Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa was founded in 2005 and includes about 100 rooms, 3 restaurants, and 134 staff members. The hotel collaborates closely with the community and the surrounding areas to serve as a model community in support of private businesses. We carefully monitor and evaluate the daily activities of our operation to control the usage of energy, water, solid organic waste, and other solid wastes.

Sustainability Mission

To offer a personalized lodging service that satisfies the client’s experiences, guaranteeing peace and rest, under international quality standards, with a great commitment to environmental sustainability for the benefits of the entire society.

Sustainability Vision

To be a humane institution to serve people, and not just an organization to make money; “Praying for God to give you peace and rest while you remain under our roof.”

May this room and this hotel be your “second” home.
May those you love be close in your thoughts and dreams.
May the businesses that brought you our way prosper.
May each call you make and each message you receive increase your happiness.

A Sustainable Management System is one that it complies with the principles of sustainable development. Sustainability is a form of development that allows meeting current demand and requirements, without implying that future generations run the risk of not being able to satisfy their own demand.

In this context, sustainable management implies an organization’s conscious and firm behaviors to obtain, as far as possible, in the medium and long-term, a positive general balance of its actions in the economic, environmental, and social sectors, both from the microeconomic perspective, as well as from that of the whole of society.

A Sustainable Management System is aimed at improving the environmental, social, and economic performance of organizations, and thereby improve their sustainability. In this way, companies and other organizations that integrate sustainable management into their activities can become active agents for the sustainable development of society.

Business environment

The incorporation of social and environmental considerations in business management was initially called Corporate Social Responsibility.

Social environment

More and more clients and other stakeholders are paying attention to the behavior of companies in areas that go beyond job creation and the generation of economic benefits. Companies are expected to make a positive contribution to the environment that welcomes them. Those that can demonstrate that contribution are positively rewarded.

The Social Responsibility of the Organization

In addition to strict compliance with current legal obligations, a sustainable organization will have a voluntary integration with government and management strategies, policies, and procedures, related to social, labor, environmental, and human rights concerns that arise from the relationship and transparent dialogue with stakeholders. Thus, taking responsibility for the consequences and impacts derived from its actions.

Among the main characteristics of a sustainable management system, we can highlight:

• A continuous improvement process.
• Commitment and leadership of management.
• Participation and communication.
• Transparency and public disclosure.
• Compliance with current legislation.

• Decrease in pollution.
• Decrease in waste production.
• Decrease in energy consumption.
• Substitution of fossil energy for renewable energy.
• Savings and optimization of water management.
• Improved waste management.
• Use of biodegradable cleaning products
• Planting trees as CO2 sinks
• Help public or private institutions when carrying out cleaning tasks in the streets of their community.

• Increase in the number of training hours for staff.
• Improvement in work-life balance for staff.
• Improvement of occupational health and safety conditions.
• Contribution to local social programs where the company operates.
• Childcare for the children of staff.
• Promote the hiring of people from groups with the highest unemployment rates, such as the disabled, women, or people over 45 years of age.

• Decrease in expenses due to energy savings and efficiency.
• Decrease in expenses due to savings and optimization of water management.
• Savings in production costs by optimizing the use of raw materials and natural resources.
• Increased productivity thanks to greater motivation and training of workers.

Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa, in its commitment to be a sustainable company, responsibly works to maintain a productive management across all areas of the business, including product creation, price definition, customer identification, promotion strategy, administrative and operational work. Each area is evaluated under sustainable guidelines that allow achieving objectives without damaging the ecosystem, instead by protecting the natural and cultural heritage.

For this, the definition of policies, as a guideline for our business actions is of vital importance. Through its policies, Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa demonstrates the importance it places on the environment and its willingness to mitigate potential negative environmental impacts. In addition, this document guides the Hotel’s steps in environmental policies.

1. The general operation of the Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa is carried out by contributing effectively, constructively, and integrally with the generation of economic benefits for the entire organization (stakeholders and staff), protecting the natural environment and respecting the idiosyncrasies of Costa Rican culture.
2. Sustainability will be a fundamental basis for the development of Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa’s global operations, becoming an inherent characteristic of the services provided.
3. The training of our teams will always favor clear awareness and a sense of environmental responsibility that is to be reflected in their work performance.
4. Saving water and energy, as well as recycling, will be fundamental pillars for the fulfillment of our commitment as a responsible company. In this sense, Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa is committed to:
5. Use energy rationally through reduction practices, influencing employees and visitors through signs found in all areas of the company.
6. Avoid waste and contamination of water resources to contribute to conservation.

iii. Carry out proper waste management following reduction, reuse, and recycling guidelines.

1. As a secondary part to environmental management, Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa proceeds to:
2. Contribute to the conservation of the country’s forest resources.
3. Contribute to the reduction of atmospheric pollution:
4. All means of transport used for its operation must comply with current regulations and have an up-to-date emissions test.
5. They must have a current vehicle registration.
6. Preferably, collaborate with a program to mitigate impacts on the environment.

iii. Gradually comply with the relevant national environmental legislation (discharge and reuse of wastewater, hazardous waste, use of agrochemicals, among others).

1. Ensure adequate hygiene and safety conditions for the health of our clients, staff, suppliers, and communities, in general.

F. Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa is declared a “smoke-free hotel”, prohibiting smoking inside rooms and public areas; and promoting a healthy, clean, and comfortable environment for its clients and visitors alike

• Any type of tourist activity that violates the good customs that characterize Costa Ricans or that endangers the physical or moral integrity of its staff, clients, visitors, or neighbors, or that causes social deterioration, will be vigorously combated.

• A tourism development supported by ethics, quality, and sustainability will be fostered, so that Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa uses its influence at the tourism, political, and business sector level for the equitable benefit of the company, employees, the environment, and the community.
• All international and national promotion will be done in accordance with specific plans designed considering the involvement of the area, seeking mutual benefits in terms of image promotion, and respecting the vision and tourism objectives of the area.

Environmental criteria for purchases at Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa:

• Reduction of emissions to air and water.
• Exclusion/ limitation of harmful chemicals
• Use of chemical-free products
• Use of recycled materials
• Lower energy consumption
• Waste generation reduction
• Purchase of products from the area
• Purchase of bulk products to limit waste
• Prefer cardboard packaging
• Compostable products
• Biodegradable products
• Correct management of the waste generated
• Reduced packaging
• Guaranteed duration, repair, and spare parts
• Ease of repair
• More efficient machinery
• Possession of environmental management systems
• We will give preference to national products, supporting the businessman of our country.

• Decrease in pollution.
• Decrease in waste production.
• Decrease in energy consumption.
• Substitution of fossil energy for renewable energy.
• Savings and optimization of water management.
• Improved waste management.
• Use of biodegradable cleaning products.
• Planting trees as CO2 sinks
• Help public or private institutions carry out cleaning tasks in the streets of the community.

• Increase in the number of training hours for staff.
• Improvement in work-life balance for staff.
• Improvement of occupational health and safety conditions.
• Contribution to local social programs where we operate.
• Provide childcare for the children of staff.
• Promote the hiring of people from groups with the highest unemployment rates, such as the disabled, women, or people over 45 years of age.

• Decrease in expenses due to energy savings and efficiency.
• Decrease in expenses due to savings and optimization of water management.
• Savings in production costs by optimizing the use of raw materials and natural resources.
• Increased productivity thanks to greater motivation and training of workers.

The Sustainable Management Program of Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa focuses on the responsible consumption of the products and services that we use in our daily work activities.

• We will give priority to recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, and/ or reusable products.
• We will avoid materials which damage the ozone layer, such as Styrofoam and aerosols.
• Where possible, we will prioritize organic products.

In the selection of suppliers, Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa will give preference to high-quality national and local companies as part of our corporate social responsibility strategy to allow the incorporation of neighboring communities in favor of the regional economy. We are dedicated to the purchase of:

• Non-prohibited products.
• Chemical-free products.
• Products that come in reusable packages.
• Bulk products.
• Products with cardboard packaging.
• Fresh products.

The Management and staff have worked together and with pride, we share that we have achieved the Ecological Blue Flag programs for Climate Change, Agriculture, and Sustainable Tourism Certification (CST) certifications. These programs help us to limit the consumption of water and energy, as well as reduce paper and waste. These actions have allowed us to purchase more fresh products from ​​our local farmers, supporting them, and allowing the economy in the communities around the hotel to flourish.

The Recycling Collection Center fulfills the objective, that all recoverable and non-recoverable waste be separated and classified properly. Anything that can be recycled is donated to established and registered centers as established by law, and only what in not recyclable reaches the sanitary landfills.

Solids:

We use the waste from the kitchen areas to create our compost through a controlled, anaerobic composting method using beneficial and efficient bacteria in the process of transformation of organic matter. Concentrated bacteria are acquired in a latent state and easily stimulated for their reproduction.

Liquids:

An organic product is generated from microorganisms present in fertile soils. The microbial activity present in the flora and fauna is naturally responsible for regulating the exchange processes between the soil and plants. These microorganisms are commonly called “Montana Microorganisms” or MM. They fulfill beneficial roles in the biological processes of soils and agro-ecosystems and can be found in the superficial and organic layers of all soil in a natural ecosystem.

The product serves as an organic pesticide and is being used specifically for the control of flies within the different spaces of the hotel.

Bio-inputs:

The use of bio-inputs is a way to reduce production costs in agricultural activities and favor the environment, since environmental pollution is reduced. There are many plants and minerals that can be mixed to make natural or biological pesticides, which are accepted by international standards for organic agriculture and are safe for human health. Biopesticides can be made from plants, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, and certain minerals such as sulfur, calcium, and sodium bicarbonate. In this drop-down list some recipes that have been used for years are presented.

Pig Pen:

We have a small pig pen which we use for show for the guests and as a Plan B, in case the fertilizer system collapses.

Poultry Farm:

The poultry farm is for our guests’ enjoyment. You can visit and even feed the birds at Finca la Torre.

Beef Cattle:

The farm has a grazing area to keep livestock and make them visible for guests to observe and enjoy.

Cosmetic Production:

In this area most of the hotel amenities are for guestrooms, kitchens, spas, swimming pools, and the preventive maintenance of our sidewalks are produced.

Agricultural production:

We also have an area where agriculture is planted and farmed. This project is meant to allow our guests to learn how our farmers worked. The products are used in our restaurants.

Heating Water:

Water throughout the hotel is heated by means of solar panels.
The hotel made an investment to buy panels for heating water to minimize electricity consumption, favoring the use of renewable energy.

Methane Gas Production:

As a water treatment plan, the hotel developed a Biodigester which properly treat water and produce methane gas as a biproduct.

Water Harvesting:

The waters are harvested for use on the farm, avoiding pumping and the use of water dedicated for human consumption for activities that do not require it.