Sustainable Tourism

“We share”

For the Costa Rican people solidarism has always been a tradition in their culture and everyday life. We, the staff at  Hotel Parador, have adopted this philosophy and encouraged these values with our guests and the community.  Our “We share” program seeks to identify and implement these efforts of self sustainability under one program.

Principles we share:

1.We share with our employees the knowledge,  the family principles, the commitment of improving every day, and helping improve the community and its habitants.

2. We share our surroundings with the natural environment and are committed in improving their existing conditions  and returning to nature what the industry impact has caused on the flora and fauna.

3. We Share funds to donate to different organizations and make charitable donations of clothing, towels, linens, food, to different institutions and schools.

4. We share with you, our thanks, in making our paradise a better place to be.

Our sustainable programs include:

1.       Protecting of 7 acres of secondary & primary rainforest, preserving the natural corridors of the wildlife and not feeding the animals.

2.       The making of our own compose (fertilizer and insecticides for the gardens) from the organic waste from the kitchen.

3.       Energy and water saving programs (through ozone), and controlled water pressure system throughout the hotel.

4.       Filtering and reusing water for  irrigating  the gardens.

5.       Collecting and purifying rainwater for use in different areas.

6.       Recycling program in all areas (aluminum, paper, glass, and plastic).

7.       The Recycling of amenities.

8.       The use of 100% biodegradable soaps and detergents.

9.       The use of Certified biodegradable cleaning agents.

10.   Providing an alternative use for materials or equipment once they have fulfilled their basic function, usualy donating them to community groups or employees.

11.   Participating in the community beach cleaning program and reforestation programs. 

 

Our support to non- profit organizations:

Titi Conservation Alliance, works to protect the endangered Titi (squirrel) Monkey through efforts focused on the Conservation of the area surrounding Manuel Antonio National Park,   they work as a true Alliance, bringing a continued sense of unity to the community,  the Titi Conservation Alliance is working to protect Costa Rica’s Central Pacific region through Sustainable Development, Habitat Reforestation, and Environmental Education.

 

 

 

Copaza makes programs to prevent violence and promote social peace of Aguirre. Its pivot point is to provide cultural, sports, and job opportunities for the young people in the canton, primarily those who are at social risk, to contribute to their integral development.

 

 

 

Roberta Felix Foundation, is an organization that develops services for handicapped children in rural communities of Costa Rica. Most of these special children have few options in terms of getting the support they need. In addition to this support for handicapped children, they also develop and support programs for children with learning disabilities and for children who live in poverty and they also operate a special education school and therapy center.

 

 

 

 

The Omar Dengo Foundation (ODF) of Costa Rica is a private non-profit organization that has been managing and carrying out national and regional projects in the fields of human development, educational innovation and new technologies since 1987. Its different projects have benefitted more than 1.5 million Costa Ricans, including children and young people, students, educators, professionals, people from the community, and senior citizens.

 

 

Parador Resort & Spa was certified with four leaves out of of five.

 What CST is all about

It is a program that seeks to categorize and certify each tourism company according to the degree to which its operations comply to a model of sustainability. To this effect, four fundamental aspects are evaluated:

Physical-biological parameters

Evaluates the interaction between the company and its surrounding natural habitat.

1. Infrastructure and services
   Evaluates the management policies and the operational systems within the company and its infrastructure.
2. External clients
   Evaluates 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.
3. Socio-economic environment
   Evaluates the interaction of the company with the local communities and the population in general.

For each and every one of these items a list of specific questions was designed to help evaluate how thoroughly the firm complies with a series of standards previously established for the social, environmental and economics fields. Each and every one of the questions refers to an element of sustainability with which the firm should comply in order to qualify in any one of the different stages or levels of fulfillment, which for our purposes we have labeled "levels". The final rating will be assigned to the company in question according to the lowest level achieved in any of the four fields evaluated.

To measure and fix these different levels, the CST program provides a system of "sustainability levels"", on a scale of 0 to 5, in which each number indicates the relative position of the firm in terms of sustainability. This scheme provides a way to classify the tourist firms in terms of "levels " in a system very similar to the commercial categorization of hotels by means of the well known stars system.

If the first level of a category is achieved (level 1) this means that the firm has taken the first step on the road or process of sustainability. The higher levels correspond to stages that are each one more advanced than the previous one, peaking on level of level 5, which means that the company is considered as outstanding in terms of sustainability.

In terms of sustainability, the degree of fulfillment signified by each level should be concomitant with the different aspects mentioned. For example, to achieve a level 3 category, it is necessary to complete at least with 60% of the established conditions for the four areas evaluated.

The level assigned to any firm will always be the lowest level achieved in any of the areas. It is expected that this policy will encourage the firms to advance towards the model of sustainability by giving the same degree of consideration and importance to each of the four areas evaluated. Although the program has been designed for all types of companies in the tourism industry, the first stage will include only the lodging companies. Within this group, the program will generate a clear differentiation between the hotels according to the level achieved.

The CST system is designed to include a series of incentives that will increase in benefits for each company, in direct proportion to its increased rating. This means that as the rating increases, more and better benefits will be received; international and national publicity and promotion, specifically designed for the CST; training for its personnel; priority participation in various world tourism fairs and events, etc.

What are the implications of the CST?

• For the national tourism industry

At the national level, CST represents a new form of competition; a new way to differentiate our tourist industry with respect to our competitors, and one which enhances those tourism products which show a connotation of sustainability, opening new possibilities for marketing and international promotion.

On the other hand, this program directly attacks the problem generated by the unethical behavior of some companies operating as "greenwashers" (abusing the concepts of "eco" and/or "sustainability"), by providing reliable information on the firms that are really making progress in producing a tourist product that is sustainable.

Undoubtedly, this will enhance the country's image as an authentic naturalist tourist destination, thus increasing considerably the competitiveness of our national tourism product.

• For the tourism business  individual

This program provides the business person with an opportunity for utilizing a new element of competition, based on a new way of differentiating his product, a concept that will be fully reinforced and enhanced in the national and international tourism promotional programs.

The CST motivates tourism executives to improve their use of company resources, promoting savings and their efficient utilization. This will have a positive impact not only on the quality of the product, but also on the cost-benefit ratio of the firm, as well. For example, the use of energy-saving technologies and devices promotes and improves the quality of the product in terms of sustainability and, at the same time, produces a significant reduction in the cost of these services. For other productive sectors

The CST program is a spear head that opens up all kinds of opportunities for the development and production of goods and services by firms with a sustainable orientation. The demand for recyclable and reusable products, for water and energy-saving devices, for efficient systems for the proper disposal of waste matter, for better systems of information management, as well as many others, will be the key that opens a new market for products that are environmentally friendly. This will strengthen an industrial sector that operates within parameters of sustainability, and a sector that, within a medium-range time frame, will be able to supply as well the needs of other productive sectors, generating a synergy and a globally positive balance in terms of sustainability.

A program for everyone

• Who manages it?

The official entity in charge of this program is the Costa Rica Tourist Institute (ICT). Notwithstanding, this initiative is supported by a National Accreditacion  Committe which has been officialized by executive decree where all sector related to this subject take place. In addition, the educational sector is represented by the Costa Rican University (UCR) and the Central America Business Administration Institute (INCAE). The private sector is represented by National Tourism Chamber, International organizations such as UICN and The Earth Council. Finally, the public sector is represente by the Costa Rican Environment & Energy Ministry (MINAE), The Biodiversity National Institute, besides of the ICT, which is the responsible of the program implementation. Technical Support

The national organization will be assisted by a technical commitee at highest level which main task is the parameters and indicators designing. This group will also establish the respective methodic procedures to carry out the evaluations as well as the execution, supervision and process audition. This Commitee will propose the program marketing strategies. Every two years the national parameters are improved and improved by the International Commitee, as we intend the CST not to be a static measuring program, but rather one that continually improves, to include the new technologies that become available in each country, as well as responding to the ever changing environment.

Parador Resort Sustainable Tourism policy

The Parador Hotel and its staff are committed to the society, the community and our guests, to provide  social, cultural and environmentally-friendly services in a responsible way so that the environmental management practices are friendly with the natural environment.

We are committed  to pursue an interaction among consumers and tour operators to manage an environmental and social ambiance in harmony with nature and in a positive interaction with surrounding communities.

Conservation and Protection Projects in Manuel Antonio -Quepos