly. Today, 100% of the lodge's workforce comes from the Nairi Awari indigenous reserve and the nearby communities of Santa Marta, Linda Vista, Turrialba, and Bajo del Tigre.

We are also very proud of our environmental education program in the schools of eight communities near the Pacuare River basin. Some 800 children have seen environmental education presentations given by our staff on topics such as ecosystem stewardship, proper use of water, and waste management. We've also established collection centers for waste management and disposal, a program for reforestation of native species, and projects for painting murals and maintaining infrastructure.

Photo by Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica

Q: How have these efforts influenced community development?

Fernández: The first person we hired was a resident of the nearby community of Bajo del Tigre, and he was the most well-known hunter in the area. We hoped that providing local employment opportunities in nature tourism and giving environmental presentations would promote a different attitude towards conservation in the community.

Well, our first employee went from being a poacher to a protector of the environment! He set an example that was crucial in getting other residents of the area to change some of their deeply rooted bad practices. Hunting in the area has dropped considerably because students take the message about caring for wildlife home to their parents.

Providing local employment has had other benefits: according to a socioeconomic survey of the community, 67% of the local population employed in the tourism industry works for Pacuare Lodge, where they earn fair wages, full social security benefits, and constant training. We also support small businesses in the community by purchasing food, candles, tours, , photography, and other tourist services.

Q: Many initiatives for conservation and sustainability – such as acquiring 840 acres of forest for protection – represent major investments. How do these investments benefit the hotel?

Fernández:: We don't think about how acquiring more land for conservation or developing programs for jaguars, howler monkeys, or environmental education will benefit us. Our aim with these investments is to return a little of what we receive to the community. We embrace this commitment with joy and enthusiasm. We are motivated because we can see how our contributions promote positive cultural changes.

Q: What is your number one recommendation to other hotels that are starting down the path to sustainability?

Fernández: Everything starts at home! Sustainability is a lifestyle; it is not a fad or a strategy for self-promotion, is something that you believe in and live, through specific actions. Those who decide to take this path must be convinced that sustainability is an essential part of life.

Q: How can guests get involved in your efforts for sustainability?

Fernández: They can donate digital cameras to the jaguar program, provide educational materials or sporting goods for local children, or make specific donations to nearby schools and community projects.

Q: What plans does the Pacuare Lodge have to remain one of the best and most sustainable hotels in the world?

Fernández: We will engage in continuous innovation, facilitate training for employees, and work closely with neighboring communities. We know that staying current and being better each day is a constant challenge that requires investing time and resources, but that's what excites us!

Making a Difference: Rosalie Bay Resort in Dominica

Rosalie Bay Resort, Dominica

The island of Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) is an ecotourist's Caribbean dream. And Rosalie Bay Resort -- the only Green Globe certified hotel on the island – was founded by an entrepreneur and nature lover who is determined to keep it that way. We spoke with the resort's founder and owner Beverly Deikel to learn more about Rosalie Bay's exuberant location and her efforts to conserve the environment, including endangered species like sea turtles.

Question: What kinds of wildlife can guests expect to see at your resort?

Deikel: Three species of endangered sea turtles nest on our protected black sand beach each year between March and October. Giant leatherback sea turtles, which can weigh upwards of 800 pounds, are spotted the most frequently, followed by green and hawksbill turtles.

There are also many types of birds, several types of lizards, crabs, iguanas, butterflies, and native plants found throughout the property.  At night, music from the crickets and frogs, along with the sea breezes rustling the palm trees, will lull you to sleep.

Rosalie Bay Resort, Dominica

Q: What are you doing to conserve your sea turtle nesting beaches?

Deikel: Our conservation efforts began more than 12 years ago, shortly after purchasing the property. We were excited to discover turtles nesting on our beach, but then found out that they were being illegally poached--at the time, a common practice on the island.

I wanted Rosalie Bay to be "turtle-friendly" and inspire Dominicans and visitors to conserve these species. My goal was to aid the recovery of sea turtles in Dominica and throughout the Caribbean. In 2003, I began a partnership with the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) to develop a conservation program at Rosalie Bay. Originally called the Rosalie Sea Turtle Initiative (ROSTI), the program marked the first research and conservation initiative for endangered sea turtles on Dominica, and we worked closely with the national government. Program activities included collecting data on nesting sea turtles, educating adults and children in the community regarding the endangered status of the creatures, organizing programs to engage the community in beach clean-ups and sea turtle youth camps, establishing a national sea turtle hotline, and removing artificial lighting along the shores.

I am extremely proud that the conservation work that started at Rosalie Bay quickly spread into a nationwide effort.

When ROSTI began, there were only seven leatherback turtle nests at Rosalie Bay. In the past few years, there have been close to 70 nests each year!

Q: What an amazing accomplishment, congratulations! Can your guests get involved with sea turtle conservation as well?

Deikel: During turtle nesting season, guests can help patrol the beach to protect nesting turtles and aid researchers in collecting data or relocating nests that are too close to the ocean to the turtle hatchery. They can also be "on call" to help hatching baby sea turtles make their way out to sea.

Q: Where on the island is Rosalie Bay Resort located?

Deikel: We're perfectly situated on a 22-acre property bordered by two coastlines, where the Rosalie River meets the Caribbean Sea. We're located right at the edge of Morne Trois Pitons, a UNESCO World Heritage site with the richest biodiversity in the Lesser Antilles. Morne Trois Pitons National Park has everything: rainforests, volcanic landscapes, fumaroles (geysers), hot springs, and waterfalls. The park is also home to the famous Boiling Lake, a bubbling hot lake that's an adventurous eight-mile hike from the nearest road, and Emerald Pool, a picturesque waterfall and grotto.

Emerald Pool, Dominica

Q: How does Rosalie Bay conserve energy and natural resources?

Deikel: Most of our electricity is renewably sourced. We have a 225-kW wind turbine--the first on Dominica and largest in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean--as well as more than 200 solar panels.

Water, which is sourced from nearby natural springs, goes through a UV-filtration system before use and is heated with solar panels. An environmentally-friendly waste management system is used to ensure that nothing pollutes the nearby river.  

In addition, our cottage accommodations were constructed to maximize energy efficiency by using stucco walls, cool tile or poured concrete flooring, soundproof and energy-efficient windows, and French doors that keep the buildings cool with minimal use of (or even without) air conditioning.

Q: What can your guests do to learn about local culture and customs?

Deikel: Our staff, which is 97% Dominican and primarily from the nearby village, enjoy conversing with guests and sharing their local culture and customs. In addition, we offer many scheduled tours to experience Dominica, called the "Nature Island" – including hiking some of the hundreds of miles of trails on the island, visiting the market in Roseau, soaking in a sulfur hot spring, meeting the local Kalinago people, and snorkeling at the famous Champagne Reef. Our front desk staff is happy to make recommendations and arrange private tours based on guests' interests, such as meeting with local artists.

Q: When Rosalie Bay Resort opened, how did you involve the local community?

Deikel: Rosalie Bay Resort was a ten-year labor of love for me and my partner Oscar. The land was undeveloped when we purchased it.

The local community was very much involved in the creation of the resort. When the local people heard that we would be building a resort and have jobs available, there was a line at our gates. Rosalie Bay provided, and continues to provide, a source of training and employment for local communities that were negatively impacted by the decline in the banana industry.

Oscar trained many local young men in construction trades because many had wanted to work, but didn't possess the skills they needed. Some of them also received training for new roles once the resort opened and still work with us to this day.

Rosalie Bay Resort, Dominica

Q: Did you use local and sustainable materials when you built the hotel?

Deikel: All of the work was done by hand, meaning no heavy machinery was brought in. Locals hand carved the resort's hardwood furniture, created with wood found on Dominica. Most of the materials we sourced were local and renewable.

River stone found on the property was used for the walking paths, walls, and patio surrounding the pool. The furniture on the verandas is made from recycled milk jugs and the tiles used as flooring and on the walls in the bathrooms are made from recycled tiles.

In addition, the artwork displayed in our accommodations and facilities were created by local artists, whose work is also available for sale in the gift shop.

Q: How do you support the local community?

Deikel: In addition to employing local people, we support the local youth cricket team. We also celebrate Earth Day each year with a community project involving our staff, their families, and local youth and adults. This year, we organized a large tree planting event in conjunction with the government's One Million Hour Tree Planting project.  During the holidays, we host a Christmas party for approximately 50 local underprivileged children and provide a fun afternoon with games, refreshments, gifts, and a visit from Santa Claus.

I have also been supporting several organizations since my early days visiting Dominica. Those include Church on the Way and Feed My Sheep, which work with children and the elderly on different sides of the country, the Grotto Home for the elderly and homeless, and Operation Youth Quake, which was formed after Hurricane David practically destroyed the island to provide food and counsel to homeless and troubled youth.

Rosalie Bay Resort, Dominica

Q: Why are sustainable practices so important for your hotel?

Deikel: I believe that we have a responsibility to use natural resources in a way that protects the local environment and improves the well-being of local residents. Our mission at Rosalie Bay is to showcase the beauty of Dominica to visitors by developing a world-class nature resort, to protect the local environment, and to empower local residents by boosting their livelihoods.

Q: Of all of the hotels on Dominica, what makes Rosalie Bay Resort special?

Deikel: Our location. It is truly beautiful and surrounded by nature. It's what attracted me to purchase the property in the first place, and guests seem to love it as much as we do. Rosalie Bay is a place that you can relax, tune out the busy world, and tune in to nature – without having to sacrifice on conveniences.

Making a Difference: Swiss Travel, Costa Rica

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Photo by Swiss Travel, Costa Rica

Swiss Travel is one of Costa Rica's leading travel and destination management agencies. For over forty years, Swiss Travel has taken on the task of promoting tourism in Cost Rica and, even more importantly, it has worked to make the industry grow responsibly beside nature and local communities. In recognition of its efforts, this Rainforest Alliance Verified and CST certified company is the recipient of this month's "Making a Difference" award.

Swiss Travel marketing manager José Pablo Salas details the efforts Swiss Travel has made to become a sustainable company and how that has benefited them.

Question: How did Swiss Travel begin?

Salas: Swiss Travel Service began in 1972, focusing on inbound tourism for Costa Rica. We were pioneers in a virtually unknown industry, where the word "tourism" was not common. Nationals traveled to certain destinations that were nearby and popular, but it was difficult to find foreign tourists like we do today. Hotel accommodations in the country were very poor and we didn't have the technology or the marketing tools that are available now, but we believed in Costa Rica's potential.

Q: In those years, the concept of sustainable tourism was very new. What motivated Swiss Travel to be a responsible tour operator? Swiss Travel

S: The concept of sustainable tourism was virtually unknown at the time, but it has always been essential for Swiss Travel to develop activities that care for the environment where we invite our customers. These locations are our main asset, and our commitment to conserve it has been a factor that makes us stand out. Ensuring responsible and sustainable tourism is an effort that fills us with pride and satisfaction because this is how we contribute to the country's development and help current and future generations to enjoy the natural beauty of our country.

Q: How would you describe your approach to sustainable tourism?

S: We focus on implementing best business practices based on the three pillars of sustainable tourism: the environment, the economic context, and the sociocultural setting of the organization. These best practices are reflected in every action the company takes, both in its workforce and with all the parties involved in our activities. For our efforts, we obtained the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST), a Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) program, as well as Rainforest Alliance Verification, which have permeated throughout our company.

Q: What are some of your most outstanding sustainability initiatives?

S: We've developed operating manuals, policies, and procedures to ensure respect for the environment. These cover all of the company's activities and involve guides, drivers, plant personnel, and the tourists themselves.

Supporting clean-up campaigns

For example, we have reduced paper usage by over 50 percent thanks to policies for saving and efficiently using resources, and our vehicle fleet follows strict maintenance standards to prevent pollution. We have tried to go the extra mile, turning ourselves into one of the few (if not the only) tour operator in the country that has a sewage and gray water treatment plant and submits operational reports to the Ministry of Health, ensuring the proper disposal of our liquid wastes. We also have a fully-equipped collection center at our facilities to ensure strict control of solid waste.

In collaboration with agencies, institutions, and other private businesses, we help promote the conservation of protected areas and assist diverse communities and programs with environmental protection and social development. The initiative we are most proud of is a reforestation program near Palo Verde National Park and the Tenorio Miravalles Biological Corridor in Guanacaste, developed in conjunction with the Allies Against Climate Change Program and the Ministry of Public Education, which has declared the area in the public interest. The program involves local schoolchildren in awareness-raising activities, environmental education, and reforestation with native species.

Q: How do you help communities foster tourism while conserving natural and cultural wealth?

S: Swiss Travel operates throughout the country with different communities that have different needs. Therefore, our strategy is to listen to their needs first and then propose joint projects together. In our experience, the initiatives that arise from this are truly sustainable over time. For example, we have ongoing activities that involve our cruise ship groups and the surrounding communities, where we support fairs that promote their cultural treasures, traditional costumes, art, local food, crafts, and more.

We also make donations to various social and environmental causes and we encourage our customers and intermediary businesses to make donations or collaborate with local communities or NGOs.

Q: Is it difficult for a company as large and diversified as Swiss Travel to maintain its sustainable performance in different areas?

S: It involves a lot of effort and the implementation of management systems for continuing improvement that require us to have ongoing assessments, rigid controls, and readjustment whenever necessary. This requires major documentation, systems for additional information, and constant updates in this area and about the newest options in the markets.

Q: Why is it important for the company to have CST certification and Rainforest Alliance Verification?

S: It's relatively easy to say that a company is "green" or "eco"; the difficult part is proving it. These verifications and certifications provide significant backing for the transparency of the business and the best practices it carries out.

Local market tour - Promoting the Costa Rican culture!

Q: What are the benefits of being a sustainable company and have a "green" image?

S: We receive many benefits, such as higher efficiency in our processes, more orderly documentation, and better economic performance (positive cost-benefit impact) thanks to our optimization of resource use. This has also led to greater engagement and environmental awareness among our collaborators as we establish better relations with the community and create partnerships that, together with a greater understanding of the immediate and national environment, better prepare us to respond to risks and uncertainties of all kinds. In addition, this image allows us to be more competitive because we can offer differentiated products.

Making a Difference: DETOUR Viajes y Cultura, Nicaragua

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Photo by DETOUR Viajes y Cultura, Nicaragua

In 1991, Laurent Richardier traveled from France to Nicaragua to finish his studies in tropical agronomy and local development. A few years later, his education, career, and personal goals led him to stay in that country to somehow help it reemerge after the devastating civil war that had left violence, sadness, poverty, and much underdevelopment.

Richardier now owns DETOUR Viajes y Cultura, a Rainforest Alliance Verified™ tour operator that is this month's winner of our "Making a Difference" award.

He tells us more about his company's work and how he has helped his adopted country advance through sustainable tourism.

Question: How did you come up with the idea of opening a tour agency as a tool for helping local development in Nicaragua?

Richardier: In 2000, the country began offering tourism products, primarily in rural community tourism, and that's when I thought this could be the most effective vehicle for local development. This type of tourism involves local communities, it was ideal for exposing the living culture and the warmth of the Nicaraguans, and it would be a channel to help them rescue, use, and protect their natural and cultural resources. In 2001, as an inbound operator, I developed itineraries that involved experiences with community residents -- staying in their homes, fishing with local fishermen, riding with cowboys ... Thus DETOUR Viajes y Cultura was born.

Q: What is your motivation to adopt and promote sustainable tourism?

R: It's a matter of conscience. DETOUR's mission is based on the desire to maintain hope and build a better future. To do this, we must carry out more responsible economic activities, protect ecosystems, ensure that culture and local economic development exists in harmony, and that communities can endure thanks to stable local development.

Q: What inspired you to become Rainforest Alliance Verified?

R: We thought it would help us gain visibility and effectiveness as a company, and we believed that Nicaragua had the perfect conditions for offering sustainable tourism and promoting this image globally. We also needed technical assistance to work in a more sustainable and orderly way. Personally, I wanted to expand my knowledge and achieve a high level of professionalism through the training that the Rainforest Alliance offers. In addition, I knew that with this training, my company could motivate local suppliers and community partners to be more aware, more professional, and more sustainable. In the end, they could gain more benefits and receive more responsible visitors!

Lakeshore Clean-up Campaign

Q: What are some of DETOUR's key sustainability initiatives?

R: Our work on sustainability consists of many small details. Two days a year, we train freelance guides on sustainability, quality of service, and tourist awareness. We are implementing a new tool with our transportation providers to control fuel consumption and we promote "zero-carbon" tours. In Granada, we give $5 incentives to those who use bicycles instead of taxis to get to the port where they start their tour of the islands, and we encourage other hoteliers and tour operators to promote the use of bicycles to their customers.

We focus on designing increasingly sustainable excursions with packages for low environmental impact and high socio-economic impact, such as new treks and multi-day expeditions in kayak, on horseback, or by bicycle. We also analyze our itineraries each year to eliminate unnecessary travel and we include more hotels that participate in sustainability programs, particularly those that are verified by the Rainforest Alliance. In addition, we try to convince the hotel owners with whom we have worked for a long time to adopt sustainability, and we seek communities that are starting to work in tourism to help them and include them in our "cultural adventures" packages.

Finally, we are developing solidarity tourism. We have partnered with two local NGOs that work on sustainable development and poverty reduction to integrate visits to the communities and schools where they work into our itineraries. As a result, many tourists have become involved in their activities, providing volunteer labor and money for projects such as digging a well or installing a solar-powered home lighting system in a rural area. DETOUR also contributes $100 per month to a volunteer who is doing social work in the community.

Q: How do you support the sustainable development of local communities in Nicaragua?

R: We believe that the best way to help them is by generating sustainable rural tourism activities. Our duty is to include their rich cultural and natural heritage in our tourism activities, so that they can generate income and get jobs and self-employment, while we help them to make use of this heritage with the least negative impact and protect it. In the Rio Escalante-Chacocente Wildlife Refuge in Nicaragua's southern Pacific region, there is a tourism cooperative composed of former turtle egg hunters and gatherers who now protect the reserve, so we include them in all the itineraries we can! We also promote and help numerous existing social and environmental initiatives in the communities. For example, our tours include visits to women's groups that make and sell crafts, we take tourists to eat at a restaurant run by deaf-mute young people, and at the end of their stay in the country, all of our groups attend a mime and comedy show performed by children rescued from the streets.

Tourist fishing with local fishermen.

Q: Do you collaborate with other tour operators in Nicaragua?

R: Along with our eight colleagues that belong to the Tour Operators Promoting Sustainability (TOPS) program in Nicaragua, we aim to be a lobbying force before the National Assembly and the Ministry of Tourism from the perspective of sustainable businesses in order to inform policymaking or projects that promote the adoption of sustainability as a general policy for the country. This year, we developed a collaborative project that includes a plan to train national guides and tourism transport companies in sustainability; financial support to hotel suppliers who wish to obtain Rainforest Alliance verification; the creation of 100% sustainable packages and a TOPS catalog; participation in the Green Summit, a conference on sustainability in Nicaragua that will be associated with the upcoming Central American Travel Market Fair 2014; and trips with foreign journalists to show them the country's sustainable destinations and products.

Q: What are the main challenges that tour operators face in operating sustainably?

R: Positively influencing colleagues, suppliers, and community stakeholders who still have little awareness. Isolated efforts do not have major effect and so we must promote a sustainable travel collective for the country as a destination, and for that we need to talk and promote ourselves and these ideals. Our challenge as a sustainable operator is to promote and support local policies for sustainability, working together as a sector and closely with local governments.

Making a Difference: Jardines del Lago Hotel and Convention Center

Vea esta publicación en español.

Photo by Jardines del Lago Hotel and Convention Center

On the famous Lake Atitlán, known as the "mirror of the sky," is the Jardines del Lago Hotel and Convention Center. Each year, thousands of tourists visit this destination in Guatemala to enjoy its unmatched scenic beauty, rich nature and a mystical world, filled with the Maya traditions that have survived in the indigenous communities of the peoples that live around the lake.

Jardines del Lago Hotel is this month's winner of our recognition for Making a Difference. This hotel, verified by the Rainforest Alliance and certified by Great Green Deal , stands out for its strong commitment to conserving the environment and supporting local communities.

Heymi Patricia Ajcalón, the hotel's assistant for development and sustainability, tells us about the sustainability initiatives conducted by the hotel.

Photo by Jardines del Lago Hotel and Convention Center

Question: How long ago did the Jardines del Lago Hotel and Convention Center decide to implement sustainable tourism practices and why?

Ajcalón: In February 2009, we realized that we should implement sustainable actions due to the nature of our tourism activities and the environmental importance of our location.

Q: What noteworthy sustainable initiatives are you carrying out?

A: We take measures to save electricity and lower water consumption. For example, there are energy-saving lighting systems in all hotel facilities and solar heaters for the showers. We've installed alternative ventilation systems so we can limit the use of air conditioning, and we are reusing the water treated within the hotel to irrigate the gardens.

We use biodegradable products and buy products in bulk to reduce the amount of waste generated. All of our organic wastes are converted to compost that we use as organic fertilizer in the gardens, while all inorganic wastes are sent to the municipality's collection center. We also use efficient vehicles to reduce our CO2 emissions.

On the social side, we provide all legal benefits to our employees plus additional benefits offered by the hotel owner, and we support the socio-cultural events held by the surrounding communities.

Q: What additional support do you offer to local communities?

A: We provide cash or in-kind donations and we often allow community members to use our facilities at no cost for social and cultural activities. We also buy natural shampoo and soap for our guests from the women's organization in the department of Solola. In addition, we communicate our sustainability initiatives to primary and secondary schools and universities, provide a space for learning, and give lectures on sustainability.

Photo by Jardines del Lago Hotel and Convention Center

Q: Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful sites in Guatemala, but it has also suffered from pollution and the negative impact of tourism. How does your hotel take care of this lake and the wildlife that depends on it?

A: We conducted a lake cleanup rally with the collaboration of the company's entire staff, and we participate in other initiatives organized by the Municipal Environmental Commission of Panajachel.

Q: How can your guests get involved with your sustainability activities?

A: In all of our hotel facilities, we post informational signs to raise awareness among guests and visitors about saving water and electricity. We also have a Ten Card inside the rooms that tells guests to place it on the sheets and towels they want to have washed and replaced, which helps us save water and detergent.

The hotel's corridors have marked bins so that everyone can help with sorting wastes. We also invite guests to respect the cultures and customs of the communities near the Lake Atitlan watershed and to not introduce exotic species at any site they visit.

Q: Why is the Jardines del Lago Hotel and Convention Center so special compared to other hotels in the area?

A: We stand out for our sustainability activities and our perseverance for continuing improvement. In addition, our facilities and grounds are unique; no other hotel can offer the panorama that you will enjoy from our rooms and gardens.

Making a Difference: Chepu Adventures EcoLodge

Photo by Chepu Adventures

Eight years ago, Fernando Claude and his wife Amory felt the urge to leave the big city and find a simpler existence. While many of us harbor this distant dream, Fernando and Amory actually did it--they sold all of their belongings, moved to the remote island of Chiloé off the central coast of Chile, and began their new life. With no running water, no jobs, and only an old military tent for shelter, they found happiness living in harmony with nature. Over the years, they built a sustainable ecolodge so they could share their experience with others. We spoke with Fernando about Chepu Adventures and what travelers can get out of a visit to Chiloé.

Q: When and why did you decide to open the lodge?

Amory and Fernando Claude Claude: In our early fifties, my wife and I moved from the big city of Santiago, Chile, to live on Chiloé Island. We didn't know anything about nature--we were city people! We wanted to build "our life project" in Chiloe and live completely self-sufficiently for two years without spending any money at all.

With that goal in mind, we arrived in Chepu and started living in an old military tent, spending our days building a little shack, growing our own vegetables, collecting rainwater, and producing a little electricity with a small wind generator. We used the advice of an old farming manual. What we couldn't produce, we traded for with our neighbors.

During this two-year process, we learned a lot about sustainability, nature, construction, renewable energies, and more. It was a trial-and-error education! Our lives and spirit were reloaded with energy and optimism and the best thing of all is that we began to know and understand nature. When you live in the city, nature is something distant, but when you are able to experience how wonderful it is, you begin to understand and be amazed by it. Once you love nature, you feel the urge to protect it.

For the first time, we felt like we owned our destiny. One day, some tourists requested to rent our kayaks, and they liked the area so much they asked if they could camp on our property. It was then that we decided to set up a small campsite and kayak rental service as a way to earn a little money. In the past eight years, it's grown into a full-fledged lodge.

Photo by Chepu Adventures Q: What makes your location, Chiloé Island, special?

C: In 1960, an earthquake caused the ground to sink a few meters, creating a haunting and beautiful sunken forest in the Chepu River Valley. You can kayak between the logs and tree branches and observe the wildlife that has adapted to this unique ecosystem.

Chiloé is a magical island full of culture, mythology, traditions, and blessed natural beauty. The wooden churches built by the Jesuits were named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and you can also find some interesting historic Spanish forts.

Q: What kinds of wildlife can guests expect to see at your hotel?

C: Our place is rich in bird life, with more than 100 different species. It's common to see cute river otters escorting your kayak along the river, as well as other mammals like the coipo, a large semiaquatic rodent. You can find also one of the smallest species of deer walking on our garden, the pudú.

Q: Tell us about your electric kayaks – how are they different from traditional kayaks and what are the benefits?

C: Electric kayaks were an innovation created by bird and mammal watchers. Their electric motor uses deep cycle batteries that are recharged only with wind and solar power, so they do not have any carbon footprint and don't contaminate the water. They are also completely silent, so animals are not scared off. The kayaks have two comfortable seats and you can safely carry photographic equipment.

Photo by Chepu Adventures Q: How does your business benefit the local community?

C: We always try to have good relations with our neighbors and involve them in tourism activities. We hire local people to work with us and buy local produce as much as possible, such as honey and vegetables. We hire local boaters for bird watching tours and transporting our guests down the river.

Q: What are some of your noteworthy sustainability initiatives?

C: Nature is our main supplier. Our electricity comes from the wind and sun, and our hot water from solar heaters. All of our water comes from the rain and is filtered by the soil. We separate our garbage and compost our organic waste.

We are committed to protecting the environment in all of our activities. Our latest innovation is a computer software program that we designed ourselves to control our use of water and electricity. With this new technology, we can teach our guests and help them understand their impact. We assign them a certain quota of electricity and water for their daily use, and they report how much water and electricity they use on an LED screen in their rooms. For us, technology and sustainability goes hand-in-hand.

Photo by Chepu Adventures Q: Why is sustainability so important for your hotel?

C: We have two main reasons. First, we are located in an area with no water supply -- the one and only source of water is rain. Therefore, we must be sustainable in order to have a secure water supply during the dry summer months.

Second, we truly believe that a sustainable way of life is the only way. We share our experience with our guests and show them how much can be saved with very little effort. We are sure that after their visit, many of our guests will continue the sustainable practices they've learned.


Q: Of all of the hotels in the area, what makes Chepu Adventures special?

C: We are in a rural area far from the city, in a place that is still uncrowded and simple. Now that we are becoming more well-known, more people are coming to visit the area, giving our neighbors the chance to start earning income from tourist products and services.

There are so many businesses that talk about sustainability without any meaningful commitment, so we want to be a real example of sustainability in Chile. That is why it is so important for our claims to be backed up by sustainability certifications. Every day, more people come to live our eco-experience. Sustainability is our passion and the desire to live out of the "system" encourages many people to follow our example.

Making a Difference: Los Cardones Surf Ecolodge

Sustainable tourism at Los Cardones Surf Ecolodge, Nicaragua

Our Making a Difference award winner this month is Los Cardones Surf Ecolodge, a laid-back beachfront hotel on Nicaragua's Pacific coast. Los Cardones has three stilted bungalows, five cabañas, and a restaurant serving fresh, local food right on the beach. Owner Anne Laure Sitton has taken a particular interest in protecting the sea turtles that come to nest on their beach and in developing community education projects -- and she encourages guests to participate in these efforts as well. We spoke with Anne Laure about Los Cardones and the unique guest experience the lodge provides.

Q. What makes your location, Playa Los Cardones, special?

Sitton: Playa Los Cardones is a pristine beach with preserved coastal dry tropical forest and mangroves. Guests can see caimans, iguanas, migratory and local birds, and small mammals. We also have four species of sea turtles that nest on our beaches: olive ridley, leatherback, hawksbill, and green.

Q. Your hotel has its own program for conserving sea turtles. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

S: Poachers used to steal eggs from the nests and sell them on the black market. So in 2001, we started relocating sea turtle nests from the beach to our property in order to prevent the poachers from getting to them. Fauna & Flora International (FFI) has since trained some of our staff members on sea turtle nursery management. We collect data on the mothers and hatchlings and take note of any occurrences that might be of biological interest to enrich FFI's national database. More than 7,000 hatchlings have been cared for in our nursery in the past ten years.

Guests can get involved by helping us patrol the beaches at night to look for nesting sea turtles and release hatchlings into the ocean. They can also participate in the sea turtle programs that we run at local schools and raise awareness of our activities in their own communities, as well as make donations to support our programs.

Community education with Los Cardones Ecolodge, Nicaragua Q. What about your community education program? Can guests get involved with that, too?

S: Guests can join us on our weekly visits to the schools, during which we lend books from our mobile library and offer educational activities on varied themes, such as the environment, the arts, sports, English, science, health, careers, and crafts. Guests with special skills are invited to share those with the students, such as playing an instrument, yoga, and teaching English.

Q. Do you have any other noteworthy sustainability initiatives you'd like to share?

S: We have been reforesting as much as we can, both in the lodge area and in another property of ours. Our lodge is run exclusively on solar power and our water is supplied by our own well that is fitted with a mechanical pump and a gravity tank. Gray water is recycled through a network of perforated pipes that irrigates our gardens. In addition, all organic waste is recycled onsite by thermophilic composting.

Q. Why is sustainability so important for your hotel? S: We want our lives and work to be meaningful, and to participate in making the world a better place.


Looking for a relaxing vacation that benefits local communities and wildlife? Stay at Los Cardones! More information about Los Cardones Surf Ecolodge is available on their SustainableTrip profile.

Making a Difference: Harmony Hotel, Costa Rica

Sustainable tourism at Harmony Hotel, Costa Rica

Our Making a Difference award winner this month is Harmony Hotel, a high-end hotel in Costa Rica that has demonstrated a strong commitment to the environment and local community. The hotel, steps away from one of the best surf spots in the region, cultivates a vibe of relaxation and laid-back, low-key luxury. We spoke with Marisol Yglesias González, the "Experience, Learn, Connect, & Relax (ELCR)" Manager, about what a stay at Harmony Hotel is like, what specifically the hotel is doing to implement sustainability, and how they're getting their guests involved in sustainable practices.

Q. How would you describe the atmosphere at Harmony Hotel?

González: We offer complimentary yoga and surfing lessons that are quite popular and part of Harmony's relaxing experience. When we ask our guests what were the most special moments of their stay, they often refer to these lessons, along with the sunsets at the beach, food and drinks, our amenities (outdoor shower, hammocks, and chlorine-free pool), and the friendliness of our staff.

Hammock, Sustainable tourism at Harmony Hotel, Costa Rica Q. How can your guests connect to the environment and the community?

G: Visitors have the chance to see our sustainability initiatives first-hand through our "Green Living" tour. They can also participate in beach clean-ups organized by the hotel. After the clean-up, all the waste is collected and taken to the recycling center at the hotel, where it is weighed, registered, and classified.

We want our guests to connect with our culture as well, so we invite them to join local activities such as soccer matches at the beach with our staff members or Nosara's civic festivals that celebrate Costa Rican folklore.

Q. What kinds of wildlife can guests expect to see at your hotel?

G: Our guests often see many different types of animals during their stay at Harmony Hotel, including coatis, howler monkeys, raccoons, iguanas, skunks, squirrels, armadillos, and several species of birds (parrots, hummingbirds, sparrows, and magpies). Furthermore, Guiones Beach is part of the Ostional Wildlife Refuge, which is one of the most important nesting sites in the world for olive ridley sea turtles. Lucky guests will have the chance to see a couple of these turtles at Guiones!

Sustainable surf tourism at Harmony Hotel, Costa Rica Q. Why is sustainability so important for Harmony Hotel?

G: Harmony Hotel is part of a hospitality chain that develops its operations and services under the philosophy of sustainability. We want to offer our guests a high-end experience that is supported by sound environmental practices. We believe that sustainability is not just a lifestyle - it's a concept that can be implemented across any industry, especially tourism. Costa Rica's economy depends greatly on the tourism industry. At Harmony, we firmly believe that we have a valuable ecological heritage to look after, and sustainable development is the right way to maintain our economy as well as our natural resources.

Q. Can you talk a bit about what you're doing specifically to promote sustainability at Harmony Hotel?

G: In addition to our beach clean-ups,we have a "Plant a Tree" carbon offset program, in which guests can sponsor a native tree species grown in our nursery and plant it in our garden. This can partially or entirely compensate for the carbon footprint of their flight to Costa Rica. We also recently participated in a study that determined our own carbon footprint, which included several recommendations for mitigation, and we're currently developing a mitigation plan for greenhouse gases.

Our initiative to protect howler monkeys addresses the positioning of Nosara electrical lines. Howler monkeys try to use power lines to access their habitat, which has been fragmented by the building of roads and the clearing of land for development. Our initiative aims to prevent electrocution of the monkeys by positioning the power lines outside of areas where they live.

We abide by "The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism," and our staff has been trained to face any circumstance related to the sexual exploitation of minors. We require all of our providers sign our "Code of Ethics for Providers," where we explicitly state our zero tolerance policy in regards to human exploitation of any form, especially the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents.

Sustainable tourism at Harmony Hotel, Costa Rica Harmony also has a reforestation program in which thousands of trees are planted during an annual three-day campaign in alliance with the Costas Verdes Foundation. These efforts are combined with environmental education for both the staff at Harmony and for local community members in Nosara.

Q. How are you supporting the local community?

G: Harmony Hotel partners with two organizations to help our local schools: Pack for a Purpose and Equilibrium. We have developed environmental education campaigns at local schools that promote sustainable practices and environmental awareness, covering topics such as conservation of flora and fauna, climate change, and organic waste management, among others. We contribute to improving the infrastructure of local schools and participate in local committees related to culture, art, and sustainability. We've also helped provide dental appointments for local children and have held lectures related to public health topics in order to promote health and avoid diseases.

At least 60% of our staff members live in surrounding communities. Harmony not only offers job opportunities, but also trains the staff. For instance, we provide scholarships for English classes to staff members who only speak Spanish, offer training in topics of interest to the staff, and have a corporate program that allows the staff to visit other hotels in the chain to get trained.

Q. Of all of the hotels in the Nosara area, what makes Harmony Hotel special?

Sustainable tourism at Harmony Hotel, Costa Rica G. Harmony Hotel offers our guests a unique and customized experience. Ideal for a total escape, Harmony is surrounded by vibrant gardens where guests mingle with hummingbirds and howler monkeys.

On the other hand, Harmony is ideal for a surfing adventure--we are the only hotel in the area that has direct access to Guiones beach, a pristine surf break with consistent, year-round waves. Harmony combines deep relaxation, low-key glamour, and sound environmental practices. When we ask our guests to describe their experience at Harmony in one word, most of them say: relaxing, peaceful, perfect, blissful, unforgettable, and, of course, harmonious.

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