GRANO DE ORO & Sustainability

Grano de Oro has been recently certified in the Program of Sustainable Tourism (CST) rated with 4 leaves, almost the maxium rate. Grano de Oro invested a great deal of time and effort into making positive changes in all of the four aspects of the CST program.

Here are a few of the ways the Hotel Grano de Oro helps out within its local region as well as within Costa Rica as a country.

1. Use of energy efficient lighting and illumination throughout the entire hotel.
2. Use of low-flow toilets in all rooms.
3. All the paper used within the hotel is made from sugarcane to help avoid deforestation.
4. Use of non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning and laundry products.
5. Support of local artists and businesses throughout the hotel, the restaurant and the gift shop.
6. Donations made to local organizations that promote reforestation.
7. Reutilization of paper in the administrative offices and trying to send more information digitally.
8. Chlorine free systems to clean water in the Jacuzzis.
9. Recycling of the coffee grounds to make compost that eventually is going to be used as fertilizer.
10. Development of recycling programs within our hotel and education of our staff to recycle at home.
11. Recycling center for our neighbors who wish to participate of the program.
12. Organic waste is all sent to a farm for pig feed.
13. Bulk purchases to diminish waste.
14. Organic produce used in the restaurant whenever possible.
15. Local food influence on menu offerings.
16. Invitation for guests to re-use towels and linens and turn off the lights to save energy and water.
17. Inform guests about Costa Rica natural beauty and how to behave when they visit.
18. Co-workers education on sustainability and ecological issues in hope they take the effort to their homes.

Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children

The Hotel Grano de Oro signed the Code of Conduct for The Protection of Children and Adolescents from Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism in Costa Rica. In accordance with our agreement to work with the Costa Rican Ministry of Tourism and avoid all forms of prostitution and illegal sexual exploitation, the hotel only allows registered guests to enter rooms.

More information can be found at www.protegiendoles.org

Casa Luz

In 2003 the owners of the Hotel Grano de Oro opened Casa Luz, a home for teen mothers who have been sexually abused and/or exploited, come from extreme poverty and are at high social risk. The home provides safety, shelter, emotional support, educational and vocational development, Christian spiritual counseling and training in parenting skills. On average each mother and her children need a minimum of two years in this first stage of fully dependent living at Casa Luz.

Stage Two of the project, which consists of four, two-family apartment units was opened in January of 2009. This stage of the project provides the young mothers and their children with subsidized housing and support in a semi-independent living environment. This allows the moms who have grown with the program in Casa Luz and who are ready to move out into the community and workforce to do so, while still being closely linked to the support at Casa Luz. The objective is for the moms and their children to remain living here until they are able to be emotionally and financially independent. For more information, or to find out how you can help, please visit www.casaluz.org

Proparques

The Grano de Oro is a member of this nonprofit organization that protects the National Parks of Costa Rica and educates the public on how they can help. For more information log on to www.proparques.org