DESIGN
TEACHABLE MOMENTS Following water , energy and waste-conserving practices is one thing , but Redko says he thinks sharing the philosophy with guests will have the biggest impact on the environment .
“ Yes , our building is green ; yes , our operation is green , but by educating and inspiring guests we hope they take these practices home and apply them ,” he says . Focusing on sustainability is a way to change the region ’ s image as a magnet for youthful party animals into a family-friendly , community-driven destination , he adds . “ We want to create guests who are conscious of their surroundings , the environment , the landscape and the community that welcomes them — in this case , Mexico ,” he adds .
Rather than measures like bathroom signs encouraging water conservation , “ we decided that the best way to educate guests was through our own people . All our staff has been trained to educate our guests on the various ways Hotel Xcaret is sustainable and share these practices at different guest touchpoints ,” Redko says . When guests check in , the staff member who walks them to their accommodations will use the time to explain the company ’ s approach toward responsible energy and water use .
“ We want to create a whole experience through storytelling , not by tent cards that people may or may not read ,” Redko says . “ By connecting through a human experience , guests will be more likely to remember to use water responsibly or where the food they ’ re eating comes from .”
Because this is Xcaret ’ s first lodging project , Redko can ’ t say what impact sustainable design had on the development cost or how long it will take to see a return on investment . But other projects designed with EarthCheck oversight have seen substantial savings in energy , water and waste reduction .
“ We designed it using the same standards we used for the parks ; we never even considered developing in a way that was not sustainable ,” he says .
Public spaces focus on sustainable design elements and spaces that bring the feel of the outside to the inside .
Hotel Xcaret Mexico Hotel Xcaret is the first hotel in the Americas to open with the EarthCheck certification for sustainable-minded architecture , planning and construction .
Rooms have been designed with locally made décor and furniture .
An emphasis on local color is a constant among the multiple F & B outlets .
44 hotelsmag . com January / February 2018