Hacienda Santa Rosa

Overview

Description

During the 1920s, the sisal industry flourished in southeastern Mexico, with exports providing the main source of income for the region. At the heart of this economy were the large estates and plantations that not only produced the sisal, but also featured haciendas, or mansions, that offered work, housing, schools, and in some cases, even hospitals for local inhabitants. Their magnificent architecture featured designs by famous European architects, and the haciendas also invested in the local communities with a vision of endless prosperity. However, by the beginning of the 1990s the sisal haciendas lay abandoned and the nearby communities lived in extreme poverty.

With the aim of developing a successful sustainable tourism project, we set about restoring the beautiful sisal haciendas of the Yucatan Peninsula and bringing their architectural splendor to the attention of the most discerning travelers. This marked the beginning of our social and environmental commitment to the region and the rural Mayan communities of the Yucatán and Campeche. We invite you to share with us the fascinating history and cultural value of this region.

The old Santa Rosa hacienda was once the estate of an important nobleman and, over several generations, the property was converted into a luxurious residence. The original building has been completely restored. The interior decor has 19th century influences and the walls are painted with mineral colors in pastel shades, giving it a unique and special touch.

It is surrounded by natural attractions such as the grottos at Calcehtok and Celestún and archaeological sites such as the ruins of Uxmal and Oxkintok. This hacienda is ideal for travelers who want to feel at home.

The hotel’s botanical garden is registered as an Environmental Management Unit and is located on the grounds of the original orchard, where guests can enjoy the colors and aromas of more than 230 plant species. It is divided into sections according to how the plants are used: aromatic plants, palms, vegetables, multiple use species, and medicinal plants. Part of the botanical garden includes a nursery where ornamental plants are grown, along with vegetables for the hotel’s restaurant. Many of the dishes on the menu offer guests an opportunity to try exquisite dishes prepared with freshly harvested local fruits and vegetables.

Rooms

There are 11 rooms measuring approximately 430 ft ² (40 m ²), and our suites measure 645 ft ² (60 m ²). All are equipped with a hammock so that guests can sleep Maya-style.

Non-smoking rooms are available.

In addition to the features listed for this hotel (see below), the rooms have:

• 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds
• Egyptian cotton sheets
• Goose down pillows

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 27

Percentage of local employees: 96%

We work to serve as a link between the present and the past Mayan worlds; to create new opportunities to support the development of the local community; contribute to the balance between the environment, economy, and cultural values; and create opportunities to achieve social well-being and the sustainable economic development of the region.

We are continually working to conserve our local environment and minimize our ecological footprint. Some of our key efforts include:

• Conserving and maintaining an inventory of the plant species on the property.
• We measure and minimize:
  • Energy consumption was reduced by 21,634 KWH (2010 vs. 2009), representing 71,223 metric tons of CO₂ not emitted into the atmosphere.
  • Potable water consumption was reduced by 600 cubic meters (2010 vs. 2009).
  • Wastewater
  • Solid wastes (inorganic and organic)
• Proper management of hazardous substances and wastes

In 2002, in response to the desolate panorama left by Hurricane Isidora as it swept over the Yucatán Peninsula, we created the Fundación Haciendas del Mundo Maya, A.C., a non-profit organization that aims to strengthen the identity, recognition, and revival of Mayan culture and overcome extreme poverty. We work with community groups and support their efforts to generate alternative sources of income. We help to create local businesses that are organized into sustainable cooperatives by helping them to secure financing and contributing training, tools, equipment, and market research. Through the cooperatives, we aim to generate profits, make social and economic improvements, empower rural Mayan women, help farmers adopt innovative techniques, and build capacity for business administration.

Examples of the above include:

• The amenities and products used in the hotel are handmade by artisans belonging to the local cooperatives supported by the Fundación.
• Casa de la Salud (Health Center):
  • Promotes the use of traditional medicinal herbs, which are supplied by the botanical garden and are used to restore health. A general practitioner offers weekly medical consultations and the center’s staff provide support during the rest of the week. The aim is prevention and the early detection of diseases. Thanks to these efforts:
    • The center serves 85% of the inhabitants of Santa Rosa. Of the 539 consultations, 139 (25%) were treated with allopathic medicine and 400 (75%) with traditional herbal medicine.
    • The center works with 299 families in campaigns to promote personal hygiene, prevent respiratory infections, and nutrition by eating fruits and vegetables.
    • Child malnutrition was kept at 3% in 2010. In the Yucatán, malnutrition among children under 5 in marginal areas reaches 75%.
    • Infant and child mortality rates have been kept at zero.
  • The Center contributes to families’ finances, since it offers savings in transportation costs and the purchase of medicines.
• Education:
  • Together with local families and with the support of official institutions, we created a community library. It has computers with Internet access and 1,472 users. It offers the following services:
    • Reading, writing, and reading comprehension classes.
    • Book lending services.
    • Summer courses.
    • Spelling workshops, turtoring, and cultural classes.
    • Computer activities and sports.
    • Literacy courses for adults.
  • The library sells stationery and the proceeds are used to raise funds to purchase school equipment.
  • Thanks to the Fundación’s support, the community now has a vehicle that is used to transport students to the closest secondary school, enabling 32 students to continue with their studies.
• A home improvement program was designed where the Fundación supplies the construction materials and the families provide the labor. Engineers supervise and monitor the building process. So far, 84 projects have been completed, benefiting 66% of the homes in the community, and it is estimated that overcrowding among these families has been reduced by 23%. Also, with the participation of teachers, school staff, and Hacienda employees, restoration and maintenance work was carried out at the school and the staff members were trained to make better use of school infrastructure and services.
• Environment:
  • A group of women received support to set up a farm, where they grow different vegetables for family consumption and sale. Thanks to this project, the women have a new source of income to support their families.
  • A total of 726 pounds (330 kilograms) of compost (obtained from the simple rotting of leaves and branches and using Californian red worms) are produced per year:
  • A weekly garbage collection program was implemented throughout the community, benefiting 120 families.
  • Arrangements were made with the municipality of Maxcanu to apply 99 doses of vaccine to dogs and cats in the community.
  • The first steps of a community reforestation project were taken, planting 2,500 trees.
• We work with community groups by supporting the creation of micro-enterprises organized into sustainable cooperatives. We provide assistance in securing financing and contribute some of the resources required for training, tools, equipment, World Fair Trade Organization certification, and support these enterprises in their search for markets where they can obtain a fair price for their products.
• Craft workshops:
  • Hacienda Santa Rosa has a Taller Maya boutique where handicrafts made by local craftswomen are sold.
  • Guests can visit the workshops and buy products such as machine and cross-stitch embroidery work, silver filigree jewelry, items made from sisal and horn, natural fiber rugs, and woven hammocks.
  • In 2010, the volume of production was 48% higher than in 2009, increasing from 4,816 products with a value of 392,268.91 pesos in 2009 to 5,664 products worth 632,943.59 pesos in 2010. The average monthly income per craftworker was US$70, an increase of approximately 25% over 2009 income.

We invite you to join our efforts to benefit the local people by supporting small local farmers, eating food in the restaurant, and buying handicrafts in the hacienda’s boutique.

Rates

$150 and up

For more information about rates, please visit:

• www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1381&EM=VTY_LC_1381_SANTAROSA_PROP_OVERVIEW (available in English, French, German, Spanish and other languages).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Mérida (MID)

Travel time to nearest airport: 1 hour

Additional Information

Awards or Recognitions

• 2010 Global Vision Award from Travel + Leisure magazine in the Artisan Revival category.
• 2009 World Saver’s Award from Conde Nast Traveler.
• Investor in People Award Winner from the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, given by the World Travel and Tourism Council.
• TO DO! 2007, a prize awarded during the World Tourism Fair in Berlin, Germany.
• Featured in “The Stay List: 150 Hotels You’ll Love” in National Geographic magazine, April 2008.

Files

• Hacienda Santa Rosa, un destino sostenible - Detailed information about Hacienda Santa Rosa and its commitment to sustainability. In Spanish.

Date This Information Was Provided

September 2011.

Photos courtesy of Hacienda Santa Rosa, Mexico, for SustainableTrip.org.