The University of Georgia Costa Rica 2014-2015 Sustainability Report UGA Costa Rica 2014 - 2015 Sustainability Report | Page 35

Goal Achievement

Physical-biological parameters:
The interaction between the
company and its surrounding
habitat;
Infrastructure and services:
The management policies and
operational systems within the
company and its infrastructure;
External clients:
The interaction of the company
with its clients in terms of how
much it allows and invites the
client to be an active contributor
to the company’s policies of
sustainability;
Socio-economic environment:
The interaction of the company
with the local communities and
the population in general.
In August 2012, UGA Costa
Rica achieved one of the 2015
sustainability goals when it was
awarded 4 leaves in the 2012 CST

sustainability audit, highlighted
by a perfect score on the “Socioeconomic Environment” section.
The graph to the left displays UGA
Costa Rica’s performance over the
past three audits.
UGACR fully supports the value
of the CST program and the
important role it continues to
play in advancing sustainability in
the tourism industry. In 2015, the
CST program revised the criteria
by which participating hotels are
evaluated. The new evaluation
system requires a much more
extensive level of reporting
and record-keeping in order
to demonstrate that certified
organizations are carrying out
the policies and procedures
they have established. Analysis
of other hotels in the four and
five leaf tiers revealed that
these operations have entire
departments whose primary
responsibility is administration
and documentation of the
operations’ sustainability plans.
For UGA Costa Rica to comply
with the level of reporting
required for re-certification,
additional administrative staff
would be required.
After weighing the costs and
benefits to this investment,
UGACR concluded ѡ