WHY IT RATES: As travelers continue to care more about sustainability, Bahia Principe has once again been recognized for its practices. —Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Senior Writer
For the fourth consecutive year, Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, the leader in all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Spain, has been recognized for its commitment to sustainability by Travelife, the certification system that stands at the forefront of assessing sustainability performance in the hotel industry.
The brand earned 19 Travelife GOLD Certifications including 12 new certifications and a renewal of seven certifications achieved in 2016. Combined with four designations achieved in 2017, Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts now holds the significant distinction in 23 of its 25 properties.
“These designations represent an important achievement for our team and we are pleased to have the efforts of our long-term commitment to corporate social responsibility validated by Travelife,” said Antonia del Toro, director of corporate social responsibility at Grupo Piñero, the brand’s parent company.
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“Beyond being one of our brand’s key strategic pillars, we consider this commitment crucial to our success. To have achieved 23 certifications in two years positions Bahia Principe as one of the most sustainable hotel chains in the Caribbean.”
To achieve a Travelife Gold certification, hospitality brands must meet a stringent list of 163 criteria which assess sustainability management systems. The principles measure business policies such as quality assurance, health and safety procedures and communicating processes including sustainability reports completed within the last 12 months; environmental management standards for managing energy, water, pollution and hazardous substances, reducing solid waste and protecting wildlife; labor and human rights such as encouraging non-discrimination and fair treatment of all; working with and supporting the local community; standards for suppliers including using local companies to provide services whenever possible; and initiatives to encourage hotel guests to support environmental, social and community work.
“Receiving these types of sustainability certifications requires a strong commitment, not only from management but from all hotel employees,” said del Toro. “It is dependent on comprehensive processes that require time and resources and entails a cultural shift in the way we do business, mindfully incorporating into our daily activities sustainable actions that can positively impact our communities and the environment.”
Since 2017, the company furthered its commitment to sustainability initiatives by pledging support to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
List of Bahia Principe hotels that have achieved Travelife Gold certification status:
Spain
Sunlight Bahia Principe Costa Adeje
Sunlight Bahia Principe San Felipe
Sunlight Bahia Principe Tenerife
Mexico
Luxury Bahia Principe Akumal
Luxury Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an
Grand Bahia Principe Coba
Jamaica
Luxury Bahia Principe Runaway Bay
Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica
Dominican Republic
Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado
Luxury Bahia Principe Samana
Grand Bahia Principe Cayacoa
Grand Bahia Principe El Portillo
Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville
Grand Bahia Principe La Romana
Fantasia Bahia Principe Punta Cana
Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar
Grand Bahia Principe Aquamarine
Luxury Bahia Principe Esmeralda
Grand Bahia Principe Bavaro
Grand Bahia Principe Punta Cana
Grand Bahia Principe Turquesa
Grand Bahia Principe San Juan
SOURCE: Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts press release.
