The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan has become the first hotel in Puerto Rico to earn the Sustainable Tourism Facility Certificate awarded by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, director of tourism for the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, noted that the certification marks an important milestone for the island’s hospitality sector. “At the PRTC we are pleased to have the first resort hotel in our Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Facilities Program, because it is indicative of our commitment to provide our partners in the industry the tools to diversify the offerings we can provide as a destination and strengthen sustainable tourism in Puerto Rico,” she said. Rivera Rocafort added that delivering this certification to The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan recognizes the property’s dedication to sustainable practices and applauds their efforts to transform a renowned hotel into a model for responsible tourism.
The certification process began in September 2014. Employee training was conducted through the Division for Sustainable Tourism’s Hotel Green Team starting in October 2014, and the compliance evaluation was completed in December of the same year.
To qualify for the certificate, the luxury property implemented several substantive changes. These included increasing the use of locally produced organic products, adopting energy-conservation measures, and introducing bio-digested composting systems for kitchen waste. The hotel also expanded support for local culture and community by promoting works from local artists for sale and partnering with charitable organizations such as Make‑A‑Wish, Soles4Souls, Hotel El Paraíso and St. Augustine Parish.
By integrating these practices into everyday operations, The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan demonstrates how high-end hospitality can prioritize environmental stewardship and community engagement without sacrificing guest experience. The certification serves both as recognition of the hotel’s achievements and as a model that other properties on the island can follow to promote sustainable tourism throughout Puerto Rico.