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Located in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, the Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa is part of a cluster of five luxurious properties owned by Palladium Hotels & Resorts. Along with theGrand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa, Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa, GrandPalladium Kantenah Resort & Spa, and the Royal Suites Yucatan by Palladium it sits withina precinct where 87 per cent of the land has been set aside for conservation purposes.

The Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa has 324 rooms, 54 suites and 270 junior suites. Ashuttle train connects al five resorts, which share 26 bars, eight swimming pools, 13 restaurants, a spa and wellness centre, events and meeting rooms, and a nightclub.

The Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa has taken environmental impacts into consideration throughout all phases of its constrution and operations. Structures are low-level in height and have been designed to blend with their surroundings.

Sited within 200 hectare area property that leads down to the Caribbean Sea, theenvironment features a network of underground rivers that feed three cenotes andextensive mangrove forests that serve as important habitats for fish and wetland birdspecies.

© EarthCheck Pty Ltd the planet deserves more than half measures [CS28]

Grand Palladium

Riviera Resort & Spa,

Mexico• Energy consumption was 171.1MJ perguest night, 18.5% better than BestPractice

• Recycled/captured water was 73%

• Water savings rating was 88.3 points,which was 8.3 points better than BestPractice

• Waste recycling rating was 81.4 points,1.4 points better than Best Practice

• Community contributions was 81.4points, 1.4 points better than Best Prac-tice

• Property area used for habitat conser-vation was 87% of the total property

The resort places a high importance onefficient resource consumption, correctlyhandling harmful substances, preservingthe flora, fauna and local culture, andsupporting neighbouring communities.

It has been commended for itssustainability practices; securing theKuoni Green Planet Award, amongothers.

After 2 years of successful benchmarking,the resort underwent Certificationservices and achieved EarthCheckCertified Silver status in 2010.

Key achievements include:

Low/dual flush toilets (3L discharge or 6Ldischarge) were fitted, along with low flowtap and shower fixtures. This helpedfurtherreduce potable water consumption to624.3L per guest night, 10.8% better thanBaseline level.

Guests are encouraged to reduce water con-sumption by opting not to have linen andtowels changed daily. This has resulted in awater savings of 6430 m3over a five monthperiod (2010).

External cleaning of resort buildings is doneusing buckets of water or pressure equipment , further eliminating excessiveconsumption.

There are many initiatives that the resorthas undertaken to decrease energy consumption and reduce its greenhousegas emissions (GHG).

Initiatives include:• All rooms, common and internal areasthroughout the resort use low-energy lighting, while LED lighting is in the processof being installed.

• All air conditioned common areas, bars,and restaurants have internal thermostatsand timers to control room temperature atoptimal levels for comfort and efficiency.

• Energy efficiency protocols have been established regarding turning on and offthe lights, and equipment.

• Infrared sensors in common and internalareas of the villas and the offices have beeninstalled so that lights are used only whennecessary.

These energy efficiency innovations have resulted in energy consumption of 171.1MJper guest night, 18.6% better than Best

© EarthCheck Pty Ltd the planet deserves more than half measures [CS28]

The Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa islargely dependent on a potable water supply due. Due to its extensive grounds, and numerous pools, the conservation ofwater is a key consideration in resort operations.

Palladium Resorts practice sustainablewater management to reduce the resort’sdependence on mains water supply. The hotels are completely self-sufficient, as theyuse reverse osmosis purification to producepotable water.

A wastewater treatment plant results in 80-85% of all wastewater being reused for theirrigation of gardens.

Native plant species are used in landscap-ing; reducing irrigation requirements through natural means.

The resort’s irrigation system is controlledby timers that ensure watering occurs only during the coolest hours of the day.

Analysis of water consumption is undertaken daily to ensure any variation isquickly detected. Hotel maintenance staffcheck for leaks on a fortnightly basis and aquick repair program ensures faults aredealt with promptly.

In 2010, the resort achieved a water savingsrating of 88.3 points, which is 8.3 points better than Best Practice.

Water flow restrictors and timing deviceswere installed to all faucets to control therate of flow. This was done at a cost ofUSD$41,292.53 but reduced water consump-tion by 50% per annum.

Key Performance AreasPractice. This is a reduction of 78.4MJ perGuest Night, or 94,132,528MJ.

Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa usesmotion detectors in the rooms as an energysaving system, with installation costs of approximately USD$7,500.

• All the balcony doors have a miniaturesensor that shuts down the air conditioningupon their opening.

• Internal areas are equipped with naturallighting and ventilation systems.

• The resort’s linen and towel reuse program has enabled the resort to signifi-cantly reduce its energy consumption.

• A preventative maintenance program wasestablished whereby all water installationswithin the hotel are checked twice a year foroptimal efficiency.

• Most of the golf carts used on site operateon batteries; saving diesel fuel and furtherreducing emissions.

The Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa’senvironmental policy includes recycling ofsolid residues and re-use of materials thatcan be utilized for other purposes.

The resort applies the 3 R’s concept – Re-duce, Reuse, and Recycle – as a part of its internal procedures.

Initiatives include:• The resort’s waste management relies onseparation of solid waste; including paper,cardboard, metal, aluminum, glass, plasticand PET.

“Green Points” are separate recycling stations that are placed in strategic areasaround the hotel, allowing staff and gueststo recycle.

Reducing the Use of Freshwaterand Wastewater Generation

Energy Efficiency and ReducingGreenhouse Gas Emissions

Solid Waste Reduction

Through the recycling program, Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa recycled278,391 kilos in 2010, including 40 tons ofpaper and cardboard. This equates to about600 saved trees.

The resort is constantly analyzing and improving its recycling system, becomingmore efficient as processes and practicesare refined. A waste recycling rating of 81.4points was achieved, 1.4 points better thanBest Practice.

• In June 2010, the resort implemented anorganic matter-composting program for allfruit and vegetable waste generated in thekitchens.

Ten compost beds help process this organicwaste using Californian worms to aid in thecomposting process. Later, the resultantcompost is used for the green areas aroundthe resort, reducing the consumption of fertilizers and pesticides.

These initiatives have resulted in just 3.4L ofwaste sent to landfill per guest night; 14.4%better than Baseline Level.

• Wine corks are reused to create the hotel’snews board, as are many other materialsused for decoration.

• In all the reception areas of the resortcomplex, containers for used batteries areprovided.

• Specific areas for the temporary storage ofharmful substances also are provided forcollection by a government certified Hazardous Waste Management Company.

• The resort organizes environmental eventsin which materials are reused, reducingwaste and promoting awareness of the resort’s ‘green culture’ to employees, guestsand suppliers.

have taken active steps to ensure they purchase environmentally responsibleproducts and support local producers.

Initiatives include:• Palladium Hotels & Resorts established apurchasing policy that supports localproviders whenever possible. It also requiresthose suppliers to meet stated environmen-tal standards.

• The the resort offers environmental training to suppliers.

• All resort staff involved in the handling ofchemicals receive training to ensure thecorrect and sustainable usage of such.

• Ninety five per cent of chemical productsused by the resort are eco friendly and aresupplied by Johnson Diversey; a certifieddistributor of eco-friendly chemicals.

Automated systems streamline the use ofchemicals, and control the use of water. Thishas resulted in an EarthCheck CleaningProducts Rating of 88.9 points, 8.9 pointsbetter than Best Practice.

• All paper ofice products are made of 50%recyclable materials and/or from forestsand plantations that are managed sustain-ably. This resulted in a Paper Products Ratingof 88.9 points; 8.9 points better than BestPractice.

• 85.7% of pesticides used within the resortare eco friendly. Management ensures thatthey monitor and control product use, consumptions levels, and their percentageresidual. This has resulted in a Pesticides Products Rating of 85.7 points; 5.7 pointsbetter than Best Practice.

• All sunscreens sold in the hotel shops arebiodegradable.

• Trashcans on the beache are made with re-cycled plastic materials, and the hotelreuses plastic drums from the kitchen tomake recycling bins in employee rooms.

• The resort uses an online administrativesystem for human resources management,so that they do not use paper for all theprocesses that this involves. This new system saves 30,000 pieces of paper.

• Many employees practice garbage separa-tion in their own homes, reflecting their be-haviour at work.

The purchase of biodegradable, environ-mentally sustainable products is an impor-tant part of the resort’s waste managementpolicy.

Palladium Resorts are aware of the effecttheir supply chain has on sustainability and

© EarthCheck Pty Ltd the planet deserves more than half measures [CS28]

Sustainable Purchasing

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Conservation/Preservation

The Grand Palladium Riviera Resort & Spa isextremely focused on environmental conservation, with one of the lowest building densities in the Riviera Maya. Theresort has set aside 87% of the total property area for habitat conservation purposes.

Sea turtle conservation is a priority as theBay of Kantenah is a known nesting groundfor Green and Hawksbill turtle species between May and October annually.

Biodiversity is promoted through two crocodile pond sites, two flamingo displaysand two orchidariums.

Palladium Hotels & Resorts also participatein the reforestation of parks and in beachcleanups.

Education/Training

Palladium Hotels & Resorts are committedto educating their staff, guests and localcommunity about ways to reduce their environmental impacts.

Interprestive signage can be seen through-out resort grounds and educational signagehas been placed along the beach to encourage guests to help care for the reefand respect turtle nesting sites.

The property’s environmental policy alsoisalso provided to all guests on check in.

Informative videos about environmentalpractices are shown on staff TV’s and eachweek, the Environmental Cinema screensenvironmental films for staff viewing.

Additionally, the resort provides employeeswith environmental leaflets, brochures,questionnaires, quizzes and magazines.

Balam - the resort’s Jaguar mascot - is usedto educate and encourage environmentalpractices. Balam features in a variety ofcomics for each department and is used toeducate employees about the environmen-tal practices they should be using in theirsector.

All guest room televisions have an environ-mental channel that shows informationabout the numerous sustainability effortsundertaken by the resort.

A number of Environmental Information Centers exist throughout the property,along with “Green Trees”, which are displaystands with posters featuring environmen-tal messaging.

As a result, Paladium’s EarthCheck Community Commitment rated at 80.2%;20.2% better than Baseline Level.

Social/Cultural Community Support

In order to help support local suppliers andartsians, 97% of consumable products purchased are locally produced.

The resort makes both monetary and mate-rial donations to neighboring communities,ofering career guidance presentations inschools, and organizes environmental sitevisits.

Local customs and culture is promotedthrough Mexican shows and the regionalcuisine is featured in resort restautants.

Additionally, local craftspeople display theirhandcrafts every day at the Mexican Squarein the resort.

Several environmental events are supportedby Palladium Hotels & Resorts; includingWorld Environment Day, WWF’s Earth Hour(ofr which Palladium is a sponsor), WorldWater Day, World Recycling Day, and WorldResponsible Tourism Day.

Every Tuesday, Eco Tours are offered in thehotel for both adults and children keen tolearn about the natural beauty of the area.

Palladium Hotels & Resorts support theECPAT Program against child sex tourismand hev policies and proceedures to prevent, fight, and eradicate the commercialsexual exploitation of children andteenagers.

The resort has collaborated with the Makea Wish Foundation; an organization dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of children with terminal illnesses.

Sch initiatives have resulted in a Commu-nity Contributions Rating of 81.4 points; 1.4points better than Best Practice.

Community Empowerment andSupport