El Dorado Royale and Casitas Earn EarthCheck Gold

El Dorado Royale and El Dorado Casitas Royale have earned EarthCheck Gold certification for the ninth consecutive year. The recognition applies specifically to these two Riviera Maya properties and reflects nearly a decade of independently verified sustainability performance.

This distinction confirms that both resorts meet internationally recognized standards in environmental management, social responsibility, and governance practices. Maintaining Gold status for nine consecutive years signals structured sustainability integration embedded into daily operations.

What EarthCheck Gold Certification Means

EarthCheck Gold certification is part of a global, science-based program designed for the travel and tourism industry. The framework evaluates measurable operational data across environmental, social, and governance pillars.

Unlike symbolic awards, the program requires documented performance results and independent third-party auditing. Properties must demonstrate structured management systems and verified compliance with international sustainability standards. Gold status represents sustained performance over multiple years under ongoing review, distinguishing long-term commitment from short-term initiatives.

Why Consecutive Certification Matters

Sustainability certifications remain valid only through annual reassessment. Each renewal confirms that performance standards continue to be met under independent verification. For El Dorado Royale and El Dorado Casitas Royale, nine consecutive years of certification reflect operational consistency within one of Mexico’s most visited tourism regions.

In destinations such as the Riviera Maya, sustainability extends beyond ecosystem protection. While coral reefs, cenotes, and coastal habitats require careful management, responsible tourism also includes governance systems, labor standards, and community engagement. Standardized certification frameworks allow regulators, investors, and travelers to evaluate sustainability performance through consistent metrics.

Sustainability in the Mexican Caribbean Context

The Riviera Maya is a major economic driver for Mexico’s tourism sector. Balancing visitor demand with environmental and cultural preservation remains essential to long-term destination resilience.

LOMAS Hospitality, a Mexican group operating eight Caribbean properties, integrates sustainability into its operational model, aligning corporate priorities with environmental responsibility and cultural respect. Sustainability performance is also increasingly linked to financial mechanisms. El Dorado Royale previously secured Mexico’s first bilateral green loan issued by Santander to an EarthCheck Gold certified hotel, connecting environmental benchmarks with structured financing. This development illustrates how measurable sustainability standards can influence both operational practices and access to capital.

How the EarthCheck Gold Certification Process Works

The EarthCheck Gold certification follows a structured, data-driven evaluation model that measures both operational performance and governance systems.

Hotels are assessed across key pillars, including:

• Energy efficiency and total consumption

• Water management and conservation systems

• Greenhouse gas emissions tracking

• Waste reduction and diversion rates

• Ecosystem and biodiversity protection

• Cultural and community engagement

• Labor standards and social responsibility

• Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

  
  

Rather than focusing on isolated initiatives, the framework requires formal policies, documented monitoring systems, and transparent reporting structures. All submitted data is independently verified through third-party auditing. Certification is granted for one year and must be renewed through reassessment, ensuring sustainability remains an active and measurable operational priority.

Operating in more than 70 countries, EarthCheck provides an internationally comparable framework that strengthens transparency and credibility across global tourism markets.

Long-Term Implications for Sustainable Tourism

As sustainability expectations rise across the travel industry, independently verified certifications are playing an increasingly important role in tourism governance. Environmental performance, social responsibility, and structured oversight increasingly influence stakeholder decision-making.

Nine consecutive years of EarthCheck Gold certification for El Dorado Royale and El Dorado Casitas Royale demonstrate how formal sustainability systems can support operational resilience in coastal destinations. Structured benchmarking, verified reporting, and integrated management practices remain central to maintaining credibility within competitive tourism markets.