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Environmental management in hotels and tourism

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Summary


The paper responds to the results of the research project "Working strategy to obtain and / or maintain the Environmental Aval in the process of categorization in the hotel facilities of the territory for the period 2010 -2015" has as background the results obtained in the consulting in environmental management carried out by teachers of the School of Hospitality and Tourism "Jose Smith Comas" of Varadero in 2007, 2008 and 2009; these first steps showed the need to organize and streamline this process through concrete actions that integrate different consultancies, training and student scientific work, to join efforts to certify compliance with the legislation in environmental performance in the hotel facilities.

Abstract


The paper Responds to the results of the research project "Strategy work to Obtain and / or Maintain the Environmental Aval categorization process in the territory accommodations for the period 2010 -2015, you as STI background the results of the advisory environmental management Undertaken by the faculty of the School of Hospitality and Tourism "Jose Smith Comas" Varadero in 2007, 2008 and 2009, These first steps Showed the need to organize and streamline esta process by different concrete actions serve on the advisory, training and student scientific work to join Efforts to certify compliance in environmental performance in the hotels.

Introduction


The research project "Working strategy to obtain and / or maintain the Environmental Aval in the process of categorization in the hotel facilities of the territory for the period 2010 -2015" has as background the results obtained in environmental management consultancies conducted by teachers of the School of Hospitality and Tourism "Jose Smith Comas" of Varadero in 2007, 2008 and 2009; these first steps showed the need to organize and streamline this process through various concrete actions serve on the advisory, training and student scientific work, to join efforts to certify compliance with the legislation, in environmental performance in hotel facilities choose to be categorized. "The request for categorization be presented to the Quality and contain the following documents ... Aval of compliance with existing environmental regulations issued by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment". (Resolution 36, 2002, p.10)

For the formation of the strategy, a diagnosis of the necessary certifications took place in the classification process that owned the hotel facilities of the Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) in the territory, to operate primarily with those who had not obtained the Environmental Aval that awarded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) and later with the needed renewal. The diagnosis of 2010 helped to confirm that some facilities did not have the Environmental Aval.

The strategy is aimed at all MINTUR hotels in the tourist destination and is made up of actions aimed at:

  • Environmental Management consultancies.
  • Training Environmental Policy / os and workers / is, through postgraduate courses, courses, workshops, conferences and specialized training according to the needs of the facility, to improve performance in the areas identified in the environmental assessment done.
  • Graduate training specialists representing environmental activity on the premises.
  • Strengthening environmental information.
  • Tutoring student scientific work.
  • Follow the Action Plan.
  • Monitoring the certification obtained.
The strategy is centered their actions performing consulting in environmental management, for which it is necessary to plan the work during implementation and as a result of the experience gained in this process, methodological recommendations presented in the paper were designed.

Among the hotel facilities where the result is applied include the Sandals, Brisas del Caribe, Playa de Oro, Blau Varadero, Velasco, Palma Real, Las Morlas, Golden Sand, Playa Caleta, Sol Palmeras, Breezes Bella Costa Breezes Varadero hotels, Barlovento, Pullman- Dos Mares-Ledo Kawama and Tortuga.

The problem to solve is the preparation and development of the facility to opt for the guarantee of compliance with environmental legislation in the country (Environmental Aval), awarded by the State Environmental Inspection conducted by the CITMA. "The State Environmental Inspection is defined as the activity of control, supervision and monitoring of compliance with legal provisions and regulations in force concerning environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources in order to evaluate and determine the adoption of appropriate measures to ensure such compliance. "(Resolution 130, 1995, p.10). As most notorious results of the application of methodological recommendations highlights the organization's own advisory process, the integration of the other actions of the strategy consulting, the creation of work teams integrated by the advisory teacher and specialists facilities for shaping the environmental assessment, integration of research and labor component as well as the implementation of environmental Education Manual Tourist facilities Ecosystem Sabana - Camagüey.

Key impacts are from the environmental point of view, as the methodological recommendations contribute to perfecting the advice and these, in turn, improve facility performance by implementing action plans designed, which include good environmental practices which are it translate into savings of materials and natural resources, it helps to raise environmental education and information for their workers / is and directives / os, in order to work for an increasingly sustainable development. "Organizations of all kinds are increasingly concerned about achieving and demonstrating sound environmental performance by controlling the impact of its activities, products or services on the environment, taking into account their environmental policy and objectives. They do this in the context of increasingly stringent legislation, the development of economic policies and other measures to encourage environmental protection and widespread growth of concern from stakeholders regarding environmental issues, including sustainable development ". (International Standard ISO 14001, 1998, p.7)

The best performance is certified by obtaining the Environmental Aval or renewal, it has been reached by most of the above mentioned facilities. This result has been exhibited at various events and in the context of the Sabana-Camagüey ecosystem, for generalization on the premises; now it forms the basis of the work done by the group Environmental Management on the premises of the territory and in the years 2011 and 2012 won Award Result relevant category Mention Training System for Tourism (FORMATUR).

Development


The implementation of the advice within the research project "Working strategy to obtain and / or maintain the Environmental Aval in the process of categorization in the hotel facilities of the territory for the period 2010 -2015" has allowed generalize a group of modes do they have become regularities that make work easier.

The points raised below are not guidelines are methodological only take into account environmental consultancies in the hotel facilities, that establish stages for implementing the same management recommendations.

In each of the phases of consulting in environmental management concrete actions that differentiate them running.

preparatory phase of counseling


  • Interview with the address of the facility to meet its interest in the development of counseling.
  • Implementation of recruitment.
  • Conformation of the team.
  • Determination of responsibilities and tasks.

Development phase of counseling


In the development phase they are designed and implemented fully or partially as many actions under advice

1. Review the documentation that has the installation on environmental performance.

2. Analysis of the results obtained in different visits and controls covering environmental issues:

to. Standardisation inspections.

b. CITMA inspections.

c. Inspections of Public Health.

3. Assessment of the environmental conditions of the installation, following the guidelines for the conduct of the State Environmental Inspection MINTUR hotels and restaurants that are in the process of categorization, by agreement between the CITMA and MINTUR including; necessary to eliminate or mitigate the negative environmental impacts generated by the investment entity; treatment and disposal of liquid waste; solid waste (International Standard 133, 2002), chemicals, fuels and lubricants; hazardous waste (Resolution 136, 2009); analysis of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and refrigerant gases used does not affect the ozone layer; water management and energy (Law 81, 1997), sanitary hygienic conditions of the installation and its environment; landscaping, gardening or outdoor areas; analysis of compliance with the provisions of the standard pool (International Standard 441, 2006); storage of fuels and lubricants; compliance with the provisions of the standard Noise (Standard Cubana 26, 2007); emissions; education program, information and environmental training (Act 81, 1997), and beach management and coastal zone in general (Decree Law 212, 2000) as well as the determination of contraventions in the environment (Decree Act 200, 1999).

4. Exchange with specialists who practice different processes at the facility, to verify data and evaluate environmental performance in different areas.

5. Information on the governing board of the problems detected through a conference on "Environmental characterization of the installation and compliance with current environmental legislation in each case."

6. Design or redesign of Environmental Policy installation and environmental objectives proposed.

7. Design the plan of action to eliminate or mitigate the problems detected with the assignment of responsibilities and deadlines for compliance.

8. Implementation of the action plan.

9. Establishment of Environmental Education Program installation, to organize training processes and environmental information under the advice and continue once the same, with the aim of preparing personnel from different areas to mitigate deficiencies identified. Including: Graduate, postgraduate training, courses, training, seminars, conferences or workshops as interest for installation.

10. Implementation of the Environmental Education Program installation.

11. Development Plan or reprocessing Hazardous Waste Management.

12. Plan Implementation Hazardous Waste Management.

13. Preparation of the dossier to present to the CITMA, including the completion of the guide for the realization of the state environmental inspection (CITMA-MINTUR Convention) and the Plan of action.

14. Preparation of the Environmental Strategy at the request of the installation.

Culmination phase of counseling


  1. Handing over the case to the facility management for approval.
  2. Assessment of the implementation of the action plan for the development of the installation, for which evaluates the environmental performance of the installation, by analyzing compliance with current environmental legislation.
  3. State Environmental Inspection, executed by CITMA specialists for granting or not Environmental Aval.
  4. Getting the valuation of the installation on the conformity or not the development of counseling.

Follow-up phase of counseling


  1. If the Environmental Aval is not obtained, can check the implementation of the action plan once it has completed the installation advice until the certification scope.
  2. Possible to monitor the Environmental Education Program installation.
  3. Encourages the good environmental performance of the organization is maintained.
Among the results of the consultancy carried out by the group as the strategy planning work in 2010 it was applied to 6 facilities and 5 of them won the Environmental Aval in 2011 was applied to 4 and reached 3 meanwhile in 2012 it obtained 2 installations 5 mentored, which have not obtained remain in the phase of monitoring the implementation of the Action Plan.

Brief description of the result


In the counseling process for each hotel facilities the following actions were taken:

For the Environmental Assessment took into account the guidance of CITMA-MINTUR Convention for obtaining Environmental Aval in the classification process. Environmental Management System was formed, defined the Environmental Policy, objectives, goals and actions for each of the evaluated environmental aspects. "Environmental management system part of the overall management system that includes organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, conducting, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy" . (International Standard ISO 14001, 1998, p.11).

Environmental Strategies 2010 -2013 of hotel facilities mentored Tourism Ministry were designed; Among the issues addressed in each they are: shared values, overall objectives, strategic analysis that led to consider the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the environment, therefore with environmental issues and the Mission and Vision established for the period, the problems identified in the diagnosis and critical examination, so that they can be conceived projections and future strategic objectives. In addition, strategic objectives, period, the responsibilities of key actors, defining the functions and pathways for the conclusion of the strategy defined.

Plan Hazardous Waste Management, according to Resolution No. 136, 2009 CITMA was developed. The object is reflected, scope, responsibilities, diagnosis of the situation in the installation and implementation schedule for the implementation of measures envisaged in the plan for management of hazardous wastes.

the Environmental Education Program are designed and formed, in each case, the overall objectives, goals, analysis of the context and people learning, teaching resources and to achieve a better distribution of actions and to assess their compliance, conformed three dimensions with specific objectives and defining activities (Martinez, RM, Huerta, LF & Vazquez, N. A, 2013 p. 24). The dimension one addresses the strengthening of institutional capacity, two dimensions on strengthening environmental training of human resources and the third is aimed at strengthening environmental communication installation.


conclusions


  • The proposed methodological recommendations, help organize the process of consulting in environmental management in the hotel facilities and allow us to establish the link with the other elements of the strategy designed with the aim of combining efforts in obtaining the Environmental Aval
  • As a result of the organization of counseling following the methodological guidelines, an installation can count on: the environmental assessment updated according to the agreements CITMA-MINTUR, a plan of action to improve environmental performance, plan for hazardous waste management, the program environmental education, as well as the plan of solid waste management and environmental strategy if you want.
  • The development of environmental training in a hotel facility can help establish best practices in the management of energy and water, solid waste and hazardous waste, coastal zone and biodiversity in general in order , to show a responsible environmental performance through certification of compliance with environmental legislation in our country.


Bibliographic references


  • Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba (1997, July 11) Law No. 81 of the Environment. Special Edition, Year XCV. Number 7. Page 47. Havana.
  • Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba. (1999, December 23). Decree Law 200. contraventions in the environment. Regular Edition, XCVII Number 83 Year 1339. Page Havana.
  • Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba. (1995, July 24) Resolution No. 130/1995. Regulations for the State Environmental Inspection. Regular Edition, Year XCIII Number 21 Page 331. Havana.
  • Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of the Republic of Cuba. (2009) Resolution 136. Regulations for the integrated management of hazardous waste. Havana.
  • Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Cuba. (2002) Resolution 36. Classification Regulation accommodation establishments. Havana.
  • Martinez, R. M., Huerta, F. & L. Vazquez, N. A. (2013). Environmental education manual for tourist facilities Sabana Camagüey ecosystem. Havana: UNDP / GEF 51311
  • National Bureau of Standards. (1998) NC ISO 14001: 1998 Environmental management systems. Specification and guidelines for their use. Havana.
  • National Bureau of Standards (2002) NC 133: 2002. Municipal solid waste storage, collection and transportation requirements health and environmental hygiene. Havana.
  • National Bureau of Standards (2006) NC 441: 2006. environmental health requirements health and safety pools toilet. Havana.
  • National Bureau of Standards (2007) NC 26: 2007. Noises in habitable zones. sanitary hygienic requirements. Havana.

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