Parque del Lago:  A Green Business Hotel in Costa Rica

According to a recent CNN report, “Green hotels are the future of travel if tourism is to remain sustainable in years to come.”

FACT:  "A total of $4 billion a year is spent in the US by hotels on energy usage. The carbon debt for a one-night stay in a hotel is eight kilos of carbon dioxide.  At present, on a five-day business trip you can emit up to two tons of carbon dioxide. Putting this into perspective, that level of emission is the same amount that three people living in rural India will emit in a year."

Source:  Graham Simmonds, Chief Executive of Trees for Cities. 

We think of green hotels mostly during vacation travel to destinations in the rainforest, on the beach or the mountains.  However, at Parque del Lago, we feel that even while traveling on business, visitors to San Jose, Costa Rica can make a difference. 

Parque del Lago has been certified by the Costa Rican Tourism ministry as San Jose’s most sustainable hotel in 2005.  It received 4 out of 5 leaves of the CST (Certification for Sustainability in Tourism).  But what does it mean to be a green business hotel?  Below you find a list of our current actions:

• We purchase in bulk and prefer reusable or recyclable containers. 
• We avoid individual packages of sugar, butter, jelly, salt, etc. in the restaurant. 
• We use energy efficient light bulbs wherever possible. 
• We use biodegradable products for cleaning and as guest amenities. 
• We use containers for dispensing shampoo and soap in the guest rooms. 
• We offer our guests towel and linen change on an optional basis. 
• We have a sophisticated recycling system implemented at all levels of the hotel and restaurant operation. 
• We provide guests with information on local attractions, environmental protection actions and ways to get involved. 
• We prefer to call taxis for our guests that run on natural gas, rather than diesel or gasoline. 
• We carefully monitor energy, natural gas and water consumption and make monthly adjustments in order to reduce usage. 
• We support a local shelter that takes in abused mothers and their children. 
• Most hotel employees are recruited from the local community and we constantly train them and help them grow.
• We support our national museum and their cultural agenda constantly
• At our Café & Bistro Iconos we offer as much organic food prepared with a unique touch for you to explore our local cuisine

Guidelines for the Green Business Traveler: 

• Stay in locally owned and run hotels that offer employment opportunities to the local community. 
• Turn off lights, TV and air conditioning in your room when you are leaving the room or checking out. 
• When renting a car during your business travels, try to rent vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, which offers better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. 
• When eating in restaurants, prefer foods prepared with local ingredients, locally owned and operated restaurants and organic foods. 
• Support the local community, culture and ecosystems by visiting museums, attending cultural celebrations and exploring natural parks or reserves. 
• Why not take the stairs up to your room instead of the elevator.  If possible, walk to your office instead of driving. 

Going one step further…

We would like to encourage you to go one step further. How?

• Take it back home:  Hoping to go back and implement some of the things that we hopefully have been able to teach you (awareness of our natural resources, saving water and energy, reducing and recycling waste, and getting involved in your local community)
• Give us feedback:  We would love to hear your comments about what we are doing, how we can improve and any other suggestions you might have regarding our sustainability efforts.
• Support our on-going efforts:  If you would like to support any of our on-going projects (nature conservation, community projects, cultural projects, etc) please ask to talk to the manager on duty and we will gladly inform you how.