Hacienda Santa Rosa, a Sustainable Destination

The story of our social and environmental commitment to Mexico began over 15 years ago, when we focused our gaze on the crumbling henequen haciendas or plantations, their former glory faded by years of neglect and the ravages of time, who now stood as mute witnesses to the precarious living conditions present in the many indigenous communities surrounding them.

In 1994, Grupo Plan acquired Hacienda Temozon and our social and environmental commitment to the region was born.

In our quest to create a successful sustainable tourism project in the Yucatan Peninsula we looked foremost to rescuing the magnificent henequen haciendas and bring their architectural splendor to the attention of the most discriminating traveler by inviting him or her to share with us their exciting history and cultural value in the region. This has permitted us to become catalysts for economic growth and social development in the rural Mayan communities of Yucatan and Campeche.

We strive to act as the link between the past and present in what is now called the Mundo Maya, or Mayan world, attempting to generate new opportunities for individual growth along with improved social conditions for the inhabitants of the communities that surround our hotels. In this way we contribute to finding a balance between preserving the environment, maintaining and encouraging the rich cultural values of the Maya, improving the well-being of the population and achieving sustainable development that will result in economic growth.

The Haciendas del Mundo Maya A.C. Foundation

In 2002, after the devastating destruction caused by hurricane Isidore throughout the Yucatan peninsula, our ongoing social commitment was strengthened with the creation of the Haciendas del Mundo Maya foundation (Fundacion Haciendas del Mundo Maya, A.C.). A non-profit institution, its mission was to generate micro-regional, sustainable development in the rural Mayan communities of the Yucatan peninsula which would enable them to improve both their quality of life and living conditions through cultural development and tourism. An important aspect of the foundations mission was to involve locals directly by having them actively participate in the promotion of their social welfare projects.

Based on initiatives proposed by each community and with the interdisciplinary team from the Haciendas del Mundo Maya foundation, we encouraged members of each community to become involved with the design and execution of sustainable development projects in the following areas:

1. Health; promoting traditional Mayan herbalist medicine 

2. Educational Development

3. Personal and Family Development

4. Housing Improvement with the active participation of the direct beneficiaries

5. Environment

6. Community Business Promotion

Description- Hacienda Santa Rosa

The history of the Hacienda Santa Rosa is that of an important property belonging to nobility that after various generations was converted into a luxurious residence. Only 1 hour from the Merida’s international airport, and near such natural attractions as the Calcehtok caves and beaches of Celestun and the archeological sites of Uxmal and Oxkintok, the hacienda – with only 11 guest rooms - is ideal for those travelers who want to feel at home.

The guest rooms and suites are located in the original building which has been completely restored and adapted to the needs of the hotel. Each guest room measures approximately 40 m2 and each suite 60 m2. All guest rooms and suites have hammocks which allow guests to sleep Mayan style. Guest room amenities are hand made by Mayan artisans from the community, who participate in programs supported by the Haciendas del Mundo Maya foundation. Specialty body lotions, conditioners and shampoos contain natural ingredients such as aloe vera and cucumber. The interior décor is reminiscent of the 19th century and the walls have been painted with mineral colors in muted pastel tones which give it a unique and special feel.

In-room guest amenities:

Ø  No smoking rooms

Ø  Internet

Ø  Scale

Ø  Hair dryer

Ø  32” LCD television

Ø  1 king-size

Ø  Egyptian cotton sheets

Ø  Goose-down pillows

Ø  Minibar

Ø  Telephone

Ø  Ipod Docking station and alarm clock

Ø  Wi-Fi

Ø  Air conditioning

Ø  Ceiling fan

Ø  In-room safe                                                              

Sustainable Tourism

As the Hacienda Santa Rosa is a sustainable tourism destination, it is faced with the ongoing challenge of minimizing its ecological footprint through actions which protect and preserve the environment.

To honor this commitment, our efforts in the area of environmental responsibility have focused on:

1. Measurement and minimization of energy consumption.
2. Measurement and minimization of potable water usage.
3. Measurement and adequate handling of waste water.
4. Measurement and minimization of solid waste (inorganic and organic).
5. Adequate handling of dangerous substances and waste.
6. Preservation and cataloguing of flora on the property.

2010 Results

• The Santa Rosa hacienda has a botanical garden, officially registered as an Environmental Management Unit. It is located in a garden plot which was part of the original hacienda and covers an area of approximately 1 hectare (2.2 acres) where guests can explore and experience the colors and fragrances of more than 230 species of local plants. The garden is divided into sections according to the uses given to the plants: aromatic plants, palm varieties, edible or vegetable-producing plants, multi-purpose and medicinal plants used to treat various conditions ranging from respiratory to skin care to gastrointestinal ailments. It also features a production unit which helps supply the health centers (Casas de Salud). 
• Within the botanical garden there are ornamental plants, local wood varieties, as well as vegetables, greens and herbs for use in the hotel restaurant are grown. Many of the items on the menu offer guests the opportunity to sample exquisite dishes featuring local fruit and vegetables, harvested fresh each day.
• We offer our guests tours of the botanical garden. Our resident expert in Mayan herbal medicine and garden caretaker Don Victor accompanies guests throughout the tour, sharing his experience and knowledge of the properties of each plant as well as its usage and name in the Mayan culture and language.
• We now have an extensive and detailed inventory of the indigenous flora at the Hacienda.
• Water conservation techniques have enabled us to report a decrease in water consumption from 2009 to 2010 of 600 cubic meters.
• Electricity usage has also seen a decrease from 2009 to 2010; 21,634 KWh less, which represents 71,223 fewer metric tons of CO2 released into the atmosphere.

Our community work in Santa Rosa is done in coordination with the Haciendas del Mundo Maya foundation.

Health – Rescuing Traditional Mayan Medicine

After concluding an exercise which indicated that the rescue of Mayan medicinal traditions and knowledge could be a sustainable and viable solution to present-day health challenges, we participated with the community of Santa Cruz to create a Casa de Salud (Health Center). The implementation of traditional medicine using Mayan herbalist methods in the prevention and early detection of sicknesses such as diabetes, cancer and arterial hypertension has proven to be economically efficient, as it reduces transportation and medicine expenses and is in harmony with the culture. The Casa de Salud has a general practitioner on staff that provides once-a-week consultations and a local assistant who provides support for the doctor and community during the remainder of the week.

Objectives:

1. To provide preventive treatment as well as primary medical attention.
2. To maintain the frequency of illness low through herbalist medicine, campaigns and workshops.
3. To maintain child malnutrition levels low.
4. To maintain infant mortality at 0% for children from the ages of 0 to 5 years.
5. To rescue, promote and diffuse Mayan herbalist medicine throughout the region where the foundation operates.

2010 Results

• The Casa de Salud (Health Center) was presented to the community with the participation of approximately 85% of Santa Rosa’s inhabitants.
• Of the 539 consultations made, 139 (25%) were prescribed allopathic medicines and 400 (75%) were treated with traditional herbalist medicine.
• Six personal and dental hygiene campaigns were realized, benefitting 130 children.
• In conjunction with 299 families, campaigns were waged to promote hygiene in the home, prevention of respiratory infections, nutrition awareness and the creation of gardens to increase fruit and vegetable consumption.
• A low 3% malnutrition rate during 2010 has been maintained (The rate of malnutrition among children 5 years and under in remote areas of the Yucatan can reach 75%) 
• There have been no cases of infant and pre-school-age mortality.

Educational Development

In conjunction with the families in the community, a space has been adapted for the creation of a community library which provides tools to complement and improve the quality of the educational services. The library programs are run in coordination with official education institutions and also offer computers with internet access, providing users with the necessary skills for modern life.

The library hosts workshops and summer classes, as well as providing support to students who need to make up lost classes to complete grades.

In the library, items such as pens, paper and the like are sold, and this money is then re-invested in school supplies.

 Goals:

1. Strengthen the libraries and learning centers to improve education in the community
2. Encourage education in youth and adults

2010 Results

At the present time, the library provides or promotes:

• Literacy and reading comprehension programs.
• Lending of books.
•  Educational support through spelling workshops, remedial classes and homework assistance.
•  Information technology
• Culture and recreation through workshops on drawing and art, traditional dance, traditional games and Mayan language.
• Sports activities.
• Academic regularization for adults.
• Thanks to support from the foundation, the community also now has a community vehicle. The use of the vehicle is coordinated by a group of local representatives with the goal of providing secondary students with transportation to the nearest campus. This helps 32 students to continue their education.

To date, the library has 1,472 users.

Infrastructure and Housing

One of the priorities for the inhabitants of the communities is the improvement of their homes. A housing program was designed in which local families are grouped together to undertake home improvement or construction projects. These groups provide the labor and do follow-up and evaluation once the project is complete, while the foundation provides the building materials. Engineers are brought in to supervise the process from the design stage to final completion, to ensure that the projects comply with structural standards and requirements

Goal:

To contribute to the improvement of the well-being of the families by improving the conditions both in the home and in the community infrastructure

2010 Results:

• 84 home improvement projects have been realized to date. 66% of all houses in the community have seen improvements.
• There has been a 23% reduction in overcrowding in homes which translates into an important reduction in the number of family members in sleeping areas.
• Together with a community facilitator meetings have been held with 41 women in the community who actively participate in the home improvement program.
• Employees of the hacienda, teachers and other school personnel came together to make improvements to the school facilities through maintenance, rehabilitation and training projects. The result was to have a more conducive learning environment for the students.

Environment and Natural Resources

Our objective is to promote sustainable development within the community to both preserve the environment and take responsible advantage of its natural resources.

Goals:

1. Consolidate community-based bee-keeping enterprises.
2. Promote the preservation and responsible use of the region’s natural resources.
3. Encourage environmental values in the general public.

2010 Results

• The foundation provided support to a group of women in the development of an agricultural unit or plot of land for farming. Several different kinds of vegetables were planted for the groups own consumption and for sale thereby providing the women with another source of income with which to support their families.
• In conjunction with the Hacienda, two types of compost methods were implemented: a thermal compost system which is simply collecting leaves, branches and other organic material recovered in grounds maintenance and letting decompose; and a vermicompost system which uses the Red Wriggler (Eisenia phoetida) earthworm to speed up the decomposition process. These efforts have resulted in the production of 330 kilos of fertilizer in just one year.A weekly garbage collection system throughout the community was initiated. The collaboration of hacienda and botanical garden staff in the collection of garbage using the community vehicle and a trailer, which benefitted 120 families.
• An application was filed with the state government’s health secretary to provide chemical sterilization medicines and with the municipality of the nearby town of Maxcanu for personnel to administer them; 99 cats and dogs in the community were spayed or neutered through this program.
•  Initial steps were taken to undertake a community reforestation program; 2,500 trees have been planted.

Promotion of Community Businesses

We work in coordination with community groups to support initiatives designed to generate income for the member families and promote the creation of micro businesses in the form of sustainable cooperatives with a special focus on gender. In addition, we help them in obtaining financing, also providing a portion of the funds needed for training, tools, equipment, and certification (WFTO – World Fair Trade Organization); assistance is also provided by the foundation to locate markets or buyers that will provide a fair price for their work.

Goals:

1. Profitability of the cooperatives.
2. Social and economic improvement for the members of the cooperative.
3. Business management of the undertaking to be taken over by cooperative members.
4. Administrative management of agricultural enterprises to be assumed by cooperatives.

Activities and Results

Artisans Workshops

In the community of Temozon we have set up artisans workshops specializing in horn carving, machine and hand embroidery and crafts derived from henequen. These workshops and their artisans are provided with specialized assistance throughout the various steps; from production and quality control to administration and commercialization of the final product. Obtaining a fair price for their products is also a priority. The handcrafts are created thanks to entrepreneurial women and renowned designers such as Sandra Gutierrez (Mexico) and Roxana Liendro (Argentina); the pieces are one-of-a-kind works of art that combine ancient Mayan techniques and materials with cutting edge design.

• To help promote sales of these products, Hacienda Santa Rosa offers its guests a boutique called Taller Maya (Mayan Workshop) where the artisans’ products are sold.
• The amenities and decoration in Santa Rosas’s restaurant are made by local artisans.
• Guests may visit the workshops to admire and purchase the products on display. There are examples of hand and machine embroidery, silver filigree jewelry, henequen products and horn carving, natural fiber carpets and placemats and hammocks made in the traditional way.
• In conjunction with other artisan’s workshops, the 2010 “Mosaicos” collection was realized.
• Volume of production increased by 48% in 2010, from 4,816 products with a value of $392,268.91 pesos in 2009 to 5,664 with a value of $632,943.59 pesos.
• The average monthly income per artisan in 2010 was approximately $70 USD; an increase of 25% over 2009 levels..

Spa

The Spa Therapists program is the result of the search for new opportunities of development for women in the communities. The Haciendas have set aside areas in each property in which local therapists could work. This, in turn, permitted the creation of a cooperative which provides spa services to the hotels.

One of the unique characteristics of the Spa is its therapists, who have inherited an ancient Mayan technique known as “sobada” and have the power to heal through their hands.

This knowledge is being transmitted from these therapists to the younger women of their communities, who not only learn these ancestral skills but also see their value and application in the modern world. The skills that these women possess allow guests to experience a truly unique and magical escape through a combination of peaceful, spiritual rest and the ancient healing traditions of the Maya.

Through the creation of the spa cooperative as a local business, the Santa Rosa group has obtained the following results:

• As of 2010, all members of the cooperative have medical coverage through the government social security program (IMSS)
• A total of 130 spa services were provided by the group, generating an income of $53,519.85 pesos for the cooperative.
• An average monthly income per therapist of approximately $1,080.00 pesos was obtained.

Awards

• Silver Certification, Earth Check – Santa Rosa Hacienda
• “Global Visión Award” - 2010 - Travel and Leisure - in the category Artisan Revival for The Haciendas efforts in promoting architectural, cultural and artisans revival in the Yucatan Peninsula
• “World Saver’s Award” – 2009 - Conde Nast Traveler
• “Best Employers México” - 2007‐2008 - Hewitt
• “TO DO!” – 2007 - Worldwide International Tourism Exchange (ITB) Fair, Berlín, Germany
•  “Investor in People Award” – 2005 - World Travel and Tourism Council, Tourism for Tomorrow Awards