2006: 3 AWARDS GIVEN TO ECO HOTEL UXLABIL ATITLAN
(SEPTEMBER 2006)

During the year 2006 Eco hotel Uxlabil Atitlán has been recognized as a socially responsible enterprise by different institutions, nationally and internationally.

The last of these awards was received August the 22th. For the first time in Guatemala there were six awards publicly given to Socially Responsible Enterprises, in six different categories. In the category of Opportunities to Reduce Poverty the winner was Banco del Café; the second place award in this category was given to Eco hotel Uxlabil. The next day both enterprises shared their experiences and the specific manner in which their work has benefitted families and local communities. Two Cabinet Ministries participated in the evaluation of these productive community projects: Planning and Hunger and Poverty Combat.

Two months earlier, in July, the International Ecotourism Club, ECOCLUB, after a worldwide electronic poll, awarded Eco hotel Uxlabil the second prize for an original project: the rescue and painting of fishermen boats in San Juan La Laguna. At this moment 21 cayucos –artisan fishermen boats- have been totally repaired and nicely painted. Local painters came to help in the painting process. Not only safety and color came to that corner of Lake Atitlan, but happiness too.

In April this year the Guatemalan Government Competitiveness Program awarded Eco hotel Uxlabil the first prize in the category of Small Enterprise. As a result, at the moment, several improvements are underway at the hotel in San Juan: a new and mobile deck is being built, gardens are being enlarged, a bird watching program is being designed, and a fish pond is being built to preserve the fish which will be purchased from the local fishermen and offered at the restaurant.

Uxlabil personnel and its Manager is honored to have received these awards, and as a response we embrace an even greater commitment: to improve continuously our service to accomplish our mission: to provide hospitality in harmony with nature and culture.