Karisma Hotels has a special motto with their all-inclusive resorts: Gourmet Inclusive. This entails to so much yet I learned another detail about this policy on my last trip, and it really raised the bar to a whole new impressive level. Green All Inclusive Travel
How important is green all inclusive travel to you?
While at Generations Riviera Maya, I had a tour of their 100,000 square foot greenhouse, which grows food for all the El Dorato, Azul and Generation resorts in Mexico – that’s 8 resorts!
Providing some of the freshest produce in the Mayan Riviera, this greenhouse yields 120 tons of crops annually. The Greenhouse grows a variety of hydroponic vegetables – a process where plants grow in gravel, liquid or sand with added nutrients but without soil – such as heirloom tomatoes, chilies, bell peppers, cherry grape tomatoes, arugula, mint and cucumbers.
Using no chemicals or pesticides, The Greenhouse provides 31,00 pounds of food. As well, some is shipped to neighbouring resorts and locals as well as employees can purchase any of the fresh produce grown on-site.
“Our Gourmet Inclusive philosophy is rooted in culinary excellence and we feel these enhancements heighten the dining experience at El Dorado Royale while educating others about the Greenhouse’s impact on the environment. The hope is that visitors will appreciate the benefits, practicality and enjoyment of going green just as we have on-property,” says Jeroen Hanlo, the vice president food and beverage operations for El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels.
A first for the entire region, guests visiting Karisma Hotels are taking in top-notch meals. This is something to highly admire, respect and appreciate. In addition, guests can take interactive tours of the greenhouse and see for themselves, where the food they are eating – comes from.
As a previous guest of both Azul Hotels and Generations, I was blown away by the food offerings. The best I’ve had in the entire Mayan Riviera, by far.
Adding to this awesomeness – guests can also participate in organic cooking seminars. “The cooking seminar program is a series of interactive cooking demonstrations that show visitors how to prepare fresh dishes and learn the health and taste benefits of cooking with organic ingredients“. El Dorado Royale’s famed Chef Pierre Mourez – who has prepared meals for the likes of Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey – oversees the program and the gourmet inclusive a la carte menu.
Yet, this is only one aspect of how Karisma is greening up Mexico. The company also a leader in other eco-friendly initiatives such as solar heated water, tree plantings and major recycling efforts.
The company and their chain of resorts has not only met, yet highly surpassed the mandatory core criteria of Green Globe Certifications {Green Globe is the premier worldwide certification and performance improvement program developed specifically for the travel and tourism industry}.
Azul Beach, Azul Sensatori Hotel, El Dorado Maroma, and El Dorado Seaside Suites by Karisma can now be found on Green Globe Travel, which highlights the best sustainable tourism resorts, hotels, and attractions for consumers.I n order to maintain the certification, Green Globe Certified Members must reach an overall continuous improvement of 3% per year in accordance with previous audit results.
When it comes to all-inclusive resorts, Karisma is taking great leaps to reduce their carbon footprint.
Impressive, right?
Daisy says
04/21/2014 at 9:54 amI love sustainable tourism. That’s really cool too that they are not using pesticides in there. I’d love to visit here.
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:45 amI agree, it’s pretty incredible!
Emily Reid says
04/21/2014 at 11:22 amWe are planning a trip to Mexico- this is awesome! These guys are really cool, I’m impressed and hope to visit!!
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:45 amYou really should, it’s an eyeopening visit!
Ellen Christian says
04/21/2014 at 11:48 amGreen everything is important to me! I would love to visit some day.
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:45 amSo awesome for a resort chain to do!
Kristen @ My 3 Little Kittens says
04/21/2014 at 11:49 amNow THAT is awesome. I had no idea they were that awesome. I love the idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus, the food offerings look so good!
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:46 amI’m happy you are as impressed as I am!
Dominique says
04/21/2014 at 12:15 pmWhat a neat idea! I’ve never heard of sustainable tourism, but it looks really awesome!
Keikilani says
04/21/2014 at 12:16 pmWhat a gorgeous Garden! Love eating outdoors.
Kathleen Garber says
04/21/2014 at 1:35 pmWow! That is a BIG greenhouse. I don’t travel much so hadn’t thought about how green a resort is. Thanks for sharing.
Sandra says
04/21/2014 at 3:12 pmThis is great and I would love to visit there. My kind of place!
Kelsey Apley says
04/21/2014 at 3:22 pmThat is so pretty, that would be a fun place to visit for sure!!!
Clair Boone says
04/21/2014 at 4:15 pmThat’s impressive that they don’t use chemicals. So excited that more companies are doing this!
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:46 amMe too Clair!
Stacey @ miscfinds4u.com says
04/21/2014 at 4:28 pmThey produce 31,00 pounds of food? That is amazing!
Amanda A says
04/21/2014 at 4:32 pmI have never been to Mexico. This looks like a really neat place to visit.
Kayla @ TheEclecticElement says
04/21/2014 at 4:40 pmOkay, THAT’S impressive. Like, MASSIVELY impressive! Like dwarfs all other hotels and resorts kind of impressive! Talk about highly valuing their customers health and wellness 🙂
Angela says
04/21/2014 at 4:46 pmI love all-inclusive vacations and this sounds like a little slice of paradise.
Mama to 5 BLessings says
04/21/2014 at 5:10 pmso beautiful and tranquil! The food looks wonderful and so fresh! What a nice time!
Barb W. says
04/21/2014 at 6:05 pmHow cool is that?! Love when companies take the initiative to have more eco-friendly practices and to source locally. All inclusive vacations are one of my favorites. Nice to have everything included.
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:46 amSo true!
Pam says
04/21/2014 at 6:40 pmThose tomatoes look awesome! I would love to go on a trip to one of these resorts.
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:47 amThey were so good!!
Amy Desrosiers says
04/21/2014 at 7:05 pmI love that their greenhouse does not use any pesticides, or chemicals!
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:47 amIt’s incredible!!
Krista says
04/21/2014 at 7:46 pmThis looks absolutely beautiful. I bet is smells amazing inside! So fresh!
Jennifer Soltys says
04/21/2014 at 7:46 pmI am impressed indeed!! Love to hear that they do this and sounds like a fabulous place to visit!!!
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:47 amYes! The freshness and the humidity – it was so nice in there!!
Linette says
04/21/2014 at 8:15 pmWe’ve been to Riviera Maya before, but I’ve never seen this greenhouse! It looks fabulous!
Amber Edwards says
04/21/2014 at 8:42 pmThat is the coolest greenhouse I have ever seen! What an amazing experience it must be to visit it!
brett says
04/21/2014 at 8:49 pmi LOVE all-inclusive resorts (and was just recommending them to my niece and her fiance yesteday). kudos to Karisma Resorts for working towards sustainability and gourmet offerings together!
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:48 am:0
Dawn Lopez says
04/21/2014 at 9:09 pmOh my goodness, this looks like a dream! I would love to go there sometime, I am going to have to bookmark this!
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:48 amLet me know if you ever have questions about Karisma Resorts!!
Nicole B says
04/21/2014 at 10:25 pmThat is a really impressive greenhouse. I like that they even let guests do gourmet cooking.
Jenn @TheRebelChick says
04/21/2014 at 10:27 pmWow, I’ve never really thought of a green trip as being an all inclusive before! That farm looks so cool, I would love to check out something like that!
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:50 amIsn’t this amazing for a resort company!? I love it!
Greta says
04/21/2014 at 10:59 pmThat is genius! I’ve noticed that more and moreplaces are growing their own produce these days.
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:48 amIt’s incredible!!
Liz Mays says
04/21/2014 at 11:34 pmI’ve always found hydroponics to be fascinating. The resulting produce is always so lush!
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:49 amIt’s so incredible, amazing that this company is doing this!!
Dawn says
04/21/2014 at 11:37 pmNo pesticides…that is awesome! We are trying to grow some things ourselves with no pesticides. 🙂
Tammi says
04/22/2014 at 7:49 amIt’s incredible for resorts to do!! Raising the bar!!
Shannon Gnocato says
04/21/2014 at 11:51 pmThis sounds absolutely awesome! What a nice twist on the ordinary vacation idea!
Sarah @ Must Have Mom says
04/22/2014 at 12:40 amWow! Everything looks so amazing and refreshing.
Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations says
04/22/2014 at 8:42 amThis looks amazing and I love the fact that they are green and sustainable!
Francine @ Teresa's Family Cleaning says
04/22/2014 at 9:13 amSounds like my kind of trip!
Florence C says
04/22/2014 at 5:20 pmI have never been to Mexico. This place looks amazing. I would love the experience to just eat really fresh fruit and veggies.
Teresa Claire says
04/22/2014 at 6:05 pmThis post is really impressive. Knowing that they grow some of their own produce makes me feel that this is the resort for me and my daughter! The pictures are wonderful and show how thorough they are in presenting healthy foods for their guests.
Marina says
04/23/2014 at 5:02 amI’ve never stayed in a place like this. A must add to my travel bucket list now!
sarah sar says
04/25/2014 at 12:57 pmThat looks amazing! I love the greenery and mmmmm, the FOOD. Never gave a thought to going to Mexico before but now I know what I’m missing!
Kevin B says
04/26/2014 at 2:19 pmThanks for the travel tip!
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