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10 methods to ensure a positive thought

Negative energy is everywhere. Being exposed to it is so detrimental to avoid it should be a matter of necessity.

Many tend to think of negative energy as something mystical, that "bad vibes" of what the hippies and speak only Roma who read hands. As a result, we do not repair this energy which is in the form of comments, looks, complaints, daily gestures around us, influencing our thoughts and emotions and largely determining our actions.

The reality is that negative energy is everywhere, and be exposed to it is so detrimental to our emotional well-being (and yes, our professional success) to avoid it should become a matter of necessity.

Here are 10 practical that will help you stay away from negativity and have a positive thought that drives you toward your goals. Ready to apply them to your daily life?


1. Be cautious when choosing who you surround yourself


Well the saying: "Tell me who you hang out and tell you who you are." Deciding who to let into your life is not something you should take lightly. People who choose to live positively related to malvibrosa rule, envious or whiny people, and try to surround yourself by optimistic, good-natured and always willing to help people.



2. Take care that you receive stimuli


It may sound exaggerated, but everything that goes into your body-and we are not referring only to the food- influences your emotions. This includes what you see, hear and smell every day. If the first thing you hear is bad news to wake up, the first thing you read is work emails and the first thing you hear are hundreds of car horns, how do you expect your body and your mind to start the day?

3. Practice some discipline to focus your mind


In this chaotic world it is important to create a space dedicated to "clean up" your mind of negative stimuli and refocus to your growth. You can sign up for yoga classes (or why not? I practice from home) or meditate, even for five minutes a day. Do you like to draw? Can I attend dance classes? Cook? It's up to you.


4. Exercise


Exercising is much more than a vanity: it is a condition to be and feel healthy. Physical training releases endorphins, neurotransmitters that are associated with a feeling of well-being. Incorporate an exercise routine in our daily lives will reduce stress, improve your mood and promote our self-esteem. What other reason you need to start moving those muscles?

5. Do not underestimate your rest


In a world that worships overwork and is obsessed with productivity, break-even is often underestimated and rejected. If you want to keep your sanity, do not fall into this error. Having time to relax, read, go out or practice hobbies is as important as professionally grow and attract money to your bank account. Learn to appreciate the time that you dedicate yourself!

6. Stay away from routine


Everyday stress can be quite absorbing. And if you made an effort to avoid falling into this black hole? In addition to creating spaces during the day to take a break, get away from the routine for a couple of days it is a great help to clear your mind and start again. If possible traveling somewhere away from the city where you can breathe fresh air and forget the worries. You can not stay away too? Search relaxing activities in your city.

7. Accept failure as part of growth


It is an inescapable fact: the failure is part of life, and is in each of us face it as a learning experience or feel defeated. By having an error, rather than get discouraged, you think: "Why I failed?", "What I can learn from this?". Thomas A. Edison rightly said: "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that will not work ".


8. Learn to control your thoughts and emotions


Emotional intelligence is just that: the ability to manage our thoughts and emotions instead of letting overpower us. Knowing how to control our anger, anger, sadness and negative thoughts is essential to achieve our goals ... and enjoy the process.

9. Learn to say "no"


Of course it is important to be generous and help others when you can. But how to say no when necessary is a skill that will help you effectively use your most valuable asset: time. Saying "no" is to take control of your life and direct your energy toward things that are truly important to you.


10. Do not seek anyone's approval


Do you let your life be guided by the opinions of others? Sure you feel paralyzed. Focus your priorities rather than seek approval from others and will feel freer than ever!

3 apps to convert speech into text

These functional applications will help you to transcribe immediately spoken ideas, talks or meetings.

There are hundreds of applications that let you search, write emails, take notes and schedule appointments with your smartphone. But for some people, the small size of the keyboard or touch screen can be limiting or difficult to use.

If you have trouble writing, lack of ability to slide your finger across the screen or just think better out loud, you could benefit from a tool that allows you to convert spoken words into text. We shared three apps that will help you do this:


1. Dragon Dictation




This app has a single button; only you must press and start talking. Dragon Dictation does the rest. The text appears once you finish dictating, so it might be difficult for you to get used. But once you grasp the pace, you can process long emails and other documents quite assertive in 30 different languages.

Once the app transcribed your speech, you can send it via mail or copy and paste into another aplicación.También you can post directly to Facebook and Twitter, or save the text for later use. The application is free for iPhone and iPad.


2. Evernote for Android


Evernote was designed to help you monitor ideas and inspirations. It has always been possible to use the app to record voice memos as conferences and meetings, but now also convert these audio files into text.

Unlike Dragon Dictation, Evernote keeps both audio and text together, so you can use the search function of the application to find a note taped. The app can be useful for you to record your thoughts during the day; so you can say what you think and then analyze the information.

This app is free, but because the service uses Evernote text transcription Android, need to be connected to the Internet to use it.



3. Voice Assistant



This app has recently redesigned quick access to a tool that allows easier posting on Twitter, Facebook or send it by mail. Choose your favorite and Voice Assistant converts your transcripts to the correct format for other applications such as Google Search, YouTube, Evernote or Pages. You can also send your transcript directly to a printer with wireless connection.

Voice Assitant uses an intelligent voice recognition so you learn with each use. It also brings grammatically and screen editing. The app costs a dollar and is available for iPhone and iPad.

How to motivate yourself every day

I give you a very unusual business advice: "Get lit up every day." The life of an entrepreneur is full of ups and downs. One day things are really exciting; the next must face a new obstacle. This could wear you and end the passion for the company.

As entrepreneurs, passion is our responsibility. Some of us know well what motivates us; others have not yet discovered. You just make sure it is your passion and purpose, not what your parents and teachers have told you that you should and should not do.

Two owners of two almost identical pizzerias might have different reasons why they undertook. One might be living the dream of growing a small business and give local youth work; while the other could love just seeing happy families enjoying a good meal. The key is to discover what motivates you; what turns you on.



There are two important factors that motivate most entrepreneurs:
- We want to express our desires, passions and purposes. The reason is simple: If we create a business and use much of our time on it, do something we love and express our goal in life.



- We want to put passion before practicality. Yes, we want our business to succeed and make us earn money. But first we have to say the words that move us; that ignite our passion. It's like the old steam engines: The engine and the tracks are the practical structure of the business, but if there is no fire in the boiler, never move.



Make it real

I wrote my first mission in 1995 and revised four times a year to make minor modifications. I did this for two years, but it was not enough. Then, I received good advice: Read your vision, mission and values ​​aloud every day, and that is the first thing you do in the morning. These are the reasons:

- To vocalize. When we read something aloud, he reaches both sides of the brain. The left side is logical -racionaliza, but usually there no passion and commonly generates resistance and negativity. The right side is the source of emotion and motivation; and it is not always practical. To say something strong, the message touches both hemispheres and unifies.


- As a practical daily. Motivation is like exercise: as more you practice, the stronger you get. If you mess up one day, what does it matter? That's in the past is history. Just think about this for inspiration: Today is the most important day of your life. So, try daily start again.

- First thing's first. Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, teaches us to put "first things first"; this means starting each day with the most essential. And it's a great idea. The motivational coach Barry Gottlieb motivates us to take only positive and nutritious ideas, the first two hours of the day. Start your mornings with your vision, not with the newspaper!

Kim George, author of Coaching Into Greatness, states that have the mission of your company hung on the wall is something terrible. Instead, we need to make it real. I read my feet, as if he were about to run at full speed. So you also read yours stronger every day, in a dynamic and active, that excites your inner fire.


Feeds the fire when needed

Let's say we motivate every day and we are ready to face any obstacle, but how long will this attitude? On a good day, two hours; one bad, 10 minutes.

Almost every day something happens you off or lower the morale. It may be a complaint from a customer, an employee with poor performance, traffic causes you to be late for a meeting or miss a meal.

If this happens, it is time that reenfoques your vision. When a runner stumbles, what does? He stops breathing, focus recovers and starts again. It's not about how many times we fall but how fast we recover.

It is therefore important that you have a version of a line of your mission. So when something happens that you demotivate, stop, stand up straight, take three deep breaths and repeat your mission again. You can do this exercise in 30 seconds and will help rekindle the fire of your passion. Gradually you will feel how bad feelings go away.

Do not be ashamed to do so. You can practice it up in an elevator; what other people notice is how to renew your energy and commitment.

Mistakes to avoid

We share some things you should not do:

- Letting your mission to become your to-do list, not what you dream about doing.
- Letting your mission is what society wants you to do, and not what you want to do.
- Forget your mission and leave arrumbada in a closet or hung on a wall.
- Exploit you yourself. This will lead to wear and then to hatred.

The last point is a big risk for any business owner. When life is difficult (as often happens) it is easy to start saying "I have to do." And that is the road to burnout and to hate to go to work. To keep alive the passion for your business forget the 'I' and 'I'.

5 visionary entrepreneurs you have to imitate

Entrepreneurs and executives tend to admire the work of visionary leaders like Elon Musk and Alan Mulally and put them on a pedestal. You may believe that the people you admire are ready, lucky ones or creative than you, but the truth is that many of the features that stand out can be grown by anyone.

These attributes dictate how these leaders respond to adversity, help them maximize their resources and have led them to make decisions that out from the rest of the people. Here I leave five CEOs I admire and qualities they have and that any entrepreneur can imitate to boost your way to success.

1. Elon Musk: constant innovation


This man, who is the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Motors, has revolutionized entire industries through its approach to challenge the status quo.

Both companies faced bankruptcy in 2008 so Musk was forced to decide between two firms hold half or move all its resources to potentiate only one. The employer risked keep both companies and that decision paid off. Today, Tesla gains than General Motors and Ford at 20 percent, while SpaceX is one of the companies that NASA hired to develop new space conveyors.

"If something is not failing, then you have not innovated enough", they say the employer.

2. Nick Woodman: concentration


GoPro CEO earned his "idea of a million dollars" when he found a good camera that allows you to take quality photos while surfing. After months of intense concentration, she was born the first prototype of the device. Now Woodman is completely focused on the development of a program that allows the camera GoPro easily share videos.

GoPro company was founded 12 years ago and is now synonymous with images of adventure, it has generated a wealth of 1.3 billion dollars for Woodman.

3. Allan Mulally: resistance


Mulally, former chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Company, is responsible for one of the most impressive business revivals in history. This man brought the company billions of losses and prevented filed for bankruptcy without the need to seek help from the government. He created a new business culture where the most important work was based on positive leadership team.


4. Shantanu Narayen: adaptability


Businesses stagnate usually die. Adobe Systems CEO sat at his desk one day and realized that software distribution across physical disks was destined to fail. Then he decided to transform the popular Adobe Creative Suite to a subscription model.

It was not the first to think so; Netflix did before with its streaming service. But the empire Adobe design was based on the box sets that were presented once a year with new versions of the program. Narayen changed the distribution system of the company and thus multiplied the number of users.


5. Philip Krim: reimanigación


CEO Casper has done something that seemed impossible (and even unnecessary): It completely reimagined the process of buying a bed. From price to delivery - the mattress comes compressed in several boxes average- size, this startup offers things that no conventional furniture gives, as a trial period of 100 days.

This company born last April won $ 15 million in funding and a million profit in its first month of operations. Kim proved that innovation is not just a matter of major technology companies.


How successful cultivation characteristics?

As a leader, you may not have all the qualities I mentioned above. That's fine. What is really important is to know what features you are natural and which are not.

You do not have to follow any advice that is given to you, but if you must remain receptive to new ideas. Analyze your actions and calls for regular feedback as you earn experience and find out what your strengths and what your weaknesses.

To develop the best thing to do your own leadership style is to find a mentor who will share their experience and give you a new perspective to solve the challenges that will face. These mentors can be colleagues, potential investors or even leaders completely different from yours industries.

Nor do you base solely on the experience of your mentor, he is also studying success stories. As Consumes article, news, book, blog, documentary and news you can find on how to deal with obstacles.

Finally, make contacts for different perspectives to yours. Take advantage of workshops, conferences and other opportunities to meet people with a different point of view than yours.

Many of the leaders you admire are not superhumanos- have worked hard to use the correct way the qualities that have for their organizations. Remember, when you embrace your greatest strengths, you become a better leader and a catalyst for change.


Define your sales goals

Sales are an essential part of the raison d'etre of any business. "A company has to sell pace because that will generate wealth," says Nicolas Hauff, managing director of the consulting firm E-Myth. Hence the value of the area responsible for closing the treatment lies in its ability to achieve sales, but also have to consider that often in practice its members contribute to building the brand.

To start, visualize the relationship between marketing and sales as a magic carpet: to fly brand, marketing brings magic, while the sales force carpet. This image is the work of John Bello, one of the founders of SoBe, US drinks company Pepsi which paid US $ 370 million at the beginning of the last decade, and who shored up his business through an extraordinary sales force.

A look at how working sales staff of planemaker Airbus, as described by marketing guru Philip Kotler in his book Principles of Marketing, gives a good idea of ​​the relevance of this area in a company. In this case, the commercial department is at the head of a team of several specialists: sales and service technicians, financial analysts, planners and engineers, all dedicated to finding ways to meet the needs of its customers.

A sale in this industry is complex and challenging, because sometimes represents amounts of billions of dollars and a deal may take years to close. To achieve its mission, sellers become experts in their customers: the airlines. They know what they want to grow, when to replace aircraft and the details of your financial situation.

Moreover, computer equipment simulates the airline routes made by its aircraft and competition, the cost per seat and other factors to demonstrate that its aircraft are more efficient. Then start high-level negotiations. After getting the purchase order, sales people kept close contact with the account to track your equipment needs and ensure satisfaction.



For the sales force get the desired results, you must be careful in the process you use to set goals. This seems obvious, but in most cases neglected. According to Rigoberto Acosta, MasterCoach ActionCOACH, "over 90% of companies do not have clear goals" not a plan to achieve them.

Time plan

The process for establishing sales goals, a task which falls in the commercial area of ​​the company is carried out based on the following aspects:


  • Market. Know their characteristics and what is the acceptance that there has your product or service.
  • Analysis. On the one hand, it examines the goals you determined for the past year and what were the results; whether they are higher or lower than expected, you must understand why. Moreover, it considers whether the assumptions of you left still valid or whether changes have occurred that affect the achievement of objectives.
  • Agreements. If you want the people responsible for sales commitment to the goals that you establish, make them participate in its formulation. A mutual agreement causes the sales force involvement and respon-lice in achieving certain goals. In addition, to avoid imposing a fee, commercial staff loses most excuse not to do it, he can not argue that it is unrealistic.
  • Measurements. Decide which aspects want to set goals and how and how often will measure. Kotler sets out different types of goals depending on the approach:
  • Consumers. Increase short-term sales; gain market share in the long term; encourage them to try nue-you products or services; keep them away from the offer of competition; maintain and reward loyal customers.
  • Channels. Encourage retailers to order new merchandise and inventory; inducements to announce your pro-duct and give more shelf space; persuade them to buy in advance.
  • Sales force. Get more support from the sales force for new or traditional products; stimulate sales executives to get new accounts.

It is recommended that in addition to targets related to sales volumes you establish goals related to the activity of vendors. This may include the number of sought opportunities generated proposals and resulting sales.

A useful indicator is the ratio of closures, calculated by dividing the number of sales by the number of presentations made to customers. And if your salespeople have some wiggle room on the price offered for your products or services, also tracks the profit margin businesses closed.

smart goals

A good way of setting a goal is through the methodology known as Smart (which in English means smart and is also an acronym for the specific concepts, measurable, aligned, realistic and performed in a given time).

Being specific means avoiding generalities. Say you want to check as much as you can and be the best seller of the company is ambiguous. The good intentions have to be translated into concrete objectives: in the case of sales you must specify a figure and on the other hand, define what market. Perhaps the case of companies, individuals or government, or a combination thereof. In that case, define how much you are selling to each customer and what products or services your portfolio

For example, a furniture manufacturer that wants a 5% market share in a year.

A specific target facilitates measurable. Otherwise, it is impossible to quantify and compare the results you get compared to you propose to achieve. This allows periodically evaluate the progress you have in achieving your goal.

In the case of furniture, a market share in 12 months means that the goals of participating market-ing each month can be measured against a specific target.

A goal should be aligned. This in the same direction of the major goals of the company, which are not reduced only to sales. Also they cover aspects such as having a certain number of days in accounts receivable or maintain established levels of inventory of raw materials or finished product. "Your sales goals should not be at odds with the other goals of the organization," says José Viller, partner Viller Training and Consulting.

The aim of the furniture is aligned with the company if this increase will not generate pressures in the supply of inputs or finished product distribution.

A realistic goal is one that is feasible. This after evaluating the resources available to a company and its particular situation; including both its advantages and limitations and opportunities in the market and perceived risks.

The furniture is realistic to the extent that capacity (management, production, sales and distribution) and their (human, financial and infrastructural) resources enable it to achieve the goal in the given time period.

An objective that has no time to be fulfilled normally not achieved. It is essential that once you set a deadline, the respect them and find a way to achieve the proposed goal, not lower it or postpone it, says the coach Acosta. On the other hand, once it established a certain period, it can be divided into smaller fractions (weeks, months) that will facilitate the monitoring of your progress.

The furniture has determined a time of 12 months to achieve your goal.

Experts agree that the frequency to evaluate whether the proposed targets are being met should be as often as possible. But beyond assiduously, your attention should be on the indicators that have arisen to assess performance.

These "warning lights" will indicate if something does not work the way you expected, said Georgette Viller, member of Viller Training and Consulting. And whether your results are not met or even exceeded, it is essential that you understand the reason for you to correct the course or replicate what works.

10 essential apps to get around by bike

Under the World Bicycle Day, held this April 19, the consultant Clowder Tank, enlisted the best practices related to the use of this type of personal transportation applications.

"The bicycle is a healthy alternative to transport, where in addition to reach your destination and make a good dose of exercise, you will be taking care of the environment. Take a look at the following list of applications that can help you return to this popular means of transport" said the specialist in digital transformation in Latin America company in a statement.

The bike has always been used as a major means of transportation, but a few years to date has gained more popularity, thanks to the benefits provided to health and the improvement that gives mobility in big cities .

The top 10

If you love cycling or would like to start using this human-powered vehicle, then we share 10 applications essential to move on two wheels.

essential

1. Google Maps → Best Smartphones browsing application, use it to plot routes, anticipate traffic conditions and find alternatives in case of blocked roads.

2. Any app climate → Not the same rolled a distance of 2 kilometers in the middle of a scorching sun, pouring rain. A good weather app is necessary to know if the weather will do their part to reach your destination. Sure which comes installed on your smartphone is enough, but if you want something more, we recommend the Weather Channel apps or Yahoo!



3. EcoBici → This is only for users of Mexico City, but if you are already subscribed to this program is essential to know where bikes are available or the coverage area.


To go 'en route'

4. My Ride → iMap allows you to set routes for your journey and find other users who are near you. Ideal to find fellow exercise or test new ways.

5. Runtastic and its range of applications → One of the most comprehensive services, the main app already has a module to measure the effort by bike, and if that were not enough, there are also specific apps for road cycling and mountain.

6. First Aid Guide for cyclists → Created by the Saint John's Ambulance organization in the UK, this application is a graphical guide to possible emergencies that could face a cyclist and the best way to react to them.

7. RiderState → In the same vein to turn exercise into a game, this application for iOS and Android lets you turn your city into a board and conquer your progress through bike; you can conquer new spaces and wrest the domain to other users.

8. Bike Gear Calculator → This complete application allows you to compare different ratios of equipment on your bike to reach the optimum configuration according to your needs.
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Ideas like to see in Mexico

Here are some applications that surprised us but, unfortunately, are not available in our country. However, we include them because we would like to see someone or some company presented something similar in Mexico.

9. Fill That Hole → Report potholes to the appropriate authority and even calls to the authorities in how they respond to citizen complaints.


10. Ride the city → It allows you to find the safest route to get from one point to another by bicycle. The only bad thing is that is only available in some cities in the world and none of them in Mexico.


Environmental management in hotels and tourism

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.