Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta and Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag certification, an international program that recognizes excellence in sustainability for beaches, marinas and tourism vessels. This recognition highlights the ongoing commitment of both resorts to protecting the environment and implementing responsible practices.
The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta celebrated the occasion in its renovated lobby bar, Flora, which is inspired by nature and the jungle, highlighting its sustainable practices, such as the installation of water dispensers on each floor, which has avoided the use of 102,045 PET bottles. In addition, the resort treats 9,600,000 liters of wastewater per year, which is reused to irrigate 250 m² of green areas.
For its part, the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa celebrated its certification by highlighting its impactful sea turtle conservation program and its 4,504 hours of volunteering in 2023, through its Serve 360 program, supporting local charities such as Horizonte de Paz, Fundación Canica, Corazón de Niña, and more. Marriott has also been an active supporter of coastal cleanup, collecting 82.03 kg of PET, 1,044 kg of plastic caps, 42.19 kg of aluminum, 2,414 kg of cigarette butts, and other waste during the last half of the year.
Both resorts also collaborate with the Food Bank through the Al Rescate program, donating surplus food and minimizing waste, supporting the neediest people in the local community.
The Blue Flag program, awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), recognizes beaches, marinas and boats that achieve excellence in six key areas:
- Environmental information and education
- Water quality
- Environmental management
- Safety and services
- Social responsibility
- Sustainable tourism
The Blue Flag ceremony brought together important representatives of the tourism and environmental sector, including:
- Jorge Quintero Alvarado, Director of Beach Tourism in Puerto Vallarta • Luis Villaseñor, General Director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust
- Diego Díaz, Director of Operations and Finance of the Foundation for Environmental Education of Mexico (FEE)
- Hugo Lecanda, General Manager of The Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa and Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
- Ilse Enciso, Sustainability Supervisor
The raising of the Blue Flag at both resorts symbolizes their leadership in sustainability and their dedication to offering responsible and enriching experiences for visitors and the local community.
About Blue Flag
The Blue Flag certification is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), and recognizes excellence in environmental management and the sustainability of beaches, marinas and tourist boats, following rigorous criteria in water quality, safety, social responsibility and sustainable tourism.