COSTA RICA TOURIST BOARD

very important partnersHotel Grano de OroEscazu, San Jose, Costa Ricawww.hotelgranodeoro.comMarco MontoyaGeneral ManagerTel (506) 2255-3322Year Established: 1991Why did you decide to implement sustainablepractices for your business?The tourism industry worldwide is working hardto push businesses towards a more sustainableway of operating. We definitely felt it wassomething necessary to continue to grow in theindustry as well as something very beneficial forthis small country in which we operate.How do the sustainable practicesimplemented at your property help thecountry of Costa Rica as a whole? And whichof these practices have made the biggestimpact?We have implemented programs for theconservation of energy and water withinthe hotel and are constantly working withour employees in hopes that these practiceswill carry over into their homes. We alsohave a very extensive waste managementprogram in place. We now produce 1/10th theamount of garbage sent to the dump that weproduced previously. 90% of our waste is nowrecycled, reused, composted or sent off for pigfeed. All three programs are something weconsciously work hard on every day. We feelthe involvement and education of our staff is thepractice most valuable to the country as a whole.Presently, there is a great push on behalf ofthe ICT to make Costa Rica a carbon neutralcountry by the year 2021. In your opinion,which sector of the industry needs the mosthelp in order to achieve that goal? And why?The Transit Sector – Costa Rica is doing wellplanting trees to offset their carbon emissions aswell as looking for alternate sources or energy(wind and water) but they definitely need to lookinto the carbon emissions and put on strongerregulations on the type of gasoline purchasedas well as on the annual revisions each car hasto go through. If we have learned anythingthroughout this process it is REDUCE first.In what way have sustainable businesspractices impacted the community?Directly impacting our community, as a hotelwe have implemented a program to keepthe surrounding streets clean. We have alsoplanted over 30 trees in the community. Ourwaste management practices are also a benefitto the community as we no longer have bagsof garbage piled up in anticipation of thegarbage pick-up and of course, we contributesignificantly less waste to the municipal garbagedump.We also feel that the push for businessesto embrace sustainability is impactingcommunities all over Costa Rica as it is notonly about the environmental factor but alsothe cultural and social aspects. Costa Rica is acountry full of culture that needs to be preservedand in need of greater social awareness.Sustainability is opening the eyes of businesseswithin the country and showing them they canhelp.The hotel founded and supports a home foradolescent mothers and their children, CasaLuz. The home provides for all the needs ofthese young mothers and helps to rebuild theirlives as families with their children and educatethem so they can go on to lead independent, fulllives, www.casaluz.org.What differences have the initiatives made inthe community or in your business in termsof the economy or expenses?We found the initial expense of sustainablepractices are quite high.When you factor in thecost of changing all light bulbs to energy saving,installing low flush toilets, changing showerheads to aerating versions to name a few of thechanges we have made, it all adds up. Not tomention funding our Social Project Casa Luz.We hope within the next year or two to start tosee the economical benefits of the many changeswe have made.Costa Rica has numerous recognition forits forward thinking practices, what futuresustainable projects have been planned foryour business and in your community?Our most exciting future plan is an OrganicHydroponic Garden. We hope to startconstruction in the beginning of 2011. Not onlywill this allow us to use more organic producein our restaurant it will also help us to employand give job experience to our young mothers atCasa Luz.We are also looking into an alternative waterheating method and hope to extend ourrecycling program to involve more businessesand homes within our community.What types of visitors would you recommendvisit Costa Rica?Costa Rica is a country with a wide variety ofthings to offer. Any type of traveler is boundto find something exciting in the country,something to fall in love with. There areendless opportunities for the “adventuretraveler”, but there are also many opportunitiesfor families as well as for the people who justwant to relax. Costa Rica is a culturally richcountry and San Jose is the heart of it withmany exhibits and activities throughout theyear.Newest Travel Green Tips yourestablishment is promoting.We definitely promote Green Travel with signsin our rooms asking guests to be conscious oftheir energy and water consumption. We alsohave placed recycle bins in each room andthroughout the hotel. Our website encouragesguests to “take out what you take in” whilevisiting national parks or any area of CostaRica. We basically ask people to be consciousof their surroundings and try to reduce theirimpact in whatever way possible.What do visitor most like about yourproperty and why does this make it differentfrom other properties in Costa Rica andaround the world?Our hotel and restaurant give guests a taste ofold San Jose with its unique architectural designand tropical Victorian décor offering elegancewith a warm welcoming feeling. Each guestroom is tastefully decorated and unique, withno two alike. The restaurant is known as oneof Costa Rica’s finest, offering French cuisinewith a tropical influence. We try to use as manyorganic, locally grown products as we can, stillmaintaining the quality associated with thename Grano de Oro. The hotel and restaurantare known by Costa Rican’s as well as touristsfor having warm, exceptional service. Guestshave commented time and again, staying at theGrano de Oro is like coming home.For questions or comments aboutthe Costa Rica Pura Vida TravelNewsletter please contact:visitcostaricapress@bm.comor call 1-866-267-8274305-347-4396 76 of 86