Hacienda Puerta Campeche

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.

Puerta Campeche was inaugurated as a hotel in June 2004, after nearly four years of restoration work by a team of architects and restoration experts. The hacienda is a colonial building that dates back to the 17th century and it is strategically located in the historic center of the city of Campeche, recognized by the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site. Hacienda Puerta Campeche recreates the “belle epoque” of southeastern Mexico.

Rooms

The 15 rooms and suites located in this historic building all have a view of the magnificent pool, built among the ruins located on the grounds. The rooms are comfortable, with beds and furniture made from dark wood, preserving the colonial style.

Non-smoking rooms are available.

One of the rooms has two queen-size beds, all of the others have king-size beds.

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

• Egyptian cotton sheets
• Goose down pillows

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 36

Percentage of local employees: 93%

Our social and environmental commitment to Mexico began more than 15 years ago, when we started restoring the ruins of the sisal haciendas. 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; to contribute to the balance between the environment, economy, and cultural values; and to 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:

• We have a detailed inventory of the plants found on the hacienda.
• We measure and minimize:
  • Energy and potable water consumption:
    • Water consumption was reduced by 1,608 cubic meters (2010 vs. 2009).
    • Electricity consumption has been reduced by 26,776 KWH (2010 vs. 2009) which means that 88,151 metric tons of CO₂ were not emitted into the atmosphere. During that same period, our consumption of propane gas was reduced by 655 liters, a reduction of 0.8842 metric tons in CO₂ emissions.
  • 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 reinforced our social commitment and created the Fundación Haciendas del Mundo Maya, A.C., a non-profit organization. Its mission is to strengthen the identity, recognition, and revival of Maya culture and overcoming extreme poverty by promoting education, health, and sustainable development opportunities with the participation of the local population.

The interdisciplinary staff at the Fundación encourages the participation of local residents in the design and execution of sustainable development projects in their communities in order to encourage conservation of the environment and the appropriate use of their natural resources.

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 Maya 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. These elements include the decorative items found in the restaurant, the rooms, and bathrooms, as well as the body lotion, bath soap, conditioner, and shampoo, which contain natural ingredients such as aloe vera and cucumber.
• Opposite Hacienda Puerta Campeche is a “Taller Maya” boutique. The store offers products made by Maya craftswomen and well-known designers such as Sandra Gutiérrez and Claudia Muñoz (Mexico), and Roxana Liendro (Argentina). The boutique offers unique items that combine traditional Maya techniques and materials with modern designs. This business provides the craftswomen with an income that enables them to support their families and is also a place where guests and travelers can learn more about the project.
• We also offer the “Mosaicos” Collection – children’s clothing with designs inspired by the ancient mosaic tile floors of the haciendas and the local flora and fauna.
• The Puerta Campeche Spa grew out of a search for new development opportunities for local women. Hacienda Puerta Campeche created a spa, which led to the development of a cooperative that provides spa services to the hotel. One of the unique features of this spa is its therapists, who have inherited Maya ancestral knowledge and practice a type of massage known as “sobada,” using their hands to heal. Guests have the option of enjoying this magical and unique experience, a mixture of spiritual relaxation and ancient Maya tradition. The therapists pass down their knowledge to other, younger women in their communities and, thanks to the training project, they are qualified to give spa treatments, Ying and Yang massages, and facials. The 357 spa services provided in 2010 generated 139,008.35 pesos for the cooperative. This implies an average monthly income of 770.81 pesos per therapist, in addition to the support the cooperative receives through the “Taller Maya” boutique.

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=1507&EM=VTY_LC_1507_PUERTACAMPECHE_PROP_OVERVIEW (available in English, French, German, Spanish and other languages).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: Mérida (MID)

Nearest local/national airport: Campeche (CPE)

Travel time to nearest airport: 20 minutes from the Campeche airport and two hours from Mérida International Airport.

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 Puerta Campeche, un destino sostenible - Detailed information about Hacienda Puerta Campeche and its commitment to sustainability. In Spanish.

Date This Information Was Provided

August 2011.

Photos courtesy of Hacienda Puerta Campeche, Mexico, for SustainableTrip.org.