Green Initiatives

Discover Loreto Bay is a part of the largest sustainable resort community under development in North America. From renewable energy sources to eco-friendly construction materials and habitat enhancement, we are a model for how a development can enrich an existing landscape and community while remaining economically viable. Our vision integrates conservation, protection, enhancement, and regeneration to balance the social, economic and environmental needs of the community.

Energy Sustainability

Our energy plan includes both conservation efforts and the incorporation of sources of renewable energy. All buildings are constructed using environmentally friendly technology such as Perform Wall, a highly energy-efficient molded panel made from cement and recycled materials. Our inn is equipped with energy and water efficient fixtures and appliances and will be the first hotel in Baja certified under Green Globe 21.

Social Sustainability

The Loreto Bay Foundation was established to support and fund local quality-of-life projects in the community of Loreto, Baja California Sur and the Loreto Bay National Marine Park. The town of Loreto and Loreto Bay National Marine Park offer us a heritage that is rich in history and resources on which so much of the region depends.

Slow Food

As part of the Slow Food movement, we adhere to the following philosophy: “We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to pleasure and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible. Our movement is founded upon this concept of eco-gastronomy – a recognition of the strong connections between plate and planet.

Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.

We consider ourselves co-producers, not consumers, because by being informed about how our food is produced and actively supporting those who produce it, we become a part of and a partner in the production process.”*

In order to achieve the slow food goals, we work with the community and in particular with elementary and middle school children, to reinvent their relationship with the earth, with food and with nutrition. This is done through “Edible Schoolyard” projects in addition to utilizing organic grown vegetables at our on-site gardens at out restaurants. We currently work under the Cabo convivium, but are working towards establishing a local convivium with other affiliated restaurateurs.

*Slow Food philosophy, mission, and general information can be found at www.slowfood.com

Green Globe

LORETO, Mexico (Oct. 27, 2008) – The Inn at Loreto Bay has earned
bronze status under the prestigious and globally recognized benchmarking
program, Green Globe.

Administered by international environmental advisory group EC3 Global, the Green Globe program recognizes the Inn at Loreto Bay’s commitment to operating at the world’s highest environmental standards. To achieve bronze status, the Inn has implemented an integrated environmental and social policy and is committed to benchmarking its energy and water consumption, total waste production and community involvement.

During the certification process, the Inn at Loreto Bay earned “best practice” results in the following areas: energy consumption, water saving, waste diverted from landfill, waste recycling, community contributions, paper products, cleaning products and pesticides. These measures will ensure efficient practices and large cost savings, guaranteeing that the Inn at Loreto Bay is on the path to securing a sustainable future for the environment.

The other efforts of the Inn’s environmentally-friendly practices, such as ecological body care products in refillable containers, compact fluorescent lighting, a high density compactor for recycling and native drought-tolerant landscaping, may be inadvertently overlooked by resort guests, but many offerings, including electric shuttles and organic and heirloom food menu offerings, are certainly hard to miss.

Guests can learn about all of the resort’s policies and practices on an in-room television channel devoted solely to sustainability and environmental awareness, ecology brochures in the hotel lobby; during the trailers of our weekly, complimentary movies; and, of course, first-hand from our friendly staff and concierge.

Outside the resort, guests can maintain their eco-vacation, thanks to the resort’s partnership with local eco-tourism partners. Activities include whale and turtle watching, mule trekking to visit ancient cave paintings, island hiking, tours to see medicinal desert plants and, of course, traditional favorites like sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and diving. During their stay, guests may also choose to volunteer at Animalandia, a local animal clinic, or at one of three local schools where the Inn has established organic vegetable gardens and “edible classroom” programs.

The resort is founded on the conviction that improving local social and ecological resources will end up increasing the economic viability of the development and obtaining Green Globe’s bronze status is only the first step to fulfilling that vision. We look forward to achieving higher Green Globe performance in the years ahead.

Other Sustainable Initiatives

• Food grown and raised locally reduces the need for transporting food from afar. A permaculture-based center of agriculture grows a host of crops that tolerate brackish saline water.