Casa Turire obtains 4 "leaves" in the sustainable tourism certification

Hotel Casa Turire, one of the most distinguished hotels in the Turrialba region and member of the exclusive hotel group Small Distinctive Hotels of Costa Rica, is celebrating the fruits of its arduous work, in order to become one of the few luxury boutique hotels in the country, which are committed to sustainable tourism.



Sustainability is a philosophy which needs to be worked on each day; new goals need to be set, ranging from community trainings to large investments in the improvement of the infrastructure in order to use electricity and water as efficiently as possible. Nevertheless, Hotel Casa Turire hopes to continue strengthening its efforts and remain an excellent example within the Turrialba region.


In order to obtain the certification one needs to prove a balanced development within the 4 areas of evaluation: the interaction of the hotel with its biological surroundings, the dissemination of information to create awareness among guests, the social-economic development of the community as well as the efficiency of its installations.


Some examples of the good practices developed by Casa Turire:

* Recycling Program - This is a process of separation of wastes, including organic waste from the hotel and farm are treated to convert into organic compost.
* Local and sports sponsorships as well as organizing activities for educational and social boards that give support to the community.
* The hotel belong to the Cámara Nacional de Ecología (CANAECO), promoting and supporting the nature conservation and cultural values of the country.
* Hotel has reforestation area (12 hectares) and trails area.
* In our farm we produce a lot of fruits and vegetables that are fertilized using compost that is produced by organic waste to the hotel and farm, besides these products the hotel produces eggs, marmalades, cheese and are used in the kitchen to serve the different dishes that are offered at the restaurant.

* Casa Turire works with Jenaro Bonilla Aguilar School of Turrialba supporting the Ecological Blue Flag Program, giving talks and training to school staff.


For further information, please visit the following websites:

Hotel Casa Turire
or
Small Distinctive Hotels - Casa Turire

Sustainable Tourism at Small Distinctive Hotels

Sustainability is defined by the Costa Rican National Board for Tourism (ICT) as a “balanced interaction between the use of our natural and cultural resources, the improvement of the quality of life among local communities,

and the economic success of the industry, which also contributes to national development (…)”

At Small Distinctive Hotels we are aware of the fact that we depend on our social and natural environment as much as it depends on us. This awareness is reflected not only in the sustainability projects supported by Small Distinctive Hotels, but also in the numerous sustainability activities undertaken by our members.

Projects supported by the Small Distinctive Hotels Group  
· Casa Luz
· Proparques
· Piensa en Arte 

Moreover, all of our hotels are either in the process of being certified by the renowned national Certification for Sustainable Tourism Program (CST) or have already been awarded the CST certification. In fact, Arenas del Mar is one of the rare hotels in Costa Rica which have been awarded the highest possible certification level, which consists of five “leaves”.

Tourism provides a unique opportunity not only for relaxation or adventure, but also for growth. Learning about responsible travel can open one's eyes and make us more aware of the deeper levels of nature, and incorporate these new behaviors upon returning home. We actively encourage this learning process by providing information on
resonsible traveling on our website, as well as how to apply this newly learned information back home. For more information about sustainable tourism at Small Distinctive Hotels, please visit the sustainable tourism section on our website.

Please stay tuned for part two of this sustainable tourism series, where we will be introducing the specific activities undertaken by each of SDH’s member hotels.

Honeymoon Video

Most of you have probably already heard of Costa Rica as an ideal country for adventurers, nature lovers, families, etc... We would now like to introduce to you another motive to put on the long list of reasons to visit this amazing place: Spending a honeymoon in paradise!

Your Honeymoon with Small Distinctive Hotels

Costa Rica combines the ingredients most couples look for on their vacation: beautiful nature, tropical beaches, abundant wildlife as well as enough variety of activities to suit everyone’s taste. With options ranging from zip line tours over the jungle canopies, swimming with dolphins and whales, hiking in lush rain and cloud forests, white water rafting, horseback riding on beaches or in the mountains, surfing, golfing and of course simply lying on a tropical beach...

Small Distinctive Hotels offers the best to couples looking for both romance and adventure and every couple should be able to find an activity that is just perfect for them.

Our eight luxurious boutique hotels offer comfort, high quality of service, and very personalized service. When choosing Small Distinctive Hotels, you are guaranteed a one of a kind experience in Costa Rica’s most impressive sceneries. In addition, you are supporting hotels that engage in sustainable practices and understand the importance of preserving Costa Rica’s special mix of natural ingredients.

The eight hotels are scattered among some of Costa Rica's most special locations:

Grano de Oro is located on a quiet street in the centre of San José forming a quiet oasis in the heart of the city. The award-winning restaurant is one of the best of San José.

Hotel Capitan Suizo lies on the popular beach of Tamarindo, providing the high standard of service and quality the Swiss are famous for.

Villa Caletas thrones on top of a hill, stunning its visitors with exquisite views to be especially enjoyed from its Greek style amphitheatre which is also an excellent location to watch amazing sunsets. The quiet beach and elegant decoration complete the experience.

Florblanca Resort sits right on the beach of Santa Teresa which is increasingly popular for its surf. High standard yoga classes are offered daily at Florblanca, and with its Bambu Spa and highly appraised Nectar restaurant, Florblanca offers relaxation for all senses.

Casa Turire, embraced by the tranquil Angostura Lake and with the impressive Turrialba mountains in the background, this colonial style hotel makes a countryside dream come true.

The Peace Lodge provides a unique and close encounter with nature. Situated in a rainforest, with astonishing waterfalls and a sanctuary of seized Costa Rican animals, guests receive a true taste of Costa Rican nature.

Arenas del Mar is situated in the national Park of Manuel Antonio providing a uniquely luxurious combination of beach, flora and fauna.

Hotel Cuna del Angel translated as = cradle of the angel, for a honeymoon in the angelic realm with its unique ambiance and friendly service. Cuna del Angel is located on the South Pacific

Each Small Distinctive Hotel has its own unique advantages while they are simultaneously united by their excellence in terms of luxurious comfort, quality, and service combined with strong sustainability efforts.

Honeymooners can rest assured that they make the right choice when opting for one of Small Distinctive Hotels.

Costa Rica as a Honeymoon Destination

The honeymoon is a special, romantic and passionate once-in-a-lifetime-experience and therefore deserves to be beautiful, memorable and simply perfect. Costa Rica with its lush nature, abundant wildlife, tropical dream beaches and friendly inhabitants, offers the ideal setting for such a trip. 
Whatever preference couples have, the choices are endless:
 

The adventurous can take zip line tours offering spectacular views over the lush canopies, set out for a white water rafting trip or try surfing on one of the many suitable beaches.  Nature lovers will find a paradise in this country which hosts 4% of the world's biodiversity and offers countless presents to the eye such as exotic birds, brightly colored frogs, sloths and depending on the season, whales and dolphins. The flora is just as impressive with tropical rain and cloud forests and endless exciting possibilities for hikes. 

Relaxation is written in capital letters in Costa Rica and couples will find that this is lived here. The national slogan "pura vida" reflects the worry-free lifestyle of taking things slow and easy. Apart from enjoying the beautiful beaches from a comfortable beach chair, yoga classes are frequently offered and each Small Distinctive Hotel has a spa for ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation.  In the end there is nothing to think about, except perhaps what to have for the next delicious dinner... 

Romantic moments are easy to create among peaceful settings of exotic nature, spectacular sunsets, beautiful beaches and warm weather. Couples choosing Costa Rica as a destination for their honeymoon choose to have an unforgettable experience that they will remember long after their tan has gone... with a big smile!

Video of Small Distinctive Hotels

Immerse yourself in the world of these eight special hotels in Costa Rica...

Small Distinctive Hotels unites Costa Rica's most luxurious boutique hotels, which are located throughout the most beautiful, diverse, and exciting regions of the country.

All Small Distinctive Hotels members provide first class service, peaceful, romantic and private ambiances as well as environmentally conscious operations. Small Distinctive Hotels provides ideal options for both honeymooners and families.

Small Distinctive Hotels presents the truly best Costa Rica has to offer.

Florblanca’s restaurant Nectar featured in the Beverly Hills Lifestyle Magazine

Florblanca Resort was featured with its open air beach restaurant “Nectar” in the summer issue of the Beverly Hills Lifestyle Magazine.

The magazine starts off with naming Florblanca Resort as one of the Country’s finest hotels and as “home to a hidden treasure” when referring to its restaurant Nectar. It goes on to describe the experience of enjoying the creative, culinary and above all tasteful expressions of the Costa Rican lifestyle made by Nectar`s young and talented chef Spencer Graves. The New American cuisine with Latin and Asian influences consists mainly of fresh seafood and locally grown organic produce and is presented as artistically as it tastes.

An emphasis is put additionally on the peaceful setting, the restaurant being embraced by green surroundings and located in close proximity to the beach, providing the ultimate views and background sounds for a relaxed meal or drink. The atmosphere and decoration of the restaurant are furthermore described as “laid back, yet refined” and matching the “chic design and style of the hotel” with details such as chairs made of sea grass and candle lit tables.

All in all the conclusion is that the Nectar Restaurant of the Florblanca Resort is the ultimate place to go for an “unforgettable tropical dining experience” and a “true taste of Costa Rica”!
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To read the entire article, visit:
http://www.pagegangster.com/p/RT5Sp/116

For more information about the Florblanca Resort, visit:
http://distinctivehotels.com/our_hotels_florblanca.html