RIU presents its Proudly Committed sustainability strategy in Mexico

RIU Hotels presented its Proudly Committed sustainability strategy in Cancún, Mexico. The event, held at the Riu Caribe, was led by Naomi Riu, Executive Director of the group and head of Corporate Social Responsibility, alongside more than 100 guests, including municipal and state authorities from Quintana Roo, such as the State Secretary of Tourism, Bernardo Cueto, as well as the various organisations supported by RIU, key industry figures, and members of the media.

Naomi Riu, together with the directors of the CSR department, Catalina Alemany and Alma Tesillos, presented the progress achieved under the Proudly Committed strategy, outlining the initiatives the chain has pursued in social investment over recent years, including detailed figures on the investments made in Mexico.

In her opening speech, Naomi Riu emphasised that “our social investment in Mexico is directed towards biodiversity projects, such as the protection of endangered species and coral restoration, as well as community initiatives,” highlighting projects that support children “because at RIU we believe the best way to invest in society is by supporting the youngest members.” She also explained that the chain has increased “its social investment from just over 18,000 USD in 2015 to nearly 1 million USD in 2024, figures we are matching this year, bringing the total investment over the past ten years to almost 6 million USD.”

On behalf of the Governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, and in his role as State Secretary of Tourism, Bernardo Cueto stated that “from the Quintana Roo Ministry of Tourism, in this new era of tourism led by Governor Mara Lezama, we thank RIU Hotels for its tireless commitment to the Mexican Caribbean, a destination that thrives on tourism driven by sustainable and responsible businesses.” Through the dedicated work carried out by RIU Hotels, they are building a more sustainable future for everyone. This partnership demonstrates that responsible tourism not only promotes economic growth but also supports the well-being of our communities and the preservation of our natural paradise.”

In a detailed presentation of CSR achievements, Catalina Alemany and Alma Tesillos highlighted the scope of the projects RIU has supported in Mexico over the past 10 years across its three focus areas (local community, children, and biodiversity) while also showcasing the progress of the Proudly Committed sustainability strategy. Since its launch in 2024, and with clearly defined goals for 2026, RIU Hotels has established a total of 60 initiatives worldwide.

RIU currently works with 17 partners and implements 19 initiatives across the destinations in which it operates in Mexico: Mazatlán, Los Cabos, Nayarit, Guadalajara and Quintana Roo. As a result, social investment in Mexico represents 29% of the chain’s global initiatives, rising from €1.3 million in 2019 to just over €3 million in 2024, marking a 143% increase.

In Quintana Roo, RIU Hotels supports organisations such as Fundación Aitana, Oceanus, and Save The Children Mexico; in Mazatlán, it works alongside Proeduca Sinaloa and Back to Back Mexico; in Nayarit, it provides support to CANICA, ECOBAC (Ecology and Whale Conservation), and CEMBAB (Conservation of Wonderful Species in Bahía de Banderas); in Guadalajara, it invests in social initiatives with Corporativa de Fundaciones and Bosque Urbano de Extra; and in Los Cabos, it supports Los Niños del Capitán and Amigos de los Niños. Additionally, RIU Hotels maintains a strong partnership with Doctor Sonrisas in Mexico City and has developed a close working relationship with ECPAT, collaborating on significant efforts to combat the trafficking of children and adolescents in the tourism sector. All of them received recognition for their outstanding work from Naomi Riu, Catalina Alemany, and Alma Tesillos.

 

For more information or to make a booking: www.riu.com

About RIU Hotels & Resorts: The international chain, RIU, was founded in Mallorca, Spain, in 1953 by the Riu family as a small holiday business. It is now owned and run by the third generation of the Riu family. The company’s activity is focused on the holiday hotel sector and more than 74% of its hotels offer the renowned “All Inclusive by RIU” service. With the opening of its first city hotel in 2010, RIU expanded its offering with its own line of urban hotels called Riu Plaza. RIU Hotels & Resorts consists of 98 hotels in 21 countries and, in 2024, the hotel chain welcomed 6.7 million customers and was comprised of 38,055 employees. Currently, RIU is the 40th largest chain in the world, and fourth in Spain by number of rooms.

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