The major financial and business newspaper of Costa Rica, El Financiero, has awared Eduardo Villafranca Sargent, the title of Businessman of the Year 2008. Who is Eduardo Villafranca? Fifteen years ago he developed an eco-resort in the remote area of Islita on the Nicoya Peninsula. That resort is named Punta Islita and has become a sustainability model for all that have come hence. Now Don Eduardo has taken the Islita concept to a new area with a resort named El Silencio, which is located in Bajos del Toro, Alajuela. His philosophy has been to give back to the environment, rather than take from it, and also to give back to the community. When El Financiero asked him what gives him the most satisfaction in business, Don Eduardo told the story of Mairon Viales. Mairon began working for Punta Islita as an unskilled laborer, then moved up to foreman status and finally chief of the remodeling department. Punta Islita encouraged Marion to start his own micro-business and that if he met certain standards the hotel would contract for his services. Mairon did that and now runs a business with 54 employees and not only contracts with Punta Islita, but also four other projects. In Don Eduardo’s own words, “generating micro-businesses has given me the greatest satisfaction because it is a process in which people are educated integrally and in a short period of time.” Doing business the Punta Islita way not only gives back to the community, but also cuts costs and improves service. When asked why other similar business are not fostering micro-enterprises, he said that it is because of short-term thinking and also because people tend to underestimate others. But when someone is given the opportunity to develop their own business, they tend to learn very quickly. The new hotel, El Silencio, was a six million dollar investment. Of the 210 acres purchased for the project, 200 have been set aside to take advantage of the area’s rich biodiversity for research. Don Eduardo’s group developed a social responsibility program for the area prior to beginning construction on the hotel, using Punta Islita as a model. Another project that Don Eduardo has taken on, together with Arturo Arrea, is the founding of the Responsible Business Alliance, which will advise Costa Rican companies on how best to create social responsibility projects.
My company, Package Costa Rica, is proud to work with Punta Islita, one of the few hotels to have attained level four in the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism program. Eduardo Villafranca’s business ethics and concern for the communities in which his businesses operate certainly earn him our vote as Businessman of the Year.
Honorable Mentions…
The following businessmen and women were also noted by El Financiero for their contribution to the sustainable tourism movement in Costa Rica.
Jim Damalas - Jim is the founder of the hotel in Manuel Antonio known as Si Como No. Si Como No has earned the level 5 sustainability rating from the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism program, the highest possible rating. Jim also owns the hotel in San Ramon called Villa Blanca, which has also earned the coveted level 5 distinction.
Glenn Jampol - Glenn is known as the “high priest of sustainable tourism” and is the reigning president of the Chamber of Ecotourism. He owns the hotel in Santa Barbara de Heredia known as Finca Rosa Blanca, which has also earned the level 5 CST distinction. Jim is not worried these days because in his view in this era of tough economic times, the tendency will be for tourists to look for hotels and tour operators that take a responsible ecological approach. In his view, that is the differentiation that will spell the most success for Costa Rica’s tourism businesses in the years to come.
John and Karen Lewis - John and Karen left their life in Minesotta towards the end of the 80’s (John was a lawyer and Karen a professional musician) and purchased 404 hectareas on the Osa Peninsula. They then developed the eco-lodge Lapas Rios, a lodge with 40 bungalows that has entertained guests such as actress Julia Roberts and film producer Michael Crichton. Their opinion is that not only does a sustainable tourism approach give back to the environment and the community, but it also makes good business sense. In their view, there is no reason to destroy the forest to make money. They are now seeking a buyer for the eco-lodge that will carry on their business philosophy.
There you have it. El Financiero’s list of the best of the best in business in 2008, all of which are carrying the torch as leaders of the Costa Rican sustainability movement. It will be of great benefit to the country and to the world for others to follow.
Link to Interactive Presentation of the Business Persons of the Year
It seems that the “final frontier” - the last unpaved section of the Costanera Sur - will soon be history. This is the 42 kilometer stretch that begins at the Quepos air strip and ends at Barú (near Dominical), a stretch once considered one of the worst unpaved roads in the country. Even with all the improving that has taken place in preparation for the paving, one can now travel the road at speeds of 60 to 80 kilometers per hour. Soon gone will be the days when this 42 kilometer stretch could take you three hours to traverse and when you finally did emerge on the other side, your car would be literally covered in three inches of mud and dust. I can even remember the days when you had to actually cross one of the rivers in route with no bridge. Of course, one of the first improvements over a year ago was to fix that problem, which in the heavy rainy season would make the road completely impassable. The head of MOPT (organization in charge of transportation and public works), Karla González, is sticking to her earlier predictions and claims that paving will begin next month and that the road will be completely ready by the end of this year. Once completed, the entire Costanera will extend a total of 238 “paved” kilometers from Puntarenas to Palmar Norte. The paving of this last section will be a major benefit to commercial trade in the frontera with Panama and also for tourism in the region. Real estate prices of properties in areas such as Matapalo should also benefit as a result.
