Xcaret Forum Urges Tourism Industry to Grow Without Harming Nature

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Business leaders, financiers and conservation specialists gathered at Hotel Xcaret Arte for the Sustainability Forum at Xcaret: Green Economy & Sustainable Development, an event built around one question: how to keep growing without eroding the natural and cultural assets that make growth possible.

The forum, organized by the executive leadership of Hoteles Xcaret in partnership with Forbes México, examined the pressures facing companies and tourist destinations as they try to stay competitive while protecting the resources their business depends on.

Opening the event, Akis Neocleous, executive director of Hoteles Xcaret, said sustainability should be treated as a strategic component of economic development rather than an exclusively environmental concern. He said that approach has shaped Grupo Xcaret’s vision for more than 35 years and underpins its business model.

Economy and Conservation as Complementary Goals

Discussions started from the premise that sustainable development requires linking wealth creation to respect for human rights, protection of biodiversity and opportunities for local communities.

Iliana Rodríguez Cavazos, Grupo Xcaret’s corporate director of sustainability and institutional dialogue, called for an integrated approach in which economic growth, social welfare and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage reinforce one another.

The agenda featured talks, panels and conversations on the circular economy, sustainable finance, corporate governance, biodiversity conservation and protection of biocultural heritage — subjects organizers described as central to business continuity and the long-term viability of tourist destinations.

Regenerative Models and Sustainable Finance

The program was organized around three themes: the transition toward regenerative models, the incorporation of sustainability criteria into corporate strategy, and the development of destinations able to balance economic activity with conservation and social welfare.

Stuart Moore and Erica Valencia Torres took part in discussions on how sustainability is evolving toward regenerative models and on the potential of the circular economy as a tool for companies. Christian Dedeu, Carlos Torres Rosas, Bernardo de la Vega and Santiago Porta addressed the relationship between investment, governance, sustainable finance and business continuity.

Ecosystem conservation also figured prominently. Rodolfo Raigoza Figueras, Grupo Xcaret’s corporate conservation director, outlined challenges tied to biodiversity and marine regeneration, while Piet van Zyl, Professor David Simmons and Daniel Walsh analyzed the role of tourist destinations and the options for reconciling their growth with nature protection.

Rodríguez Cavazos also reflected on preserving traditions and strengthening communities as components of sustainable development.

Tourism and the Challenge of Shared Prosperity

Tourism was identified as one of the sectors best positioned to transform territories, create jobs and drive value chains — but also as one with direct responsibility for the natural and cultural resources that sustain its appeal.

Under that framing, the challenge is to build competitive, resilient businesses that deliver lasting economic benefits while improving the well-being of local populations and reducing their impact on the environment.

Grupo Xcaret used the gathering to encourage exchanges among business, financial, environmental and social representatives, with the goal of bringing a long-term perspective to decisions that will determine the future of companies and destinations.