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 Uayamon
Founded in the last decade of the 16th century, the Uayamon hacienda was originally a cattle ranch and pig farm. The property was sacked in 1685 by the pirates Graff and Grammont.
In 1792 the ranch belonged to Francisco de Cicero, colonel and commander of the Write Militia.
In the 19th century it was converted from a ranch to an hacienda and was sold to the son of Jose Segundo Carvajal. In the early sixties of that same century the hacienda again changed hands and Rafael Carvajal Iturralde became the new owner.
Because of its cattle and pork production, corn, sugar cane and logwood cultivation and of course henequen production, Uayamon became one of the most important haciendas in the state of Campeche. In terms of sheer size which had reached 9 leagues from end to end (about 40-50 kilometers) by 1877, the hacienda was the second most important in the state. At this time, and under the direction of a new owner, Fernando Carvajal Estrada, the hacienda reached the height of its development.
In 1913 the government of the state of Campeche, led by Manuel Castilla Brito, entered into armed conflict with federal forces under the command of General Victoriano Huerta. The governor used the hacienda as his refuge and, as he fled the advancing and overwhelming numbers of federal troops, the hacienda was bombed. Much of the buildings were badly damaged including the machinery used for the henequen fiber extraction and the adjacent train station, leaving the hacienda useless and in ruins.
In December 2000, after close to two years of dedicated work by specialized architects and restoration experts, the hacienda was inaugurated as a hotel. It is important to point out that the most important aspect of this restoration project was the social impact it had on the surrounding community, as local workers were hired and trained, first to work on the construction and later, to occupy positions in the hotel.
All guest rooms in Uayamon are suites and are located in what used to be the homes of the hacienda’s most trusted workers; these stone houses were restored and adapted to the hotel’s needs. An architectural restoration project was designed and carried out to preserve the same ambience that the hacienda’s original owners would have enjoyed when the plantation was at its peak. The buildings reflect a style both contemporary and traditional, highlighting the artistic and architectural value of the hacienda.
In-room guest amenities:
Ø No smoking rooms
Ø Internet
Ø Scale
Ø Hair dryer
Ø 32” LCD television
Ø 1 king-size or two queen-size beds
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 Uayamon 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 are focused on:
- Measurement and minimization of energy consumption.
- Measurement and minimization of potable water usage.
- Measurement and adequate handling of waste water.
- Measurement and minimization of solid waste (inorganic and organic).
- Adequate handling of dangerous substances and waste.
- Preservation and cataloguing of fauna and flora on the property.
Results
- The use of environmentally-friendly energy alternatives is one of the main challenges faced by Hacienda Uayamon. Of all the haciendas in the group, Uayamon was the first to install solar water heaters to provide guest rooms with hot water. The goal is to considerably reduce energy consumption.
- The Uayamon hacienda is an expansive showcase for the indigenous jungle vegetation with more than 120 examples of local flora. There is a nursery where ornamental plants as well as vegetables and sprouts for the hacienda restaurant are grown. The menu offers exquisite dishes that highlight local fruits and vegetables which are harvested fresh daily. We have catalogued the flora and now have a detailed inventory of the plants on the hacienda grounds.
- We offer our guests specialized bird-watching tours with experts on the subject, who, together with property’s gardeners, whom we have trained in order to professionalize their guiding skills, share their ancestral knowledge of local flora and fauna with the guests.
- Water consumption was reduced from 2009 to 2010 by 5,983 cubic meters.
- A reduction of 15,305 KWh in electricity was achieved between 2009 and 2010; 71,223 fewer metric tons of CO2 were released into the atmosphere.
Community Projects and Results:
As previously mentioned, all community work is coordinated with the Haciendas del Mundo Maya foundation.
Health – Rescuing Traditional Mayan Medicine
The Haciendas del Mundo Maya foundation, in coordination with the government program Oportunidades, participates in a community health center (Centro de Salud) which carries out campaigns and presentations on disease prevention and promotes the rescue of traditional healing Mayan practices using herbalist methods in the early detection of disease.
The rescue of traditional Mayan healing practices and knowledge through this program has shown to be a sustainable and viable solution to present-day health challenges. With the help of a garden plot where 33 species of medicinal plants are cultivated, local medical assistants form a regional web that is reassessing the knowledge of the Maya, and applying this knowledge to permit area residents to live healthy, balanced lives.
Objectives:
- To rescue, promote and diffuse Mayan herbalist medicine throughout the region where the foundation operates.
- To maintain low child malnutrition levels.
- To reduce illnesses in the community with the help of campaigns, presentations and workshops on such topics as hygiene, alcoholism, reproductive health and nutrition.
Results:
- Training was provided to a local medical assistant en the use of traditional Mayan healing practices and herbal medicine. To date 33 species of medicinal plants are used in providing primary medical attention.
- Campaigns on personal and dental hygiene, environmental clean-up, garbage collection and recycling were realized.
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 educational services in Uayamon. The library hosts workshops and summer classes, as well as providing support to students who need to make up lost classes to complete grades and also offer computers with internet access, providing users with the necessary skills for modern life.
Goals:
- Strengthen the library in Uayamon to improve education in the community
- Encourage education in youth and adults
Results
- An increase of 83% in library users. In 2009 there were 627 active users and from 2010 to date 1,149 community members use the library.
- Literacy and reading comprehension programs as well as recreational activities for children, youth and adults.
- Culture and recreation through workshops on drawing and art, traditional dance, traditional games and Mayan language.
- A folkloric ballet was formed with youth from the community that presents exhibitions of typical regional dance, thereby reviving ancestral traditions. The Hacienda Uayamon offers these exhibitions to its guests.
· Educational support through spelling workshops, remedial classes and homework assistance.
· Lending of books.
· Academic regularization for adults.
· Sports activities.
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:
- Consolidate community-based bee-keeping enterprises.
- Promote the preservation and responsible use of the region’s natural resources.
- Encourage environmental values among the general public.
Results
- We now have a botanical herb garden in the community health center (Casa de Salud) which contains 33 species of medicinal plants used for the treatment of various ailments.
- Environmental clean-up campaigns were organized with the participation of 89 families in the community along with municipal authorities.
- In conjunction with the municipality and with the support of the Haciendas del Mundo Maya foundation, a campaign to apply rabies vaccination to local dogs was realized.
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. 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:
- Profitability of the cooperatives
- Social and economic improvement for the members of the cooperative.
- Business management of the undertaking to be taken over by cooperative members.
- Administrative management of agricultural enterprises to be assumed by cooperatives.
Activities and Results
Artisans Workshops
In the community of Uayamon we have set up artisans workshops specializing in horn carving and the crafting of jewelry made from seeds. 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 traditional Mayan techniques and materials with cutting edge design.
- Novel pieces with new types of local seeds such as hazelnut and cocoyol were designed. The seed of the cocoyol plant was very valuable in the time of the ancient Maya and was even used as a form of currency.
- To help promote sales of these products, Hacienda Uayamon offers its guests a boutique called Taller Maya (Mayan Workshop) where the artisans’ products are sold.
- The amenities and decoration in the Hacienda Uayamon guest rooms and its restaurant are produced in the artisan workshops.
- The community offers guests the opportunity to visit the workshops and become not only familiar with the processes involved in each of the artisans techniques but also to purchase these unique pieces produced by the artisans of Uayamon.
- The artisan’s volume of production increased by 34% in 2010 with respect to the previous year. In 2009, 487 products were sold for a total value of $74,081.89 pesos and in 2010, 651 products with a value of $122,847.80 pesos.
- The average monthly income per artisan in 2010 is approximately $200 USD which represents a 633% increase from 2009.
Uayamon 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.
Results:
- As of 2010 the therapists have obtained medical coverage through the national social service program (IMSS)
- A total of 236 spa services were realized which represented an income to the cooperative of $105,318.31 pesos.
- In 2010, the average monthly income per therapist was $4015 pesos; an increase of 19% over 2009 levels.
Awards
- Silver Certification, Earth Check
- “Global Vision 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
- “Investor in People Award“ Tourism for Tomorrow Awards - World Travel and Tourism Council,
- “TO DO!” – 2007 - Worldwide International Tourism Exchange (ITB) Fair, Berlín, Germany
- “50 Hotels we Love” – NatGeo Latinoamérica – June 2010
- The 11 best boutique hotels in Mexico - Bleu & Blanc magazine 2011
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