IBEROSTAR Cares for the Turtles of Riviera Maya

IBEROSTAR was honoured to participate, together with the local authorities, in the program "Conservation and protection of the sea turtle". Among several activities, Green Globe certified IBEROSTAR Playa Paraiso has installed a turtle camp for greater protection of these endangered sea creatures.

From 2011, IBEROSTAR has been carrying out this conservation program which consists of the protection  turtles nesting on the beaches of hotels. Through this initiative, both guests and staff of IBEROSTAR were part of a day of care and protection where they were instructed to avoid excessive noise, turn off the lights at the beach at night, and make inspection tours of the turtle nests. This campaign is undertaken during the six month turtle nesting season, from May to October,  on the beaches of Quintana Roo.

For this 2016 season, which IBEROSTAR and neighbouring hotels participated, there were some stand out results culminating in the release of a total of 21,701 turtle hatchlings and protection of 344 nests and 32,032 eggs. In addition training was held with 973 people and more than a thousand participants were engaged in talks and seminars. IBEROSTAR itself had the privilege and honor of releasing 18,798 turtle offspring during this year.

Additional activities linked to social responsibility issues include the beach clean-up days organized by IBEROSTAR. This year, in September, 88 volunteers collected and sorted organic and inorganic waste, cardboard, paper, plastic wrap and bottles. As a result of these efforts, more than 13 km of public beaches have been cleaned from 2013 to 2015.

Also, IBEROSTAR has been involved in recycling projects, and up to 2015, the hotel chain has recycled 903,350 kg of total waste. This year IBEROSTAR also organised a program to collect plastic bottle caps, which raised funds for the treatment of children with cancer. As of October 31, more than 104 thousand caps have been collected.

"For IBEROSTAR it is very satisfactory to participate in the protection of sea turtles. A fundamental part of the values of our hotel chain is our responsibility and commitment to people, cultural and the environment. In addition to the turtle conservation program, IBEROSTAR is very concerned with creating socially responsible initiatives that have a long-term impact, in the same way that we seek to create awareness with our guests and collaborators, "said Rafael Carmona, Director of Operations IBEROSTAR Mexico.

IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts in Mexico are proudly Green Globe certified. For more information: iberostar.com