Iberostar Group (IG) is a family company with more than 30.000 employees managing more than 100 hotels (most of them along the coastline) and welcoming more than 5.6 millions of guests in 16 countries anually. IG has committed to having all ecosystems that surround its properties in improving ecological health by 2030, and expects its committment being recognized by 90% of the clients in-stay by 2023 and becoming a major driver for 60% of clients to choose IG by 2025. We present three examples to illustrate how a hospitality company, whose success relies on a good environemntal status, can coordinate its marketing, operations and sustainability departmens, including its scientific team, to play an essential role in the recovery of marine and coastal ecosystems. In Jamaica, IG supported the formation of a fishing association and is working towards establishing a marine sanctuary in front of its property, while establishing a coral restoration program to provide alternative income. In the Dominican Republic, IG created a coral lab for staff, students and guests to interact with scientists doing research. The company is training 600 individuals in ecosystem restoration methods and coral reproduction, and is offering environmental awareness programs to 10.000 students across the country. In Spain, IG created an hotel-observatory to monitor coastal erosion due to climate change related effects, the observations include citizen-science activities in order to raise awareness from general public, guests and company employees about the fragility of the coastal zone. 

Primary Presenter: Federico Cardona Pons, Iberostar Group (fede.cardona@grupoiberostar.com)

Authors:

Victor Galvan, Iberostar Group  (victor.galvan@iberostar.com)

Macarena Blanco, Iberostar Group  (macarena.blanco@iberostar.com)

Gregory Pelose, Grupo Iberostar  (gregory.pelose@iberostar.com)

Johanna Calle-Triviño, Iberostar Group  (johanna.calle@iberostar.com)

Camilo Cortés-Useche, Iberostar Group  (camilo.cortes@iberostar.com)

Erika Harms, Iberostar Group  (erika.harms@iberostar.com)

Megan Morikawa, Iberostar Group  (megan.morikawa@iberostar.com)